The Mario City Incident

The Mario City Incident is an event of "mass hysteria" in [REDACTED-1], Michigan. This event happened through December 3, 1996 to February 12, 1997. This event has been covered up by the government completely, and most details are heavily redacted. The event supposedly started when a civilian got a hold of an early development build of Mario 64, resulting in the incident being named as such that it is.

Nothing has been completely confirmed here, and an oral history has been formed through rumors, photographs, audio recordings, and forensic evidence.

History
The following sections are hard evidence on the reasons the event happened.

Audio Recording of "Patient Zero"
"Hello- Mario.. Mar-Mar-Mario! Mar-Mario..." *muffled laughter*



[REDACTED-2]'s Journal
"12/4/96:

Okay, what the ****? I'm trying to buy groceries, and everyone in the store is shouting ****ing "Mario! Mario! M-Mario!"

Is this one of those pranks again? I'm tired of it. Their voices won't get out of my ****ing head. It's like I'm in a mental asylum filled with dementia-ridden lunatics! I honestly just want to move out of this ****ty town.

What's even going on? I don't know. I don't know! That's all that there is! Mario! Goddamn glorious ****ing Mario!

I'm done writing for today. These lunatics are outside my apartment door."

Local Radio Talk Show
Host: "You're listening to [REDACTED-3], Northern Michigan, December 4th! We have someone here who claims to be in a town full of insane cultists for the new, hot game, Super Mario 64! Now tell us, bud, how many drinks did you have?"

Citizen: "Man, I wasn't drinkin' anything! They're just outside, saying 'Mario, Mario!' I'm stuck inside my house, I need help! They locked the door!"

Host: "Yep, definitely drunk. Humor us, what were they like?"

Citizen: "They're just normal people spewing out that garbage to each-other! Some people said they've even been bitten in the neck by them!"

Host: "So they're like Mario zombies? Are you one-hundred percent sure you didn't have anything to drink?"

Citizen: "Exactly like zombies! I don't know what's goin' on here, Mar- I mean, man! I just need to get out of this Mario! I mean House!"

Host: "Bud, this joke has gone way too far. Anyways, tune in with us tomorrow night for an exclusive interview with [REDACTED-4]!"

Crazy Scribbling found in an abandoned apartment
"They're here! They're here! It's Them! It's too late, They've already bit me. Oh god, I can't even ****ing think straight! All I know is Them! The one above all, to open our third eye! What's come over me!?"

(The rest of the page has unsettling drawings of Mario. They have been mapped onto an image.)

Survivor's Log, Entry 1
"I'm pretty sure I'm one of the only survivors in the whole ****ing city. I've decided to keep a series of notes, in case someone finds my body, and somehow wants to carry on my legacy.

God, what am I thinking? I'm probably the only one living.

Let's start with introductions, I guess. My name's Ford [REDACTED-5], and I'm living in this Mario-themed zombie apocalypse. I have a bunker in a red house on [REDACTED-6] street. It's not much, but I have my basic needs.

My goal is to.. survive, I guess? Amazing I got this far. More of my journals should be in my bunker..."

Details on the red house on [REDACTED-6] street
The house is a normal house, but has stairs leading into a bunker in the basement. Basic necessities include a water cooler, a pantry full of various canned food, and a coffee machine. On the left side of the room, there is a wall safe that has been cracked open. The bunker is in poor condition altogether.

On the upstairs of the house is a map of the city, with chess pieces strewn across it. The upstairs also contains a balcony with an empty hunting rifle left on the floor.

The house is in squalid conditions.

Graffiti on the side of a tunnel
A notable piece of history is a red-spray painted message on the tunnel out of the city.

"No escaping Them! They will be eternal!"

The tunnel leading out of the city has also been blocked by a truck and various pieces of scrap metal.

Prisoner's Log, Entry 1
"Those Mario loving ***holes have somehow organized a kidnapping! I'm trapped in their lair, the god**** sewers. Even though this place smells like someone pissed onto a skunk, I do see an opportunity. The sewers exit through the shoreline, into Lake Michigan.

I would love to see the moon again. I would love to feel the rain. Writing this on a ****ing piece of paper is the only thing giving me hope."

Survivor's Log, Entry 2
"I have a plan to maybe escape this god-forbidden hellhole. The sewers lead to Lake Michigan. The road exits are all blocked, I'm not getting a lucky break.

I'd have to prepare for the trip. I should be able to escape by February.

Already thinking about escape now, aren't I? I've got a map room upstairs now. I put chess pawns on it, to make it look like a war room!

I don't know what I'm doing. If I want to escape, I'll probably need a second person to help me get through. I don't want to be stranded there, left to die."

[REDACTED] Labs, January 15
The following a transcript from an audio recording.

"I didn't expect it to be this bad, okay? A few of my team were looking at some of the psychological stuff with Mario 64. What we found out is something that I'll never forget.

Every copy of Mario 64.. is personalized. Personalized based on how you play.

How were they able to get away with this? It's so risky! Apparently, some of their 'Personalizations' turn people cuckoo, which is exactly what's happening here! There's no virus here, it's only mental problems! People losing a grip on reality!

They've blocked off all the exits, and live in the sewers. There's no way out of here unless you're really brave or really stubborn."

Survivor's Log, Entry 3
"I met a scientist today. Well, that's what he said he was... I took him to my bunker and discussed my plans with him. Apparently, those Mario bastards LIVE in the sewers! He says they're mentally insane, and people are somehow losing a grip on reality and only believe in something called Them.

He says that we've survived so long because we're able to resist their psychic stuff.. I don't know what he said, honestly.

Apparently, I'm immune or something. They're still incredibly aggressive without the psyche stuff.

Tomorrow is escape day."

Prisoner's Log, Entry 2
"They've left. The door is unlocked. Apparently, they're being attacked or something. This just gives me the free chance to escape!

10 minutes later... The grate is locked. My life sucks."

The Aftermath
The sewer's pipe into Lake Michigan is completely exploded. The gate is gone, and the pipe is out of order.

"Suck it, nerds" is spray-painted on the side.

Survivors Log, Entry 4
"We did it. We're out of here. Me, this guy who smells like sewage, and the scientist.

About that guy who smelled like sewage... He was waiting at the pipe to the exit of the sewers. It was locked, but apparently scientist pal knows how to make explosives? We blew up the gate.

I don't know what's going to happen after this."

The Eradication of [REDACTED-1]
The town of [REDACTED-1] was gassed after the incident, and everyone still living there died.

There is evidence of a fourth person escaping, but not much is known.

There is no evidence on Them.

Hiding the Evidence
After the government heard the Mario City Incident, they decided to remove every trace of it's existence and it remains an urban myth to many.

Every living person who knew about the incident was killed.