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Gamers across the globe have been left gobsmacked after discovering the origins of Nintendo’s iconic character, Mario.
The beloved Italian plumber, along with his brother Luigi, has been a staple in Nintendo’s gaming universe for decades, featuring in the massively popular Super Mario series and the addictive Mario Kart franchise.
Created by the legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario’s adventures typically involve him dashing through Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil Bowser, with an ever-expanding cast of characters joining the fray over time.
Mario burst onto the scene in 1981 with the release of Donkey Kong. Initially dubbed Mr Video and Jumpman, a twist during the development of Donkey Kong led to a significant name change for the character.
A recent post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by @historyinmemes revealed how Nintendo’s emblematic figure was named after the American entrepreneur Mario Segale. Back in 1981, Nintendo was leasing a warehouse from Segale in Tukwila, Washington State, but had fallen behind on the rent.
Rather than showing Nintendo the door, Segale showed patience, allowing the company time to settle its dues. In a gesture of gratitude, Nintendo chose to immortalise the landlord by naming its main character Mario. This tidbit was confirmed by Miyamoto in a 2015 interview.
Segale himself made light of the situation in a 1993 interview with The Seattle Times, joking: “You might say I’m still waiting for my royalty checks.” Unfortunately, Segale passed away at his Tukwila residence in 2018, aged 84.
Reacting on social media, one X user: “Have never heard this before. Super Mario Bros on Nintendo kicked it all off. What a way to make a name for himself with generosity.” Another user said: “Imagine an iconic character being named after you jeez.”
A third wrote: “Second chances can sometimes make you a legend.” While a fourth chimed in with: “I love stories like this.”