Super Mario Bros

It's me, Mario! No, wait, it's Penélope Cruz and her sister, Mónica, caught playing Super Mario Brothers 2 on the 3DS in a new Nintendo ad. The Oscar-winning actress tries her hand at the role of Mario when she's forced to dress up like the mustached Italian plumber after losing to Mónica in a case of sibling rivalry based on the classic game.

With Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS, a tridimensional Mario is nothing new. What is new? A time-lapse video of the creation of a 3D Mario portrait depicted with sidewalk chalk. Painter Chris Carlson did a series of "street art" (in a studio) of striking 3D images, and he shared how laborious and precise the task is with a YouTube video that flashes through the 11-hour process.

Watch as Chris carefully handles his subject and brings Mario and an NES controller to life in the below video.

More than anything else, your wedding should reflect your personality. Whether that happens to include a retro vibe, country feel, or come packed with geeky touches, it's all about you and your partner. Take for example, these genius centerpieces I came across on Flickr that show off one couple's commitment to gaming. The Super Mario Bros Super Star, Piranha Plant, and Fire Flower centerpieces could add a geeky touch to any wedding, but when combined with other SMB elements, can totally show off your Mario love, and take your wedding into geek overdrive.

Especially made from Etsy seller SketchCustoms circa 2010, crafty geeks could attempt to DIY their own — and save a few bucks in the process — by using construction paper, some Styrofoam (or even better, floral foam, since you can reuse it for homemade flower arrangements, or donate to your local flower shop later), and some elbow grease.

Want to see other ways you can geek out your wedding with Super Mario-themes? Of course you do! Just keep reading.

Blame it on the afterhomework marathon sessions playing Super Mario Bros. during our formative years, but walking down the street we find ourselves singing the distinct doo do doo of the theme music almost daily. So does Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, who confessed the wordless 8-bit sounds have been something of an obsession amid all the publicity chaos for the film. Stars — they're just like us!

We like to think that playing these songs in our head while walking through a crowded mall or while navigating public transit helps us to harness the powers of Mario. Watch Peeta himself interpret the songs of your childhood in the video below.

Get ready to battle Koopas in style as Converse Japan is planning another Super Mario Bros. shoe collaboration. The One Star Super Mario Bros. OX low-top sneaker is slated to hit Japanese retail stores this March.

Available in black or white leather, the shoe looks similar to the original design at first glance, ideal for people who aren't looking to take their video game fanaticism to the extreme. On closer inspection, you can see the Converse star logo is the star from Super Mario Bros. and the characters themselves appear in familiar midgame poses at the shoe's heel. Hit up the Converse Japan website for nostalgic eight-bit Spring gear.

We may be excited for Super Mario 3D Land, but there's one group who certainly isn't. PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says that when Mario dons a Tanooki suit in the game, he's giving the green light to would-be fur wearers.

According to PETA: "Tanooki may be just a "suit" in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."

Mario's use of Tanooki is nothing new. First introduced in 1988 in Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario used the Tanooki tail to fly and do spin attacks. Since tanukis hold a place in Japanese folklore associated with good fortune, it could be argued that Mario is simply harnessing the spirit of the animal.

PETA's campaign against Mario even includes a (warning) rather gruesome 8-bit online game called Super Tanooki Skin 2D that looks like a variation of the Super Mario Bros. game in which you chase Mario to reclaim Tanooki's fur. What do you think of PETA's claims? Is it another PR stunt or do you agree it encourages fur wearing?

Source: Nintendo

Costumes are great, but carving pumpkins is one Halloween tradition we'll never skip. Feeling creative? Get out your carving tools and create the geekiest pumpkin of them all — you could win a bag of sweet treats that won't rot your teeth.

We're giving away a fun prize pack for the geekiest pumpkin photo submitted to our Geeky Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest group. So grab a template (or just your imagination) and get to work! We'll select a winner from all entrants on Oct. 27. Want to hear more about what's included in the prize (of course you do)? Then keep reading!

Included in the prize pack (worth over $430) will be a Powerbag Backpack that will easily carry your books, games, and gear, and even charge your gadgets, a Nintendo DS Lite, five Nintendo DS games, including Kirby Mass Attack, Mario Kart DS, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Mario Party DS, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem, along with a Pac-Man Fleece Blanket to keep you warm while you game.

Sound like something you'd be interested in? Then enter now! If you need help uploading your pics, check out our community tutorial, and be sure to read through the official rules here. Happy Carving!

Earlier today, Nintendo unveiled its latest console, the Wii U, but also told us about a few of the new games being created for the Nintendo 3DS, two of which are Super Mario and Mario Kart. We saw the games in action during the press briefing, but in case you missed the live broadcast, here are a few of the trailers you may want to see. First up, Super Mario for the 3DS:

Want to see more? Check out a few more trailers after the jump!

Ever since the Nintendo 3DS hit the streets, I've been itching for a new Mario game to play. Turns out, there's a brand new one on the horizon that will make its first appearance at E3 this June.

According to Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario 3DS (which will launch sometime this year) will be like a combination of Super Mario Galaxy and the N64 version of Super Mario, but it will be much easier to play thanks to the 3D nature of the portable console. "For example, the floors floating in space: in 2D it’s difficult to judge the distance, but in 3D it’s really easy." I'm so excited to get my hands on it. Look for more details to come!