Watch Mario give tourists and disgruntled New Yorkers a cab ride
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 24th 2008 at 8:00PM }
In preparation of the upcoming release of Mario Kart Wii, Nintendo held a rather quirky promotion in front of the Sheraton New York hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Confused tourists and businesspeople walked by as a giant costumed Mario, Wii Wheel in hand, gave away free cab rides for the willing.
Many, afraid of a potential scam, simply ignored Mario's kind offer. Others, however, were far more willing to jump in a cab hailed by the Italian gaming icon. Nintendo's offer of $10 to the cab drivers, while generous, would probably get most riders down to Times Square, before the gridlock of traffic consumed Nintendo's free fare. Ouch.
Gallery: Mario hails cabs in NYC
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
finnith @ Apr 24th 2008 8:06PM
I always felt bad for the guy in the suit.
Shmil @ Apr 24th 2008 8:13PM
I used to feel bad for those guys. Until one of them (i think it was a Florida's Gator) kept harassed me for wearing a FU (Furman University) hat at a relay for life event.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Apr 24th 2008 9:05PM
For some reason, shmil, and this is somewhat of a tangent, your statement reminds me of people giving excuses for why they gank low-level players in WoW.
Juice @ Apr 24th 2008 8:08PM
I want that costume! Anyone know where to get a professional one like that?
Arno @ Apr 24th 2008 8:42PM
No, but I know how you might be able to get a life. Interested?
Danny @ Apr 24th 2008 9:28PM
Please, Arno, show us how to live a life like yours! Filled with the excitement of trolling honest commenters on gaming blogs! I yearn for such thrills!
E.J. @ Apr 24th 2008 10:42PM
Danny, you're awesome.
Markez @ Apr 24th 2008 8:15PM
Mario a stiffeda me and didt givea me enougha fare! Yipee!!!
Markez @ Apr 24th 2008 8:16PM
Something tells me this may have turned out like that adorable GTA Mario clip on youtube. He'sa marinating in his owna ragu!
Shmil @ Apr 25th 2008 12:40AM
...why the internet italian accent when you're the person complaining about mario, and not mario himself?
Dr. Zoidberg @ Apr 24th 2008 8:25PM
I'm waiting for Nikko Belic to pull him out of a car and drive off
Dr. Zoidberg @ Apr 24th 2008 8:25PM
I'm waiting for Nikko Belic to pull him out of a car and drive off
Obie @ Apr 24th 2008 8:45PM
lol epic! +1
finnith @ Apr 24th 2008 9:14PM
Mario will just take out his AK-47 Wiimote and gun him down.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 24th 2008 9:27PM
I'm having a Robot Chicken relapse.
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(B:1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 25th 2008 7:09AM
Mario has the Wii Wheel for a reason!
Andy Witmyer @ Apr 24th 2008 8:32PM
Mario looked like a creepy, socially maladroit rapist in this video. I guess New Yorkers might be used to that, though.
Robert @ Apr 24th 2008 9:24PM
With the amount of money Nintendo is probably spending to promote this game, you think they could come up with a better shtick. $10 for a cab ride? Please...
Lewis @ Apr 24th 2008 9:24PM
Traffic is a bitch here in NYC, but lets see Mario find parking. That'll make him throw fireballs like a mother fucker.
mike @ Apr 25th 2008 12:27AM
I wonder why so many who live in NYC take taxis and own cars. Why dont more people buy a bicycle. Hell I live in the suburbs and went riding today and made my way downtown in an hour and I was infront of a bus the whole time. I basically got there faster then those who had to pay for transport on a bus.
Then again, most people are lazy as shit and a bike ride is something they view as only a thing for athletes or kids, rather then something they to can do to.
mike @ Apr 25th 2008 12:29AM
To calify my post above, I was refering to downtown Toronto, not NYC was my destination. Still a large city tho
Shmil @ Apr 25th 2008 12:42AM
In the words of Dennis Leary: "Oh yeah, you guys on the bicycles: LOCK'N'LOAD!"
Kyouryuu @ Apr 25th 2008 1:03AM
"It's-a the Cash Cab!"
KreacherOfBloodAndRank @ Apr 25th 2008 2:56AM
Considering how big that helmet is, how it obscures your vision, and how small that cab is, I wouldn't take a ride from him.
BIGGEN @ Apr 25th 2008 5:52AM
yeah, i didn't realize mario was so feeble. being led by the hand and all. but after all these years of jumping, hammering, butt stomping, triple jumping, somersaulting, back flipping, occasionally flying, and fighting an oversized fat dragon thing, the joints would tend to ache.
LiK @ Apr 25th 2008 8:42AM
should've hired a dude who looked like Real Mario to do it
Donald @ Apr 25th 2008 9:09AM
Then NOBODY would take the ride.
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(B:1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 25th 2008 4:26PM
"Hey kids, ya wanna have a ride in my yellow car? There's candy and all sorts of fun!"
*shiver*
JAmerican @ Apr 25th 2008 10:12AM
Mario couldn't even open the damn door. Why would I trust him to drive??
AgntOrange21 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:57AM
I heard that the next phase of this marketing campaign Mario is giving people free rides on the Bangbus!
ANd Boom goes the Dynamite
Triforceowner @ Apr 26th 2008 1:10PM
This gives me great ideas for what Nintedo's Grand Theft Auto game will be like.