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