"Game Over" - I have to get this off my chest..

[Wavelflack]

I presume many of you have read David Sheff's "Game Over", so you know what I am referring to.

I'm a fairly compulsive reader. My eyes are hungry for words to read, to the point that when the wife removes all of the newspapers from the table, my eyes will end up scanning the ingredients in the coke can (etc.)

I only tell you this because I have read "Game Over" many, many times...because it's a quick reading fix. Interesting, yet familiar, and therefore easy to put away when dinner is over.


So tonight, as the microwave is going, I scramble to find something to read. Ah! "Game Over"! I start reading, and for the billionth time I groan when I run across the painfully obvious apochryphal/ fabricated paragraph that follows:


"They were trying to decide what to call the rotund, red-capped carpenter, when there was a knock on the door.
Arakawa answered it. Standing there was the owner of the warehouse. In front of everyone, he blasted Arakawa because the rent was late. Flustered, Arakawa promised that the money was forthcoming, and the man left.
The landlord's name was Mario Segali. "Mario," they decided. "Super Mario!"


I don't doubt that Mario Segali exists. I don't doubt that his name was the inspiration for Mario's name. But I have trouble believing that he showed up, on cue, just when theye were trying to decide the name of their character. And the part that actually irritates me enough to have me type all of this is the QUOTED "Super Mario!"
'Super Mario' didn't exist until several years later. And 'Super Mario' is a state of Mario (ie; Fire(y?) Mario), not his name. Bottom line is that apparently David Sheff didn't realize or remember that there was a "Mario Bros." years before there was "Super Mario Bros.", and seeing an obvious fabrication in a historical text always bugs me.


Anyone else notice this?

[Vectorman0]

Wikipedia mentions Mario Segali in its artilce on Mario, referencing Retrogamer magazin, so I bet that this person wasn't made up by Sheff unless Retrogamer got it from Sheff. However, I wouldn't doubt that the situation you mention may have been made up or exaggerated.

I haven't read the book though, so I can't say much else.

[Wavelflack]

Well, like I said, I don't doubt Mario Segali exists, and I don't doubt that his name was the inspiration for "Mario".

[Jackattack]

I don't find it hard to believe. It's not like only an hour was spent thinking up mario's name. I'm sure a lot of effort was put into it, and during one of the times that him and his friends/co-workers were trying to think of names, some one shows up at the door with a perfect name. Totally plausible.
However the Super Mario part does lend a bit of falsity to the story and makes it a little harder to believe. Meh who knows.

[dreamcaster]

One error in a book spanning so many people, so many companies and so many facets of gaming history is excusable in my view.

For the record, I think the book is brilliant and I've read it at least 5 or so times.

Picked it up for like, $2US when I was over there back in 2001. :D

[Kitsune Sniper]

Pah!

For a moment there, I thought you were talking about this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Over_%28film%29) thing.

[nik]

Wasn't Mario and Luigi named for a pizza place sign?

[Sniderman]

Did someone say Game Over?
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007WQGSG.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Sam]

One story I had to share is that my flatmate saw the book left in the living room where I had left it whilst I had to go out and read it cover to cover.

The thing is, he was a very casual gamer and wasn't big on reading AT ALL. He was just bored and decided to have a browse and couldn;t put it down - says a lot for the book.

[Cryomancer]

Pah!

For a moment there, I thought you were talking about this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Over_%28film%29) thing.

Someone else who's familiar with that? I actually went out and rented the dvd just so I could rip and upload it to the internet.

They should totally make a boxset with all the digital pictures FMV game footage or something.

[Captain Wrong]

Back to the topic at hand, I agree. The story is a little *too* perfect. I'm sure that's the official line, as it does make for a nice story, but I find it hard to believe it all happened just like that.

[Push Upstairs]

Did someone say Game Over?
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007WQGSG.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Is there any voiceover gig Patrick Warburton won't take?

I shouldnt really speak ill of the man, he *IS* Brock Samson.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Pah!

For a moment there, I thought you were talking about this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Over_%28film%29) thing.

Someone else who's familiar with that? I actually went out and rented the dvd just so I could rip and upload it to the internet.

They should totally make a boxset with all the digital pictures FMV game footage or something.

Dude, I own that thing. I contributed the original Wikipedia article and the Matrix ripoff cover scan! LOL

Considering how recent the film is, there shouldn't be a problem with making a collection of the games or something. ;P

[Cryomancer]

Well I appreciate it then, as the wiki article was one of the few useful bits of info on the damn thing.

[Damaramu]

Did someone say Game Over?
*IMG SNIPPED*

Is there any voiceover gig Patrick Warburton won't take?

I shouldnt really speak ill of the man, he *IS* Brock Samson.

I think I'm one of the few here who thought that show was overrated and deserved the death it received. :/

[Push Upstairs]

I never saw the show "Game Over".


"Venture Brothers", however, is worth watching every single week.

[Wavelflack]

Whoa!

We've achieved almost 50% relevancy in the replies! I count 6/15 pertaining to the topic at hand...

[nintendan]

Im one of the rare people here that actually knew about the landlord thing wayy before Sheff's book was even written. But yeah, I loved his book. I still got the re-issued one with bonus chapters lying somewhere around...

Dan

[tom]

I got three versions of that book, the original UK release, the second release with added chapter (USA), and the cannibalised UK version which was given away with Future Publishings shortlived magazine 'Arcade'. (And later given away as a bonus for N64 subscribers). This butchered version had approx 100 pages missing, including the most important chapters. How they got permission to release this is still a mystery.

Excellent book and it's amazing how Nintendo got away with so many illegal activities in the USA, surely Howard Lincoln should have known about these. (Just goes to show, money can buy Law(yers)).

[tom]

I got three versions of that book, the original UK release, the second release with added chapter (USA), and the cannibalised UK version which was given away with Future Publishings shortlived magazine 'Arcade'. (And later given away as a bonus for N64 subscribers). This butchered version had approx 100 pages missing, including the most important chapters. How they got permission to release this is still a mystery.

Excellent book and it's amazing how Nintendo got away with so many illegal activities in the USA, surely Howard Lincoln should have known about these. (Just goes to show, money can buy Law(yers)).

[tom]

and this got posted twice, because....????

[InsaneDavid]

and this got posted twice, because....????

The forums are in a transitional phase.

[Arcade Antics]

I never saw the show "Game Over".


"Venture Brothers", however, is worth watching every single week.
Double Amen.

GO TEAM VENTURE!

\/

Suffice to say, the "Super Mario" story is exactly what you think it is: complete bullshit. :)

[rbudrick]

Im one of the rare people here that actually knew about the landlord thing wayy before Sheff's book was even written.

I thought everyone knew that. It was in Nintendo Power since, well, maybe even the Fun Club News.

-Rob

[HotCarl]

Back to the topic at hand, I agree. The story is a little *too* perfect. I'm sure that's the official line, as it does make for a nice story, but I find it hard to believe it all happened just like that.