Why do we collect coins?

***Marilink*** · 11-24-2011, 08:38 AM

Honestly, why? They don't really add much to the game, and they never really have. Yet I've never seen anyone play Mario and not go out of their way to get a whole bunch of coins at some point. Even games when 100 coins gets you a one-up, I still go for coins when I have 99 lives.

Really, no one compares how many coins they had at the end of SMB3 or anything like that...so why are we so hell-bent on collecting them?

Panfan · 11-24-2011, 09:05 AM

obviously it's all about the bling

Click to view video.

***Ace Mercury*** · 11-24-2011, 09:37 AM

Collecting a coin is advantageous for most of the game and it has an immediate and unmistakable sound; it's almost Pavlovian. As such coins are used now in a "breadcrumb" fashion; the main path is littered with coins and progressing though the level you naturally accumulate coins. If you don't see coins, it means that you've gone the wrong way, and some secrets are also marked with coins. It's also a aesop that every penny counts, that hard work pays off, and that nothing ventured nothing gained.

It's also showcases some of the purest forms of "risk vs. reward" that is the foundation for a good game (video or otherwise). Coins are typically put in slightly more dangerous areas (e.g. near enemies, over open pits). Successfully navigating tricky situations is fun for it's own sake (displaying your own mastery over the game), and coins show off places where you can be a little daredevil.

Interesting note: Miyamoto once said that for additional challenge, try playing Super Mario Bros. without collecting a single coin.

**Valigarmander** · 11-24-2011, 10:55 AM

Mario's a pathological hoarder. Coins are the useless trinkets he collects.

Every time you take a roundabout path or maneuver a dangerous area just to get a few measly coins, you're simply giving into Mario's compulsion to hoard.

***Marilink*** · 11-25-2011, 12:21 AM

I guess the Pavlovian reward makes a lot of sense. Kinda like how you still go for a 1-up mushroom when you have 99 lives, as I so often do.

Dizzy · 11-25-2011, 12:24 AM

I think a better question is what are all those coins doing there in the first place?

**Valigarmander** · 11-25-2011, 04:41 PM

^ Maybe a Marioverse version of the Minish put them there.

Rainbow Dash · 11-25-2011, 04:53 PM

i collect coins in sm64 and beyond for health and maybe 100 coin stars if they exist

Luigiman7 · 11-25-2011, 05:11 PM

i collect them because they're shiny

***Marilink*** · 11-25-2011, 07:51 PM

The applause in NSMBWii was incredibly rewarding for some reason.

lamarwisneski · 01-13-2012, 09:22 AM

We collect coins for extra life and points..When we are able to collect 100 coins we get an extra life which will really help us..In my opinion collecting coins is s fun..

Inferno Dragon · 01-20-2012, 12:52 PM

^this.

11-24-2011, 08:38 AM	#1
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Why do we collect coins? Honestly, why? They don't really add much to the game, and they never really have. Yet I've never seen anyone play Mario and not go out of their way to get a whole bunch of coins at some point. Even games when 100 coins gets you a one-up, I still go for coins when I have 99 lives. Really, no one compares how many coins they had at the end of SMB3 or anything like that...so why are we so hell-bent on collecting them?

11-24-2011, 09:37 AM	#3
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I don't really have a coherent argument here Collecting a coin is advantageous for most of the game and it has an immediate and unmistakable sound; it's almost Pavlovian. As such coins are used now in a "breadcrumb" fashion; the main path is littered with coins and progressing though the level you naturally accumulate coins. If you don't see coins, it means that you've gone the wrong way, and some secrets are also marked with coins. It's also a aesop that every penny counts, that hard work pays off, and that nothing ventured nothing gained. It's also showcases some of the purest forms of "risk vs. reward" that is the foundation for a good game (video or otherwise). Coins are typically put in slightly more dangerous areas (e.g. near enemies, over open pits). Successfully navigating tricky situations is fun for it's own sake (displaying your own mastery over the game), and coins show off places where you can be a little daredevil. Interesting note: Miyamoto once said that for additional challenge, try playing Super Mario Bros. without collecting a single coin.

11-25-2011, 05:11 PM	#9
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	i collect them because they're shiny __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

11-24-2011, 10:55 AM	#4
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Mario's a pathological hoarder. Coins are the useless trinkets he collects. Every time you take a roundabout path or maneuver a dangerous area just to get a few measly coins, you're simply giving into Mario's compulsion to hoard.

11-25-2011, 12:21 AM	#5
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	I guess the Pavlovian reward makes a lot of sense. Kinda like how you still go for a 1-up mushroom when you have 99 lives, as I so often do.

11-25-2011, 12:24 AM	#6
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,162 Times in 805 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I think a better question is what are all those coins doing there in the first place?

11-25-2011, 04:41 PM	#7
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	^ Maybe a Marioverse version of the Minish put them there.

11-25-2011, 04:53 PM	#8
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,402 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	i collect coins in sm64 and beyond for health and maybe 100 coin stars if they exist

11-25-2011, 07:51 PM	#10
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	The applause in NSMBWii was incredibly rewarding for some reason.

01-13-2012, 09:22 AM	#11
lamarwisneski Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Gender: Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	We collect coins for extra life and points..When we are able to collect 100 coins we get an extra life which will really help us..In my opinion collecting coins is s fun..

01-20-2012, 12:52 PM	#12
Inferno Dragon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Planet Draco Gender: Posts: 6,038 Thanks: 67 Thanked 36 Times in 29 Posts	^this.