Gaming giant loses control with ‘Super Mario Maker’
Protective Nintendo releases user-generated Wii U title 30 years into popular series
LOS ANGELES— Nintendo is giving players the keys to the Mushroom Kingdom. After three decades of releasing Super Mario video games, the notoriously protective Japanese gaming giant is inviting players to create their own levels in the bouncy plumber’s homeland with the usergenerated Wii U title Super Mario Maker, out Friday.
“I thought after 30 years, it would be perfect to reward creative players with the ability to build their own levels and be able to engage in the type of communication where a player and a creator can share the results,” said Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto during an interview translated by Nintendo of America product marketing manager Bill Trinen.
Similar to LittleBigPlanet, Minecraft and Disney Infinity, Mario Maker serves as a robust construction kit allowing players to virtually place such items as bashable bricks, floating coins, and deadly Koopas in the style of past games in the franchise: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. The levels can then be uploaded and played by others online. Technologically, it’s a huge leap from the original Super Mario game released in 1985.
“We were only able to have five Koopas on screen at one time,” Miyamoto said. “I’ve been fortunate that at every phase of new technology, we’ve been able to introduce a new Mario game that leverages it without having to think too deeply about a new story. It’s kept Mario fresh and exciting for people throughout the 30 years of the series.”
Miyamoto said the developers focused on creating a game that would make building a Mario adventure a comprehensive but accessible experience. For instance, if players wish to share creations online, they must first be able to play through their level themselves — no matter how many Bowsers or Bullet Bills stand in the way.
Mario Maker marks a decidedly progressive approach for the Kyoto, Japan-based company that’s been strongly particular about its intellectual properties. By giving up control of Mario to players, does that mean the princess-rescuing plumber will finally go into retirement?
“I think this might actually be motivation for us,” said Nintendo senior producer Katsuya Eguchi. “Those of us in the industry will be like, ‘Really? You’re going to throw that down?’ We’ll be jealous, and then we’ll show them how to really do it.”