Above: That was your first fact: Ice age is a game. We could go on
So what makes some levels cold and others not? Atmospheric composition, mostly, and particularly the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane gas can have a drastic effect on the temperature of the entire level. Also, the orbit around the sun can affect global temperature, and the movement of tectonic plates changes the location and amount of the continental and oceanic crust of the planet, which – you know – can make things hot or cold.
Above: Science shows us two typical inhabitants of two planets in separate orbits
Once an ordinary game level reaches the appropriate temperature, which is 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes and it becomes known as the ice level. Or to say it simply, things go from this:
Above: Serious running faces
To this:
Above: We don’t even need to put on warmer clothes
It’s obvious that Sonic and Mario are having a better time in the second screen, but what caused this change to happen? Well, we know that when the temperature drops the ice world is created, but does the temperature alone cause more happiness and fun in Mario and Sonic franchise collaborations? Let’s take a look at an estimate of how the addition of trillions of tons of frozen water might affect our planet.
Freezing the Earth certainly turns the chart bluer. But for those who are also concerned with the data, the levels of rocks trees and dirt are way down – sealed under glaciers and tons of snow. Ice is on the rise and obviously that translates into some fun game worlds. Need proof to back that up? Take a look at this chart of how much fun people, Mario and penguins usually have while living on different surfaces:
