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'?' Blocks might bring criminal charges, not Power-Ups
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:28pm
by felineki
[?]
Girls attempt real-life version of video game
Residents alarmed; teens could be charged
Beacon Journal staff report
Five teenage girls from Portage County face potential criminal charges after attempting to play a real-life version of Super Mario Bros.
The Portage County Hazardous Materials Unit and Bomb Detection Unit were called in to downtown Ravenna on Friday morning after seventeen suspicious packages -- boxes wrapped in gold wrapping paper with question marks spray painted on them -- had alarmed residents.
Boxes were found at the Immaculate Conception Church on West Main Street, the Portage County Courthouse, Deluxe Pastries, the corner of Cherry Way and Main Street, Reed Memorial Library, Ravenna High School and a residence at Sanford and Main streets.
Five girls -- age 16 and 17 -- claimed responsibility for making and placing the packages. The girls said they found an Internet site that included step-by-step instructions for creating replicas of blocks featured in the game.
The Ravenna Police Department will be working with the Portage County Prosecutor's Office regarding possible criminal charges as a result of the game.
Dang. For one of the most creative, harmless, and frankly awesome (anyone with half a brain cell won't deny that old-school Mario deserves his props) April Fools stunts I've heard of in a long time, it's sad that these girls might have to be punsihed.
Besides, anyone who knows their Mariology will know that '?' Blocks never contain bombs. The most harmful thing they ever contain are posionous mushrooms, and those will only hurt you if you're stupid enough to eat them.
Image of '?' Blocks
2 More of them
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:31pm
by Noble Ire
Criminal charges? For what? The closest thing I can thing of is littering.
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:33pm
by Soontir C'boath
Those girls should have let the local police department in on this first as they should've know that the suggestion of "be on alert for suspicious packages!" that we have now will be and now shown to be upheld.
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:34pm
by Kamakazie Sith
I think they'll be hard pressed to actually charge them with anything. The evidence is in the girls favor for mimicking a video game.
However, while this prank was creative, and awesome in a way it was also stupid.
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:38pm
by Uraniun235
Yes, god forbid anyone behave in a bizarre manner in public. Those teenagers are clearly attempting to instill fear in the community and we will not suffer terrorists in our midst!
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:47pm
by Praxis
I actually heard that article was an April Fools joke that the media picked up (not realizing it was a joke) and is mirroring everywhere, but I may be wrong. The date IS April 1st though.
Someone on GamesAreFun's comments posted that they live two blocks away from the church mentioned and hadn't heard of anything like it.
Posted: 2006-04-06 11:51pm
by Sonnenburg
They're just going to sweat the girls for info; they want the mastermind behind it. I mean, mysterious boxes with question marks painted on them? Clearly this is the work of the Riddler.
Posted: 2006-04-07 12:04am
by Anarchist Bunny
What I want to know is if there were large mushrooms, Red Flowers, Smiling Stars, or Golden Coins in them.
Posted: 2006-04-07 12:09am
by 18-Till-I-Die
Blocks with question marks...
Seriously, i wouldnt even be threatened by that, i mean what criminal, assuming some mad bomber is on the loose, would be stupid enough to use the most obvious and blatant packaging possible for his bomb? Usually a bomb is disguised as something mundane, so you pick it up and activate it. Who would pick up this, really?
I mean, either its a joke or some kind of toy, would be my reaction.
But then again, maybe i'm wrong, i'm not a cop obviously.
Posted: 2006-04-07 12:13am
by Kamakazie Sith
18-Till-I-Die wrote:Blocks with question marks...
Seriously, i wouldnt even be threatened by that, i mean what criminal, assuming some mad bomber is on the loose, would be stupid enough to use the most obvious and blatant packaging possible for his bomb? Usually a bomb is disguised as something mundane, so you pick it up and activate it. Who would pick up this, really?
I mean, either its a joke or some kind of toy, would be my reaction.
But then again, maybe i'm wrong, i'm not a cop obviously.
You're not insane either. They police have jumped the gun here, but as for the packages it was a bad idea placing them around the neighborhood.
Not everyone is familar with Mario Bro...
If you saw something like that in different places across your neighborhood would you open it?
Posted: 2006-04-07 12:34am
by Seggybop
At least it's not as bad as the dude who had his bicycle chopped apart because the cops thought it was a bomb.
Posted: 2006-04-07 12:36am
by DPDarkPrimus
Kamakazie Sith wrote:
If you saw something like that in different places across your neighborhood would you open it?
Of course I would. By jumping up and butting the bottom with my head.
Posted: 2006-04-07 01:20am
by Darth Raptor
Bioterrorism with poisoned mushrooms! No, Koopa terrorists strike with these:
Posted: 2006-04-07 10:51am
by CDiehl
I wonder how they planned to simulate the holes in the course. I'd expect black tarps with wooden squares in them to simulate the pillars that stand in some. Tubes wide enough to run through would be needed for the pipes. The platforms that fall if you stay on too long could be simulated using a pressure plate hooked up to an alarm with a slight delay (1 or 2 seconds), though I don't know how the delay could be rigged up. The alarm would sound until the time the platform is considered to be back in place. NPC's in costumes could represent the various opponents. Now, if we could only find a way to represent the different levels of the platforms.
With sufficient supplies and some time to write up the rules, one could probably make a LARP based on Mario Brothers. Of course, you'd need permission from Nintendo or whoever owns that game.
Posted: 2006-04-07 01:05pm
by felineki
Kamakazie Sith wrote:Not everyone is familar with Mario Bro...
Considering that Mario is a more recognizable icon than Mickey Mouse, I would say that the people who
aren't familiar with Mario, at least in some form, are very few.
Posted: 2006-04-07 01:30pm
by General Zod
felineki wrote:Kamakazie Sith wrote:Not everyone is familar with Mario Bro...
Considering that Mario is a more recognizable icon than Mickey Mouse, I would say that the people who
aren't familiar with Mario, at least in some form, are very few.
I hate to burst your bubble, but given that Mickey has been around for 50+ years, and Mario's only been around for 20 or so, your analogy isn't exactly valid.
Posted: 2006-04-07 02:46pm
by Utsanomiko
If the story is real, the fact it happened in Ohio makes perfect sense. I don't think vidoe games have come out over there yet; these girls probably learned about them while using their new 14.4k net connections.
Posted: 2006-04-07 02:53pm
by CaptainChewbacca
That's frigging AWESOME. I'd totally do that sometime.
Heck, if those girls were modern art grad students they could have gotten a grant.
Posted: 2006-04-07 03:08pm
by Master of Ossus
People do realize that most bombers try and put their bombs in inconspicuous packaging so as to AVOID drawing attention?
I also wonder, given how cool this is, what would've happened if they had claimed it was an art project? After all, artists have done far more destructive things in the past, and largely gotten off without charges.
Posted: 2006-04-07 03:12pm
by General Zod
Master of Ossus wrote:People do realize that most bombers try and put their bombs in inconspicuous packaging so as to AVOID drawing attention?
I also wonder, given how cool this is, what would've happened if they had claimed it was an art project? After all, artists have done far more destructive things in the past, and largely gotten off without charges.
Considering their ages, and the mindsets of your typical. 16-17 year old girl, I seriously doubt it would have occurred to the mto use that defense.
Posted: 2006-04-07 04:03pm
by Master of Ossus
General Zod wrote:Considering their ages, and the mindsets of your typical. 16-17 year old girl, I seriously doubt it would have occurred to the mto use that defense.
Oh, I wasn't expecting them to come up with it on the spot, but I have to wonder what would have happened, hypothetically, if they had said that.
I hope they got off, anyway. Their actions clearly didn't endanger anybody.
Posted: 2006-04-07 05:28pm
by TheBlackCat
General Zod wrote:I hate to burst your bubble, but given that Mickey has been around for 50+ years, and Mario's only been around for 20 or so, your analogy isn't exactly valid.
Mario has made more money than any other man in showbusiness, including Harrison Ford (who is in second place I believe).
Posted: 2006-04-07 06:22pm
by Einhander Sn0m4n
Dale: "Ever heard of Mario Brothers?
Dave: "Yup"
Dale: "<INSERT STORY HERE>"
Dave: "That's fucking disgusting."
Posted: 2006-04-07 07:15pm
by Kamakazie Sith
Master of Ossus wrote:People do realize that most bombers try and put their bombs in inconspicuous packaging so as to AVOID drawing attention?
Exactly, MoO. Which is why I consider this a stupid action on their part. When you involve others in your pranks you need to take into consideration the consequences of your actions if they take it seriously.
However, I don't support them being charged for it. I don't even think they should get a stern talking to. A couple words would suffice.
