Super Mario 64's mysterious "L is real 2401" message explained

I can remember browsing the internet in the early days, hunting down every bit of speculation I could for the very image above. I wanted to know what the sign said and really meant. Most fans know the message as "L is real 2401". For years now, it seems like there was never a definitive answer as to what the sign meant. Turns out someone got the answer back in 1998 from a Nintendo game counselor.

Long story short, it means absolutely nothing and wasn't a tease of anything. It was just put in place to drive fans nuts. I'd say 20 years of speculation certainly proves their goal was achieved.