Did You Know?

The Nintendo Company is more than a century old. Its first product was playing cards.

Charles Martinet was the voice of Mario for Super Mario 64.

In Super Mario 64, Course 14, Star 2 is called The Pit and the Pendulums. This was named after a short story by Edgar Allen Poe called "The Pit and the Pendulum."

In Super Mario 64, Course 3 is called Jolly Roger Bay. Did you know "Jolly Roger" is the skull and crossbones flag formerly flown by pirates?

Just like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, MIPS the Rabbit in Super Mario 64 is "Late, late, late..."

Easton, the third world of Super Mario Land, is based on the real life Easter Island, complete with the big-headed statues.

Boo Diddley, the ghost seen in many Mario games, was named after the 1950's rock & roll singer Bo Diddley.

Frogfucius from Super Mario RPG was named after the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Mario was named after the owner of the Nintendo warehouse (Mario Segali) in 1981. He was Italian.

"Toad" is short for "Toadstool," hence his big mushroom hat.

"Wario" derives from the Japanese word warui which means "bad."

Super Mario RPG introduces us to the Axem Rangers, an obvious parody of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.

In Super Mario World, there is an enemy named "Reznor" - a fire-spitting rhino/dino. Although I doubt it, it's possible he was named after Trent Reznor, the lead signer of nine inch nails.