Chris Covell's page Your Weekly Famicom recently updated with a translation of a Japanese children's book on game design.  The Stars of Famicom Games - How Video Games are Made is packed full of interesting photos of EAD staff working on Super Mario Bros. 3.  Go take a look and be amazed!

Source: http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/secret/weekly/Stars_of_the_Family_Computer.html

The third annual Mario Marathon, raising money for the children's charity Child's Play, takes place this Friday at 11AM EDT.  Three crazy (but loveable) guys plan to play through most of the major Super Mario titles as the world watches.  The greater the donations, the more games and levels they'll play through; at the moment, just over $2500 have been pledged, meaning that these brave men will be "b-dashing" through:
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Super Mario World
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario 64 (partially)

Of course, an obvious question arises: why the lack of Super Mario Sunshine?  We obviously can't let these guys run a Mario marathon without subjecting them to a 100% SMS Blue Coin Run of Death, right?  This is the time for action - go visit the Mario Marathon website and pledge your support (watching them struggle to gather the blue coins is only PART of the fun, of course).  WTMK should be running a themed audio broadcast to tie in to the epic marathon, if I can convince the fungus to back down off the server for a moment.

WTMK is preparing for the launch of Super Mario Galaxy 2 with a special playlist.  Relive all of Mario's 3D platforming adventures as you prepare for the newest one.  That's right, we're playing nothing but music from Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy.

Tune in as you wait for Mario and Yoshi's newest 3D adventure!

WTMK is pleased to update with two new sets of Mario related music!

* The OneUps have released a new album, dedicated entirely to music from Super Mario Kart.  Jazz! Rock! Spooky bits on strings!  If you've enjoyed their other albums, you've probably already purchased your copy.  If not, you can always get a copy of the Super Mario Kart Album on the band's BandCamp page. $9.99 for digital download (mp3, FLAC, etc.) or a physical CD.

* Jay "Mercury" Hunter has recently released his free remix album entitled Mushroom Nostalgia Mixtape.  More information is available on his Facebook page.  Despite the title, Mario tracks aren't the entirety of the CD, which features a few Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog tunes as well.  Go grab a copy and listen to it for yourself.

Both albums are now streaming on WTMK . . . along with my attempt at deciphering exactly what the Yoshies are warbling during the end-of-level music in Yoshi's Story.

WTMK is now broadcasting music from NES Open Tournament Golf and a better assortment of music from Mario Kart DS... plus all the hits you know and love!

(11:13:44 PM) Drill: So
(11:13:48 PM) Drill: My foot is bleeding
(11:14:26 PM) BP: Don't stomp the Spinies
(11:14:46 PM) David: Sounds like the name of a new video game cover band

There really needs to be a video game cover band named "Don't Stomp the Spinies."

They need to do a cover of the nearly-final boss track music from the Game Boy Donkey Kong game.

They also need a track called "Jump, Jump, Jump, Don't Die!"

Are you looking for some WarioWare: D.I.Y. microgame developing tips? Nintendo's got you covered with eight video tutorials hosted by Nintendo of America Treehouse staff. There are two beginner lessons, two intermediate lessons, and four advanced lessons up now on the Wii's Nintendo Channel and in our YouTube playlist.

For more videos, and details on a microgame design contest, visit the official WarioWare: D.I.Y. site at WarioWareDIY.com.

As a guitar player and gamer, I know it takes a lot of willpower to pick up a bass and not play the Super Mario Bros. underground theme. For a nice change of pace, check out this video of konodaichi playing the SMB main theme entirely on bass.

Stuff like this also increases my frothing demand of wanting a bass guitar of my own...

Twenty years ago today, Super Mario Bros. 3 was officially released in the USA.

That's right, it's the China & Aster Vigintennial of the greatest Mario game ever made!

In honor of this memorable occasion, WTMK will be playing a special Super Mario Bros. 3 playlist all weekend long. Hear the magic!

WTMK's Super Mario Bros. 3 20th Anniversary Spectacular: http://themushroomkingdom.net/wtmk.shtml

You be my Princess Peach, I'll be your Mario.

I'll follow you around wherever you may go.

I'll fight those Koopa Troopas and those mean old Goombas too.

The Mushroom Kingdom would be dull, without rescuing you.

Link: http://8bitcollective.com/music/The+Disco+King/You+be+my+Princess+Peach/

I'm not sure how I missed this the first time around, but I recently stumbled across a trailer for a Mario fan film that had been created nearly four years ago.  Doing a bit of research led me to this page, in which the animator mentions always wanting to have a film on TMK's Fan Films page.

I don't know if anyone else here at TMK had seen this before, but the animation quality is fairly impressive for a fan film, and it features a remix soundtrack by Mustin; these things combined surely earn it at least a mention here on the blog!  Go take a look at the Koopa Force trailer.

Source: Try4cdCubed's IGN Blog
Youtube: Koopa Force trailer

It should probably be worth noting that a new Iwata Asks series has appeared, interviewing Miyamoto about Mario history and the design of New Super Mario Brothers Wii.

There's some interesting information in this interview. I, for one, only hazily recall learning that Donkey Kong was originally going to be a game about Popeye. In addition, we've often thought that Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration for the Super Mushroom, no? Miyamoto reports "that isn't the case!"

Page One: Mario Couldn't Jump at First