# inspiration for Super Mario Bros

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 15, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248 "2003-02-15T10:45:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gottfrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Gottfrid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gottfrid)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248/1 "2003-02-15T10:45:02Z")

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How did the guys at Nintendo come up with the concept of Super Mario Bros?  
It sure is a strange mix. Italian plummers, mushrooms, turtles, etc.  
And the music, wich is great, what can hvae been the inspiration for that?

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248/2 "2003-02-15T11:17:31Z")

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From [this site:](http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/arcade/ag1145.php)

> [@](#):
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> _Super Mario Bros._ was a multi-world adventure somewhat inspired by another arcade icon’s 1983 game, _Pac-Land._

[And also:](http://www.klov.com/M/Mario_Bros..html)

> [@](#):
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> The idea that this game would be for two players did not come about until Shigeru Miyamoto was inspired by Williams’ Joust.  
> The name for Mario’s brother, Luigi, who is introduced in this game, came from a pizza parlor nearby the then-new Redmond, Washington headquarters of Nintendo of America called “Mario and Luigi’s.”

Don’t know about the music, sorry.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248/3 "2003-02-15T11:38:31Z")

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Ah. Found something. The original videogame music and effects was the work of Japanese composer [Koji Kondo:](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A47276-2001Feb8)

> [@](#):
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> The theme, written by Koji Kondo, employs a mish-mash of styles, including a calypso melody and hip-hop drums made from bursts of static.

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**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspiration-for-super-mario-bros/155248/4 "2003-02-15T11:38:49Z")

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Before Mario was Mario, he was [Jumpman](http://www.klov.com/D/Donkey_Kong.html).