Enjoy This Fan Made Take On ‘Mario 64’ While You Can
from the hold-your-breath dept
This post will serve as the start of what will be a familiar cycle for fans of Nintendo. I’m going to show you something cool that Nintendo fans did, you’re going to get moderately excited, and then you’ll immediately become depressed when you realize that Nintendo will absolutely shut this cool project down in the name of copyright. This happens all the time, with Nintendo shutting down remakes of games that are decades old, a fan-made modded up version of Super Mario Bros. that allowed up to 75 players to play a level at the same time, and getting a video of a fan project for a first-person Pokemon game taken down. It’s due to these actions and many, many more that I have taken to referring to Nintendo as the Disney of the video game industry.
And so here we are, where I’ll show you a fan-made project, built from the ground up, to create a first-person horror game based on Mario 64.
A guy gets a mysterious letter from his girlfriend, arrives at a castle to find her missing, and loads of rooms full of monsters… It’s the setup to 1996’s classic Super Mario 64, sure, but it’s also very much also a survival horror pitch, which is why this new fan-made project is such a perfect fit.
Via Nintendo Life, this is Another Princess Is In Our Castle, “a Super Mario 64 inspired horror experience,” where you “decide to come back to Peach’s castle a few years after the princess’ death, but something isn’t quite right…”
For those of us of a certain age that played the original Mario 64, this really does look cool. The castle has been recreated, as has a bunch of familiar characters. Except that the feel and ambiance is all wrong and there’s a mystery afoot, featuring what appears to be a tiny ghost version of Princess Peach.
And here’s where the cycle turns. If you’re anything like me, roughly around the end of this short video you suddenly begin wondering exactly how long the video and demo will be available. After all, the countdown to Nintendo DMCAing everything to do with this project has absolutely begun.
And the question is why? The company could figure out a way to officially license these fan projects if it wanted to. Copyright isn’t like trademark law, in that Nintendo could largely ignore this fan-made project without risking any of its own rights. After all, this project doesn’t compete with Mario 64, a game released many years ago and now mostly only available as an emulated game on a Nintendo Switch.
Look, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised and Nintendo won’t Nintendo this time. But I could probably start drafting an update post to this one now and it’s unlikely I’d be wasting my time.
Filed Under: another princess in our castle, fan art, mario, mario 64, video games
Companies: nintendo
Comments on “Enjoy This Fan Made Take On ‘Mario 64’ While You Can”
It come from the maximalist copyright position of we own the idea, and therefore have total control over its use, and we are entitled to all profits from exploitation of the ideas. This includes the imaginary ones due to our overvaluing of our intellectual property and claims of massive losses due to piracy..
Re:
When everyone knows the losses are due to lack of word-of-mouth advertising. I wonder why there isn’t any? /sarc
You're A Bit Late Timothy
By a few decades.
” It’s due to these actions and many, many more that I have taken to referring to Nintendo as Scumtendo”
They started, as far as I can remember, from the 80’s with disgusting anti-consumer behavior like this (actually worse… Galoob and Tengen come to mind)
The law, which was put there by the people (corporations) allows them to behave this way legally.
Why they have any FANatics… it’s because people don’t care enough to change and they appreciate having corporations spit in their faces while they do their imitation of Oliver Twist’s gruel scene.
You're A Bit Late Timothy
By a few decades.
” It’s due to these actions and many, many more that I have taken to referring to Nintendo as Scumtendo”
They started, as far as I can remember, from the 80’s with disgusting anti-consumer behavior like this (actually worse… Galoob and Tengen come to mind)
The law, which was put there by the people (corporations) allows them to behave this way legally.
Why they have any FANatics… it’s because people don’t care enough to change and they appreciate having corporations spit in their faces while they do their imitation of Oliver Twist’s gruel scene.
time for a re-write, perhaps?
A guy gets a mysterious letter from his beautiful monster, arrives at a castle to find it missing, and loads of rooms full of ravening girlfriends …
I mean, it’s straight from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
“The first part of each song would tell how there once went forth from the City of Vassilian a party of five sage princes with four horses. The princes, who are of course brave, noble and wise, travel widely in distant lands, fought giant ogres, pursue exotic philosophies, take tea with weird gods and rescue beautiful monsters from ravening princesses before finally announcing that they have achieved enlightenment and that their wanderings are therefore accomplished.”
Ah, the wonders of Golgafrincham! Oh to be anywhere but there! (Except for Poghril, perhaps.)
Really, they could have gone after Mario: The Music Box a long time ago.
Well, we know the Internet never forgets- if the guy who made this game would do this, the exceedingly curious might be able to play this game. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FlingALightIntoTheFuture
When making a project like this, NEVER talk about it publicly until it’s finished! How many times do people have to be told this???
Posting about it just puts a target on it.
Re:
Seriously, nobody seems to follow The Woolie Protocol in these situations. Doing so would save them all so much grief.
the bastards
This is a tragedy. Some people might not get to play a video game that they want to play. And it’s a game someone worked hard on even though the assets were all copied from mario 64.
Heartbreaking.
No, really.
Re:
That lantern Mario carries is from the opening of Luigi’s Mansion, actually.
Re:
How’s that Richard Liebowitz defense fund coming along broski?
Re: Re:
It was eaten up by sabroni’s defense of the fools behind Prenda “Law” and Malibu Media.
Re: Re: Re:
For all the good that did them. At least horse with no name was good for a laugh, all Sabroni ever brings to the table is Cary Sherman cocksucking.
I hate 1st person gameplay. I’ve hated it since Golgo 13 on the NES, so no tears if this gets shut down.
Who are Nintendo mods for anyway?
How many Nintendo fans would be able/willing to access these games via PC? Don’t Nintendo fans play primarily on consoles?
In a ‘perfect world’ where these mods were allowed to exist, where would a Nintendo fan access them?
Are these mods even for Nintendo fans?
Re:
So what?
Again: So what?
They’re for people who want to play older Nintendo games in a new way. For example: The randomizers for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Metroid (as well as the Link to the Past + Super Metroid combo randomizer) each have their own communities and speedrunning competitions.
A not-zero number, which is really all that matters.
For modern games? Yes. But the Switch has an atrocious lack of access to a lot of classic games from Nintendo’s older days (both first- and third-party). Lots of people use emulation to play those unavailable older games because it’s easier (and cheaper) than buying the original hardware and cartridges…or a Switch and a Nintendo Online subscription. And it’s also easier for people to use emulation if they plan to play modded ROMs (including randomizers).
In the same places where they would exist now, only without having to worry about those places being DMCA’d into non-existence. (And that’s for fully-fledged fan remakes. For mods that only require a ROM patch or two, romhacking.net is available.)
Yes.
Re: Re:
Nintendo could make a SteamDeck that would also play new releases/cartridges, but it won’t happen because they would lose $ on the mods…Unless there were a NintendoSteam that sold mods and homebrews for a reasonable price (not a never-ending sub$cription).
That’s it! Nintendo needs:
-a SteamDeck that plays new games and old
-a store where you can buy old and new digital games and mods at reasonable prices
Sometimes it hurts to be this smart.
Re: Re: Re:
Nintendo has the Switch and their own eShop.
The problem is that few of the older games ARE on the Nintendo eShop.
Now, what if, assuming resources were not an issue and the code base for ALL Nintendo releases were preserved perfectly, Nintendo manages to release all known Nintendo games on the eShop?
We do know SOME of the older games have been on the eShop.
Re: Re: Re:2
Assuming the games were priced fairly based on their age (e.g., $2 at most for NES and Game Boy games, $5 at most for SNES and Game Boy Advance games)? Nintendo would make one-time incomes of varying amounts for sales of those games instead of long-term income of a preset monthly amount for the Nintendo Online services. Like any other capitalist corporation, Nintendo will always prefer the second option to the first.
Re: Re: Re:
We’re all aware that the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop exist. Trying to satirize this knowledge through sarcasm isn’t making the point you think you’re making.
Re:
So? I HATE 3rd person games. Should you not be allowed to play them because of that?
Re:
So you have a severe case of I don’t like it so it should not be available for other people. Don’t like it, don’t use it, but don’t attack attack other people for what they like.
,
Re:
I’m garbage at First-person shooters as well, but I have zero problems with them on the market.
Also, yes, Nintendo fans DO enjoy mods and do play modded Nintendo games if they could. Modded Pokemon games are at least popular within their niches.
Re: Re:
There’s a ton of grey-market retro rebuild systems on the market that play, and sometimes dump, both images and cartridges. They use custom software to “debug” the guts of the code, build in all sorts of tricks, and allow many expansions and mods on original games.
Smario (Mario in sonic) and Monic (sonic in SMB) are two that got coverage, off hand.
but what I really enjoy is the Doom64 mods. My guess is that’s what triggered this case. It’s one of the many healthy communities out there.
Because they’re more interested in the hardware. This is a story that dates back all the way to the early 90s.
When a group of high school students figured out some tricks to greatly improve graphical performance on the PC’s EGA graphics chipset, they smelled a real opportunity. They thought at once of one of their favorite games, Super Mario Bros. 3, and got to work creating a proof of concept demo recreating it on the PC.
When they went to Nintendo with a working product, looking for a licensing deal, Nintendo shut them down hard because they had no interest in people being able to play Mario, even paying them for the software, without also paying them for an NES console.
But at least the kids didn’t give up and quit trying. They still had the code for a working Mario-grade platformer, so John Carmack and his friends tweaked it a bit, built their own game with an original protagonist and plot, and founded Id Software to sell it.
Re:
So what you’re saying is, Nintendo DOOMed the industry? 😁
Re: Re:
Lmao 😂
Looks more to be heretic though, not doom.
Re: Re: Re:
Nope, not Heretic.
Re: Re: Re:2
You missed the point. The arm out, holding the item. The movement. The colouration. Lol. It reminded me of heretic more than doom.
Or maybe Hexen, or Blood. Quake? Been a few months since I fired up my old leading edge.
Now I need to go back and figure out which one I’m reminded of. Thanks a lot! Lol.
Re: Re: Re:3
“You missed the point.”
you killed a joke to make an unnecessary reference
Re: Re: Re:4
Lostinlodos is a troll, and that’s what they do.
Re: Re: Re:5
Some people are permanently locked in world-hates-me mode. AC.
On reflection, and going back to look at the game, the FPS lamp was was first seen in Blood. Not Heretic. So my observation was incorrect. But it’s been quite some time since I played Heretic. Though having played Final Doom just yesterday I knew that all jokes aside, the comparison was inaccurate beyond it being an FPS.
It was an observation. Nothing more.
Re: Re: Re:6
Some people are permanently locked in world-hates-me mode, AC.
We know. poitnts at Lostcause as an example
Re: Re: Re:3
You missed the point.
Not as much as you missed what was said by the OC.
Re: Re: Re:4
Yes, I did. I got the reference STS made without seeing the comment he replied to. I replied to him from the email link.
Totally missed the OC until after the fact.
Re: Re: Re:5
READ UP, STUPID!
Ftfy
Re:
Links.
Re: Re:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTMPig6Z8M
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/299724-super-mario-3d-all-stars/78983916
Butt sliding is gone, the camera is still messed up. Dependable “glitches” are gone. Cannons don’t fire the same distance.
It’s not a direct rom emulation.
The important changes have been overshadowed by the “gay bowser” nonsense. But there are many notable differences. And a quick journey via YouTube suggestions (log out) on the above video will bring up dozens of differences!
Re: Re: Re:
It’s not an emulation at all. Emulation is when unofficial parties create software to play the original ROMs on the platform of the player’s choice and they are the same otherwise, whereas Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo Switch is more of a broken port because it’s official.
Re: Re: Re:2
None of that was the point of my comment. Which was, Nintendo already screwed up their port, which I believe actually is a modified version of original code running in emulation.
I have the original (Japanese version) and the US 3D collection download. The switch version, beyond the changes, is just…
Off…
Somehow. And I’m not the only one to say that, it’s all over YouTube In reviews.
Given the power of the switch and how in house rereleases keep falling flat… maybe it’s time to start hiring fans for ports and mods!
Re: Re: Re:3
Bingo, lightbulb moment. 3DAS reminds me of altered beast on the PlayStation 2 in being, not quite right. If I remember I think Golden Axe series also had that effect in the same Sega collection.
Re: Re: Re:3
I reiterate: emulation is when unofficial parties create software to play the original ROMs on the platform of the player’s choice, including – believe it or not – cell phones and tablets. So you’re not only missing the point, you’ve got your head crammed so far up your own ass you can’t read what’s written either.
Re: Re: Re:4
Uh. Wrong. So wrong I won’t even try correcting you myself.
Start here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulator
Re: Re: Re:4
No, it isn’t. While emulation of video game software may largely be an “unofficial” thing, that doesn’t preclude official sources from creating their own emulators and using them in their products. Or do you truly believe Capcom dug out the source code for the five Darkstalkers games that are in the company’s most recent fighting games collection?
Re: Re: Re:2
Emulation is emulation—whether the emulator is from official or unofficial sources doesn’t matter. For example: The classic console games offered by Nintendo as part of its online services are all running on emulation of some sort.
Re: Re: Re:3
whooooooosh!
Re: Re: Re:4
If you’re going to insult me by implying I’m of low intelligence, just use the ableist slur you really want to use and be done with it. Otherwise: Imitating a flow of air going over one’s head instead of trying to make a valid counterargument is more insulting to you than it is to me.
Re: Re: Re:5
AC is echoing the whistling sound they hear between their own ears, obviously.
Re: Re: Re:6
Projected the bully.
Re: Re: Re:5
If you’re going to insult me by implying I’m of low intelligence, just use the ableist slur you really want to use and be done with it.
Every accusation a confession. Accusing someone of your own sins is more insulting to you than it is to the commenter you’re replying to.
Re: Re: Re:6
Given you make absolute statements on emulation when you don’t even have the most basic grip on the subject….
Yep, over your head.
Re: Re: Re:7
Here you go, since your old one’s about to burn out.
Re: Re: Re:8
I don’t need a projector. I have an Optoma uhz750.
The led bulb unit is replaceable.