Nintendo reinvents its star Mario, gives it a clearer, sharper image

Tokyo

IN the 30-odd years since his debut, Nintendo Co's Mario went from a pixelated man - with dots for eyes, a bar for a moustache and a square nose - to an expressive 3D character. Video-game designer Takashi Tezuka has helped guide him through most of the iterations.

Modernising Mario has required upgrading graphics for a clearer, sharper image, while also consciously cultivating a secret inner life. He remains a man of few words: Each generation of players can use its imagination to decide the character's personality.