Mario

This article is about the video game character. For the video game series, see Super Mario (series). For the Nintendo franchise, see Mario (franchise). For other uses, see Mario (disambiguation).

Mario (マリオ, Mario? ) is a fictional character in the Mario video game franchise by Nintendo, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the titular protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation. Though originally only appearing in platform games, starting with Donkey Kong, Mario currently appears in varied video game genres such as racing, puzzle, party, role-playing, fighting, and sports.

Mario is depicted as a short, pudgy, Italian-American plumber who lives in the Mushroom Kingdom. He repeatedly stops the turtle-like villain Bowser's numerous plans to kidnap Princess Peach, destroy him and take over the kingdom. Mario also has other enemies and rivals, including Donkey Kong and Wario. Since 1995, he has been voiced by Charles Martinet.[1]

As Nintendo's mascot, Mario is said to be the most famous character in video game history.[2] Mario games, as a whole, have sold more than 210 million units,[3] making the Mario franchise the best-selling video game franchise of all time. Outside of the platform series, he has appeared in video games of other genres, including the Mario Kart racing series, sports games, such as the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf series, role-playing video games such as Paper Mario and Super Mario RPG, and educational games, such as ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_is_Missing! Mario is Missing!] and Mario's Time Machine''. He has inspired television shows, film, comics, and a line of licensed merchandis