Nintendo launches ‘Let’s Super Mario’ campaign

By Brad Jones Updated June 16, 2015

Nintendo - Let's Super Mario!

While the large part of Nintendo’s E3 presentation earlier today was devoted to brand new titles set to launch for the Wii U and 3DS, it ended with an invitation to look back at the first thirty years of a true video game icon. The Super Mario series started in earnest back in 1985, and it creators are encouraging fans to join their celebrations.

Nintendo wants you to upload your own Super Mario themed video at its Let’s Super Mario website. Examples aired during their broadcast included a man jumping into a swimming pool dressed as the plumber, and a cover version of one of the series’ many popular compositions performed by the character’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto.

However, there’s more going on here than just another batch of silly videos being uploaded to the Internet. Nintendo plans to offer a donation to Operation Smile, a charity that supports children suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate — however, it’s not clear whether the number of uploads will have any impact on the amount of money being given.

Of course, there’s also a new Super Mario title on the horizon that Nintendo is attempting to promote. Super Mario Maker offers players the chance to create their own levels in the style of retro classics like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World as well as the more modern titles in the New Super Mario Bros. series.

Fans can submit their video now via the Let’s Super Mario section of the official Nintendo website. A host of examples from Nintendo employees are already up on the site to help get your creative juices flowing. Super Mario Maker is set to be released worldwide for the Wii U on September 11, 2015.

Topics

Contributor

Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

Entertainment

The 7 most powerful characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, ranked

Luigi and Mario looking at the camera with unamused expressions in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie fulfilled many fans' dreams of seeing their favorite video game characters fight it out on the big screen. With heavy hitters like Donkey Kong and Bowser clashing against Mario and Peach, the film gifted viewers with an animated brawl worthy of Super Smash Bros. And so, people can now read the ranked list of the most powerful characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
7. Toad

Though Toad may be the weakest member of the main cast, he never had much time to show off his skills as a fighter in this film. Fortunately for him, he knows his way around the Mushroom Kingdom and can surely fend for himself out in the wilderness since Mario does meet him wandering the mushroom fields. And despite his small size, Toad never backs down from a fight, choosing to defend Peach and his friends at any opportunity.
6. Luigi

Gaming

5 game adaptations that could build a Super Mario Bros. Cinematic Universe

best-single-player-nintendo-switch-games

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in theaters now and it’s getting a mixed reception. While some aren’t impressed by its thin story and Minions-like humor, Mario fans generally seem happy with what’s at least a visually faithful take on the iconic gaming series. There’s a good chance it’ll be a financial success even with middling reviews, so you can bet that Nintendo and Illumination are already cooking up sequel plans.

The next installment might just come in the form of Super Mario Bros. 2, but there’s real potential here for a new MCU: the Mario Cinematic Universe. With decades' worth of mainline games, spinoffs, and characters, there’s no shortage of material that could be used to build out Mario’s silver screen world. If Nintendo is looking to expand its cinematic ambitions, these five games could serve as inspiration for what Illumination’s next adaptation looks like.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Gaming

With E3 2023 gone, other gaming events need to step up

Despite how inevitable the complete downfall of E3 felt over the past several years, E3 2023’s official cancellation still strings as it’s a significant loss for the game industry. For gamers, press, and developers, the show served multiple purposes that digital livestreams and scattered publisher-specific events don't currently replicate. In lieu of E3’s cancelation this year, and potentially forever, it’s time for other gaming events to step up and help push the video game industry forward.
Why we lost E3
I’m lucky enough to have the experience of attending three E3 shows across 2017, 2018, and 2019 and many publisher-run events focused on specific games or tighter game lineups. In its final years, E3 felt like the perfect middle ground to the gamer-focused PAX and industry-focused GDC, where people from all walks and sides of the video game industry could come together, see what’s coming in the future, and share their love for games.

It also felt more freeing than publisher-run events, as I discovered and experienced games of all sizes that I may not have otherwise and got to meet many people from every angle of the game industry. Apparently, the Entertainment Software Association struggled to convince enough people that this style of expo was important four years after the last physical event.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Entertainment Software Association president Stanley Pierre-Louis blamed E3 2023’s cancellation on the Covid-19 pandemic, “economic headwinds” due to the current recession that impacted marketing budgets, and the fact that “companies are starting to experiment with how to find the right balance between in-person events and digital marketing opportunities.”
The first two are understandable and have impacted a lot of physical events over the past couple of years. Still, the last reason speaks to a bit more worrying of a shift for those looking to network, get attention from the press, get a broader look at the industry’s future, or even pitch a game.
What we lose
Events are a great way for indies to get unexpected and much-needed attention from players and the press; look at the chance encounter that got one of our team’s freelancers hooked on Homeseek at PAX East. Now, indies will have to hope to gain attention at those more indie-focused events like PAX or be cherry-picked to be featured in a more prominent company’s showcasing. There’s also the networking and pitch factor to it.