SUPER MARIO How Nintendo Conquered America

Ryan explores the history of Nintendo and the evolution of video games through the iconic Super Mario. Ray Porter has a great voice for this production since he sounds largely like the primary demographic: a 20- or 30-something male with a passion for video games. Ryan argues that the success of Nintendo is not the power of its graphics but the fun factor, made explicit through the icon of Super Mario and his appearance in many great games. Porter’s delivery is lively and enthusiastic; he maintains a good energy throughout the reading. His strong projection helps navigate the sometimes-ridiculous game descriptions as well as punctuates Ryan’s insights. Porter’s joviality makes one wonder if he himself has also been a fan of Nintendo. L.E. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2011]