Gizmodo: Mario

Awesome Lego Mario Model Built Using NextEngine 3D Scanner

Adam Frucci — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EDT

This is awesome. A Lego and 3D fanatic took a small Mario figurine, scanned it into a computer using the NextEngine 3D Scanner and used the data to create a near-perfect replica in Lego bricks, just much larger. Click the small picture for a much bigger version, and go check out the source to see the step-by-step process including screenshots of the 3D model he created. Awesome! [Luxology Forum]

The Nintoaster: Breakfast of Champions

Mark Wilson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EDT

We'd always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and now we know why. A real toaster gutted of its heating elements and filled with the sumptuousness of an NES, its cartridge actually pops out with the toaster's working lever. The only non-working part is the heat knob, which would have been just plain awesome if linked to control the integrated orange LEDs. Bonus pic:

Here's hoping for a bright future filled with game consoles that double as food preparation devices. [stupidfingers via Ubergizmo]

NES Games Renderings Make Great Background Desktops

Jesus Diaz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EDT

If you are sucker for all things 8-bit and all things NES—like I am—you will love these three-dimensional renderings of classic Nintendo Entertainment System games by Justin Buonvino. So much that you will put them on your desktop background, just like a did one minute ago.

Without a doubt, my favorites are the shot from above of Mario World 1 and the real-3D-made-to-look-fake-3D Zeldas, but the Excitebike has an special charm too. Thankfully, that's why desktop background cycling is there for. [Justin at Deviant Art via Geekologie]

Olympic Gold Medalist Would Like to Thank the Wii

Mark Wilson — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:15:00 EDT

That Nintendo Wii, what will it think up next? It's made us smarter and fitter and stronger and just so much better. Oh, and have you heard? Now it's creating OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS. Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima just took the gold in the 100-meter breaststroke, and instead of thanking God or his trainers in typical fashion, he gave another performance enhancer a shout-out:

See, Mario does the breaststroke. And thus, it's perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall.

Yes, that's the power of the Nintendo Wii when it's running Sega's Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Flailing the Wiimote around in jack-off motion really can make you the athlete you'd always dreamed of being.

To Kitajima's credit, he did say that quote above jokingly. Then again, he did say it. [Hochi Yomiuri via Kotaku]

Moving Lego Donkey Kong People, Lego Donkey F*cking Kong

Jesus Diaz — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:55:00 EDT

Lego. Mindstorms RCX. Donkey Kong. Rolling barrels. Donkey Kong throws rolling barrels. Mario jumps. And jumps. And jumps. All synchronized. Dan Kressin even generated the game start tune with Lego. After seeing it in action—and hearing the rattling noise it makes—I want this on the wall of my bedroom, as my alarm clock. Videos and high res pictures after the jump. Updated with comments by the author.

JD: How long did it take, total?
DK: Fudging the math here. About 3 months start to finish, working probably an average of an hour a day (more on the weekends, less during the week). 110-120 hours probably isn't too far off.

JD: Do you think, given enough time, you could use Mindstorms to recreate the arcade for real? I mean, controlling Mario travelling across the screen to the top. Too complicated?
DK: I've gotten this question a few times now.. It might be possible with some sort of magnet-behind-the-wall system, but it's not something I'll be able to attempt. I'd like to keep my wife.

JD: Any plans to do other games?
DK: I have some ideas for Ms Pacman, but it's still in the brainstorming stages. No promises..

[Vib via Brothers Brick]

iPhone NES Emulator Adds Accelerometer Support, Brings Tilt Control to Mario

John Herrman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:40:00 EDT

The new version of the popular NES emulator for the iPhone and iPod touch now includes accelerometer control for all games. The implementation is very simple: A tilt is equivalent to controlling input in that direction. This means that tilt control can be used in any game loaded into the emulator, but also that some of the controls are pretty much balls. Also, this app does not live in the official app store.

As seen in the video, controlling Mario is fairly natural, though quick turns and exact jumps are difficult to execute (playing Mario with the stock controls is often worse, though). Bomberman sort of works, but in that case—and many others—the old touch control overlay is much easier. Obviously none of these games were designed with tilt control in mind, but a surprising number are at least playable. Add this to the pile of reasons we still want an active app black market. NES.app 2.3.0 with tilt control is available now in Cydia. [NES.app]

Lightning Review: The Plush Super Mario Star's Spiritual Effect

Brian Lam — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:09:32 EDT

The Gadget: A plush star from Super Mario Brothers that plays the appropriate music when you touch it. Includes a goomba and a ? block.

The Price: $25

The Verdict: There's no reason to buy something as frivolous as a plush Super Mario Star that plays the actual theme; no reason unless you have a use for a dependable and non-habit forming instant 15-second boost in joy, endurance, morale and invincibility.

Bonus: Plus Question block with 1UP

[Thinkgeek Mario Plus Toys]

Dusty Wii Syndrome Returns With Launch of Mario Kart

Jack Loftus — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:15:00 EDT

They say smoking and squalor can kill a human, but that's turning out to be equally true for the Nintendo Wii. The hardware's disc-reading laser seems incapable of cutting through the grit, grime and second-hand smoke that accumulates on its lens' glassy veneer. The issue first appeared with Super Smash Bros. Brawl double-layer DVD, and now reports about the launch of Mario Kart Wii this month in Japan show that game is no different. Nintendo will clean your Wii for free, but that will mean a week or so without it. [GameFront via GoNintendo]

Nintendo Power Contest: Wii Wheel Cost Driven Down to $9.99

Jack Loftus — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:30:57 EDT

Your friends still aren't worth the cost of admission to your place for a game with Nintendo's Wii Wheel, but they're getting closer now that a Nintendo Power contest rules page lists the peripheral at $9.99. [GoNintendo]

Wii Wheel Gets $14.99 Price Tag; Your Friends Aren't Worth it

Haroon Malik — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EDT

Looks like the fellows at Gamestop let the pricing for Nintendo's Wii Wheel slip, and $14.99 is the price you'll be paying for each friend you have over on Mario Kart Wii day, (April 27th.) The game will retail at $49.99, which includes one Wii Wheel to boot, but for multiplayer mayhem, you're going to have to fork out that little bit more. Friends suck...not in a good way. Jump to see a blown up shot of the flier with the figures. [Gamestop; Thanks, David W]

Crystal Icing Give Mario, Bowser SwaroskWii Treatment

Haroon Malik — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Crystal Icing is back with two more additions to their Swarovski encrusted Wii range. They previously bought us the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess edition, which looked remarkable. Well, they are obviously onto a winning formula; just checkout the new Super Smash Bros Brawl inspired Wii / Swarovski overkill artworks. Sure, they are excessive, but we have always wanted to see what Bowser looked like when he's all blinged out by 20,000 crystals. If you have had similar queries about Mario, jump in to put your curiosities aside.

Yeah, we wouldn't mind having these Wii sets beneath our TV, but we'd much rather keep the $4,000 in our pocket. [Crystal Icing; Thanks, James.]

The 3D Mario Wii Casemod

Adam Frucci — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EDT

The Wii is great and all, but I think it just slides too easily into my home theater cabinet. I want something more awkwardly shaped and garishly colored, dammit! When will Nintendo listen to my requests? I need to go to modders to get what I want; specifically, this hand-painted Wii mod with a 3D Mario popping out of the side. A little much? Maybe, but you can't hate on this type of constructive fanboyism. I approve. [Hack n Mod]

12-Inch DS-Holding Mario Says "Mama Mia, You'll-a Never Get a Girlfriend!"

Adam Frucci — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:20:55 EST

This foot-tall Mario statue is actually a DS holder, with his grip specially designed to hold your portable gaming device. It's the perfect way to make your bedroom look like a 1993 Toys R Us while also making sure your DS doesn't have to sully itself resting on any flat surfaces. How can you say no? [Product Page via 7 Gadgets]

Limited-Edition DS a-Go-Go as Bathing Ape Gives the Lite a Caselift

AddyDugdale — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:17:31 EST

Yesterday's matte black limited-edition DS has been superseded by a Louie Vouie-esque design from cult Japanese fashion line Bathing Ape. Available in either white or a rather dingy gold, the case is stamped with Mario and Bape faces, with the Mario star thrown in for good measure. Available in Japan from April 1, expect this to sell out pronto. [highsnobiety via Kotaku]

Rumor Smashed: Mario Galaxy For the DS is a Hoax

Sean Fallon — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:20:39 EST

We hate to burst your bubble but Joystiq has provided some convincing evidence that the recent video showing a DS version of Mario Galaxy was a fake —albeit a very good one. It appears that a shorter, more stable version of the was posted on a video-sharing site by a user with the handle psycho3ler. That is the same guy behind the infamous Nintendo ON hoax video from 2005. So yeah, there will be no Galaxy for the DS (for now) —but you probably already saw this one coming. We are used to having our hopes and dreams crushed. [Stage9 Video and Nintendo On Video via Joystiq]

Paper Mario Animation, Six Weeks of Work in 60 Seconds

Charlie White — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST

Here's an enormously entertaining little video that took thousands of times longer to make than it does to watch. Created by an animator who calls himself "sketch (537CH)", he says it took six weeks to create this Paper Mario Animation. We like the way he moved the paper cutouts over the crayon-colored backgrounds, resulting in accurate and realistic-looking Mario action. Nice work. [Daily Motion, via CrunchGear]

Mario Kart Slot Racing For Geeks of All Ages

Sean Fallon — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:00:07 EST

You have been a slot racer fan since you were a kid —plus, you have always enjoyed the Mario Kart series. So why not put your passions together with this Mario Kart Slot Racing set? Additional info and photo of the track after the jump.

Each set comes complete with 1:43 scale versions of Mario's B Dasher and Wario's Brute, as well as 20 feet of race track. Plus, the unit has an official Nintendo seal of approval, so you know it is quality. It is currently sold out, but when they get more in stock the set can be yours for $89.95. [Product Page]

Tesla Coils Playing the Mario Bros Theme are Unsurprisingly Awesome

Adam Frucci — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST

I'm as surprised as you are that this is the second video-game-themed Tesla coil post I'm doing in as many days, but this is too cool to pass up. These two Tesla coils are playing the original Mario Bros theme song — and there are no speakers involved.

Twin Solid State Musical Tesla coils playing Mario Bros theme song at the 2007 Lightning on the Lawn Teslathon sponsored by DC Cox (Resonance Research Corp) in Baraboo WI. The music that you hear is coming from the sparks that these two identical high power solid state Tesla coils are generating. There are no speakers involved. The Tesla coils stand 7 feet tall and are each capable of putting out over 12 foot of spark. They are spaced about 18 feet apart. The coils are controlled over a fiber optic link by a single laptop computer. Each coil is assigned to a midi channel which it responds to by playing notes that are programed into the computer software.

[YouTube via Make via CrunchGear]

Mario and Luigi Air Fresheners

Jason Chen — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:20:48 EDT

When we think of freshness, there's nothing better than the smell of two Italian dudes that spend their day stomping on mushrooms and sticking their heads into toilets and pipes. For $7.61, that's exactly what you're going to get. The only thing worse than this is if they released a second edition Wario air freshener, which would probably smell like Costco wine, day-old vomit and Mario's ass. [Dealextreme via Uber Review]

Mario Mushroom Lights, Fanboy Up

Mark Wilson — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:59:33 EDT

The Mushroom Lamp is a glowing feat of technology. But it's not the power efficient LEDs that will stretch the life of the 4AA battery power supply that has us impressed. It's the lawsuit-avoiding tech of unlicensed merchandise. Clearly reminiscent of the mushrooms floating around in Nintendo's famous Mario Bros. franchise, buyer beware. These mushrooms are not official Mario mushrooms. So they may or may not expand your body to mutant proportions or allow you "another shot at life" after falling down an infinite hole.

And unfortunately, they also lack the hallucinogenic properties to make you believe said occurrences are happening. $12 [product via uberreview]

Super Mario Bros. Subwoofer: OK, I Get It, You Like Video Games

Adam Frucci — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:40:23 EDT

This Super Mario Bros. subwoofer combines two good things to make an even better thing. If it was for sale and I didn't care about my apartment looking like a virgintorium, I'd buy one. Unfortunately, it's a homemade project and I'm not living above my parent's garage. But if I was! What adventures I would have, believe you me! [Flickr via Geekologie]

Mario Kart R/C Racer

Jason Chen — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 22:00:04 EDT

Still can't get enough of Mario Kart even though Nintendo's been pimping the series out on every platform? Grab this Mario Kart R/C racer and make your own races. Well, actually, all your races would be Mario vs. Mario vs. Mario. Unless, of course, you get dress one up in a Barbie dress, cover another in dog fur, and spray paint the third with green and shave off his love handles. Then you'd really have a Mario Kart race. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Think Geek via Gizmodude]

Nintendo '80s Arcade Cabinet

Brian Lam — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:00:40 EDT

Costco's selling this Nintendo classic arcade cabinet. Since you can get Mario Bros. Donkey Kong and DK Jr variations on Game Boy, what you're actually paying $3000 for is the orange paint and amazing cabinet art. Twin joysticks, and a 19 inch monitor round out the 250-pound pre-8-bit-era game machine.–Brian Lam

Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario Bros. Arcade by Namco [Costco, thanks Jason]

Super Mario Brothers Running On Apple TV: Video

Matt Buchanan — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 05:30:29 EDT

A reader, Rusty, sent in this video of himself playing Super Mario Bros. on his Apple TV, which, in my Nintendo fanboy opinion, totally blows away those other top 5 hacks. Who cares about running XviD files—or hell, even the legit functions—when you can play Mario?

He says:

Standard ATV OS with a few hacks.

Pretty simple hack to accomplish. Just enabled shh. Then VNC, AFP and USB. Then installed Nestopia and Emulator Enhancer.

Easy only because many people have spent hundreds of hours figuring out these hacks.

So humble. Now what was that about Apple TV not being a game device? – Matt Buchanan

Apple TV [Gizmodo]

Super Mario Bros. Sound Blocks Annoy Your Office Mates to No End

Charlie White — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:15:00 EDT

Super Mario Bros. Sound Blocks just sit there on your desk until you press down on their heads, and then four different familiar and authentic sound effects emanate from within.

Both your old pals from the classic Nintendo game are there, Mario and Luigi, forever immortalized in 3" desk ornaments that actually make those sounds that will take you back to those halcyon days when you didn't have to work and your mom made you cheese sandwiches that tasted like shoe polish.

Too bad ThinkGeek won't let you choose exactly which one of these $4.99 figures you actually want, where you have to accept their random choice. – Charlie White

Product Page [ThinkGeek]

Mario Rubik's Cube Combines Best, Worst of 80s

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:45:00 EST

Here we have two of the biggest cultural phenomenons of the 1980s together at last: Mario and the Rubik's Cube. One of these things is still a beloved part of both children of the 80s and current children's lives; the other, well, it's kind of kitchy, I guess.

Personally, seeing Mario all over a Rubik's Cube makes me want to play a Mario game, not frustrate myself with that infernal puzzle. But hey, if you feel differently feel free to go to Japan and spend $17 on this thing. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Kotaku]

Rumor Smashed: iPhone Not on Cingular for $299/$399

Jason Chen — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:39:28 EST

Really? We weren't clear enough that the whole iPhone on Cingular subsidized for $299/$399 was a fake that some websites are actually thinking that it's real? Really? C'mon. Really?

Here's the word straight from Cingular:

It's a fake.

RUMOR SMASHED! – Jason Chen

iPhone [Gizmodo]

Build Your Own Mario Shrine, One Pixel at a Time

gizmodocontributor — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:25:16 EDT

Japanese collectible toys are generally cool to the Nth degree, especially when based on either whippy turds or video games. In the latter category comes a brand new range of build-it-yourself mosaics from TomyTec, all of which depict classic Nintendo characters.

The ¥483 (US$4) dot-s packages consist of 250 colored pegs, a perforated board to plug them into and a plastic base to make it all stand up. Each box is unmarked, so fevered collectors have no way of knowing which Mario, Zelda or Donkey Kong character they're going to spend the next three minutes slapping together. – Jonny Hiratsuka

dot-s Nintendo edition [Game Watch]

DS Lite Now Rocking In Black and Pink

Brian Lam — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:33:08 EDT

In the US, on September 13th, the Nintendo DS Lite will be available in Black and Pink, officiallly known as Onyx and Coral. If you don't have one, you should get one. I play the DS Lite far more often than I play the Xbox. Here's a picture of the tough, manly, black one, since I know most other blogs are giving you the pretty pink one. No need to thanks, thats just how we roll. More glossy shots of both colors, after the jump.– Brian Lam

Nintendo Launches New DS Lite Colors Amid Record-Breaking Game Sales [Nintendo]

[Last photo from Lik Sang]

Super Mario Robot: Remote Controlled by Japanese NES Joypad

Brian Lam — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:23:23 EDT

More remote controlled goodness! This little Mario action figure walks when you mash on the joypad—a Japanese NES (or Famicon) replica controller. He knows how to go forward, backward, left and right. No fireballs or jumping, unfortunately. There's a picture of the Toad version, and a video of the toy in action, after the jump.– Brian Lam

Super Mario Robot Toy [via i4u]

Q Rocks Mario

johnb — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:57:13 EDT

Man, I didn't know Motorola was teaming up with Nintendo! Apparently, the Q can run the Pocket NES emulator, which means this ultra-thin sex kitten just got more ultra-thinish and sex-kittenish.

via MobileMag

Gizmodo Japan: Make Your Own Mario

johnb — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 06:42:46 EST

Let's welcome Peter Payne to the Gizmodo fold. Peter is a gaijin living the good life in Japan, where he runs J-List and lives in a liquor shop with his Japanese wife. J-List is an online shop that aims to bring the world closer together through shared Japanese pop culture.

Nintendo continues to relive its 8-bit glory days with Super Mario Bros. ".S" (that's "dot-S," as in, "dot-Net" or "dot-Mac"), a little plastic screen and appropriately colored pegs that you use to make any Mario icon you want. Kind of like Lite-Brite for the SNES generation. It seems to me that some enterprising pegmasters can probably come up with some original versions of Mario that Nintendo never intended.

Product Page [J-List]

Mario Knows You Smell

gizmodo.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 11:27:58 EST

The Japanese know we're suckers for anything Mario-related. So when a guy on eBay puts up some official Mario "Bath Bombs" for sale, people in the states love it for two reasons: it's Mario and it makes you smell like fresh flowers. Drop Mario into your hot bath and he'll fizz you with his water-jet pack and make you feel all fun and gamer-like. Clean as sunshine, too. Bidding ended at a lame 2.35 / $4.11 for these suckers. Guess Mario isn't that much of a blast when it comes to cleaning up.

Mario bath bombs for stinky gamers [Boing Boing]