Mumbai, May 6 -- Before he was "Mario," the cheerful red-capped plumber we all love was just "Jumpman." He debuted in 1981's Donkey Kong-climbing ladders, dodging barrels, and rescuing his girl. But there was a problem: he didn't have a proper name yet.

That's where Mario Segale enters the picture.

The Man Behind the Name: Mario Segale

Mario Segale wasn't a game designer or a developer. He was a no-nonsense real estate developer from Tukwila, Washington. Nintendo of America was renting a warehouse from him to develop games. One day, Segale stormed in, demanding rent that hadn't been paid.

Instead of paying right away, Nintendo gave him something else first-a tribute. They named their character Mario after him! Some say it was a joke, ...