Nintendo, the world's second-largest video-game maker, is the company behind Pokemon game characters. Bandai is the maker of Gundam, Digimon and Power Rangers characters.

Tokyo-based Bandai, which is also known for its Tamagotchi digital pet, made software for Nintendo's N64 game console, the precursor to the GameCube, according to spokeswoman Miki Taneda.

Nintendo shares, which have fallen 41 percent this year, declined 3.1 percent to 13,550 yen on the Osaka Stock Exchange.