1up

[Rev. Rob]

Where did this term come from?

 

I know it means an extra life, and I know it was first use in Super Mario Brothers, but why? Wikipedia says no one knows, and I refuse to believe that!

[Austin]

Maybe someone needs to pose this question to Mr. Miyamoto himself? Has it ever been asked before? Hmmm.

Edited December 13, 2009 by Austin

[Video]

It may simply be a space issue. 1UP is a small sprite, and could have been done even on say, the 2600, while "extra life" or "continue" would have been to long. Or maybe it was literally supposed to mean "increase your life counter by one" 1up? Or something. Like the equivalent of a heart in Zelda (I know, not exactly the same as you have hitpoints rather than lives) or how many games will drop all sorts of items, usually indicated by the smallest sprite the system natively uses.