Mario cover art through the years
September 28, 2016 3:37 PM   Subscribe

 
Kinda funny how "Mario flies near small planet" was a theme way before Mario Galaxy. In retrospect, it was a natural evolution.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:30 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


The art is consistent with the arcade cabinet side art it evolved from, although somewhat more refined.
posted by furtive at 7:27 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]




(missed this one)
posted by fmoralesc at 9:48 PM on September 28, 2016


I did not expect the swell of jubilation I experienced upon seeing the Super Mario Galaxy box for the first time in 8 years.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:23 PM on September 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


People now study Mario to try to figure out how to make a popular successful brandable character. They're going on about it all wrong -- Mario is the least marketable character! In Miyamoto's own words:

You know, people often look at Mario’s design and wonder, “how did this character, some weird old man, become so popular?” The reason is that games are ultimately all about fun, so a character like Mario was bound to be accepted by players. If we had named him “Herio” (“ヘリオ”) instead, I think the result would have been the same. (laughs) Mario has been a loyal partner for Nintendo, and maybe someday, a goal for us to surpass. (Source, the whole interview is great)
posted by JHarris at 12:13 AM on September 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


I did not expect the swell of jubilation I experienced upon seeing the Super Mario Galaxy box for the first time in 8 years.

Seriously, I always forget about what a flawless game that was.

...brb gonna go replay Galaxy.
posted by Itaxpica at 1:38 AM on September 29, 2016


People now study Mario to try to figure out how to make a popular successful brandable character. They're going on about it all wrong -- Mario is the least marketable character!

It's not that hard actually.
1) Come up with a number of gaming paradigm changers/masterpieces
2) Focus on 1)
posted by ersatz at 3:37 AM on September 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's even simpler than that, just make a game that's enjoyable! There are countless discarded marketable characters that went nowhere because their games were garbage: Bubsy, Gex, James Pond, even Crash Bandicoot and Earthworm Jim ultimately slid into the junk pile because their games didn't hold up. Arguably Sonic is there too, despite repeated efforts to drag him out on the strength of his early games. Mario is the icon he is because Nintendo has consistently put out quality games featuring him, games which have appealed to generation after generation.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 5:43 AM on September 29, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hmm, looking at Mr. Encyclopedia's list. All those characters have too much character. They are overwritten with quirkiness and taglines and personality (often borrowed from other familiar characters).

But Mario? There isn't much there, which leaves plenty of room for players to fill in on their own. Maybe that's the trick.
posted by notyou at 7:05 AM on September 29, 2016 [3 favorites]


Mario is a blank slate, a hollow shell programmed to feel only joy

Ya-hoooo! Ya-hoooo!
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:27 AM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]


And pain.
posted by ersatz at 10:57 PM on September 30, 2016


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