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Happy Birthday Mario

Posted by Zonk on from the he-can-almost-drink-beer dept.

Nintendo's official birthday for the stout plumber is September 13th, and today marks his 20th Anniversary. Via Kotaku, an Edge Online article celebrating the man's greatness. From the article: "Undoubtedly, you will have played at least one of those games - so let's talk about how far he's come, and why he's so great. In terms of his history, it's one filled with successes, and a few mysteries to boot. The working class hero has spent more time beating a fantasy tyrant to save royalty than he has on his serviceman job" Nintendo.jp also has a bunch of congratulatory messages from Japanese groups, all for the man in red. Update: 09/14 05:48 GMT by Z : Push the Buttons has a really great tribute to Nintendo's finest that I felt should be added to this post.

57 comments

  1. Dang, he's older than me :-P by dxprog · · Score: 1

    However, he's given us 20 years of revolutionary gameplay. Go, Mario!

    --
    DxBlog - It's where you want to be
  2. Age by turtled · · Score: 1

    Even my 4 year old son knows who Mario is. Awesome staple in video game history.

    --
    "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
    1. Re:Age by ZakuSage · · Score: 1, Funny

      Well would your son know who he is if Nintendo didn't whore Mario out in 6 - 12 games a year?

    2. Re:Age by Edgewize · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Why is it whoring? So far, every game Mario has appeared in (with the exception of EA's Street titles) has been fun, simple to learn, and full of familiar characters who have consistant traits. Bowser is always slow and powerful, Mario is always a good all-around player, etc.

      If "Mario Power Curling" hits the shelves, does that somehow mean that Mario's next platformer is going to be any worse? No. You might not want to buy it, but where's the problem?

  3. I used to love Mario... by FlameTroll · · Score: 0

    Till I started playing aginst him in SSBM. You hit him and he just floats there. #$%#$%!! Mario. 'Course his Girlfriend is quite a Peach, if you know what I mean;-) *winkwink* *nudgenudge*

    --
    A simple Troll, born of Rock and Fire, leaving in the basement of my parents volcano and typing on an asbestos keyboard.
  4. Naturally... by tavaryn · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...everyone forgets Luigi's birthday. Such is the life of the OTHER sibling.

    1. Re:Naturally... by RoadDoggFL · · Score: 1

      If Luigi's the OTHER sibling then who's the first?

      ...Yoshi?

      --
      "This is considered plagiarism."
    2. Re:Naturally... by Idealius · · Score: 1

      ..

      "Other" from a third party perspective. So, of the two one is luigi and the OTHER is Mario.

    3. Re:Naturally... by RoadDoggFL · · Score: 1
      " ...everyone forgets Luigi's birthday. Such is the life of the OTHER sibling."
      So then if Mario's the other sibling, he's the forgotten one?

      It was a joke.
      --
      "This is considered plagiarism."
    4. Re:Naturally... by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 1

      Luigi's okay with it. He can jump higher and has no weight problems.

      'I'ma Luigi! Numbera one!'

      --
      "I only speak the truth"
      Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
  5. Shigs by reclusivemonkey · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Its Shigeru Miyamoto, not Mario, that is the real magic here. Mario 64 was so good it still makes me want to weep. This was the first 3D environment I was totally immersed in. It wasnt a little italian plumber running around in there; it was me.

    1. Re:Shigs by bleaknik · · Score: 2, Funny

      It was a me... Mario!

      --
      Deja Vu
      n. 1. The sensation that you've read this very article before.
  6. Also happy birthday Zonk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Since your birthday is coming up, we wanted to wish you a good one, because this will be your last birthday before you get Bonked and replaced by TripMaster Monkey as Games editor. We sure hope you enjoy it.

    Oh, and speaking of TMM, we asked him what he was going to do for your birthday and he said ^_^

    Love from the Slashdot crowd.

    --
    Trolling all trolls since 2001.

  7. Grasping at straws... by Rahga · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Especially since Super Mario Brothers is a sequal to the Mario Brothers arcade game, I must say... I think Nintendo is doing this because their marketing people were not quite on the ball back in 2003. You know, dealing with Gamecube troubles, the shallow feed trough of recycled mascots....

    1. Re:Grasping at straws... by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Mario Bros is barely related to Super Mario Bros, completely different gameplay. The only thing they have in common is the Mario character which was designed more out of necessity than creativity and maybe one or two enemies that have been kept.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Grasping at straws... by Traegorn · · Score: 0

      Don't forget Mario previously appeared in Donkey Kong before that too.

      --
      TRHOnline - Staggering Towards Brilliance
    3. Re:Grasping at straws... by cornface · · Score: 1

      Yes, in one Mario and Luigi run and jump through sewers killing turtles and those spiky things. In the other they run and jump through sewers killing turtles and those spiky things.

      Totally different!

    4. Re:Grasping at straws... by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      There are no turtles in Mario Bros. At least I didn't see any outside of the GBA remakes (I played the PC and C64 versions, neither had turtles). The game has killing all enemies as your objective and the only way to do so is to bump the platform they're standing on to turn them over and then kicking them. In SMB the goal is to move to the right and most enemies are disposed of by jumping on their heads or torching them with fireballs. You can still hit the ground under them but it's a minor part of the game.

      Also, SMB doesn't really include sewers, it's only some underground structure but doesn't seem to be a sewer.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    5. Re:Grasping at straws... by cornface · · Score: 1

      The Adventures of KDR_11k in "Way Too Serious Land!"

      Coming soon to a console near you...

  8. Mario's full name by geekguy · · Score: 1

    I seem to remember Mario's full name being Mario Mario, Luigi's name would be Luigi Mario, hence the term Mario Brothers.

    --
    -- Any comments seen here are not mine, but a mixture of alchohol and lack of sleep.
    1. Re:Mario's full name by Idealius · · Score: 1

      Wikipedia agrees.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario

    2. Re:Mario's full name by Short+Circuit · · Score: 3, Informative

      Desk Sergeant: Name.
      Mario: Mario.
      Desk Sergeant: Last name.
      Mario: Mario.
      Desk Sergeant: And you?
      Luigi: Luigi.
      Desk Sergeant: Luigi Luigi?
      Luigi: No, Luigi Mario.
      Desk Sergeant: Okay how many Marios are there between the two of you?
      Luigi: Three: Mario Mario and Luigi Mario.

      It may not have been a hit, but I liked the movie.

      --
      tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  9. I drink to your health Mario by klack · · Score: 1

    Too bad that you can't drink to your own health anywhere you want until next year.

    1. Re:I drink to your health Mario by elwin_windleaf · · Score: 1

      Does that mean that we're only one year away from the highly anticipated release of "Mario BeerPong"?

    2. Re:I drink to your health Mario by trouser · · Score: 1

      Don't forget that in the rest of the world you can drink in bars when you're 14 and have non-consensual intercourse with carpet snakes and all sorts of good stuff. Big it up for the rest of the world, without which none of this would have been possibles.

      --
      Now wash your hands.
    3. Re:I drink to your health Mario by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Mario was born in Japan and in Japan the drinking age is 27 IIRC.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:I drink to your health Mario by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's 20.

  10. Umm, since when? by geminidomino · · Score: 1

    Back in the late 80's, Nintendo power had a calendar that said Mario's birthday was October 12. I remember because it was 2 days before my father's who is, coincidentally, also named Mario...

    I wish I still had the magazine.

  11. Hey by Wilson_6500 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I guess I have a celebrity birthday. To celebrate, I'm posting on Slashdot. What a crazy life I lead.

  12. hoskins/leguizamo by Bloodspork · · Score: 1

    In terms of his history, it's one filled with successes not including the movie...

  13. Mario Rap by technoextreme · · Score: 1, Interesting
    Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side Come on, it's time to go, do the Mario! Take one step, and then again Let's do the Mario, all together now! You got it! It's the Mario! Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side Come on, it's time to go, do the Mario! Take one step, and then again Let's do the Mario, all together now! Come on now, just like that!
    --
    Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
    1. Re:Mario Rap by klack · · Score: 1

      That was weird.

    2. Re:Mario Rap by technoextreme · · Score: 1

      I didn't make it up. The Mario Rap was from one of the shows that featured Mario. It may have been the live action version.

      --
      Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
    3. Re:Mario Rap by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 1

      The full Mario Rap lyrics

      http://www.cfhf.net/lyrics/super-mario-bro.htm

      Only the last part was sung Lou Albano, not the first two.

      --

      Technoli
  14. Patents by Chemisor · · Score: 1

    Now would also be a good time to celebrate the expiration of any patents that existed for that game. We're sure to see some innovation in the field of platformers now! :)

  15. Oh my by Kuku_monroe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lets all celebrate Marios Birthday buying a GameBoy Micro!

    --
    //WR
    1. Re:Oh my by JamesInsomniac · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm not that big of a fanboy! The Micro looks like a smaller GBA. Does Nintendo really expect us to purchase 3 versions of the same system (The GBA, GBA SP, and the Micro)??

    2. Re:Oh my by cornface · · Score: 1

      Does Nintendo really expect us to purchase 3 versions of the same system (The GBA, GBA SP, and the Micro)??

      They are actually releasing it in the hopes that nobody will buy it.

      So sneaky!

    3. Re:Oh my by Kuku_monroe · · Score: 1

      Exactly, they did that with the VirtualBoy, and know they are trying it again with the micro.

      --
      //WR
    4. Re:Oh my by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Works for Apple now doesn't it?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  16. More than 20 years by jackbird · · Score: 1
    That's a crock.

    Donkey Kong was released in 1981. And Donkey Kong Jr. was the included cartridge for the Colecovision in 1982, after it had been in arcades for a while.

    And that's not even mentioning Donkey Kong 3 and Mario Bros.

    So Mario is only 20 years old if you ignore 4 arcade games and at least 1 console release.

    1. Re:More than 20 years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      20th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. not Mario the character.

  17. MarioKart by Deanasc · · Score: 1, Funny

    I've always wanted to eat a big handful of acid and play the rainbow level of Super Mario Kart.

    --
    I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
    1. Re:MarioKart by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why didn't you?

      It's fun. Not as fun as driving a golf cart through the rainbow tunnel in California Speed for the N64, but fun, none the less.

  18. He's the best anti-piracy gimmick EVER. by Hitto · · Score: 1

    Here's to you, ol' buddy. Whenever I saw you in the store, you were BOUGHT. Because you deserved every penny, because you always shattered past records. Okay, almost, but I'll let that "sunshine" business slide for today. Everyone has coming of age problems. I celebrated today, at lunch, by whipping out my GBASP in front of everyone and finishing SMB in a speed run. Damn, it still is FUN. Okay, some more fanboy spiel : Actually, it's pretty sad. Twenty years later, and still no other platformer has come close to anything Nintendo has ever done. Hell, Shigeru could crap in a cartridge and I'd still buy it! Why is it so? What do the others LACK? Come on, you bandicoots, you raymen, you hedgehogs, don't give me any crap, tell me why you aren't as iconic as the plump italian plumber!

  19. Next year is going to be boring... by MagicDude · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, what's Mario going to do on his 21st birthday? Going to bars is going to be pretty lame compared to his last 20 years of doing shrooms and other "magical plants" that give him various powers.

  20. Wrong anniversary by earthbound+kid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Today (actually in Japan time, yesterday) is the 20th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. But Mario debuted in the American Donkey Kong arcade game in '81 or so. After that, there was the game in which he and Luigi fought crabs in underground pipes, Mario Bros. The game Super Mario Bros. came much later than either of those.

    Of course, Super Mario Bros. did rock socks, so it's worth celebrating on its own. But it's important for us to know what exactly we're celebrating.

  21. NINTENDO PEOPLE CAN NOT COUNT HAHAHAH by i_ate_god · · Score: 1

    hahahahaa

    2005 - 1983 = 22

    Yes, this means that nintendo is off by two years. It explains why they came out with the N64 while Sony was kicking their ass.

    --
    I'm god, but it's a bit of a drag really...
    1. Re:NINTENDO PEOPLE CAN NOT COUNT HAHAHAH by basscomm · · Score: 1
      From the article in question:

      "Although he made his debut in 1981's Donkey Kong, Nintendo has pronounced today, September 13, as Mario's official birthday. It's 20 years since his first proper adventure, Super Mario Bros. was released for the Famicom in Japan."
      --
      http://crummysocks.com
    2. Re:NINTENDO PEOPLE CAN NOT COUNT HAHAHAH by i_ate_god · · Score: 1

      Point taken, however Mario Brothers was his first real debut, not donkey kong. So I disagree with nintendo's timing.

      His first real adventure was his first real game named after him and his loyal brother Luigi.

      --
      I'm god, but it's a bit of a drag really...
  22. You can watch him TV too... by antdude · · Score: 1

    Yahoo! has his old TV shows from the old days. He looked a lot older than 20 back then. ;)

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  23. The stuff you accept as a kid... by Nerdposeur · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I was playing some Mario 3 the other day on a friend's NES, and realized what screwy concepts abound in the game. You're an Italian plumber out to rescue a princess in a land ruled by mushrooms and lizards. If you get a feather, that turns you into - of course - a racoon, which logically would help you fly.

    Loony Toons are also funnier to me now. I used to take it for granted that you could unfold an Acme Hole and lay it on the ground as a trap, but now I realize how creative those cartoonists were to bend reality so much.

    1. Re:The stuff you accept as a kid... by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      It's the leaf that gives you the tanuki (that's a racoon-like creature in japanese mythology) power, the feather gives you a cape.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  24. Woo-Hoo! by Bob-o-Matic! · · Score: 1

    I am looking forward to the US release of Mario Cocktail Party Game.

  25. Great day for me by Jakeypants · · Score: 1

    Hey, that's awesome. September 13 is also my birthday, programmer's day (and I'm a programmer), and my half anniversary with my girlfriend.

  26. The big N's Birthday is coming up, too! by MyDixieWrecked · · Score: 1

    also, don't forget that Nintendo's birthday is on 9/24 (116 years old this year).

    jesus. Who woulda thunk that a videogame company would be older than consumer electronics?

    --



    ...spike
    Ewwwwww, coconut...
  27. It was available earlier that summer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NYC and near-by areas could get the NES and SMB (and many other games) as early as July 1985.