Happy Mario Day!!

Super Mario

Did you know March 10 is Mario day? MAR10. Neither did I, until I read Super Mario How Nintendo Conquered America.

This week’s reading pick is Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan.

I absolutely loved this book. The design and layout kept me engaged from start to finish, and I was surprised by how many fascinating behind-the-scenes details I learned about Mario’s evolution. As someone who grew up playing Mario games, this one felt especially nostalgic.

One of my favorite parts was learning how Mario originally appeared as Jumpman before becoming the iconic character we all know and love today. Watching his transformation from a simple arcade figure into a global cultural symbol was both fun and inspiring.

My favorite quote from the book was:

“If you can draw pixel art, you can make a game.”

That line stayed with me.

Because the characters we love, the ones we’ve personified, and even worn on our shirts  are technically just pixels.

But they never felt like pixels.

As a gaming scientist, this is exactly why I love games.

The magic isn’t just in the code or the pixels. It’s in between the character and the gamer. 

You can see it in the gamer who protects their cards from  getting hurt in a tough battle.

You can hear the fast and furious clicking on the gaming controller.

 It is in the gamers voice, when they say JUMP! Why is he not jumping?

The young gamer who is so eagerly excited to show off their accomplishments from a hard earned battle.

 The gamer who proudly wears clothing with iconic game quotes or characters.

 The gamer who feels genuine emotion over something “made of pixels.”

Games are never just pixels.