Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

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Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 609 ratings · 150 reviews

The story of Nintendo's rise and the beloved icon who made it possible.

Nintendo has continually set the standard for video-game innovation in America, starting in 1981 with a plucky hero who jumped over barrels to save a girl from an ape.

The saga of Mario, the portly plumber who became the most successful franchise in the history of gaming, has plot twists worthy of a...more

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Published (first published August 4th 2011)

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Feb 02, 2012 Nate rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well this should be an interesting review if nothing else.

My wife picked this pick up for me for Christmas knowing that I enjoy computer and business history books. Most of the content I was pretty familiar with from either David Sheff’s excellent book “Game over” or any number of articles I’ve dug up on the Internet. Still, it’s fun to go through and do a review of material sometimes, right? Less so with Super Mario.
Right off the bat it’s obvious that the author is a well practiced and skill...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Joel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, audiobooks, i-am-8-bit, non-fiction

I like video games, but I am not a gamer. Gamers scoff at me, because the only current generation system I own is the Wii, which everyone knows is for little kids and nursing homes and your mom (How much does your mom love Wii bowling?). No, I am not a gamer.

But I freaking love Mario games.

If a new Mario game is released, be it 3D or old school, I will buy it and play it and play it until I have unlocked every secret bonus. Then I will play it some more, this time with my wife, provided it isn'...more

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May 11, 2012 Dani Peloquin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is very hard to write a book about Nintendo for various reasons. Firstly, the company is still powerful today; continuing to crank out fantastic games and be on the cutting edge of gaming. Secondly, it was a trailblazer in the early 1980s and people of that generation (like myself) think of it fondly. In fact, we may even think of Mario as one of our childhood friends. Lastly, it is a company that was built on fun and entertainment with little to no scandals. It is because of this that a book...more It is very hard to write a book about Nintendo for various reasons. Firstly, the company is still powerful today; continuing to crank out fantastic games and be on the cutting edge of gaming. Secondly, it was a trailblazer in the early 1980s and people of that generation (like myself) think of it fondly. In fact, we may even think of Mario as one of our childhood friends. Lastly, it is a company that was built on fun and entertainment with little to no scandals. It is because of this that a book written about Nintendo and Super Mario must tread lightly in order to not offend the company in its current state, not offend the children (now adults) who grew up loving Mario and hating Bowser, and to make the story compelling enough to be readable. Jeff Ryan makes a concerted effort it fill all of these requirements though at times he falls short.

First and foremost, I have to out myself as an adult who adored all things Mario when I was a child. Because of this, I may be bias when it comes to literature on the topic. For the first two parts of the book, I thought that Ryan did an excellent job. He told the reader about the founding of Nintendo in the 1800s as a card company and the struggles that they faced to the point that they almost began marketing Popeye ramen noodles. Fortunately, the president of the company hired his son-in-law to help Nintendo get off its feet and hopefully thrive…one day. I believe we all know the rest of the story from here: first an arcade game was created followed by a console that could be played at home. The consoles sold like hot cakes and decades later we now have the Wii, of course with many other products in between.

Ryan makes the company’s history enthralling to the point that I was unable to put the book down. However, as he began to write about Nintendo’s more recent projects the story became boring and dull. Towards the last two parts, it seemed as if the author was just giving a plot summary of each game produced by Nintendo. Of course he mentioned the other gaming systems at the time and the competition between those and Nintendo, but even that didn’t spice up the book. Being that many of Nintendo’s games are updated versions of past games, the book becomes a bit repetitive (to no fault of the author).

Additionally, Ryan's writing style did get on my nerves from time to time. His excessive use of clichés, metaphors, and similes made me feel at times like I was reading an SAT prep book. Some of his statements were humorous while others attempted to draw connections between things that held no common significance. Also, he seems to be in awe of Nintendo and therefore believes that Nintendo (and Mario) will always win out over other gaming systems.
Overall, this is a good book for Mario lovers but doesn’t have much depth. It lacks interviews with employees or even users. There is some critical thinking on the author’s part which makes me feel as if I am reading a dissertation instead of a published piece of nonfiction. If it does nothing else, it will make you want to brush the dust off of your old console and make that little plumber save the princess.

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Dec 23, 2012 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I grew up in the eighties and played loads of Nintendo games. This book is a straightforward look at the founding and rise of that company, which was actually founded in the late 1880’s as a card store in Japan but made its first big splash in the U.S. with the 1981 release of Donkey Kong (a mistranslated title that the designers originally intended to be something along the lines of “Stubborn Ape”).

This book is not intended to have Pulitzer-level writing, so yes: as some reviewers have pointed...more I grew up in the eighties and played loads of Nintendo games. This book is a straightforward look at the founding and rise of that company, which was actually founded in the late 1880’s as a card store in Japan but made its first big splash in the U.S. with the 1981 release of Donkey Kong (a mistranslated title that the designers originally intended to be something along the lines of “Stubborn Ape”).

This book is not intended to have Pulitzer-level writing, so yes: as some reviewers have pointed out, the author uses awkward and frequent metaphors. Take, for example, the following excerpt in which the author explains that Shigeru Miyamoto, the game designer who created Mario, generally avoided complex storylines while his engineers sometimes “snuck” them into his games: “All Miyamoto wants from [Mario] is a connection to gamers. He’s at one end of a tug-of-war, pulling for Mario to be recreational, away from the half-hour cut scenes of the storytellers on the other end of the rope. But Miyamoto is only one man, and thus some very clever story sometimes sneaks in under the portcullis.”

The book focuses on describing the design, marketing, gameplay, and ideas behind many of Nintendo’s most- and least-popular titles and game systems. Readers will no doubt remember many of these with great fondness. The book covers far less detail about the personal politics between the people involved in the game company itself... you hear scattered stories about how people arrived at or left the company, but there is nothing earth-shattering or extremely controversial. (If you’re looking for a saga about the internal politics at Nintendo, this story will give you a very cursory overview; look elsewhere.)

I wasn't a big fan of the audiobook narration, but it's passable and not the most critical aspect of a book like this. Ray Porter's voice sounds, remarkably, like a perfect combination of Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. His reading reminded me of the way a sportscaster speaks, which lends itself somewhat to the tone of the book.

Overall, the book is a light and engaging read. If you grew up in the eighties and played Nintendo games and are even slightly passionate about gaming, this book is probably a good choice for you. (less)

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Oct 26, 2012 Seth Galbraith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The way Ryan writes it, this book about videogames that were made into bad movies would make a good movie itself, but Ryan goes beyond merely recounting events or explaining Nintendo's successful philosophies, to synthesizing new concepts.

One of these new concepts is an analogy between literature and games as interactive experiences as opposed to movies and other art forms where the consumer is passive. This is a response to Roger Ebert's claim that games cannot be art because player control is...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When there are typos and spelling errors in a published book, I am immediately suspect of how factual the facts are within it. I don't mean one or two, this had the quality I would expect from a self-published e-book. Unfortunately(?) I'm not an expert on Nintendo, so I'm not sure how the book stacks up on the factchecker scale, though a quick perusal of other GR reviews confirm my intuition. Having read this immediately after "The Ultimate History of Video Games" which is full of first-hand quo...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Scott Asher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the late 80’s and early 90’s, what company’s name was synonymous with video gaming so much so that many people didn’t realize that it was a company but rather the occupation itself? If you said, “Nintendo” then this book is for you.

Super Mario
How Nintendo Conquered America
By Jeff Ryan
Penguin / Portfolio Hardcover
August 2011

Starting during the explosion of the arcade, this book chronicles the growth of Nintendo as an entertainment company through its renewed dominance in the market with the Wi...more In the late 80’s and early 90’s, what company’s name was synonymous with video gaming so much so that many people didn’t realize that it was a company but rather the occupation itself? If you said, “Nintendo” then this book is for you.

Super Mario
How Nintendo Conquered America
By Jeff Ryan
Penguin / Portfolio Hardcover
August 2011

Starting during the explosion of the arcade, this book chronicles the growth of Nintendo as an entertainment company through its renewed dominance in the market with the Wii and DS systems. More than a history lesson, though, Ryan takes the readers through and behind the scenes of what happened giving life to the facts and enlightening those barely remembered moments of the past.

Every chapter is a detailed and delightful mental stroll down memory lane. From the origin of Mario to his use in dozens of games through the years, Ryan’s attention to detail rewards readers and fans of Nintendo and gaming. Some details I, as an avid gamer growing up during this time in America, had never heard. For instance, I had no idea that Mario’s creator Shigeru Miyamoto created not only Donkey Kong and Mario, but was the driving force on games like Zelda, Pokemon, and Nintendogs. In fact, it seems like every game that Nintendo has made over the last 20+ years that has been a favorite of fans has been helmed by this video game genius.

Not everything in the book worked though. In fact, some of it “flopped like a koi.” Ryan used that quote to describe the Virtual Boy. And if you think that was oddly misplaced in the narrative then you and I agree that parts of this book are written in what I can only describe as a forced cool. From quotes about video games either selling a million copies “and a bag of chips, or [they] were whack” to others that refer to pop culture in ill-fitting ways, Ryan’s choice of words distracted instead of added to the narrative. Not always, but enough.

This book is a treasure for gamers and fans of Nintendo and is highly recommended in spite of the author’s interesting and sometimes distracting writing style.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
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Mar 11, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I am by no means a gamer, but I couldn't put this book down. I read this in 48 hours.

Actually I was late to the game of video games. My parents wouldn't buy, and honestly we couldn't afford, a NES, Sega or any other video game console when I was little. However, I had friends who had them. I didn't get a SNES until I was in 7th grade, way late to the party, Sega was big then. I can remember playing video games at friend's houses, namely Super Mario 3 and having to be delegated to award rounds or...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Adam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: orient, truetales

A high level review of Nintendo's rise/success in the video game industry. Primary focus was on the American experience and Mario was used as lens. Much like how "Salt" gave us a history of the world, but thru the lens of salt.

The material was delightfully detailed in the start and became too scant later. This, however, would make a bit of sense, yes? We'll need a few more years to better understand and have more documented thought on the "now" of Nintendo.

Sadly, the book was marred by the auth...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Josephine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You knew when my sisters and I were playing Super Mario Brothers — you could hear it.

Every time pudgy little Mario accidentally fell off the ends of the earth into a gaping black nothingness or was singed by a fire spitting cactus or impaled by a hammer-throwing Koopa, you’d hear an agonizing scream — as if we were the ones coming to an untimely end.

I still remember the day my parents went out and got an NES — this after months of obsessively playing Super Mario Brothers on our cousin Oliver’s s...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Steve rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A few suggestions for future editions:

p. 25: "With a hammer...[Jumpman] could pound away on obstacles with a well-timed wallop of the (now dual-) action button."

The hammer in Donkey Kong swings automatically; no button-presses are necessary.

p. 47: "Mario attacks not by hammer or bug spray, but by jumping on enemies."

Mario does not jump on enemies in "Mario Bros." (He does in "Super Mario Bros.")

p. 88: "The lizardlike villain became Bowser once again."

The main villain in "Super Mario Bros. 2" is...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Andrew Shuping rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ARC provided by netGalley

Mario. The iconic figure that we all know and love from many classic video games (many of which people continue to hunt for and play to this day.) He was one of the first heroes that anyone could imagine themselves being in video games (even if he is a slightly pudgy plumber.) He captured our imagination and our hearts oh so many years ago and this book chronicles not only his rise to fame, but how Nintendo became the worldwide phenomenon that it is.

You wouldn’t think a...more

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Jun 29, 2011 stormhawk rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to stormhawk by: netgalley.com

Shelves: pre-publication-galley, kindle

I love video games.

I have't spent as much time playing video games as I have reading, but video gaming cuts seriously into my reading time.

Most of my video gaming happens on some flavor of a Nintendo system. I haven't had all of them, but I've had enough of them to know the characters, games, and Nintendo executives that make up this story of "How Nintendo Conquered America," and in truth, it did.

I've played the NES, owned the SNES, a Game 'n Watch game (Fire), N64, Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Co...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't find this book dull, but there were some glaring editing issues that made it hard to read in spots. At one point, when discussing the CD based gaming system - the text uses "Philips" and "Panasonic" interchangeably over two pages.

There were were also a few paragraphs that just sort of ended, A couple that just sort of rambled, and a few that when I finished it, I couldn't help but say "what?" - and reread it (sometimes multiple times) and ended up with the same reaction.

In the notes to...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Mohammed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 52books

"Super Mario" is a terrific book not only for people who are passionate about Nintendo, but for any person whose pop culture and video-games matters to him. Jeff Ryan wonderfully tells the story of Nintendo – way before its gaming debut, and back when they produced cards and whatnot. From the spectacle arrival of the Famicom/NES till the game-changing Wii that revolutionized how we approach games and added a new dimension to gaming; an area that was tackled before but not as marvelously as the W...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Dave Shields rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was a great walk down memory lane for me. I enjoyed learning about the history of some of the famous characters such as Kirby and Daisy. The book accurately and effectively recounts an almost 45 year history that few gamers even of the era will know. It was enjoyable and easy to listen to... Most of the time. Against it, I have two negatives. You may perceive one of those as being 'nitpicking' but considering the subject matter I feel it is a worthwhile co...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Ob-jonny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was so much fun to learn about the history of video games with the emphasis on Nintendo games like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. To learn the details on how the early games were designed was fascinating. For instance, the reason why they chose Mario for the name of the good guy in Donkey Kong was funny. It's fun to hear details about games you played as a kid and just sort of accepted without thinking about what was really going on. To read about how Super Mario Bros. was the first game t...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Jeff Ryan explores a topic near and dear to '80s children everywhere: Mario. The book explores all things Mario, from his humble beginnings as a few pixels on an arcade screen to a cash cow for Nintendo. It's a well-researched and intriguing look at the history of the Nintendo corporation, its most influential employees, and its highs and lows throughout the relatively short history of video games.

The book has a lot of sloppy mistakes that should have been caught during the editing process. At...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Leto2 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Audiobook.
Fairly enjoyable. Nintendo has some interesting history which I was totally unfamiliar with. This book brought back a lot of memories playing different games over the years. I didn't realize Nintendo's position as the creator of the most creative games, as opposed to just pushing good hardware, but it makes sense. I also didn't realize that Nintendo got it's start with the arcade game Donkey Kong.

The author sprinkles cliches and allusions to pop culture throughout the book -- many of t...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Wingedbeaver rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This is a solid history of Nintendo, but not fantastic. It serves as a good survey of the video game company and it's rise from Japanese cult favorite to world wide video game king. It also does a great job of illustrating the philosophies that make Nintendo the company it is today for better or worse. I do feel that something was lacking though. Part of it may be that Nintendo doesn't allow interviews of it's employees for use in books. I'm sure this prevented Ryan from getting into the nitty g...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eclectic, economics, history-long-periods

Loved this! I am the perfect audience in that I like reading historical details and I identify so personally with everything after the first chapter as I dearly remember my Atari 2600.

I loved learning more about how Nintendo barely made it the first few years (6 people hand-modifying a failed arcade game into Donkey Kong in a hot warehouse and needing the quarters from the first successful machines to pay to modify more)and how cutting edge something as old and boring as Donkey Kong was in a wo...more Loved this! I am the perfect audience in that I like reading historical details and I identify so personally with everything after the first chapter as I dearly remember my Atari 2600.

I loved learning more about how Nintendo barely made it the first few years (6 people hand-modifying a failed arcade game into Donkey Kong in a hot warehouse and needing the quarters from the first successful machines to pay to modify more)and how cutting edge something as old and boring as Donkey Kong was in a world of little shooting ship video games (Space Invaders, Galactica, etc.) It was interesting to get some insights into the personalities of the crazy, cranky old Nintendo president and the dreamy master Mario/Zelda videogame designer promoted from little graphics peon. The company got so big and powerful that it bullied game designers and other companies, which in the end actually stimulated quality competition in reaction.

The Nintendo and Mario trivia, the crazy featured merchandise - legitimate and pirated, the failed video games and and systems, the video game wars (Sega, then Sony, then Microsoft), the sheer numbers of games sold...fascinating and I loved it. The author is very punny and occasionally goes a bit overboard, but I usually liked his voice and the side commentary relating to pop culture and gaming history. He obviously admires Nintendo's gaming design philosophy, but so do I. He makes a few dumb factual errors such as thinking the Seattle tipline still exists and especially claiming that Bowser appears in Super Mario 2.

Did you know...Mario is named after the grumpy warehouse owner who originally stored those failed arcade games and was mad about late rent payments. The designer first wanted to just name Mario "middle-aged man." The relatives of Nintendo's longtime president who were in charge of US Sales had to go door-to-door to toy stores and dept. stores at first to get them to stock the Nintendo. Super Mario 2 was originally an Aladdin themed game that they changed and stuck the Mario characters in. The Mario 3 Tanooki Suit is based on a Japanese folk character that threw its genitals like throwing stars. There has been a Mario debit card. Old "Nintendo AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTER" signs with a picture of Mario holding a screwdriver sell for $400. Japan has a law outlawing Dragon Warrior games from coming out on weekdays because it disrupts school and work too much. And more..

Any guy who grew up in the 80's and 90's playing video games would enjoy much of this I think.

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May 17, 2013 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: business-technology

Super Mario by Jeff Ryan was a surprising read about one of the greatest video game icons to ever be created. This book follows the tale of Nintendo through the eyes of its favorite plumber. This book is part business history and part Mario biography. For those looking for just the business history I recommend Nintendo Magic: winning the video game wars. For those interested in a more lighthearted read that still shows how the video game history progressed this is the book for you. This book als...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: video-games

A really great Nintendo history written at a crucial time for the company. It's very readable and smartly presented. There are some downsides, though. One: Although the gorgeous minimalistic front design is covetous to collectors and graphic art appreciators, the interior contains zero pictures. Odd for a book about a visually driven medium. Two: There are some sparse grammatical errors in the Kindle edition, at least. Three: The author makes non-video game pop culture references that will disap...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arts-and-historical

The story of Nintendo's rise and the beloved icon who made it possible.

Nintendo has continually set the standard for video-game innovation in America, starting in 1981 with a plucky hero who jumped over barrels to save a girl from an ape.

The saga of Mario, the portly plumber who became the most successful franchise in the history of gaming, has plot twists worthy of a video game. Jeff Ryan shares the story of how this quintessentially Japanese company found success in the American market. Lawsui...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Coranne (The Best Books Ever) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I got this book from a giveaway contest at Goodreads. When I signed up for the contest- I honestly got it for my husband. He is the one who is the "gamer". He owns almost every gaming system, competed in the Video Game Championships as a kid, and can become a human encyclopedia for video game facts on a whim. I liked Mario as a kid. We had an NES and a handful of games. I was admittedly never a great video game player. I would lose 100 of Mario's lives to every time I got to the last level of Su...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Emeloche rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For the die-hard Nintendo fan, Super Mario is a must read; for the rest of us, it's better to skim
In his book,Jeff Ryan chronicles Nintendo's history, focusing especially on their Italian plumber mascot (though straying away when the history requires). It is clear Ryan is a superfan, and it is rare that he shares anything but praise for the company, but, given the book's intended audience, this one-sidedness is not necessarily a bad thing. Chock-full with Nintendo facts and stories (Did you know...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Michael Auer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Michael Auer's review of Super Mario!

The subject of the essay is two fold. It first comprises of the authors overall content included about the Nintendo of America Organization in its entirety. This includes the completion of the description of Nintendo of America's history. Jeff Ryan, did a fantastic job including everything there is to know about Nintendo... A slight exaggeration yet I truly believe that he packed a lot of information into a 280 page book than most can. Secondly, this essay wi...more Michael Auer's review of Super Mario!

The subject of the essay is two fold. It first comprises of the authors overall content included about the Nintendo of America Organization in its entirety. This includes the completion of the description of Nintendo of America's history. Jeff Ryan, did a fantastic job including everything there is to know about Nintendo... A slight exaggeration yet I truly believe that he packed a lot of information into a 280 page book than most can. Secondly, this essay will discuss the authors overall ability to write in comparison to other journalists. The writer is a journalist so his writing should be on par with industry standards for journalism such as informative yet thought provoking writing. I have read several upon several articles revolving around the games industry and I have to say the Ryan's writing holds up pretty well with the professional editors I normally read. Jeff Ryan, the author of this novel has been gaming his entire life, experiencing such thrills as the staple of Nintendo, their first game, Super Mario Bros. on the NES. It is quite obvious that Jeff wrote this novel for the purpose of informing his audience "How Nintendo conquered America." As a gamer myself, it's hard not to enjoy this book thoroughly. I grew up around Nintendo more than most kids. Throughout my childhood my brother made video games equivalent to my eating of my mother's breakfast. In a sense, one could say that I am quite easily a veteran gamer. As Jeff Ryan says, "Games are different from all other entertainment due to their interactivity: they light up totally different parts of the brain than watching a movie or reading a book does." I take this comment to heart because I believe that games can be a way to teach kids different things. I know people in the industry who program educational games for kids and I am confident in saying that it is a worthwhile field to pursue considering the money and the moral values involved in the industry. In conclusion Jeff Ryan's writing is phenomenal keeping pace with the exciting story of how this card making company evolved into a king of the games industry. I can admit that their were several rather boring parts of the book but to combat that comment I would have to say that it isn't Ryan's fault. Rather, the history of Nintendo occasionally had had little to nothing going on in it. The audience could have made due by not reading the in between points of the overall history. But in all honesty, besides a few minor down areas of the book, this book held up fantastically, brilliantly illustrating the history of Nintendo. This book is a gem, and I definitely recommend it to any and all gamers, and even entrepreneurial business men. I would say that the highest points of this book are when you hear something familiar, and then learn something about it. That is by far the most enjoyable thing for me while reading nonfiction books!(less)

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Mar 06, 2013 David Vahe rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I listened to this on audiobook and Nintendo's origin story made for really interesting opening chapters. Ryan explains Nintendo's various transitions, from a board game company to handheld games to arcade cabinets to home console, with good detail. There are also cool anecdotes, we find out that Kirby is named after the judge in a major lawsuit between Universal and Nintendo over copyright infringement. Unfortunately, as the company's story approaches later consoles like Gamecube and Wii, it's...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Melissa Rochelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, library, audiobook, read-2012

Super fun non-fiction is the best kind. Listening to this reminded me of Ready Player One -- it makes a great non-fiction companion to the awesomeness that is RPO. I also really want to play Super Mario Bros now. I learned quite a bit about Nintendo and the history of gaming consoles. (And I really want a Wii now...I'll wait for the Wii U to hit shelves.)

I do have one problem...Mr Ryan, people DO still use the library. Yes, you can find many answers by doing a Google search, but not always relia...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Thomas Umstattd rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is not as insightful as Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose or Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur but a great read nonetheless.

This is a story from the outside of Nintendo that focuses more on what they did right than what they did wrong.

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“The other [video game] franchises let you experience the adrenaline and horror of war, or deep fantasy worlds, or pro sports. A Mario game lets you pretend to be a middle-aged chubster hopping onto a turtle shell.” — 3 people liked it

“Trying to attract another underserved audience group—females— brought Super Princess Peach, a game where Peach finally avoids being princess-napped. Bowser kidnaps Mario and Luigi instead, and it's up to her for once to save them. The second-wave feminism lasts as long as it takes Peach to acquire a magical talking parasol. Peach's powers manifest through her emotional states. When she is calm she can heal herself, when she is happy she can fly, when glum she can water plants with her tears, and when angry she literally catches on fire. Using emotions as part of basic game play is a daring concept, and feel free to sub in "insulting" or "outrageous" or "awesome" for "daring." The concept might have been taken more seriously if not for touches like the pink umbrella, and Peach having unlimited lives—core gamers hate being unable to die.” — 1 person liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11757809-super-mario?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328345453l/11757809.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11757809-super-mario?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan[/url]

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

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