20 years ago today, Nintendo introduced Super Mario Bros. to a jaded gaming world...

Today marks a very special date for a good friend of millions of gamers worldwide. September 13th, 2005 marks the 20th anniversary since the revolutionary blockbuster (understatement) Super Mario Bros. arrived to establish a new gaming paradigm. Since that day, this one game (brainchild of developer-deity Shigeru Miyamoto) has inarguably influenced the direction and success of the video game market that would spring from its fertile footsteps.

For two decades running, although a joy to play even today, more impactfully the game's essence itself has been lent to thousands of games people of all ages and places have enjoyed. And though it was not quite the debut of our good buddy Mario (the carpenter-turned-plumber jumped into our hearts alongside hairy long-armed rival Donkey Kong in the game bearing the great ape's name) it was the game that established him as an icon to be cherished by generations of avid gamers. If you haven't enjoyed a classic game of Super Mario Bros. in a while, today is as right a day as any. Don't worry, I'm sure your boss/professor/significant other/nintendog will understand.

Happy Anniversary Mario! Thanks for all the great gaming...and we look forward to (at least) 20 more years of jumping/platforming/hammering/fire-balling/??? good times.

Finally, here is a gratuitous link that likely will tempt you mightily to make a costly import...the game looks so right on one of those shiny new Famicom Micros. Alas.