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.
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.
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
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!
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Mayabird is my girlfriend
Justice League:BotM:MM:SDnet City Watch:Cybertron's Finest "Well then, science is bullshit. "
-revprez, with yet another brilliant rebuttal.
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.
For the glory of Gondor, I sack this here concession stand!
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.
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.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
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.
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.
"Sometimes I think you WANT us to fail." "Shut up, just shut up!" -Two Guys from Kabul
Latinum Star Recipient; Hacker's Cross Award Winner
"one soler flar can vapririze the planit or malt the nickl in lass than millasacit" -Bagara1000
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.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
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.
"Sometimes I think you WANT us to fail." "Shut up, just shut up!" -Two Guys from Kabul
Latinum Star Recipient; Hacker's Cross Award Winner
"one soler flar can vapririze the planit or malt the nickl in lass than millasacit" -Bagara1000
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).
When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong.
-Richard Dawkins
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.
