Here’s something I learned recently. Super Mario was originally named Jumpman. Do you think the game would have been big with the name Jumpan? Or should we ask what William Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” Mario got the name because the original character looked like Mario Segale, a caretaker at the New York City office where the game was programmed. I read that on the Internets so I know it to be true.

Mario was the first game that got me into video games, my gateway to Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Tecmo Football. I have a special place for Mario, the sound effects, and the music.

Here’s a list of some things that I learned from Mario:

• • Use your head at all times
  • Turtles should be jumped on or fire-balled although I love turtles
  • Stars make you invincible
  • Mushrooms make you taller
  • Donkey Kong hates barrels
  • If you play the game long enough, you get the girl in the end

Thanks, Mario!