Computer game Super Mario Bros. Forty years ago in Japan for Nintendo’s game computer appeared and became a world hit. The way worlds and secrets were designed still see experts in new games. Why does the game industry build on this very old game?
The game appeared in Japan on September 13, 1985 and is not the first adventure of the character. Arcadehal games Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. already appeared in the early 1980s and were both a success. But Super Mario Bros. was a follow -up that only came out for the GameConsole of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). With that, Mario entered the living room worldwide and 40 million pieces were sold.
Super Mario Bros. Was put together differently than other games. It was not just about playing the level and achieving the highest score. The game immersed you in a surprisingly mysterious world to explore.
The goal of Super Mario Bros. Is simple: you control the main character from left to right and avoid enemies and abandonment by jumping over it. At the end is a flagpole that you have to touch to play the level. It was technically very clever how Nintendo worked it out in practice.
“At that time, games usually took place on one screen, such as Pacman ,” says Willem Hilhorst, game archivist at the Museum Sound & Sound. “At Super Mario Bros. the image scrolled along so that you got a smooth open world with every level. Games in Arcadehallen were technically superior and looked nicer, but they didn’t get such a smooth world.”
‘Mario brought back my fascination for gaming’
Hilhorst preserves Dutch games for the museum to protect them for new generations. Super Mario Bros. Is there too, because he makes an exception for foreign games that were real milestones.
“It is still fun to play and it keeps surprising you, with new theme worlds and hidden underground areas.” According to the archivist, the game encourages you to discover. In the time for the internet, players physically visited each other to exchange secrets.
Those secrets also stimulated Jurjen Tiersma, a game journalist who has been closing Nintendo for thirty years. “The first thing you see in the game is a block with a question mark. What is in it? How do you open it? Later you even find invisible blocks that make plants grow to secret levels.”
The game was “a revelation” for Tiersma. “To be honest, as a young adult, I had been bored with the arcade hall for a while. Mario brought back my fascination for gaming.”
Ask help via the Nintendo game line
From 1992, Tiersma worked for the Nintendo game line for a number of years. That was a telephone help desk that set up the company to help gamers to get secrets and make difficult passages of games.
Tiersma had to play the Nintendo games from start to finish and help people over the phone. Super Mario Bros. was often mentioned. “They always looked for the secret warpzone in World 1-2. That is a room with green tubes that you sent to other worlds. That way you could play the game quickly.”
Tiersma often had to pass on the road to the ‘minus world’ to callers. Due to unreliable rumors, this often led to disappointment among callers. “Players thought it was a secret world with levels, which you could only reach with a very complicated jump. It was a programming error, so you were stuck in that world.”
Super Mario Bros. still inspires games
Nintendo still hits mint from the forty -year -old game. Super Mario Bros. You can play via an online subscription on newer game computers such as the Switch. Tiersma and Hilhorst think that children are more likely to play new Mario games. Super Mario Bros. Wonder from 2023 is the last direct sequel to the NES classic. “It looks much nicer and contains considerably more secrets,” says Tiersma.
Of all Super Mario games together, almost 500 million copies have been sold. If your supporting roles are included in other games, such as Mario Kart , then it goes towards the one billion cassettes and downloads sold.
The Nintendo mascot has considerably more competition than in 1985. Many children now prefer to play online games that are constantly being expanded with new content, such as Minecraft , Roblox and Fortnite.
“But every modern game still has a little bit of Mario-DNA in itself,” says Hilhorst. “They bring a credible world to the screen and stop it full of secrets for the player. Making the running and jumping animations fun for gamers alone. For that, developers keep looking at Super Mario Bros with a slanted eye.”
The video game Super Mario Bros. Was released Forty Years ago in Japan for Nintendo’s Game Console and Became a Worldwide hit. Experts Still See the Way Worlds and Secrets Were Designed in New Games. Why Does the Game Industry Continue to Build on this Ancient Game?
The Game was released on September 13, 1985 in Japan and is not the character’s first adventure. Arcade Hall Games Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. Were released in The Early 1980S and Were Both Successful. But Super Mario Bros. Was a sequel that was only released for the nintendo entertainment system (NES) game console. With This, Mario Entered Living Rooms Worldwide and 40 Million Copies Were Sold.
Super Mario Bros. Was different from other games. It was no longer just about Completing the Level and Achieving the Highest Score. The Game Immersed You in A Surprisingly Mysterious World to Explore.
The Goal of Super Mario Bros. is simple: you control the main character from left to right and avoid enemies and abysses by jumping over them. At the end there is a flagpole that you must touch to complete the level. It was Technically Very Clever How Nintendo Worked That Out in practice.
“In Those Days, Games Usually Tok Place One Screen, Like Pacman ,” Says Willem Hilhorst, Game Archivist at the Sound & Sound Museum. “With Super Mario Bros. , the image scrolled along so that you got a smooth open world with every level. Games in Arcade Halls Were technically superior and looked nicer, but they could be a smooth world.”
‘Mario Brought Back My Fascination for Gaming’
Hilhorst Preserves Dutch Games for the Museum to Protect Them for New Generations. Super Mario Bros. Is also included, because he makes an exception for foreign games that Were Real Milestones.
“It’s still fun to play and it keeps surprising you, with new them worlds and hidden underground areas.” Accordance to the archivist, the game encourages you to discover. In The Time Before the Internet, Players Physically Sought Each Other Out to Exchange Secrets.
Those secrets also stimulated jurjen tiersma, a game journalist who has leg following nintendo closely for thirty years. “The first thing you see in the game is a block with a question mark. What’s in there? How do you open it? Later you find invisible blocks from which plants grow that lead to secret levels.”
The Game was “A Revelation” for Tiersma. “Frankly, as a young adult I had leg tired of the arcade hall for a while. Mario Brought back my fascination for gaming.”
Asking for Help via The Nintendo Games Line
Tiersma Worked for the Nintendo Games Line for a Number of Years from 1992. That was a telephone help desk that the company set up to help gamers get throgh secrets and difficult passages of games.
Tiersma had to play the nintendo games from start to finish and help people over the phone. Super Mario Bros. or came up. “They were always looking for the secret warp zone in world 1-2. That is a room with green pipes that sent you to other worlds. That way you could finish the game quickly.”
Tiersma also or had to pass on the road to the ‘minus world’ to callers. Unreliable Rumors or Led to Disappointment Among callers. “Players thought it was a secret world with levels, which you could only reach with a very complicated jump. It was a programming error, so you were stuck in that world.”
Super Mario Bros. Still Inspires Games
Nintendo is still cashing in on the forty-year-old game. You can play Super Mario Bros. Via an online subscription on newer game consoles such as the switch. Tiersma and Hilhorst Think That Children are More Likely to Play New Mario Games. Super Mario Bros. Wonder from 2023 is the latest Sequel to the Nes Classic. “It looks much nicer and contains significantly more secrets,” Says Tiersma.
Nearly 500 Million Copies of All Super Mario Games Combined Have Been Sold. If you include supporting roles in Other Games, Such as Mario Kart , It Goes Towards One Billion Cassettes and Downloads Sold.
The Nintendo Mascot Has Significantly More Competition Than In 1985. Many Children Now Prefer to Play Online Games That Are Constantly Being Expanded With New Content, Such As Minecraft , Roblox and Fortnite.
“But every modern game still has a little bit of Mario DNA woven into it,” Says Hilhorst. “They bring a credible world to the screen and fill it with secrets for the player. Just making the running and jumping animations fun for gamers. For that, developers are constantly looking askance at super mario bros. “