Les Véritables Origines de Mario et le making-of Donkey Kong (Part.1) [ENG Subs]

Summary

This video explores the unexpected origins of Mario, tracing back to Nintendo's failed arcade game, Radar Scope. From the ashes of this flop, Mario emerged, thanks to a series of fortunate mishaps and creative decisions, highlighting the company's innovative spirit and the serendipitous nature of video game history.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The character Mario originated from a series of fortunate accidents and constraints in the video game industry.
• 👨‍💼 Nintendo, founded in 1889, initially made traditional cards before transitioning to Western cards and then to toys and board games.
• 🤝 A significant partnership with Disney in 1959 boosted Nintendo's success in the playing card market.
• 🚀 Post-1964 Tokyo Olympics, children's interests shifted from paper maps to futuristic toys, prompting Nintendo to innovate.
• 📉 Nintendo faced a decline in popularity with the rise of plastic toys and needed to diversify into electronics.
• 🕹️ Gunpei Yokoi led the integration of electronics into toys, which later contributed to Nintendo's entry into the video game industry.
• 🎉 The failure of the 'Radar Scope' game led to the creation of a new game that would become the iconic 'Donkey Kong'.
• 👷‍♂️ Mario was initially conceived as a character in a game resembling 'Popeye', with a construction site setting inspired by a Popeye cartoon episode.
• 🛠️ Shigeru Miyamoto, a young illustrator at Nintendo, played a key role in developing the interactive elements of the game that would become 'Donkey Kong'.
• 📝 The original game design document for 'Popeye' included innovative ideas such as barrels rolling down, ladder climbing mechanics, and a timer with dynamite.
• 🔄 The project underwent significant changes, and the story of Mario's creation is far from over, with more details to be revealed in the second part of the video.

Q & A

What significant event did Blaise Pascal refer to in his philosophical thoughts regarding Cleopatra's nose?

Pascal suggested that if Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, it could have led to significant changes in the course of history.

How did Mario's creation come about, as described in the script?

Mario's creation was a result of a series of unfortunate events and constraints that led to the development of a new game to replace the unsuccessful 'Radar Scope'.

What was Nintendo's initial business before venturing into the video game industry?

Nintendo initially started as a manufacturer of traditional cards called hanafuda and later became a prominent producer of Western playing cards in Japan.

What pivotal contract did Nintendo sign in 1959 that significantly impacted its success?

In 1959, Nintendo signed a historic contract with Roy Oliver Disney, allowing the use of Disney characters on their playing cards, which greatly boosted their sales and success.

Why did Nintendo decide to develop toys and board games in the 1960s?

After the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, children's interests shifted from paper maps to more modern toys like rockets and robots. Plastic revolutionized the toy industry, and Nintendo needed to adapt to remain relevant.

What was the first electronic toy integrated by Nintendo, and who was responsible for this innovation?

The first electronic toy integrated by Nintendo was under the leadership of project director Gunpei Yokoi, who decided to incorporate electronics into toys, starting with the 'Ultra Hand' in 1966.

What was the name of the ambitious arcade game developed by Nintendo R&D2 in 1980 that failed to achieve success?

The ambitious arcade game that failed was called 'Radar Scope', which was developed by Nintendo R&D2, headed by Masayuki Uemura.

Why did Nintendo Of America face a significant challenge after the failure of 'Radar Scope'?

The failure of 'Radar Scope' left Nintendo Of America with 2000 unsold terminals that were taking up space in their warehouses, posing a financial and logistical challenge.

Who was entrusted with the task of developing a new game to repurpose the unused 'Radar Scope' PCBs?

Gunpei Yokoi was entrusted with the task of developing a new game to repurpose the unused 'Radar Scope' PCBs, as a way to save Nintendo Of America from the failure.

What was the original concept for the game that would eventually become 'Donkey Kong'?

The original concept was a game called 'Popeye and the Beer Barrel Attack', where players controlled Popeye to climb a building, rescue Olive Oyl, and avoid barrels thrown by Brutus.

What role did Shigeru Miyamoto play in the development of the game that would later become 'Donkey Kong'?

Shigeru Miyamoto was responsible for transposing the ideas from the 'Popeye' cartoon into an interactive and playable game concept, which included the addition of rolling barrels and other gameplay elements.