Super Mario set to dominate App Store

Super Mario Run for Apple’s iPhone and iPad is forecast to be an historic mobile game launch – likely bigger even than Pokémon Go

THE LIFE OF MARIO – A SELECTIVE HISTORY

1981 Inspired by comic strip character Popeye, Shigeru Miyamoto
(left) creates Donkey Kong arcade game for Nintendo of Japan featuring Jumpman, later renamed Mario in U.S.

1985 Release of Super Mario Bros for NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)*. First side-scrolling 2D platform game to feature Mario

1989 Super Mario Land, launch game and first Mario title, for Game Boy handheld

1993 Super Mario Bros movie†, starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo
and Dennis Hopper 

1996 Mario receives 3D makeover with release of Super Mario 64 on N64. Regarded by many as greatest video game ever made

2007 Mario journeys into space in Super Mario Galaxy for Wii

2011 Mind-bending 3D landscapes to explore in Super Mario 3D Land
for 3DS handheld

2016 $9.99 
One control: Tap to jump (Mario runs automatically)
Release: Dec 15 20 million downloads estimated for day one

* known as Famicom in Japan     † Widely derided – Rotten Tomatoes score: 3.7/10

Sources: Nintendo, Apple, Super Mario Wiki, wire agencies
Pictures: Nintendo, AP