Fun Facts & Trivia

Introduction

In this post, I am going to share some secrets and behind the scenes content about the 1983 arcade game, Mario Bros. This arcade classic was created by legendary duo Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi, having been ported to many platforms and have several different versions. This game pretty much laid the groundwork for decades of gaming history.

Facts & Trivia

1. Mario's Outfit Swap

In the original arcade version, Mario wore red overalls and a blue shirt, which is the reverse of his modern look. His current color scheme (blue overalls, red shirt) was actually standardized in this game's NES port. The technical reason for the swap was often to make them pop against the black background of the arcade screens.

2. Mario's Plumber Identity

Mario is portrayed as a working-class plumber, establishing him as an everyday hero.

3. Origin of the Green Pipes

Miyamoto’s inspiration for the iconic green pipes came from his childhood memories of seeing waste grounds in mangas, where pipes were often left lying around. They were added specifically to keep enemies from piling up at the bottom of the screen.

4. Inspiration from Joust

Miyamoto stated that the game's two-player mode and some gameplay aspects were inspired by the 1982 arcade game Joust.

5. Slippery Floor Effect

The game utilizes a mechanic called the "slippery floor effect," which was an accident that resulted from hardware limitations. It does, however, add a unique challenge. This became the "Ice World" physics we still see in modern Mario games.

6. Groundwork for Future Titles

The game was a precursor to Super Mario Bros. (released in 1985), introducing key characters and elements.

7. The Game's Popularity

The game was not affected during the video game crash of 1983, being very popular in arcades and selling thousands of cabinets.

8. The Enemy-flipping Mechanic

The idea for flipping enemies came from Yokoi watching a cartoon turtle struggle after its shell was removed. He originally wanted to make an entire game just about removing shells from turtles, which evolved into the "hit from below" mechanic featured in the game. This led to the creation of the Shellcreeper.

9. The Iconic POW Block

The POW Block that stuns all onscreen enemies made its first appearance in this game, becoming a recurring item in the franchise.

10. Wraparound Physics

This is one of the few Mario games that features "wraparound" physics—walking off one edge of the screen makes characters reappear on the other side.

11. Startup Tune

Upon starting the first phase, you may hear a familiar tune from Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik. You may also recognize this theme if you play Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. This specific arrangement became a "victory" or "start" theme that persisted in several later titles.

12. The Game's Many Ports

While the game was ported to many systems like the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64, the Atari 8-bit computer version is famous for being the only home port to include the falling icicle hazard from the arcade original.

13. "Superhuman Abilities"

Yokoi suggested that Mario (and Luigi) should be able to fall from any height and survive. Miyamoto was initially skeptical, fearing it would make the game too easy, but eventually agreed to give the brothers "superhuman abilities."

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is "Vs. Super Mario Bros."?

This is a separate arcade version of the NES game. It is much harder than the home version, featuring different level layouts to encourage players to spend more quarters.

2. How much is an original cabinet worth?

Collectors often ask about the value of original machines; a working, good-condition cabinet typically sells for anywhere between $300 and $800.

Conclusion

Thanks for taking the time to view my list! Please be on the other lookout for fun facts and trivia for other games.