New Super Mario Bros. Wii, future titles will play themselves

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 14th 2009 at 1:00PM }

Are games too hard for you, Johnny? Don't worry -- Shiggy's got your back. Starting with upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii, future Nintendo Wii titles will be shipping with the ability to, well, play themselves. In an interview with USA Today, the man who birthed Mario confirmed the existence of "demo play" for the next Mario game and "future games, too" -- essentially an option to allow the game to play itself when the player encounters an area too difficult for them to handle.

Savvy Joystiq loyalists will remember the patent filed by Nintendo earlier this year, roughly outlining the feature. The idea behind this, Miyamoto explains, is to reduce the barrier to entry for younger players and casual alike. Last we checked, the whole point of games was the challenge but, ya know, who needs that? "Demo play" remains the tentative title for now, but we expect some Wii-ification by New Super Mario Bros. Wii's release later this year.

Tags: demo-play, new-super-mario-bros-wii, shigeru-miyamoto, usa-today

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

ben @ Jun 14th 2009 1:04PM

lame

Kenneth @ Jun 14th 2009 1:29PM

agreed.

this is just another step that lowers the Wii's target age group

the age of the WiiRattle is upon us

http://theabutton.com/?p=190

damien @ Jun 14th 2009 1:34PM

I agree, this does sound Lame. The first two Mario games were really hard. Number 3 was just right, than got to easy. The later stages of Mario 64 were hard, in fact I don't think I beat that game, but still, now they're going back to too easy. This will eliminate any challenge what so ever, but on the other hand, they will probably make a couple of ridiculously hard areas, where the only way to pass them will be to use this stupid auto play feature, thus annoying us all.

Spartan @ Jun 14th 2009 2:05PM

So now it's gona be a quick-time movie?

whookid @ Jun 14th 2009 2:27PM

Hey look on the bright side, you don't have to deal with crappy controls anymore. Be funny if the Wii couldn't play itself.

WREturns @ Jun 14th 2009 2:57PM

Great, so now every Wii game is the new Prince of Persia?

time @ Jun 14th 2009 3:53PM

I disagree.

This will allow Nintendo to make their games harder while the people seeking a challenge can ignore this feature. It's a blessing.

DWells55 @ Jun 14th 2009 4:59PM

Honestly, this just makes me even more glad I'm selling my Wii. I was pretty excited for it, camped out to buy one, etc. But one I wound up with was a gimmicky system with outdated visuals, worthless online support, few games worth playing amongst mountains of shovelware, and control implementation that amounted to little more than a frustrating gimmick.

Wes @ Jun 14th 2009 5:16PM

I agree with the LAME comment. Once a casual gamer turns on this feature, will it ever be turned off until the game is completed? Usually most games follow a pretty linear pattern of incremental progression of difficulty.

Lvl 1 // Act 1 // Stage 1 // Whatever
Easy to mild difficulty. Only one or two buttons are needed and often other buttons are not yet 'activated' / 'unlocked' allowing gamers to concentrate only on how to use the one to two buttons while still achieving sucess. Enemies are very slow to react and have low statistics(don't hit often or for much, aren't that good at whatever they do)

Lvl 2 / Act 2 / Stage 2 // Whatever
Mild to moderate difficult. More buttons unlocked. Enemies react quicker, have better statistics or are better at what the AI does in general.

Lvl 3
More difficult, more buttons (unless all the buttons are already unlocked). Enemies react quicker, have better stats, better ai.

LVl 4.
Repeat difference in lvl 3.

The problem I see is that if a casual gamer needs to use 'demo' mode on lvl 1, how the heck do they expect to be able to play lvl 2 with you needing to know the buttons/gained the skill from lvl 1 that you didn't play yourself. So you'd have to demo through lvl 2. Once you reach lvl 3, we'll, if you couldn't pass lvl 1 and lvl 2 without demo mode, you won't pass lvl 3. So you have no hope of passing lvl 4, so demo mode again. Ohh too hard again. Demo mode. Ohh way ot hard, demo mode. Geesh, how am I expected to do this? Demo mode. Demo demo demo demo.

YESSS, final credits and fmv! I won! I passed it! Gee that was a fun watching a video game be played for 10 hours. I can't wait till Mario Galaxy 4 comes out so I can demo through it!

Shagittarius @ Jun 14th 2009 8:36PM

Is this for people too lazy to look up walkthroughs and hints online?

The line has been drawn, and I'm here to define it. If you think this is a good idea, you are a douche bag and gaming has no use for you. Do us a favor and off yourself.

If you don't like this idea and what it will do to game design congratulations you are a gamer. Now join us in saving gaming from Nintendo.

Blank-Mage @ Jun 14th 2009 9:43PM

Sweet Jesus, me and Shag agree on a Nintendo issue. This is a first.

Nesta @ Jun 14th 2009 10:18PM

Ah, yes. Please KILL yourself if you think this is a good idea. That's not overreacting at all, it's a really good idea that people should kill themselves over such trivial things that shouldn't even effect you. Smart.

Granted I'll go as far as to agree with the original "lame" comment. I have no interest in this feature either, I find it quite laughable. But really, how does it hurt me? I don't *have* to use it.

Ah, but of course, it's cool to hate to Nintendo so ahem - Oh god! Down with Nintendo! They're ruining gaming! This new 2D Mario is shit now. Kill yourself! Yeah!

Feba @ Jun 14th 2009 11:42PM

Wes: Your idea is founded on the idea that all games have even and fair difficulty curves. It also assumes that this *progresses* the game for you, which as I understand it it doesn't necessarily (it could just give a preview of how to do something)

There are a lot of games where the hardest part comes before the ending, or even mid-way through the game. In many games; this is even intentional-- Mario games are designed with reasonably difficult final boss levels, but there are other levels with far higher difficulties if you want them. Final Fantasy games haven't had the hardest fights be against the final boss since the SNES. Those are optional examples, of course; sometimes though there are levels which are required that are harder than anything afterwards. For example, in No More Heroes, Shinobu is one of the hardest four or five bosses in the game, despite being the third you fight. In Zelda games, there are frequently puzzles that require you to seek out a guide anyway; I don't know about everyone else, but I personally find the final bosses in most Zelda games to be not as hard as other parts as well.

Many games are now opting to have a 'final challenge' sort of fight; Ridley being a great example of this. Sometimes, they don't even really have anything to do with the plot, they're mostly just there to provide a challenge near the end. That allows them to make a far less challenging but more cinematically impressive final boss (The child metroid/Mother Brain/Pirate & Planet escape sequence, for example, is significantly less difficult than fighting Ridley). Other games have parts that are more of a pain than parts afterwards, due to poor design or otherwise.

SuckItTrebek @ Jun 15th 2009 1:39AM

DWells....you act as if you didn't know that before the system even came out.

Oh, I get it. You're one of those people who stuck your head in the sand to avoid facing reality, preferring marketing hype.

Brodo @ Jun 15th 2009 2:03AM

You have got to be kidding me.

Edge @ Jun 15th 2009 10:20AM

"Game" over.

bm @ Jun 15th 2009 1:13PM

I wonder if shaggi is a fan of save-anywhere systems.

Grey Acumen @ Jun 15th 2009 3:09PM

Wow. the amount of stupid contained in these comments makes my teeth hurt.

Are people seriously trying to claim that not one person here can remember when they first started gaming and they watched their dad/older brother/uncle/cousin/friend/rival play through the game and went "oh, so that's how you do it..."?

It's a fucking OPTION people. You aren't being FORCED to use it. It won't ruin your gaming experience.

Oh, wait, i get it. Now that I think about it, I understand exactly what the backlash to this idea is:
Normal people are watering down the only experience that validates your lives. You're all "GAMERS", some mystical breed whose hand eye coordination, reaction timing and puzzle solving skills makes you like unto GODS to which all mortal men are beholden to. It is your sacred privilege to impart knowledge of final boss battles and ending credits to the lowly newbs who would otherwise know nothing of the splendor that has been denied them by their own shortcomings.
But now that privilege is being threatened, like prometheus stealing the fire of the gods to give to mortal men, miyamoto has undermined that which you hold most sacred; the petty sense of superiority that you cling to in being able to beat a game that the majority of the world doesn't even know or care about.

I may be a gamer, but I at least realize that it's a GAME.

Rob Accomando @ Jun 15th 2009 6:41PM

New Super MArio was easy. I hated how you could skip 3 whole words (not even by a warp zone)

This is just ridiculous. Gamers will never learn to improve their skills.

ese150 @ Jun 18th 2009 1:14PM

Grey Acumen: You're right. How dare people criticize Miyamoto for implementing a feature that allows us beat a game without PLAYING it? It's not like the point of a game is playing it. No, we just buy games to look at demos.

BlaqueBeird @ Aug 25th 2009 6:20PM

Grey Acumen nailed it on the head. You don't have to use it. In fact, it's only for super easy and easy. All the "hardcore" gamers out there play on easy? You won't even notice, because you'll never encounter it. Not if you're "hardcore". You might as well be scoffing at people who choose easy mode rather than normal or hard while you're at it. Grow up, kids.

nightmare452 @ Jun 14th 2009 1:05PM

What the heck! I love it when games are easy as I sometimes don't have time to do a level 50 times ala Contra (which I love by the way), but the reason I wanna play games is cause, well, I wanna PLAY them, otherwise I have youtube for this.

Weird.

sp23hagbard5 @ Jun 14th 2009 4:49PM

you can still play them, but if you ever get stuck at a part, this will jump in

i would really love to see that feature in more games. everytime i visit my parents, my dad just jumps right in front of me and asks if i could beat the next boss for him, and if i'm not around for a while, he even terrorises my cell.

this could save me some nerves

Ghen @ Jun 14th 2009 6:54PM

I'm not sure its a jump in / jump out type thing. I view this feature as more of a "background video game" for a party setting, much like we use background music now.

Having new super mario bros wii playing behind a party would be pretty awesome, at least with the parties I go to.

sp23hagbard5 @ Jun 15th 2009 9:48AM

ok, you guys are just stupid

"essentially an option to allow the game to play itself when the player encounters an area too difficult for them to handle."

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE IT -.-

so why downvote me? i want to see this feature in more games because of my dad who sucks at games like PoP or Wolverine, where is the fucking problem?

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 14th 2009 1:06PM

Well it's official, we've hit rock bottom. You can't get anymore casual than that, so the good news is you can only go up from here.

mynk @ Jun 14th 2009 2:55PM

"click start to begin."
"you have won."

Levi @ Jun 14th 2009 4:51PM

Tmac,all that stuff below about beating tough games that nobody else could, the feeling of achievement from finishing a super tough game, I totally agree with all of that. I feel that games now are easier on average than ever, even despite the fact that I'm better at them than ever. A big difference though is that I usually enjoy games less if it doesn't give me a challenge. It's probably why I enjoyed Mario 64 far more than Galaxy - 64 is much more difficult just to finish than Galaxy (all discussions of 100% completions aside).

It's not often I agree with you, but that stuff you said down there, I'm right there with you.

Poisoned Al @ Jun 14th 2009 5:45PM

You can. Soon you'll be able to just buy a DVD case with "YOU WIN!" written on it. There won't be a disc inside, because using anyting electronic might scre off some new casual gamers.

Blank-Mage @ Jun 14th 2009 9:46PM

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/3/9/

Michael T @ Jun 15th 2009 4:56PM

So, essentially...

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/9/6/

Dopple Boppler @ Jun 14th 2009 1:06PM

Maybe that means that, unlike the original New Super Mario Bros., this one will actually be moderately challenging. I doubt it though.

Zarim @ Jun 14th 2009 1:06PM

They may be taking the theory of casual gaming a bit too far.

Lieutenant Gunther (PSN: helghast102) @ Jun 14th 2009 1:07PM

I suppose the best part of this is that you don't have to use it.

Sean @ Jun 14th 2009 1:08PM

Just when you thought games were getting too easy...

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 14th 2009 1:10PM

Seriously, the only time I remember needing to use a guide of any kind on a nintendo game was that damn water temple in Ocarina of Time. This is beyond ridiculous.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Jun 14th 2009 1:19PM

good OoT reference. i too had difficulties with that very same thing. after you get the water to raise all the way up (while still inside the temple) i was like, uuuuuuuuuuh, now what?!

Reuben @ Jun 14th 2009 1:47PM

I had the very same problem. That temple was godawful, and it didn't get any easier on my second play-through like I thought it would have.

BigFat @ Jun 14th 2009 2:13PM

i must be some type of puzzle master master or something, because i beat the water temple in OOT without a guide or any help (i was new to gaming and didnt know where to find the info even if i could use it) sure some of it was confusing but overall it me about half a day to figure it out. i though it was really fun and when you got IT the feeling was amazing.

MichaelG @ Jun 14th 2009 2:34PM

Yeah BigFat I think you might be brilliant

ArchiGamer @ Jun 14th 2009 3:01PM

In Soviet Russia, game plays you!

bm @ Jun 14th 2009 3:31PM

I was like 13 when that game came out and I finished it relatively easily. Sure, it was slightly more challenging than the other temples, but in the end it only felt more rewarding when I figured it out. And I'm definitely not one of those uber hardcore types, never have been. I can only come to the conclusion that anyone whining about this temple are either idiots, or pussy crybabies who give up at the first sign of having to actually think.

Quattro @ Jun 14th 2009 5:28PM

The water temple was difficult compared to other temples in the game sure, but it still wasn't that hard. I was only like 11 or so when I beat it, I think I had more trouble with the forest temple.

Granted, I didn't have access to a guide, and I'm sure if people here didn't either they would've been able to figure it out.

Skyla @ Jun 14th 2009 7:24PM

i remember doing the OoT water temple. It was puzzling for me. My big bro did it for me but didn't save it. He just helped me through it if i had difficulty since he beat it already.

it doesn't help that i get game sickness with water or space visuals (ala mario galaxy...even though i bought it lol)

Jack Spicer PSN: watsuke @ Jun 14th 2009 10:27PM

While we're comparing OoT water temple penises, I beat it when i was 5 and it was my first game i ever played. My brother let me play when he got to the water temple so i didnt know the controls or anything and it only took my 20 minutes to beat.

This 'Demo" mode seems like the Super Smash Bros. AI fights. I dont know why my friend like to watch the computer fight itself, i thought it was boring and just made me want to play.

MystileArmor @ Jun 14th 2009 1:09PM

And I thought back in the day using cheatcodes was lame...

...Jan... @ Jun 14th 2009 2:39PM

I wonder...how many people who consider themselves hardcore used cheats in GTA or immediately load up their browser to look up the guide?
I remember back when I didn't have an internet connection and felt accomplished after beating a game. Heck, I remember beating Portal over a year ago and my friend telling me he beat it faster because he looked up a walkthrough.