Mario in Real Time
Mario in Real Time (also known as MIRT) is an interactive system used by Nintendo in various trade fairs. Thought up by Minoru Arakawa, MIRT is notable for introducing Charles Martinet as Mario's voice (prior to his videogame debut in Mario's FUNdamentals).
MIRT displays Mario on a screen, through which he can talk to those attending the trade fair. Charles Martinet himself works the device, standing out of view and reciting Mario's lines, which are instantly reiterated by the heroic plumber, his movements provided by Martinet through sensors courtesy of Simgraphics Engineering. (Mario sound effects and various impossible movements are also available to Martinet.[1]) Although Martinet is hidden from the audience, he can see and hear them through a hidden camera and microphone.
Martinet occasionally voices an off-screen Luigi (as well as Mama and Papa) in MIRT; in fact, this is how Luigi's voice originated. A Wario in Real Time (WIRT) and Donkey Kong in Real Time (DKIRT) also exist[2], and Charles Martinet himself appeared on-screen with MIRT software at E3 2006.[3]
