Feature: Inspired by Mario

REGINA – Chris Corbin has almost every Mario Brothers game ever made.

“Everything about that game was perfect – from the controls, the timing, the graphics. It was ahead of its time back then,” he said.

A lot of people are looking back with nostalgia at these games as Super Mario Brothers marks its 30th anniversary this year.

Michael Vance is also a bit of a video game collector – and an amateur game designer. He also has fond childhood memories of this particular video game.

“I remember playing with my brother,” said Vance. “So I would just keep running and running and I would just never get anywhere. My brother would laugh and laugh at me.”

Mario’s innovations and narrative have stuck in the minds of current game designers in Saskatchewan.

“A lot of the games that are being developed these days, especially in Saskatchewan are these simple mechanics, simple story, but compelling game play,” said David Gerhard, a University of Regina computer science professor.

Vance has a full-time job in IT, but is confident he can see some success one day in the growing game design industry. According to statistics compiled in 2014 by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, 54 percent of Canadians have played video games in the last four weeks. The Canadian gaming industry employs 16,500 people and contributes $2.3 billion dollars annually to the country’s GDP.

Inspired by Mario will air on Focus Saskatchewan at 6:30 pm September 26th and 27th.