Miyamoto: Mario originally named 'Mr. Video,' couldn't jump
by Griffin McElroy 
on Nov 25th 2009 1:30PM
Though the
latest edition of Iwata Asks is
technically focused on
New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the first few pages of the interview go off on a tangent about the overall-clad plumber's roots which you might find interesting. For instance, did you know that Miyamoto's original plan for
Donkey Kong was a video game based on
Popeye? It's true -- it was only after he was denied the rights to put the muscly-armed sailor man in a video game that he created the most prolific video game character of all time.
Of course, just like a timid middle school student, Mario was forced to go through some awkward formative phases. Miyamoto revealed that in the original design for
Donkey Kong, Mario -- who, at the time,
was referred to as "Mr. Video" -- was unable to jump. Man, we feel like we just gazed into some kind of creepy alternate universe.
"It is me, Mr. Video. I'm going to slowly walk over there, all the while praying that I don't encounter any ground-based enemies."
