Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. (1985) score redefined video game music. With under three minutes of music, Kondo put to rest an era of bleeps and bloops-the sterile products of a lab environment-replacing it with one in which game sounds constituted a legitimate form of artistic expression. Andrew Schartmann takes us through the various external factors (e.g., the video game crash of 1983, Nintendo's marketing tactics) that coalesced into a ripe environment in which Kondo's musical experiments could thrive. He then delves into the music itself, searching for reasons why our hearts still dance to the “primitive” 8-bit tunes of a bygone era. What musical features are responsible for Kondo's distinct “Mario sound”? How do the different themes underscore the vastness of Princess Peach's Mushroom Kingdom? And in what ways do the game's sound effects resonate with our physical experience of the world? These and other questions are explored within, through the lens of Kondo's compositional philosophy-one that would influence an entire generation of video game composers. As Kondo himself stated, “we [at Nintendo] were trying to do something that had never been done before.” In this book, Schartmann shows his readers how Kondo and his team not just succeeded, but heralded in a new era of video games.

In perhaps the most famous switcheroo in all of game history, the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was declared "too hard" by Nintendo of America and replaced with a Mario-ified port of the Famicom hit, Yume Kōjō Doki Doki Panic. The new game (dubbed Super Mario USA in Japan) was a huge success for its four playable characters, improved graphics, immersive levels, and catchy music, and eventually became the 3rd bestselling game for the NES. And yet. Because of its strange new villains, its wild gameplay, and its mysterious touches, SMB2 has for years been regarded as the Odd Mario Out, even as it has seen popular updates on the Super NES and Game Boy Advance. Irwin's Mario is not a simple retelling of a 25-year-old story, but instead an examination of the game with fresh eyes: both as a product of its time and as a welcome change from the larger Super Mario franchise. Along the way he searches for clues, pulling up a few vegetables of his own. What he finds is not at all what he expected.

Power up your child's reading with Mario, Luigi and their friends in the Super MarioTM first-ever Step into Reading level reader! Nintendo and Super Mario fans ages 5-8 will love to meet Mario, Luigi, and all their friends and foes in this Step 3 Step into Reading level reader. Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own. Mario first appeared in 1981 with the arcade classic Donkey KongTM, and has since gone on to star in many adventures, allowing him to evolve into the beloved icon he is today. He is a video game sensation, appearing across all genres--from action-platformers to sports, kart racing and beyond.

A celebrated performance artist's mesmerizing riffs on sex in American politics. Based on her widely praised performance pieceUnicorn Gratitude Mystery ("Wickedly funny," as described byThe New York Times), Karen Finley'sGrabbing Pussy explores the Shakespearean dynamics that surface when libidos and loyalties clash in the public and private personas of Donald Trump, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and now Harvey Weinstein. Standing in the tradition of Allen Ginsberg'sHowl, Finley's words jolt the reader into new insights about the ways the darkly private can drive the public realm in dizzying twists and turns. The aggression of intimacy, the disparity of gender, and the vital importance of hair are all encompassed in Finley's exhilarating canter.

Experience the zany world of Super Mario through manga! Join Mario and pals in crazy adventures inspired by the hit video games! In this collection of short stories, Mario and Luigi go on adventures that showcase the fan-favorite characters of the Mario world in new, unconventional and hilarious ways. This compilation, handpicked from years of Mario comics in Japan, has never been available in English—until now!

After decades of anticipation, Alfred is proud to release the officially licensed, collectible sheet music companion folios to the Super Mario Bros.™ video game series. The 34 arrangements in this intermediate-advanced piano edition are note-for-note transcriptions of instantly recognizable melodies beloved by generations of gamers around the globe. From Koji Kondo's iconic "Super Mario Bros.™ Ground Background Music" to the New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ themes, the dozens of pieces in this book represent two and a half decades of Nintendo® video game favorites. Adding to the fun, graphics from the corresponding games grace each page of the sheet music. Impress friends, family, and audiences of all ages by playing from this magnificent collection, which makes a great gift for every pianist. Titles: * Super Mario Bros.™ Ground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Underground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Underwater Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Castle Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Invincible Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™: The Lost Levels Ending * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Map 1 * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Ground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Boss of the Fortress * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Skyship Background Music * Super Mario World™ Title * Super Mario World™ Castle Background Music * Dr. Mario™ Chill * Dr. Mario™ Title Background Music * Super Mario Kart™ Mario Circuit * Super Mario World™ 2 Yoshi's Island™ Athletic * Super Mario World™ 2 Yoshi's Island™ Ground Background Music * Super Mario 64™ Main Theme * Super Mario 64™ Water Land * Mario Kart™ 64 Circuit * Super Mario Sunshine™ Dolpic Town * New Super Mario Bros.™ Title * New Super Mario Bros.™ Giant Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Battle Background Music 2 * New Super Mario Bros.™ Battle Background Music 1 * Super Mario Galaxy™ Ending Staff Credit Roll * Mario Kart™ Wii™ Rainbow Road * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Ground Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Underwater Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Desert Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Time Up Warning Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ Course Clear Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ World Clear Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ Power Down, Game Over

After decades of anticipation, Alfred is proud to release the officially licensed, collectible sheet music companion folios to the Super Mario Bros.™ video game series. The 34 arrangements in this Easy Piano edition contain the instantly recognizable melodies beloved by generations of gamers around the globe. From Koji Kondo’s iconic "Super Mario Bros.™ Ground Background Music" to the New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ themes, the dozens of pieces in this book represent two and a half decades of Nintendo® video game favorites. Adding to the fun, graphics from the corresponding games grace each page of the sheet music. Impress friends, family, and audiences of all ages by playing from this magnificent collection, which makes a great gift for every pianist. Titles: * Super Mario Bros.™ Ground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Underground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Underwater Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Castle Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Invincible Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™: The Lost Levels Ending * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Map 1 * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Ground Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Boss of the Fortress * Super Mario Bros.™ 3 Skyship Background Music * Super Mario World™ Title * Super Mario World™ Castle Background Music * Dr. Mario™ Chill * Dr. Mario™ Title Background Music * Super Mario Kart™ Mario Circuit * Super Mario World™ 2 Yoshi’s Island™ Athletic * Super Mario World™ 2 Yoshi’s Island™ Ground Background Music * Super Mario 64™ Main Theme * Super Mario 64™ Water Land * Mario Kart™ 64 Circuit * Super Mario Sunshine™ Dolpic Town * New Super Mario Bros.™ Title * New Super Mario Bros.™ Giant Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Battle Background Music 2 * New Super Mario Bros.™ Battle Background Music 1 * Super Mario Galaxy™ Ending Staff Credit Roll * Mario Kart™ Wii™ Rainbow Road * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Ground Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Underwater Background Music * New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii™ Desert Background Music * Super Mario Bros.™ Time Up Warning Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ Course Clear Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ World Clear Fanfare * Super Mario Bros.™ Power Down, Game Over "Best in Show" Award at Winter NAMM 2012 presented by Music Inc. magazine.