In the early 1990s, Nintendo tried to prove that video games could be educational, and who better to lead the class than Mario? This week, we explore the odd era of licensed edutainment through titles like Mario is Missing, Mario’s Time Machine, and Mario Teaches Typing. Our conversation digs into how companies like Interplay and The Software Toolworks reimagined Mario as a teacher, historian, and world traveler, all while Nintendo stayed hands-off. We share stories of inaccurate geography, Bowser’s bizarre schemes, and the surprisingly deep history behind Mario’s educational outings. Join us as we boot up MS-DOS, grab our passports, and ask where in the world is Mario on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.
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A Trip Down Memory Card Lane