Latest news with #NES
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fans only just finding out how Super Mario got his name and are stunned
The iconic video game character Super Mario has been a household name for decades - but he could have been known as something very different if it wasn't for a landlord 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.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Lego Game Boy is so accurate even the advert is the same
A 1:1 recreation of the original Game Boy is the latest Lego Nintendo set, and it comes with two game cartridges and a hilarious ad. We hate to make you feel old, but the original Game Boy came out over 36 years ago now. It was outdated tech even when it first arrived but because it was the first viable portable console, with some great games, it went on to sell over 100 million units and remains iconic today, even to people that have probably never even seen one in real life. The Game Boy is the definitive portable console and now… there's a Lego version of it. It doesn't work, of course, but it does look just like the real thing and, unlike a lot of Lego sets, it isn't that expensive, at £54.99. It follows in an increasingly long line of Lego recreations of gaming hardware, starting with a brick-built NES and also including an Atari 2600 and a working (thanks to a crank on the side) Pac-Man arcade cabinet. The Game Boy set is exactly the same size as the original and comes with buildable cartridges of Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which can be slotted into the back. (Tetris would've been a more obvious choice, but that would've involved Lego securing an additional licence). Rather than a single display, the only thing that's not a Lego brick is three interchangeable bits of plastic to show either the start screen or Zelda or Super Mario Land gameplay. The set also comes with a brick-built stand for the console itself, and whichever cartridge isn't slotted into it. It all looks amazingly authentic, not least because the Game Boy was always very chunky and suits being made out of Lego. 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. In fact, it's so authentic that Lego has recreated the original US advert for the Game Boy on Instagram, complete with a man in robot suit made out of Lego bricks. To be honest, we don't remember if this ad was used in the UK or not. The only ones we remember for the Game Boy involved Rick Mayall, which unsurprisingly Lego has not recreated. The Lego Game Boy is set number 72046 and will go on sale, at Lego stores and the Lego website, on October 1. If you're worried it's going to sell out though, it is already up for pre-order online. More Trending Lego and Nintendo have had a close relationship for years now, with a line of Super Mario toys aimed primarily at adults and more expensive sets aimed at adults, that also includes a giant Mario Kart model and an animated one based on Super Mario World. To what degree Lego has the rights, or the inclination, to make sets based on other franchises has never been clear, but they've had an ongoing Animal Crossing line for a few years now and a new one based on Pokémon that's due next year. They also have a big adult-orientated set based on The Legend Of Zelda but so far no indication as to whether there'll be more. But then one of the reasons the two seem to get on so well is that they both love their secrecy. Although they do sometimes tease sets quite a way in advance, as the Game Boy one was first hinted at back in February. 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: Games Inbox: Why has the Nintendo Switch 2 been so successful? MORE: Two new racers coming to Mario Kart World hints Donkey Kong credits MORE: PS6 handheld is real suggests new PS5 power saver mode
The Verge
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Nintendo adds new 8-bit bops.
Posted Jul 22, 2025 at 8:53 AM UTC Nintendo adds new 8-bit bops. Switch Online subscribers can now access more than 200 new tracks from NES and Famicom games via the Nintendo Music app, including Mario Bros ., Duck Hunt , Wrecking Crew , and a handful of Donkey Kong titles. That gives you some retro tunes to listen to while playing Donkey Kong Bananza .
Geek Tyrant
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Weird Al Yankovic's Lost Nintendo Game Is Real and It's Gloriously Insane — GeekTyrant
Turns out Weird Al Yankovic actually helped develop his own Nintendo game. A newly uncovered, unreleased NES title features the polka legend in full 8-bit chaos, taking fans on a playable tour of his off-the-wall career. In this rare gem, you don't just record hits, you do it in a public restroom. You'll launch tuna casserole at street thugs, battle goons with spatulas, and dodge raining poodles like it's a normal Tuesday. In this video from Doogtoons, Weird Al' Yankovic himself as he guides you through the bonkers 8-bit adventure. Oh, and yeah, and of course, Conan the Librarian makes a deadly cameo, return those books on time or suffer the overdue consequences. It's Weird Al at his weirdest, digitized and cranked to eleven.
Tom's Guide
03-07-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
I review TVs for a living — here's why I don't let my daughter watch any of them
I grew up in front of the television, which, for most of my life, was a 19-inch Magnavox CRT TV — a far cry from the Samsung S95D OLED I watch now. The way my mom tells it, she plopped me in front of Sesame Street starting at two weeks old and never gave it a second thought. In her eyes, having kids huddled around the TV was the norm in the '80s and '90s, and she felt good knowing that at least I was watching informative educational TV rather than something geared for older audiences. Around 12 months ago, I became a father to an adorable little girl — and she wants nothing more than to watch any one of the 10 TVs I have stationed around the house. But that's not going to happen. At least not until she's much older. Here's why. I wasn't always so staunchly opposed to my daughter watching TV. While she was recovering at Oishei Children's Hospital here in Buffalo, I would put the TV on in her room so she'd have some background noise in the hopes she'd feel less alone when I left for the night. But when she came home, my wife and I decided that TV shows — no matter how educational — shouldn't be part of her everyday routine. And science backs that up. 'Pediatric guidelines from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest avoiding screen media for children under 18 months, except for video chatting,' says Rachel Kowert, PhD, a research psychologist and digital parenting expert at Nurture. Around age 2, limited and high-quality screen time can be introduced — especially when it's used with a caregiver That's been difficult, especially considering that my job here at Tom's Guide requires a constant parade of TVs coming into and going out of the house. Thankfully, it won't have to be that way forever. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Around age 2, limited and high-quality screen time can be introduced — especially when it's used with a caregiver,' Dr. Kowert says. 'Still, less than an hour is best.' It wasn't long after I started watching TV that I picked up an NES controller. Before I learned how to read, I could beat the first few levels of Super Mario Bros. and give my brother's friends a run for their money in Tecmo Super Bowl. These days, however, most kids' first introduction to gaming is via a tablet or phone. As a newish parent that concerns me — playing a console had a specific time and place. But phones and tablets can be taken anywhere, which means kids can request to play games at inappropriate times at inappropriate places. That's a possible concern, says Dr. Kowert, but parents really set the tone for their kids. 'Screen time works best for kids and parents when it's intentional. Even if that intention is just entertaining so mom or dad can make dinner, or more complex like teaching critical thinking skills, the intent matters. 'When kids understand that screens have different purposes — some for learning, some for relaxing, some for connecting — they build healthy habits around media use.' I don't think I'll be able to keep my daughter from using screens indefinitely, obviously, and I'm looking forward to introducing her to a PC when the time's right. But the time just isn't right for her right now. Both can support learning, development, and just living, in different ways. According to Dr. Kowert, the 'games vs. shows' question comes up a lot: 'The truth is, both can support learning, development, and just living, in different ways. Games are typically more interactive. They ask kids to make choices, solve problems, and practice skills actively. That kind of engagement is great for building critical thinking and reinforcing early concepts through repetition and play.' Of course, my mom wasn't totally in the wrong by letting me watch TV — especially because she was choosing shows that were great for early brain development. Thoughtful shows, especially ones like Sesame Street, also have tremendous value, especially for modeling kindness, cooperation, and early academic skills. 'Thoughtful shows, especially ones like Sesame Street, also have tremendous value, especially for modeling kindness, cooperation, and early academic skills … They also offer a shared cultural experience that many families value and enjoy together.' It should be noted here that Nurture is itself a learning app that's aimed at kids aged 4-7 to teach them 'essential life skills through engaging, story-driven play.' She's spent the last 15 years conducting data-driven research focused on mental health and trust and safety in digital games, so you might hear a slightly different story from someone with less knowledge in the visual media space. Still, Dr. Kowert's claims are backed up by years of research conducted by universities like NYU and the University of Burlington, who all say that games are far more beneficial than they are harmful to a child's development. When I asked specifically about how to prevent my daughter from becoming a so-called 'iPad Kid,' Dr. Kowert had some reassuring advice that all parents need to hear. If it becomes a crutch, not a tool, there's probably a good reason to rein it in. But 'iPad kid' oversimplifies the relationship kids have with screens. 'Parents tend to have a really strong feeling when screen time feels like 'too much.' If it becomes a crutch, not a tool, there's probably a good reason to rein it in. But 'iPad kid' oversimplifies the relationship kids have with screens. Kids are drawn to them because they're fun, rewarding, and stimulating. So we just have to be very intentional about what's on that screen and why they're reaching for it.' Finally, when it comes time to put them down for the night, set clear expectations and give verbal warnings that it's time to power down. These won't always go over well, obviously, but when we as parents snatch tablets away too quickly, we're almost always going to get a negative response. According to Dr. Kowert, this is like someone snatching a donut away from you mid-bite. 'Just like we'd be annoyed if someone snatched a donut from our grip right as we had another bite, kids won't enjoy having the screen turned off without warning or too suddenly … Giving them 5, 2, and 1-minute warnings is one way we can help them stay aware of the passage of time and ease out of their high-focus state.' Admittedly, this is the part I'm least looking forward to — but sadly it's part of being a responsible parent in a time when we've got screens everywhere in the house. Ultimately, I'm excited to introduce my little one to the world of big-screen entertainment. I'm dreaming of the day when we can sit down together for some all-day gaming sessions, but for her health, I'm going to adhere to Dr. Kowert's advice and keep her away from screens for at least another six months before slowly introducing them in a responsible manner.
