Mario Segale, the namesake of Mario has passed away at 84 -

[PS1gamenwatch]

https://gonintendo.com/stories/321766-mario-s-namesake-mario-segale-passes-away-at-the-age-of-84

All the way back in 1981, Mario Segale was renting a Tukwila warehouse to Nintendo of America. Little did Segale know that his ties would Nintendo would help them name their most popular character. Up until that point, Nintendo's Mario was known as Jumpman, but they wanted to give the character a proper name. They decided to go with Mario, the same name as their warehouse landlord.

Mario Segale has unfortunately passed away at the age of 84. It goes without saying that Mr. Segale's ties to Nintendo's greatest franchise will keep his legacy alive for many, many years to come.

 

[gachacunt]

Not gonna lie, my heart almost skipped a beat when I thought it was Charles Martinet that died, but this is just as sad. Rest in peace.

 

[PsychoNerd054]

Suddenly that’s become the saddest song I’ve heard all day.

 

[Rand /pol/]

Okay

 

[Zaragoza]

Who?

 

[Inklings]

Sad but I can't help but also find it funny how some people are treating this as more meaningful than it really. I mean Mario's concept names like "Mr. Video" were terrible but acting like this dude's name was fundamental in Mario's success is just kind of laughable.

 

[NOT Sword Fighter Super]

We don't die, we multiply.

 

[MarvinTheParanoidAndroid]

This thread in a nutshell.

 

[BillionBisonBucks]

Sad but I can't help but also find it funny how some people are treating this as more meaningful than it really. I mean Mario's concept names like "Mr. Video" were terrible but acting like this dude's name was fundamental in Mario's success is just kind of laughable.

Mario's name did have a surprising amount of impact on the character itself, though. Most notably in media besides games, but 'Italian plumber' was his entire backstory for a decade, and half of that comes from the name alone. It's not all that meaningful of itself, but it is the most meaningful namesake video games will ever have.

As an aside, now I'm wondering what the movie would have been like if they had gone with a different name for the character originally. Mr. Video would have lent itself especially well to the producer's cocaine sensibilities.

 

[MrTroll]

I always thought Jumpman was a better name tbh.

 

[AF 802]

I always thought Jumpman was a better name tbh.

Drake already has you covered, with this garbage:

 

[NOT Sword Fighter Super]

Nigga sold his asphalt and construction business for $60million in 1998.

He spent his golden years quite well, I assume.

 

[Orkeosaurus]

Huh. I thought I read that they got the name from a pizzeria called Mario and Luigi's in Redmond.