Mario's Game Gallery

Mario's Game Gallery Mario's FUNdamentals
Box art for Mario's Game Gallery.
Developer(s)	Presage Software, Inc. Brainstorm Entertainment (Mario's Fundamentals)
Publisher(s)	Interplay Entertainment Corp. Mindscape (PC version of Mario's FUNdamentals) Stepping Stone (Mac version of Mario's FUNdamentals)
Platform(s)	Macintosh, PC: (Windows and DOS)
Release date(s)	PC NA 1995 NA January 1997 (re-release) Mac NA 1996 (re-release)
Genre(s)	Game compilation
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A
Media/distribution	Floppy Disk or CD-ROM

Mario's Game Gallery is a compilation of games published by Interplay Entertainment Corp. and developed by Presage Software, Inc. for the PC. It was released in 1995. It was later re-released as Mario's FUNdamentals, though it was published by Mindscape for the PC version and by Stepping Stone for the Macintosh version. It was also developed by Brainstorm Entertainment.

It was released for the Macintosh in 1996, and for the PC in January 1997. It is the first video game to feature Mario with a voice, portrayed by Charles Martinet, though most attribute Super Mario 64 as being the first. The game includes five traditional games: chess, backgammon, Go Fish, dominoes, and "yacht", a version of Yahtzee. Players play against Mario in these games, which play similarly to their real world counterparts, though with themes based on the Mario universe.

Since their releases, both versions have received mixed reception; while publications such as The State and the Los Angeles Times found the game to be a good educational game, authors David Wesley and Gloria Barczak blamed it in part for almost destroying the Mario brand. Official Nintendo Magazine listed it as one of the rarest Mario games as well.

Gameplay

Mario's Game Gallery was first released Mario's Game Gallery consists of five games: checkers, Go Fish, dominoes, backgammon, and "yacht", a version of Yahtzee. In these games, players face off against Mario. The games all play similarly to their real world counterparts, featuring pieces based on the Mario universe.^[1] Mario's Game Gallery is the first game in the series to feature Charles Martinet as Mario's voice actor, who has since gone on to act as Mario's voice actor in all games that give Mario a voice since.^[2]

Development

Mario's Game Gallery was published by Interplay Entertainment Corp. and developed by Presage Software, Inc. for the PC. It was released in 1995. It was later re-released as Mario's FUNdamentals, though it was published by Mindscape for the PC version and by Stepping Stone for the Macintosh version. It was also developed by Brainstorm Entertainment. It was released for the Macintosh in 1996, and for the PC in January 1997.^[3][4][5]

Reception

Since their releases, both Mario's Game Gallery and Mario's FUNdamentals have received mixed reception. The State praised it for "providing fun for whole family," describing the games included as "excellent."^[6] The Miami Herald praised its "sharp" graphics and "fun" animations, as well as the music, which they claim to be based on music from the Mario series. Like the The State, they describe it as "fun for the whole family," though they criticize it for being too difficult at times. However, they recommend it for first-time PC users who want an "easy-to-install product for the new CD-ROM."^[7] The Advocate called it a fun game, and praised Martinet for his Mario voice, stating that small children will "giggle with delight."^[8] The Los Angeles Times included it in an article of educational video games that would appeal to younger gamers.^[9]

Authors David Wesley and Gloria Barczak cited Mario's Game Gallery as one of the games released in a "flood of ill-conceived Mario spin-offs", stating that it and the others nearly destroyed the series.^[10] Official Nintendo Magazine's Tom East featured it as part of his "Rare Mario games" article, commenting that though it featured Martinet as Mario first, most identify Super Mario 64 as his first role as Mario.^[11] It was deemed the sixth worst Mario game of all time by ScrewAttack, concluding that there was "nothing fun about FUNdamentals".^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "ScrewAttack - Top Ten Worst Mario Games". GameTrailers. 2007-07-21. http://www.gametrailers.com/player/23547.html. Retrieved 2008-06-29. 
2. ^ Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=OJQFSlyMEfAC. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
3. ^ Search:. "Mario's Game Gallery Release Information for PC". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/952151-marios-game-gallery/data. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
4. ^ Search:. "Mario's FUNdamentals Release Information for PC". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/927051-marios-fundamentals/data. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
5. ^ Search:. "Mario's FUNdamentals Release Information for Macintosh". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/mac/927068-marios-fundamentals/data. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
6. ^ . http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CS&s_site=thestate&p_multi=CS&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB58483CE28C2B6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. 
7. ^ . http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D1E777B05AA1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. 
8. ^ . http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AD&p_theme=ad&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4780C9E25A2EA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. 
9. ^ Churnin, Nancy (1997-12-15). "EDUCATION: SMART RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS; Software to Make Fun of Education; With some thoughtful choices on your part, your kids will find that, yes, they can play games and learn a lot while they do it". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/23928087.html?dids=23928087:23928087&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+15%2C+1997&author=NANCY+CHURNIN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=EDUCATION%3A+SMART+RESOURCES+FOR+STUDENTS+AND+PARENTS%3B+Software+to+Make+Fun+of+Education%3B+With+some+thoughtful+choices+on+your+part%2C+your+kids+will+find+that%2C+yes%2C+they+can+play+games+and+learn+a+lot+while+they+do+it.&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
10. ^ Innovation and Marketing in the ... - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=O5KjS3Q7QdsC. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
11. ^ "Nintendo Feature: Rare Mario games". Official Nintendo Magazine. 2009-04-10. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7898. Retrieved 2011-01-20.