Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered the World. This book, originally titled Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America, has a slight misnomer in its title. While it suggests a global focus, the book is primarily concerned with the U.S. gaming market rather than the global one. Additionally, it’s not solely about the Super Mario Bros. series, which is a refreshing change.

Written by American game journalist Jeff Ryan, the book serves as both an informative retrospective on the rise of the iconic mustachioed plumber and a comprehensive examination of the video game industry as a whole¹. Ryan has effectively created two books in one, blending the history of Super Mario with a broader look at the gaming industry’s development.

Importantly, Super Mario is not geared toward hardcore gamers or retrogaming enthusiasts who are deeply familiar with video game history. Instead, it is designed for the general reader who may not be well-versed in gaming specifics or distinctions between consoles like the PC Engine and the Panasonic 3DO². This approach makes the book accessible to a wider audience and provides an engaging entry point into the world of video games for those less familiar with the subject.

Ryan’s book offers a thorough exploration of how Nintendo’s Super Mario series helped shape the gaming landscape and influenced the broader industry. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the impact of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises and its role in the larger context of video game history.

Footnotes

1. Jeff Ryan – An American game journalist known for his writing on video game history and industry trends. ↩
2. PC Engine and Panasonic 3DO – Historical video game consoles that represent different eras and technological approaches in gaming history. ↩