Scholarly Post - Jon Bayens

In the past thirty years there has been an amazing leap in the graphics of games. Graphics have changed from very simple two-dimensional pixels on a screen into fully fledged high-polygonal three-dimensional models. One of the biggest pioneers in this journey has been the company Nintendo. Having released hundreds of games with many different characters at a glance a simple comparison in their appearance could be made; however, a much more interesting examination could be made about one of Nintendo's  most iconic characters which have survived throughout the years: Mario.

Interestingly the character of Mario first appeared in a game entitled, Donkey Kong. This game featured Jumpman, who had yet to be named Mario, climbing a series of ladders which dodging barrels to attempt to saved the damsel in distress. Since then Mario has appeared in over fifty different games. Because of this long career Mario has become one of the most iconic game characters.

 The creator behind this character is Shigeru Miyamoto. As a child living in a fairly rural region of Japan he was always exploring and experiencing the world in wonder. With this character and in his games he "has always tried to re-create his childhood wonderment." [1] It could be said that the success of Nintendo relied directly on the success of Miyamoto as he is "Nintendo's guiding spirit, its meal ticket." This directly places the character of Mario directly at the heart of the company.

Mario made his first three-dimensional appearance in Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 console. This third dimension had previously never been known to the Mario franchise. It allowed the game to develop and play in an entirely new way. Mario could now spiral up the side of a tower or navigate a jumping maze in which objects and paths could move in the z-dimension. It also meant that Mario would need to be able to move in a more realistic manner to fit the three-dimensional space. This also meant that a decision had to be made by Miyamoto as to whether the camera would remain fixed or be freely controlled by the user.

In more recent times it seems that Mario may be on a bit of a decline with New Super Mario Bros. 2. With it having turned from a puzzle game into a " 'grind for coins' to reach a lofty goal" [2] type of game. It seems that the developers have stopped taking the risks that had previous made Mario the success he is today.  According to Richard George "the game simply wasn't bold or brave enough." [3] Fortunately the Nintendo Wii counterpart of the game has proved to be much more fulfilling. It is "respectful of its heritage while adding numerous new ideas in what amounts to a fantastic mix." [4] The IGN reporter Richard George has claimed this to be one of the most anticipated titles for Nintendo's new Wii U.

Super Mario Bros (1985)

Wii U: New Super Mario Bros. U

Having been able to survive through so many years and so many games it is no wonder that Mario is one of the most recognized characters in video games today. Starting with his humble beginnings as Jumpman through flying through space in Super Mario Galaxy it appears that society will continue to see more of this super hero plumber for years to come.

1. Paumgarten, Nick "Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's man behind Mario, The New Yorker," December 20, 2010. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/12/20/101220fa_fact_paumgarten (accessed November 4, 2012).

2. George, Richard "The Redemption of New Super Mario Bros. U," October 30, 2012. http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/30/the-redemption-of-new-super-mario-bros-u (accessed November 4, 2012).

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

Edited.