Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

December 4, 2009

Tongue firmly in cheek, University of Pittsburgh student Ben Korman has penned a column decrying the way turtles are portrayed and treated in Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. series of games.

While the in-game ~~amphibians~~ reptiles in question are labeled Koopas, Korman notes that, “The playful branding of these enemies is semantic at best.”

He continues:

These games, first and foremost, graphically depict innocent, healthy turtles being slaughtered by the hundreds at the hands of human characters. The main character, Super Mario, is consistently rewarded for these atrocities.

Are we really to believe that shelled amphibians were simply chosen arbitrarily as the series’ most pervasive antagonists? Was Bowser, the chief nemesis in the series, portrayed as a belligerent power-tripping-maniac-turtle-thing with no specific message in mind? Is the shelled community simply a capricious victim here?

GP: Excellent satire which shows that we sometimes forget that games are here for our entertainment and that maybe, just maybe, sometimes we take them a little too seriously.

Posted in

Comments

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Soldat_Louis on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 06:03.

You may not be aware about it, but 16 years ago in France, Super Mario 2 was blamed for inciting a crazy man to take a preschool in hostage. It was the "affaire de la Maternelle de Neuilly", see here for more info.

During the hostage taking, a French newspaper linked it to video games, and said that the gunman not only became crazy by playing Super Mario 2, confusing its world with reality, but he also trained on it and took his scenario from the game. For example, the hostage children were equivalent to Super Mario's "lives", the bombs he carried were his "superpowers", and he looked for "gold coins". And believe me or not, other journalists believed it too...

Although the original article isn't available online, there is a comment on this article by a gaming monthly (in French, unfortunately).

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Valdearg on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:26.

Lol! Funny joke, Soldat! Hahhah.. People aren't THAT crazy, are they? The media wouldn't ACTUALLY blame the mushroom munching plumber on a guy taking a kid hostage, would they??

What's that? They did? You're serious??

*sigh* It seems the media has been making this argument for decades. What's next? "Pac Man blamed for rise in commercial pain killer abuse!"

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Soldat_Louis on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:38.

I am bloody serious, and so were they. Our media blamed Super Mario for this. In particular, Le Figaro, one of the major French daily newspapers, launched the accusation, and it was followed by monthly Le Monde Diplomatique. I even read something related to that in the proceedings of a conference on the future of computer science. Newspaper Le Monde was a bit more "sober", just saying that the hostage taker had the mindset of someone who had played "computer role-playing games" extensively.

I plan to translate one or two articles when I get the chance.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:42.

Something about the whole "search for gold coins" part is ringing a bell with me, but I'm not sure if was from this one (16 years ago seems a little too long ago for the memory that's nagging me) or another, more recent but equally absurd news story.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by shaoron on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 01:22.

are we at the point of the debate where PETA starts yelling "Turtle Power"!?

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by killatia on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 08:28.

Or how about singing the kickass theme song from the turtles in time arcade game?

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Aurontsubaki on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 14:37.

This game has been around for 25 years & someone is just complaining about it's cruelty to koopas. Ben Korman must of ratted out to the PETA about this nonsense.

What we got here is failure to communicate!

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 16:32.

Why do I get the feeling the joke went over your head by about a mile?

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by sharpshooterbabe on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 09:07.

Yes some people do take games like this too seriously. Dude get a life & this game has been around for a very long time!

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Valdearg on Sun, 12/06/2009 - 10:25.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH!!!!

You know.. all of my previous comments about your elementary level education are totally proven right, here.

The guy was using SATIRE to make a larger point about how people oftentimes make too big a deal about video games..

If you ARE in college, it must have had a HELL of a lax admissions department, because you have NOWHERE near the education required to attend HIGH SCHOOL, let alone college.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Sun, 12/06/2009 - 12:54.

Vlag

Oy....some people might just skip it and miss it being satire.....I know I did the frist 2 times >>

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by sharpshooterbabe on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 00:21.

Thank you Zippy. All I see in this story is some guy probably has a problem w/animal cruelty & saw this game & thought Nintendo is supporting animal cruelty. Aka the guy in the story could also be a tree hugger. But who knows?.......anyways the guy in the story is just complaining.

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 12:34.

sharpshooterbabe

I tell ya lassy the trolls here get reallly bored 0-o *rasies hand*

Anyway they do tend to go off on easy targets and real crazies, you do realize that this story is satire, IE fake, its making a point useing humor.

Tho.....even I am unsude of the point 0-o

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 00:33.

It should be obvious from reading Korman's article that the whole thing is satire (especially since GP opens his story with "Tongue firmly in cheek..." and closes with "Excellent satire...") but hey, sometimes you just miss stuff. It happens to us all. Additionally, we've seen some crazy stuff over the years at GP so at first glance, taking Korman's article at face value isn't that farfetched.

That said, at this point, you do realize the whole thing's a joke, right?

Andrew Eisen

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Valdearg on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:22.

I'm thinking she's still scratching her head, AE. She's clearly not exactly "equipped" to handle this kind of humor. Maybe we should be telling her Knock Knock jokes instead?

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:25.

I suspect she'd keep leaving to answer the door if we did.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Valdearg on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:29.

LOL!

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 05:19.

Probably not.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Sun, 12/06/2009 - 13:21.

Your observational skills have always left something to be desired.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 16:42.

I suggest you use that "intellectual" brain of yours and look up what "tongue-in-cheek" and "satire" mean.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by sharpshooterbabe on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 00:13.

What are yall even talking about!?!?! I am saying my opinion on here once again. I think yall just don't have people skills. Yall need to get out into the real world & figure out that other people are diff not just thinking things through, but also everything else like i.e. their looks, their personality & not judging on what people say. I feel sorry for people like yall that have to pick on other people that sometimes don't get the point. B/c one day someone will knock yall out. & when that happens I will be laughing. Yes I am sticking up for the people that don't understand the first time around. Just like Zippy had said. Get over it. & oh btw, a guy that picks on a girl is lacking something on himself. Makes me wonder too. All i hear on here so far is the talk, but there is no walk. LMAO!

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Erik on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 23:42.

You do know that the article in question is not a real opinion don't you? Yes or no: Do you know what satire is?

-Ultimately what will do in mankind is a person's fear of their own freedom-

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Valdearg on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 11:21.

LOL... We make fun of you because you are SO stupid, and you don't even realize it. It was pretty clear this story was a joke, but it was so far over your head, you didn't even see it.

As far as people skills go, they don't apply when the person you are talking to isn't any smarter than my 12 year old brother, who, by the way, would have understood the humor of that article. Yup, I just said it, your College age ass is less intelligent than my 12 year old brother. Way to go. I hope you are proud of yourself.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 05:21.

I've been told worse by smarter people. The only person in this article that didn't understand the first, second AND third time around was you. Not the guy quoted in the article (who was making a joke FAR too sophisticated for you to comprehend.)

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by TBoneTony on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 22:25.

Anyone remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Maybe Bowser should hire the Heros in a Half Shell in order to take over the Mushroom Kingdom next time.

TBoneTony

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Zero Beat on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 00:43.

Totally tubular, dude!

But seriously, that's where my incurable obsession with Ninjas, the color blue, swords, and pizza started. And given how awesome all of those are, who would want to be cured? People who suck, that's who.

"That's not ironic. That's justice."

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 08:14.

I like TMNT just not all of it :P

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Lou on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:33.

This reminds me of a April Fools joke Gamespot made it souind like a real news article.

This "column" is so outlandish that that the tongue in cheek term should be re-phrased to "Tongue frozen in cheek".

Seriously what the hell?! what's next? PETA bitching at Nintendo for the cruel treatment of tur...... You know what, I'm gonna shut up now.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Wraith108 on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:31.

Aren't Koopas more like Tortoises that Turtles?

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:20.

Ah modern racisim...aint it so nice?

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:26.

Actually, that's "Speciesism".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciesism

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000

Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 18:07.

Tell that to laraza,al sharpton and jeus jackson!

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:48.

Otherwise defined as "where black and white gang up on green" Gotta love Terry Pratchett :-P

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Bloodharp on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 01:53.

Remember that old saying: If you make a man a fire, he'll be warm for a day. If you set a man on fire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life.I love that series, im only halfway done with it after finding it in the basement a few months ago.

I wonder if the mushroom hate factored in, or if he only cares for his turtles. Selective anger at specism is just as bad as specism buddy.

In war, truth is the first casualty.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by Cerabret100 on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:15.

Video games are a wonderful subject for any type of writing. Satire is usually the most suited because of the "out there" feel of some game mechanics, but hell, i managed to work WoW in to my very serious paper on the success and failure of nonviolence.

gave my instructor a bit of a "WTF?" moment, but got a 100 on the paper regardless.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:15.

Let us not forget the plight of Turtle-Americans everywhere!

It's even better when he goes into other Turtle culture icons, such as in movies and literature.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000

Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:13.

Turtles are reptiles not amphibians.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:29.

The original author probably got confused because Turtles are amphibious reptiles, and he referred to them as amphibious early in the article.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000

Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by gamepolitics on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:22.

d'oh, thanks

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 15:18.

Nothing against you. You were just following the lead of the article writer. Glad that you recognize the error.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:02.

Amusing, but not really anything I haven't seen done on any given gaming message board.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by gamepolitics on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:05.

Just a little Friday fun my brother.

Re: Super Mario Bros. Series Unfair to Turtles

Submitted by DarkSaber on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 14:08.

Yeah, I did take it a bit too seriously :-P

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Poll

Shout box

DorthLous: I love how she plays the "I'm a parent, you're a gamer, you couldn't understand" card... I'm a parent and I find her position despicable...05/23/2013 - 4:16pm

E. Zachary Knight: She didn't address your questions because she doesn't have any answers.05/23/2013 - 3:38pm

Andrew Eisen: I replied to her comment. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get a reply.05/23/2013 - 3:24pm

Thomas Riordan: @Andrew Eisen To what bowling alley does she go that puts sexual images in the faces of 6 year olds?05/23/2013 - 3:17pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, it took a month but Linda Stender finally replied to me... and didn't address a single one of my questions. http://aswlindastender.com/2013/04/23/follow-up-video-games-and-their-effect-on-children/05/23/2013 - 3:13pm

Imautobot: Also, from a tech perspective the PS4 is apparently already winning. http://bgr.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-specs/05/23/2013 - 3:12pm

Imautobot: Sony's PS4 motto should be "We play games." Microsoft's should be "We play games, when we're not rewinding your tapes."05/23/2013 - 3:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Oh look, Dying Light was just announced For Everything But Wii U. That's 73.05/23/2013 - 2:06pm

james_fudge: Zippy: they said the same thing about Cell. How did that turn out.05/23/2013 - 1:28pm

Andrew Eisen: Need for Speed Rivals is coming out For Everything But Wii U - PS3, 360, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. That brings the grand total up to 72.05/23/2013 - 12:55pm

PHX Corp: http://wiiudaily.com/2013/05/microsoft-is-selling-the-wii-u-better-than-nintendo/ Wii U daily Opinion: Microsoft is selling the Wii U better than Nintendo05/23/2013 - 12:23pm

E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, they very well may be. But that will only last until they are released. At that time, they will be two generations behind.05/23/2013 - 11:14am

ZippyDSMlee: for a good luagh, http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124288-EA-Exec-Xbox-One-and-PS4-Are-A-Generation-Ahead-Of-PC05/23/2013 - 10:55am

james_fudge: It's about time! I need W805/23/2013 - 10:49am

MaskedPixelante: Looks like Gamepot is more willing to play ball than Square Enix. Wizardry 6+7 and 8 are available on GOG.05/23/2013 - 10:36am

DorthLous: Anybody tried Hiversaire? Thoughts?05/22/2013 - 5:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: New Humble Bundle Weekly Sale. Alan Wake: https://www.humblebundle.com/weekly No Linux or Mac support. :(05/22/2013 - 1:46pm

E. Zachary Knight: Microsoft talks about the lack of backward compatability. You're backwards. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/192801/If_youre_backwards_compatible_youre_really_backwards.php05/22/2013 - 1:39pm

E. Zachary Knight: That is absolutely nuts there. As bad an experience XBox Indie Games was, the problems weren't with the self published side of things. Forcing a publisher onto independent studios is not going to help.05/22/2013 - 10:43am

MaskedPixelante: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-22-microsoft-wont-let-indies-self-publish-on-xbox-one And the hits just keep on coming.05/22/2013 - 9:20am

All shouts

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