We're the... Video Bros? How Mario was almost named Mr. Video (but luckily Mario Segale saved the day!)
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Eps 6: We're the... Video Bros? How Mario was almost named Mr. Video (but luckily Mario Segale saved the day!)

— Rumble Jumble with Lei

In a 10-minute podcast titled "We're the... Video Bros? How Mario was almost named Mr. Video (but luckily Mario Segale saved the day!)," the story of how the iconic video game character Mario got his name is discussed. The podcast reveals that Mario initially almost became known as "Mr. Video" but was ultimately named after the landlord of Nintendo's American warehouse, Mario Segale. The hosts explain how Nintendo was under pressure to come up with a name for their beloved character, and after considering various alternatives, they settled on "Mario" as a tribute to Segale, who was known for his tough negotiating skills with the company.

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Host

Byron Hopkins

Byron Hopkins

Podcast Content
Welcome to our podcast, where we dive into the fascinating world of video games and uncover the stories behind some of our favorite characters and franchises. Today, we're exploring the origins of one of the most iconic video game characters of all time: Mario. But did you know that Mario was almost named Mr. Video? Yes, that's right. Our beloved plumber could have been known by a completely different name if fate hadn't intervened.

Back in the early 1980s, when Nintendo was brainstorming ideas for their new arcade game, they needed a name for the main character. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, initially wanted to name him Mr. Video, as he was a jack of all trades in the game, appearing as a carpenter, plumber, and even a demolition worker. However, fate had other plans for our mustachioed hero.

Enter Mario Segale, a successful real estate developer who happened to be Miyamoto's landlord at the time. Legend has it that Segale wasn't too pleased with the noise coming from Nintendo's headquarters, and he stormed in one day to give them a piece of his mind. It was during this encounter that Miyamoto decided to name his character after Segale, as a nod to the man who inadvertently inspired the name change. And thus, Mario was born.

The decision to name the character Mario turned out to be a stroke of genius, as it not only gave the character a more distinct and memorable identity but also paid homage to Segale, who would forever be immortalized in video game history. Can you imagine playing a game called "Mr. Video Bros"? It just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?

Mario went on to become one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the world of gaming, starring in countless games and spin-offs over the years. From platformers to racing games to party games, Mario has done it all and always with a smile on his face. And it all started with a chance encounter and a landlord who made his mark on gaming history.

So, the next time you play a Mario game or see our favorite plumber in action, remember the story behind his name and how close we came to having a different moniker for one of gaming's most enduring icons. Thank you, Mario Segale, for saving the day and giving us the Mario we know and love today. And thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of video game lore. Stay tuned for more tales of gaming greatness on the next episode of We're the... Video Bros?