Last year Nintendo celebrated its 121st birthday-for so many years there is no other company busy with video games today. There will not be enough of all its ups on the corporation, all its ups, inventions, inventions and finds, but another thing is important: after another 121 years, hardly anyone remembers Nintendo playing cards, electronics, Game & Watch, Samus Aran and even, we think, Link. But Mario will remember – a plumber who was 25 years old in the same year. Exactly so much has passed since the way out Super Mario Bros. in 1985, and on this occasion, as noted on one of the Russian fan sites, "it was impossible not to get drunk".
The thematic press conference, the creators, of course, did not get off with. Special, jubilee versions of WII and DSI, reprint the first three Mario-IGR (along with the original cartridges with masochistic levels), as well as an amazing artbook and a disk with soundtrack, were on sale. You can consider all this closer on the festive site Mario25TH.Nintendo.Com.
This anniversary is perhaps one of the main events of the past year, but to praise Mario for us, the employees of the game magazine, is like the author of Rolling Stone to write something like: “And these are your“ Beatles ”nothing, cheerfully shrubs”. Therefore, we contacted a variety of representatives of the gaming industry and asked if they did not want to speak out about the 25th anniversary of Mario. Everyone wanted to get to the pages of Gamery – well, or almost everything: employees Tale of Tales , The main indi-operators wished the unfortunate plumber to die as soon as possible (we suspect, nevertheless of a joke), and the company "" 1C-SoftKlab "Refused to participate, citing corporate ethics.
Eric Holmes, Chief Designer Games: “Everyone loves Mario so hard that it is even difficult to explain it. He is the lord of the media environment, the first entertainment attraction in our life, which cannot be bored, and therefore, more than just a mustache, cap and overalls.
Who else is loved and remembered for so long? Who else manages to get younger over the years? Yes, no one! Mario Bodr, because he runs ahead of the competitors, because it is constantly changing, managing to remain a classic. Mario in the game – and this is a guarantor of accessibility, monumentality and endless fun. Good achievement, is it not true?"
Nicole Lazzaro, founder of Xeodesign – companies studying emotions formed by video games: “Mario, you are my hero! From those ancient Sidskroling times to the conquest of distant-long galaxies! I do not regret any center spent on youth with you. Happy birthday! You worthy of these 25 years!
And Sigeru Miyamoto-san! Thank you for visionary and rich imagination, your games awaken in each of us all the best. You are my hero too!"
Tony Watkins, head of the Russian representative office Electronic Arts: “But I still remember how I played the first Donkey Kong… Since then, Mario found a name, characteristic appearance and is only gaining power every year. I am sure that he will live for thirty years, but not sure that I will be able to congratulate him again!"
Cameron Brown, Creative Director of Mercenaries (now works on a new project): “What can I say. He invented 2D platformers, he invented 3D platformers, lit up in fighting wings and races, RPG and even space Odyssey. There is no such thing that would not be able to. Well, maybe, except for the salvation of the princess once and for all. Congratulations, man!"
American McGi, founder and creative director of Spicy Horse Games: “How can I not congratulate Mario? Without him, after all, there would not be all those magic watches spent on the prefix Nintendo with John Karmak!"
Scott Steinberg, host of the online show Game Theory and the head of the video game consulting company Techsavvy Global: “Mario open every time again. He constantly seeks to raise the bar of video games in general. This is Mickey-Mas generation X: millions look at him as a playing banner, a source of eternal radiance. Congratulations on the anniversary, a big man – ahead of another 25 years of unforgettable adventures!"
Edmund McMillan, creator Super Meat Boy: “Congratulations, now you are 25 years old, Mario! And you are an adult enough to finally understand that the Princess of Pich just allows himself to be kidnapped. You are not in her taste ".
Michael Pakhter, odious game analyst: “Mario is much older than it looks – probably everything from these constant jumps! He was alone and remains an argument in favor of the fact that people should be carried away by video games. And the people whom he had already convinced now are now raising children, who once also become his fans. My forecast: Our children will play in Mario with their grandchildren and in fifty years! I'm looking forward to!"
[[Break]]
Did you have to think about who speaks for Mario (as well as Luigi, Valuji, Vario and others)? Probably not. It is strange: we know who gave a voice to Solid Snieka or Sam Fisher, but we have no idea about Charles Martin, a saddle-haired actor-suizelob, which voices the famous plumber for the third ten years. But his exclamations are much more recognizable than any pompous sniffings and grunts! At an hour and a half, breaking away from the meatballs and pizza, the voice of Mario kindly told Gamery, is it hard – it was hard to portray the Italian Savior Princesses and a fighter with turtles.
[Gambling:] First of all, I would like, of course, to find out how you generally became the voice of Mario.
[Charles:] It happened twenty years ago. I am lying on the beach, resting, having fun, when suddenly a friend calls me and says: “Hey! There will be one listening for the exhibition in Vegas! Go there!"And I to him:" No, no, no, I will not go anywhere, in any case! I am a professional actor, I don't do such things!"But I still wrote the address-well, it seems like just in case, and then thought, thought and went.
And here I am on the spot, knock on the door, I enter and see that the operator with the producer is already gathering, and the camera has long been in my bag. I look at them, they look at me, understand that I am also listening, and the following: “Oh!"And they say:“ Okay, put the camera back. In general, you are an Italian plumber from Brooklyn. Come up with emphasis, come up with a voice. You will need to talk all day with people of various ages. On your head you will have a system for creating animation in real time, transmitting signals to the supercomputer. You make up and talk – and the character grimaces and talks. Play in a voice, portray a monologue or dialogue, anything! As soon as you snack, listening will end ".
I think: “The Italian plumber is someone who rudely wheezes:“ Hey, what much how much?". And this is a game character, he should be funny and friendly. They asked to come up with a voice to the hero of the game .. Voodoo Wins Casino. hmm! The hero of the game? There are no heroes in games! I played in Pong, in Space Invaders and another thing, where Vaka-Waka-Wak-Waka sounds, and never thought about any heroes and plots. Well, I'll just imagine something funny ".
And here they are: “Let's go!"And I (characteristic voice):" Hello, I'm Mario! Oki-Doks! Spaghetti! Pizza!" – and all in this spirit. I don’t remember what exactly I said, it seems, I just told this voice different stories about spaghetti and meatballs, about how the heroes cook food, run back and forth … And he said, said, said so forty minutes until the producer exclaimed: “” “” “” Everything, stop! Enough! The film is over!"
[Gambling:] Wow! That is, they listened to you from half an hour, even more?
[Charles:] Yes! I crack, burst out, and then the operator turns to the producer and grunts: “Listen, and if we leave the camera and go out for fifteen minutes, he will still speak when we return?"Producer in response:" Yeah. Maybe we'll really go out?»And I just had fun to work on this character! Even then!
They spent me with the standard phrase “Thank you, we will contact you, all the best,” and I returned to the beach to enjoy the sunset. It was very beautiful … In the meantime, I looked at the sun, these people, it turns out, called Nintendo And they shouted into the phone: “Here it is! We found him! Found Mario!»They sent the cassette to the developers. I don’t know what happened next, but, I think, Siger Miyamoto looked her and said: “Oki-Doki! Wu-hu!"
Oki-Doks
[Gambling:] And before you heard something about Mario or Mr. Miyamoto?
[Charles:] Nope. Even then I was an actor, my God, about fifteen or twenty! He played in theaters, at the radio, at exhibitions, starred in training videos, in advertising. And I really knew anything about games. Only now, after another twenty years, I understand how great it is to work with Miyamoto-san on this project, these characters, this world, complete joy, fun, life, full adventure! 2D adventures, 3D adventures! And no one knows what will happen next.
[Gambling:] What do you love, classic or three -dimensional?
[Charles:] The question, of course, is difficult. It’s easier for me to play two-dimensional, you run and jump there-the rules are simple, but how much pleasure! At the same time Super Mario Galaxy I was truly struck, this is probably the most stunning from all the games that I have ever seen.
The secret here is that people working with Mr. Miyamoto really love to make games. When they developed Super Mario Galaxy 1, they were a real holiday, happiness to create a new planet, some new gravitational field, new types of platforms … and even when they finished with SMG, they continued to do it. Then Sigeru said: “Yes, you, as I see, liked it! So let's make another such game ". So it turned out Super Mario Galaxy 2.
In general, for me the best "Mario" is New Super Mario Bros. WII and Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. I am madly like to study three-dimensional worlds, but simple, two-dimensional “Mario”-they, you know, are so funny and in a good way, uncomplicated. And in the New Super Mario Bros. Wii can be played with a tumor, and I especially like it. You can play together, helping each other, or you can interfere with a partner a little, chuckling viciously!
[Gambling:] With Siger Miyamoto you personally meet?
[Charles:] Oh yes. He is the best! It is difficult to imagine how many millions of people he gave joy and smiles. Miyamoto leads the whole industry. He invented platformers – and everyone began to do platformers. Transferred them to 3D – and everything was translated. His projects on WII, on DS, and now also on 3DS, everything that gives rise to his brilliant mind – everything pushes video games forward. But he himself is very modest. An ordinary guy, loves jazz and eat tasty. I appreciate it.
[Gambling:] Maybe you have not only to voice heroes? The developers never said: “But this guy is Mario, he better know how to do this and this! Let's ask him!"?
[Charles:] (laughs) Believe me, these people really know how to create games! In a sense, I was lucky that I myself do not do so much. I join the project closer to the end of the development, although sometimes I come and at the very beginning – this is how the authors want. And just give the heroes my voice. And in order to make it possible, hundreds of people work in the sweat of their faces.
[Gambling:] You know, it is very interesting how the voicing. You are demanded to read specific phrases, as they say, “from all now” or somehow describes what is happening in the game, pictures are drawn?
[Charles:] Everything is always different. Usually we are starting from game situations, from some context. Sometimes there is, say, a roller with gameplay and an approximate scenario of what needs to be recorded. We are watching a video, and if I see that Mario does, I don’t know, a double jump, I shout “WU!", And then add" wu-huh!". And if Mario is in a protracted flight, then I give out something like “WAOOOU!".
[Gambling:] That is, it never happens that you come to the studio, and they give you a sheet of paper and say: “Read, please, from this line to this one”?
[Charles:] Never!
[Gambling:] and how long it takes to voice one game?
[Charles:] Sometimes we can manage for one four -hour session, sometimes we are sitting for a week. However, usually everything happens in a couple of days. But these are really funny days, we have a great time! And we start work only when everyone ate well and in a good mood.
Mamma Mia
[Gambling:] Often you have to dangle by mario?
[Charles:] It strongly depends on how many games it comes out: in some year there are a lot of them, in some-there are only a couple of pieces. For me, special pleasure is to participate in advertising campaigns, meet fans. Fans of Mario-IGR are always beautiful people! And when they rejoice enthusiastically, and you answered them: “Wu-huh! Thanks to everyone!"-it's just some kind of holiday.
[Gambling:] Please tell us about working on the "game" of David Fincher!
[Charles:] Oh, this is also a cheerful experience. I do not think that it looks like Michael Douglas, so when I was told that I need to play his father, my jaw was just dropped. In that stage, I fell from the roof to the trampoline, and this was the very first scene of the first shooting day. They shot everything at dawn, and I had to wait until the sunlight fell on my face. Everyone has prepared, waited for the moment, now they shout: “Motor!" – and here it turns out that with a chamber of problem. In the first hours of filming the whole film! It took an hour to fix it, the sun, of course, has long risen, so we waited all day to sunset to pass it off for the dawn. But I had a great time, ate steaks and lobsters until the evening!
[Gambling:] And what do you like to do the most? You play in the theater, cinema, voice other games ..
[Charles:] I am generally an active person, I love it very much when something is happening around ..
[Gambling:] Love to live?
[Charles:] Exactly! So I like everything. Television, radio … There is no time left for the theater at all … but Mario, of course, outside of competition. Every day is in the status of his official voice – this is a great honor. And I would like to be like him in life. Outwardly, it’s almost a copy – I like to eat! (laughs)
[Gambling:] Spaghetti?
[Charles:] Yes! Spaghetti, Ravioli! I love the paste! The most beloved – Capelie! When I come to Russia, you will show me all your most delicious dishes, and I will try them all twice! (At that moment, Charles comes to Skype.) A second … Oh, this is one of the fans of Mario! No, no, and they will write: “Hey, hello!"And sometimes messages come in this spirit:" Help, I got stuck on such a moment, there it seems to be possible to jump to where there is such a thing, but I do not know what to do "or" I am at such a level, I avoided everything but I just can’t find a hundred-to-one star, tell us where it is hidden ". I am always very pleased when people write warm words about mario games and thank me for work, but I'm still not such a connoisseur to give advice on passing.
Mario Time
[Gambling:] You could name your work on the games of the hard?
[Charles:] No, it's not heavy. Not difficult because all these characters seem to live in me. They always say inside me. They opened their mouths twenty years ago – and still do not silent. And everything that affects them affects me too. Take at least the excellent music kodzi kondo. I catch myself thinking that when the classic “Tara-Tara-Tara-Ta-Ta-Ta” plays, I am in a good mood, and when the hero’s death melody sounds, I am sad. These are unique sensations.
I also want to say something about designers Nintendo , about their approach to work. Their goal is to create games that everyone will like. Grandmother can sit with her grandson for Super Mario Bros. , And they will equally rejoice at what is happening on the screen, have fun and laugh. People like to play games, Nintendo like to develop games. Is there something better in life than to do what you like? I like to voice Mario.
[Gambling:] And on the streets you will be recognized?
[Charles:] Those who saw on YouTube any notes with my participation, of course, shout: “Aege! This is Charles Martine!"
[Gambling:] ask to say something with a famous voice?
[Charles:] Yes, and I am always very happy about this. Smiles bloom on their faces immediately, everyone jumps with joy. I love such moments.
[Gambling:] And how your friends and relatives relate to your unusual work? They play games?
[Charles:] The nephew plays, friends play, sometimes I'm with them. But parents do not play: my father is 87, and mom 83. But when they see any interview, they exclaim proudly: “This is our son!"
[Gambling:] Do not think that sitting for games for hours is a senseless waste of time?
[Charles:] Well … and sit, say, the whole family on the couch and watch some baseball is a waste of time? It seems also pointless, but you like it! To do what you like is definitely not a waste of time.
[Gambling:] And the truth! Something we are all about Mario yes about Mario. Maybe you would like to give your voice to some other characters?
[Charles:] Well, you know the actors: “I will play all the roles!"(Laughs) I am glad that I have. But if Miyamoto-san offers me some other character, I will rush to the record.
[Gambling:] Why do you think Mario generally turned out so cool?
[Charles:] I … is not sure (laughs) partly because Siger Miyamoto came up with everything so cool, partly because everything happened by itself. Of course, at first Mario was just a Jampman, a hero Donkey Kong. And once this hero was given his own name. It was, they say, like this: in the New York office Nintendo somehow noticed the lessor, very similar to Jampen. His name was Mario, and everyone decided that it was just an ideal name for a Italian plumber. So, quite by accident, a new, independent hero was born. And I am grateful to this occasion.
[Gambling:] You do not have the feeling that Mario is unhappy? After all, he constantly has to save the princess!
[Charles:] I'm sure he likes to save the princess! (laughs)
[Gambling:] That is, everything is not for the sake of the result, but for the sake of the process!
[Charles:] For that and another. He likes the princess herself too!
* * *
[Gambling:] And you in Italy, in the homeland of Mario, have ever been?
[Charles:] Oh yes! I love Italy! I generally visited a lot. In France, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain … I like to travel, try different food, get acquainted with new people, study culture, architecture. In every country, everything is different. Their smells. Own atmosphere. Its colors-because the sun is shining everywhere in its own way. Well, food, of course! The paste that you eat in Italy is not at all the same as in other countries – no matter how it was prepared there. I'm trying to make paste according to Italian recipes, but I never get anything closely similar.
[Gambling:] You can't get to Russia?
[Charles:] No way! Annoying! Russia is one of those countries that you see in photo albums and think: “God, how beautiful it is!»I will definitely look at you.
[Gambling:] We also have a game exhibition, Gamemir, takes place in November in Moscow. Come!
[Charles:] In Moscow in November? Awesome! Maybe we'll see you there!