Nintendo unveiled Super Mario Bros. on Sep. 13, 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, launching one of most famous characters in video game history. Nearly 30 years after designer Shigeru Miyamoto created the chubby plumber in red overalls, he continues to make games that are complex yet easy-to-learn, including the brand new Super Mario Maker.
Miyamoto explained that the secret to Mario's popularity is his big nose and moustache, according to Los Angeles Times. Since 1985 he has since helped to create several other titles featuring the Italian-American including the recent Super Mario 3D World.
Chris Pratt is a game designer and New York University (NYU) instructor. He described Miyamoto as a jazz pianist who uses basic tools to get incredible results.
Pratt explained that video games in the early 1980s featured arcade hits such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. In However, Mario became a famous character like Mickey Mouse.
In comparison, today's titles on Xbox and PlayStation consoles take hours to learn, and require complex controller combos that include a dozen buttons. Mario just runs and jumps.
Nintendo released Super Mario Maker, which allows players to make their own levels from past Super Mario titles, on September 11, Friday. It includes several features of games that Miyamoto helped to develop, including The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong.
Miyamoto's games are usually playful and complex, yet easy to understand. That is true of the newest Mario game, in which players can quickly start experimenting in its magical world.
Game designer Richard Lemarchand is an associate professor at University of Southern California (USC) Games. He described Miyamoto as an excellent teacher who instructs by allowing gamers to play, rather than giving them a lecture.
Pratt mentioned that Super Mario Bros. is about the illogical action of jumping on stuff in a surreal world. However, the game is so fun that people are oblivious to that fact.
Nintendo has sold over 310 million Mario games since the 1985 release of Super Mario Bros., according to Bangkok Post. Super Mario Bros. tops the list at over 40 million units.
This video shows the ending of Super Mario Bros.: