When theorizing about Mario and his world, it is of the first importance to set some ground rules. Here, I outline the rules and reasoning I follow in pursuing my theories:

1. Occasionally, information or data received from research may conflict. In this case, I use a system to determine which information is true. The chain of command, of reliability, in order from most to least, goes thus. Video game, manual, magazine or other 3rd party literature. Naturally, anything Shigeru Miyamoto says takes precedence over anything. Data from comics and cartoons of any sort are rarely considered.

2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be entirely disregarded, as it was a load of crap...

3. When data from two versions of the same game directly conflict, the more recent release prevails. For example, background images from Super Mario Bros. All-Stars are more reflective of the Mushroom Kingdom than those in SMB. However, it is not impossible that the brick roads of SMB might be surrounded by the grass we see in SMBAS.

4. It is our opinion that the characters in Super Smash Brothers, were, in fact, dolls, and as such, no data from that game is considered to be reflecting the reality of the Mushroom Kingdom or it’s characters in any way, shape, or from.

5. Visual data from a game is only reliable to the degree of detail in the game‘s graphics. For example, the relationship between the heights of Mario and other characters is more clearly represented in SM 64 than in SMB. Mario is never the same height as a Goomba.

6. The above only applies as a last resort, when data seems to directly contradict. Ordinarily, the theorizer must attempt to reconcile the two bits of information in any way possible. For example, the Bros. may move to Brooklyn after their births in the Mushroom Kingdom.

7. No data from any game, adjusted for it’s degree of accuracy, is to be ignored. The point of theories is to explain away everything. Therefore, nothing is passed off as ‘just part of the game.’ This goes for extra lives, timers, becoming ‘Super,’ etc. No theory may stand in the face of reasonable disproof.

8. No Mario game may be thrown out as immaterial to the series. All official games featuring Mario characters are considered. This includes Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Mario is Missing, etc. ROMs, Hacks, computer programs such as Mario Teaches Typing, and other unofficial games are not considered.

Just remember the primary rule of theorizing: When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however unlikely or improbable, must be the truth.