Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Log In

Create new account

Culture

Now We Know Why the Mario Brothers Are Plumbers

Jesse Walker | 2.2.2007 5:01 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

If Grand Theft Auto encourages crime, what does this game do? From the practically prehistoric year of 1973:

If you prefer the presidential scandals of the '80s, you can trade arms to Iran for quarters and feed them into this.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: The Campaign to Sham America

Jesse Walker is books editor at Reason and the author of Rebels on the Air and The United States of Paranoia.

CultureHistoryVideo Games
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (10)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Lamar   19 years ago

    Hey, that's my old company, Nutting Associates. I briefly worked for the Ram It Institute, and now I'm with the Boning Corporation.

  2. Smappy   19 years ago

    Ah, Contra. I spent many a happy hour playing that one.

    Never forget:

    Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, [select,] start.

    Can't beat the game without it!

  3. highnumber   19 years ago

    Would someone with too much time on their hands please track down a screen shot from the Watergate game? Real or a simulated shot from old ads maybe.
    Thank you.

  4. Aresen   19 years ago

    Great headline, Jesse!

  5. panurge   19 years ago

    Make sure you don't go down the wrong cabinet, or you might get sucked into a warp zone.

  6. Guy Montag   19 years ago

    Good thing that you guys were trashing GTA III rather than the one I am in.

    Otherwise a strongly worded telegram would be in your future. VERY STRONGLY WORDED!

  7. Dave   19 years ago

    Highnumber-

    I don't have a screenshot, but I think we can imagine:

    Navigate your yellow square (Gordon Liddy) through the maze and avoid being cornerd by the blue triangle (police). If the clock runs out, the white dot (John Dean) testifies and you lose. If you successfully run the maze in the alloted time, the words "You are not a crook!" flash on the screen.

  8. Dave   19 years ago

    Also, typing "Hot Coffee" will bring you to the Deep Throat level.

  9. isildur   19 years ago

    Lamar,

    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/08/08

  10. Lamar   19 years ago

    Funny stuff. I mean, can Nutting Associates be real? Or is it a Testicorp?

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

Elizabeth Warren Wrongly Implies Jeff Bezos Isn't Paying Enough Taxes

Robby Soave | 5.5.2026 5:40 PM

The People vs. CEQA

Christian Britschgi | 5.5.2026 3:25 PM

How the Slaveholding Founders Really Felt About Slavery

Timothy Sandefur | 5.5.2026 1:20 PM

Can We Ever Trust the Government To Be Honest About War?

Alexander Langlois | 5.5.2026 12:27 PM

Why the Courts Will 86 the Flagrantly Unconstitutional Charges Against James Comey

Jacob Sullum | 5.5.2026 11:00 AM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

I WANT FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS!

Help Reason push back with more of the fact-based reporting we do best. Your support means more reporters, more investigations, and more coverage.

Make a donation today! No thanks
r

I WANT TO FUND FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS

Every dollar I give helps to fund more journalists, more videos, and more amazing stories that celebrate liberty.

Yes! I want to put my money where your mouth is! Not interested
r

SUPPORT HONEST JOURNALISM

So much of the media tries telling you what to think. Support journalism that helps you to think for yourself.

I’ll donate to Reason right now! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK

Push back against misleading media lies and bad ideas. Support Reason’s journalism today.

My donation today will help Reason push back! Not today
r

HELP KEEP MEDIA FREE & FEARLESS

Back journalism committed to transparency, independence, and intellectual honesty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

STAND FOR FREE MINDS

Support journalism that challenges central planning, big government overreach, and creeping socialism.

Yes, I’ll support Reason today! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK AGAINST SOCIALIST IDEAS

Support journalism that exposes bad economics, failed policies, and threats to open markets.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BAD IDEAS WITH FACTS

Back independent media that examines the real-world consequences of socialist policies.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BAD ECONOMIC IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE. LET’S FIGHT BACK.

Support journalism that challenges government overreach with rational analysis and clear reasoning.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Support journalism that challenges centralized power and defends individual liberty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BACK JOURNALISM THAT PUSHES BACK AGAINST SOCIALISM

Your support helps expose the real-world costs of socialist policy proposals—and highlight better alternatives.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BACK AGAINST BAD ECONOMICS.

Donate today to fuel reporting that exposes the real costs of heavy-handed government.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks