Nintendo's iconic character Mario was named after Mario Segale, who was ____.
Before he was "Mario," the character was known as "Jumpman" in the Donkey Kong game. His final name has a very practical origin.
The Name Origin:
- 🏢 In the early 1980s, Nintendo of America was struggling to pay rent for their warehouse in Washington.
- 👨💼 The landlord, Mario Segale, confronted the team about the late rent. After a heated discussion, he eventually agreed to give them more time.
- 💡 The staff decided to immortalize his name by naming their main character after him.
Design Secrets:
- 🧢 Mario's hat was added because hair was too difficult to animate with early 8-bit technology.
- 👨🏻 seal His mustache was added so his nose would be visible and his face would have character despite the limited pixels.