Fans only just finding out how Super Mario got his name and are stunned
Over four decades ago, Nintendo's Super Mario video game took the world by storm, outshining rivals to become the most recognised and widely played game of its era.
The Super Mario Bros. game was launched in September 1985, initially captivating Japan before making waves in North America a month later.
With around 40 million copies sold through the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), it quickly became one of the most beloved video games ever.
The game features Mario, a moustachioed plumber sporting a red cap - an image that has become synonymous with Nintendo, regardless of whether you were a gamer back then or not.
Mario's character has made appearances in over 200 different video game titles, including Mario Kart and Mario Party. This popularity has propelled Mario-themed games to become the highest-selling video game franchise of all time, reports the Mirror US.
But how did Mario get his name?
The Nintendo video game designer who conceived Mario drew inspiration from an unlikely namesake, leading to the swift abandonment of his initial moniker, Jumpman.
Employees at Nintendo's Washington warehouse started referring to the Jumpman character as Mario, owing to his uncanny resemblance to their landlord - and the new name stuck.
The landlord, Mario Segale, unwittingly became the muse for Super Mario, according to the book, Game Over, Press Start to Continue.
Had it not been for this unexpected name change and subsequent rebranding, Mario's character might have taken a very different path after the Jumpman title was discarded.
An earlier incarnation of the Mario character was actually crafted for Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, where he took on the role of a carpenter trying to save a damsel from a colossal ape.
It wasn't until four years later that Mario swapped his tool belt for a plunger, becoming a plumber to better fit the game's underworld of pipes and sewers.
Initially dubbed Jumpman, the character made his mark by vaulting over hurdles in the hit game Donkey Kong.
However, Nintendo's American bosses were keen on a catchier moniker, and when Shigeru Miyamoto, the mastermind behind the original video game, caught wind of the suggestion to rename him Mario, he was all for it.
In a 2015 interview with National Public Radio, Miyamoto reminisced: "They started calling the character Mario, and when I heard that I said, Oh, Mario's a great name, let's use that."
After the success of Donkey Kong, Nintendo commissioned several follow-ups before tasking Miyamoto with fleshing out Mario's backstory and giving him a starring role in his own title.
Miyamoto didn't stop there; he went on to introduce Luigi in the 1983 arcade hit Mario Bros as Mario's sibling, although the game saw limited release outside Japan.
Then, in 1985, Mario truly leapt into the international gaming limelight with the launch of Super Mario Bros, which revolutionised home gaming for an entire generation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
90s Nintendo classic Mario Paint is now on Switch 2 with mouse controls
Even if you don't own a Nintendo Switch 2 yet, you can still access a surprise retro re-release of Mario Paint on Nintendo Switch Online. When Nintendo announced Donkey Kong Bananza would come with a separate DK Artist mode, where you can use the Nintendo Switch 2's mouse controls to carve and decorate sculptures, everyone was immediately reminded of 1992's Mario Paint for the SNES. Mario Paint wasn't a game but a 2D art package, that came bundled with its own mouse, that was also used in a few other games such as SimCity. It's never had a modern equivalent, beyond DK Artist, but now the original game is available again on Switch 1 and 2. It's obviously been kept back to till now to show off the mouse functionality of the Switch 2's new Joy-Cons, which allow you to use Mario Paint as it was originally intended. Mario Paint is far more in-depth than DK Artist, as not only can you draw and paint your own pictures, but you can also make music and even animate your creations. Modern Nintendo fans may recognise some elements of Mario Paint from the WarioWare series, which has often referenced Mario Paint through some of its microgames. For example, one microgame is a truncated version of the fly swatting minigame from Mario Paint. The fly swatter also appears as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Nintendo made the announcement through a charming new trailer, showcasing all the different features and confirming the game's compatibility with the Switch 2's mouse controls, which we've tested ourselves and can corroborate. We did have some trouble trying to access the SNES Classics app though, if it wasn't already downloaded, but hopefully that's just a temporary problem. Since Mario Paint is part of the Nintendo Classics SNES library, you do need an online subscription to play it, but it's fortunately not a Switch 2 exclusive and thus accessible on Switch 1 as well. More Trending You may wonder how that's possible when the Switch 1 lacks mouse controls (which are mandatory for playing Mario Paint), but you can plug a compatible USB mouse into the console and use that. A quick glance at social media shows plenty of Nintendo fans are thrilled to see Mario Paint return and have already put together some impressive art pieces. To coincide with the release, Nintendo has also added the Mario Paint soundtrack to its Nintendo Music app. It's not an especially large soundtrack though, at only 19 songs. With any luck, Mario Paint's addition will lead to Nintendo adding more mouse compatible games to its retro library, especially strategy games and first person shooters – and perhaps more productivity software. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Metroid Prime 4 is the best advert for mouse controls on Switch 2 MORE: Xbox games for Switch 2 'expected' soon ahead of rumoured Nintendo Direct MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Nintendo Switch announces release of Mario Paint and gamers say it's giving them 'butterflies'
Fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts on the drop but also to make a few interesting predictions Nintendo has officially announced the release of Mario Paint on the Nintendo Switch Online service, and the reaction from fans has been extremely positive, with one even saying they have "butterflies" over it. After decades of being stuck on the Super Nintendo, Mario Paint is available on Nintendo Switch Online. Users can connect a compatible USB mouse - which is sold separately - to play the game on your Nintendo Switch system. If you're playing the classic retro game on a Nintendo Switch 2 system, you can use the Joy-Con 2 controller like a mouse and let your imagination run wild. This popular title originally required a mouse peripheral, but now, the Nintendo Switch 2 controller doubles as a mouse, allowing early adopters of the new console to play the game without needing an additional peripheral. The game is also available to original Nintendo Switch owners which is compatible with some brands of USB mouse. Information is included to help gamers use the new mouse function on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the reveal trailer. Fans rushed to X, previously Twitter, to share their excitement over the drop. One gushed: "Ahhhhhhh childhood nostalgia!!!!" while another scribed: "What a nostalgia bomb OMG. I still have the game, mouse and pad that it came with" and a third stated: "WOO so excited. I have butterflies lol." Although it's called Mario Paint, long-time fans of the game, originally released in 1992, will know that it also has a music composition feature which allows players to create music with various sounds from Nintendo's library. Not only will this feature return, but players will now be able to save musical creations by using suspend points. The original music composed for this game can also now be enjoyed on the Nintendo Music app. Members can download the app on their smart device at no extra cost. So, kick back with music from a collection of retro and modern game such as series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing. "You can use simple mouse controls to draw pictures with all sorts of colours and drawing tools," Nintendo said in a press release. "You can even create animated sequences and write music to add to your collage. Bring your very own video creations to life by combining animation and music with the art you've made!" While some gamers say they saw Mario Paint coming, others predicted what might be up next from Nintendo. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. "Excellent, I hope we get the 64DD Mario paint successors next," one wrote. A second speculated: "Wonder if Mario's Time Machine might be added next". A third demanded: "Now release Kirby's Block Ball next please," while a fourth boasted: "I knew this was coming the moment they showed the mouse function on joy-con 2, it's so obvious lol".
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Chief of War on Apple TV+: Everything you need to know about Jason Momoa's 10-year passion project
Jason Momoa has been working on Chief of War for a decade and the historical epic drama will finally be released later this week Jason Momoa is set to captivate audiences in the upcoming historical epic, Chief of War, where he not only stars but also takes on the roles of executive producer and co-writer. Touted as the next big hit following Game of Thrones, the Hawaiian-American icon, known for his roles in Aquaman and A Minecraft Movie, has been developing this project alongside showrunner Thomas Paʻa Sibbett for an impressive ten years. The inaugural nine-part season of Chief of War is set to make a grand entrance with a two-part premiere on Apple TV+ later this week, promising to unveil Hawaii's rich and tumultuous history like fans have never been seen before. Adding to the show's authenticity, the cast will deliver most of their lines in the native Ōlelo Hawai'i language, which Momoa admits was even more challenging to master than Dothraki. As we gear up for one of the most anticipated new historical dramas, let's delve into what we know about Chief of War, reports the Mirror US. What is Chief of War about? For the first time in a major television production, Chief of War shines a light on Hawaii during the pivotal 18th-19th Century era. Stepping into the shoes of Ka'iana, a renowned warrior of Hawaiian nobility, Game of Thrones star Momoa portrays the character's struggles with political power and encroaching Western settlers during a critical time for the Pacific Islands. His character, Ka'iana, becomes an iconic figure in Hawaiian lore after his travels abroad and subsequent return to engage in a fierce battle that will decide the destiny of his homeland. The series sets the stage with a synopsis stating: "The story begins at the turn of the 19th century when the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were in a state of war. "The series follows Kaʻiana, a warrior chief (aliʻi) of Kauaʻi who travels outside of the islands as the 'most famous Hawaiian in the world ', returns home and joins a bloody campaign until, at the last minute, he rebels against the unification of Hawaiʻi that took place from 1782 to 1810 under Kamehameha I." Who is in the cast of Chief of War? Jason Momoa takes centre stage as the infamous warrior Ka'iana, hot on the heels of his blockbuster appearances in Minecraft, Aquaman and Fast X. He's accompanied by a predominantly Polynesian ensemble, featuring both seasoned performers and emerging talent. The lineup boasts Star Wars legend and Momoa's Aquaman colleague Temuera Morrison as Chief Kahekili, The Night Agent's Luciane Buchanan as Kaʻahumanu and Avatar and The Meg's Cliff Curtis. Completing the supporting ensemble are fresh faces including Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Kaina Makua, Te Kohe Tuhaka and Moses Goods. Additional cast members comprise Siua Ikaleʻo, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Siaosi Fonua, Benjamin Hoetjes, and Erroll Shand. When will Chief of War be released? Anticipating fans won't have to wait much longer as Chief of War debuts this Friday, 1st August. The opening two episodes will drop at midnight. It will subsequently maintain a weekly release pattern of fresh episodes, continuing through until Friday, 19th September. While the drama was initially commissioned as an eight-episode miniseries, the inclusion of a ninth episode in the first series might suggest that Momoa and Sibbett have intentions for the drama to carry on. However, there's no confirmation about a second series at this point.
