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[Tripon]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...er-mario-how-nintendo-has-reinvented-its-star

Modernizing Mario has required upgrading graphics for a clearer, sharper image, while also consciously cultivating a secret inner life. He remains a man of few words: Each generation of players can use its imagination to decide the character’s personality.

“We thought he should be a character that’s free to do anything,” said Tezuka, who has worked on every Super Mario Bros. game since its debut in 1985. “Mario has to keep up with the times.”

“Through all the changes in devices and technologies, Nintendo has always specialized in producing a particular feeling of freedom when manipulating a character,” said Masanobu Endo, a professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University’s game department. “They set the standard.”

Miyamoto, who sits next to Tezuka and like everyone in the company save the president doesn’t have his own office, thought it was a great idea. Despite some misgivings about letting users experiment with one of Nintendo’s most precious brands, Super Mario Maker was released in September. It sold more than a million units within weeks. There are now more than 3.3 million courses, played more than 200 million times.

The game’s success is a testament to Nintendo’s ability to appeal to the latest generation of players despite the industry’s trend for increasingly cinematic, open titles. It is also a sign of enduring nostalgia among older gamers for the Mario of those early eight-bit days.

For Manuel Emch, the chief executive officer of luxury watchmaker Romain Jerome, Mario is a generational icon as well as a source of fond memories of his first trip to the U.S. The Swiss company collaborated with Nintendo on a $18,950 limited-edition timepiece featuring a pixelated Mario hand-painted mid-jump in cold enamel. Most of the 85 watches have sold out.“When I see the watch, it brings me immediately back to my childhood, the smell of popcorn we used to eat while playing,” Emch said. “Because it’s something that has evolved, it makes the original element even more powerful.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...er-mario-how-nintendo-has-reinvented-its-star

 

[TheRealTalker]

let us just say it was only a matter of time

Spoiler

love Mario Maker.... that watch is ugly though

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

let us just say it was only a matter of time

sure was, let's sit back and watch

 

[mikeskix]

Every second count.

 

[Rebel Leader]

I lik-

$20k?!?!!!!!

 

[Zoon]

About NX :“We feel quite strongly about creating things that are in sync with the times"

 

[Finale Fireworker]

I'm not sure how successful they have been yet. Not to diminish the success of Mario Maker, but it IS only one game.

I think they should have waited another couple years to make a claim like this.

 

[5taquitos]

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

 

[PSqueak]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You say that as if it would be a bad thing.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[nubbe]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You say that as a bad thing.

 

[Plinko]

You say that as if it would be a bad thing.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

I honestly can't think of any Mario game I'd want less.

 

[Mory Dunz]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

you bad like it's a say thing

 

[Eman Resu]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You say that like it's a thing

 

[Mariolee]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You thing say it's a bad that like.

 

[The Boat]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

One can dream.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

I honestly can't think of any Mario game I'd want less.

I dunno, How about a sequel to Mario is Missing?

 

[Plinko]

I dunno, How about a sequel to Mario is Missing?

That's a tossup.

 

[foxuzamaki]

This thread

 

[Peltz]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

Thing say bad you

 

[Supermanisdead]

of course its a bad thing, that game was aids

 

[@MUWANdo]

Uh, Nintendo didn't reinvent shit and nothing in this article supports that headline.

 

[TheBaldEmperor]

That's a tossup.

Yep.

No more 3D World, please.

 

[SalvaPot]

3D World > Mario Galaxy 2.

Yes, I said it.

 

[Gaiaknight]

Uh, Nintendo didn't reinvent shit and nothing in this article supports that headline.

mario maker is a big thing for the mario franchise for the first time nintendo put level design in the hands of the mario fanbase.

 

[Makki]

Mario 64>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mario Sunshine > 3D World > Mario Galaxy 2.

Yes, I said it.

Why yes, you are quite right.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

We should all be so lucky to get a 3d World 2. Absolute top tier game.

 

[EndlessFloydian]

$20k for a watch?

F*k that.

Also, NO 3DWorld 2, please. Give us some sort of hybrid of the Galaxies and Mario 64. Basically, more bigger explorable planets, and not so many smaller ones. Or something we could hardly fathom from a Mario game.

 

[Nanashrew]

Uh, Nintendo didn't reinvent shit and nothing in this article supports that headline.

Mario reinvents himself every generation and tries new things in their core titles rather than staying static like traditional sequels tend to do.

 

[Chezzymann]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

You are saying that as if you intend for this to be a negative thing.

 

[BubblegumCrisis]

3D World > Mario Galaxy 2.

Yes, I said it.

Well it is true after all. That said, Super Mario 64 is better than all of them.

 

[Mory Dunz]

I've never disliked a 3d Mario so I don't care what we get.

Same with Zelda.

 

[Nanashrew]

I've never disliked a 3d Mario so I don't care what we get.

Same with Zelda.

Same for me too.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Jeez, for a $20K watch you think they'd at least use different shapes for the bush and cloud.

 

[BKSmash]

Modernizing Mario by making his 3D adventures just like the 2D ones without much freedom, and releasing low content games (tennis) ?

 

[Russ T]

Damn that's a nice watch, I don't care if it's kinda tacky, I wa--

ALMOST TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

listen i know watches can get expensive but that doesn't mean i'm not surprised every time

 

[Mory Dunz]

Modernizing Mario by making his 3D adventures just like the 2D ones without much freedom, and releasing low content games (tennis) ?

you nailed it

 

[Ninja Scooter]

That watch looks like something a rapper would have worn in 2003.

 

[Mory Dunz]

That watch looks like something a rapper would have worn in 2003.

Fashion is cyclical. They should've just waited another 10 years before releasing it.

 

[king grimlock]

mario maker is a big thing for the mario franchise for the first time nintendo put level design in the hands of the mario fanbase.

I thought you could do that on PC unofficially for a while now?

 

[tengiants]

That watch is nice. I'd buy it if I had the kind of cash. Which is probably why I never will.

 

[Regiruler]

Miyamoto doesn't have his own office?

 

[Elfforkusu]

Can't wait for 3D Mario next year

Even though we know damn well it's 3D world 2

It will be Mario 64 2

And it will be glorious.

 

[bishoptl]

of course its a bad thing, that game was aids

What?

 

[Mory Dunz]

Miyamoto doesn't have his own office?

Yeah, I'm like what?

When they say only the president does, is that only for Japan? If not, would Reggie have one and not Miyamoto...?

 

[Sami+]

lmao at all the people shocked to see a watch at 20k

 

[Cheesemeister]

Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. wasn't around during the Genesis' time on the market.

 

[MrSaturn99]

Ignoring the insanely tired 3D World argument for a moment:

Miyamoto doesn't have his own office?

This surprised me too. Cultural difference?

 

[Mailenstein]

Miyamoto doesn't have his own office?

Not really unusual here in Japan.