The Secret Origin of Nintendo’s Mario

Mario wasn’t always the face of Nintendo. He first appeared in the 1981 game Donkey Kong as a character simply called Jumpman. Interestingly, he was rescuing Pauline, not Princess Peach! While Donkey Kong was the villain, he was actually the main focus of the game. So, why did Nintendo eventually rename him Mario and make him the star of over 200 games? The answer is surprisingly heartwarming and connected to Nintendo’s initial attempts to become successful in the United States – Mario’s story began here.







