Nintendo is a Japanese videogame developer and publisher, originally founded as a hanafuda card producer. It began to produce games in 1977 with its first console, the Color TV Game. It owns over a dozen studios, several of which are referred to as Nintendo EAD. Other studios include Retro Studios, Intelligent Systems, HAL Laboratory, and Game Freak. It is responsible for several widely-recognized franchises and mascot characters, most notably Mario from Super Mario Bros. Other major franchises include The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid, Fire Emblem, Smash Bros, and Pokemon. It is also the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners.