Yes, of course Shigeru Miyamoto is involved in Super Mario 3D Land

by Ben Gilbert on Oct 26th 2011 2:40PM

Like with previous Mario titles, the little plumber's creator is once again involved in Nintendo's next project, Super Mario 3D Land. In a recent Famitsu interview (translated by 1UP), Shigeru Miyamoto explains his role as "general producer" on the title, saying that he was uninvolved until about halfway through the project. "I kept my distance from the project at first, but became more deeply involved midway -- I don't think it'd be satisfying as a Mario game to everyone unless I made myself known on the little details," he says.

Miyamoto further details his work on the project, specifically citing his work as helping to "fine-tune the numbers" behind things like Mario's iconic jump or run speed. He also points out that Mario's upcoming 3DS game draws from the world of Super Mario Bros. 3, while the "New" Super Mario Bros. titles drew from Super Mario World's foundation. Neat!

"The New Mario series was an effort to get back to the core of it," he adds. "And this game is kind of an in-between -- it's 3D, but it's a Mario that lots of people can play." To that end, Super Mario 3D Land will feature a hint system akin to other recent Nintendo first-party titles, which Miyamoto teases briefly. But you wouldn't need such a thing, right?

Source: 1UP

Tags: 3ds, nintendo, shigeru-miyamoto, super-mario-3d, super-mario-3d-land, super-mario-bros-3, super-mario-land-3d, super-mario-world

Reader Comments (39)

I am so looking forward to this game, even more so now that I know Miyamoto is involved. I want to snag the demo, but I haven't been able to make it to a Best Buy. Has anyone played it?

@CoconutSkittle

And even if he isn´t they´ll never say it.....

@CoconutSkittle
You'd still be interested even if he wasn't involved.

"I don't think it'd be satisfying as a Mario game to everyone unless I made myself known on the little details,"... I'm trying to wrap my head around this... is he implying that without him, the game would be no good? I doubt that's what he ment - because I would hate to know what Mario games will be like when Miyamoto finally retires (which is still at least a decade away).

@Axcalibur
Probably like a Final Fantasy game without Nobou Uematsu. There just isn't the FEELING without him.

I guess he's been so consumed with LOZ SS that he doesn't have a lot of time for much else. Still it's good to see he is somewhat involved in the project because Mario is synonomous with Miyamoto and vice versa.

Funny, i thought the "New" Super Mario games drew upon more from SMB 1 than SMW. Sure, it had a few power-ups but SMW was epic where as NSMB was just good, simply fun. It damn well better not mean that he felt he already revisited SMW because I'm sure many, many people would disagree with that.

Still, he stood back on Majora's Mask as well, iirc. I also think the team was composed of recent college grads so Miyamoto proves that even just being an ACTIVE producer helps plenty for the development of a game.

I bet he shits pure gold. Anything less would be unimaginable.

@Mmmmz

Yoshi's island kinda revisits it...

@Mmmmz What wrong with Super Mario World? Isn't it widely considered like the best Mario game?

@Mmmmz
I did a little inner lol at the Mario World bit, because of course it feels more like SMB1 than SMW.

Shigsy is wrong.

@Timjoy
Outside of being called: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island...

How?

@LittleMofreaky
Where did it come off as if I were bashing SMW? I'm just saying the NSMB doesn't come close to paying homage to it and that SMW still deserves a proper sequel. I don't even think much of it needs to be remade or updated, even the graphics would translate well today, just make them higher res.

@Mmmmz

SMW was remade on the GBA as an acceptable version. I was shocked to see how...short most of the stages were when I played them today versus how huge they felt as a kid.

It was also interesting to compare it to SMB3, which is many ways was a more grandiose game. SMB3 has more powerups, seemingly larger and more varied worlds, etc. SMW was more streamlined, with a tighter focus on a few mechanics.

Honestly, I still think their most innovative and memorable platformer is yoshi's island 1. There just isn't thing else like it that big N has made.

New Super Mario Bros. was more Super Mario World-centric? If you say so, Miyamoto. It honestly felt like it took more from Super Mario Bros. 3's playbook to me, with shorter, more gimmick-centric* levels. Also all the stages seemed a lot flatter than either game's stages did, to NSMB's detriment. (It was still a good game, but still...)

*I don't mean this as a slight against SMB3 or NSMB. It's just that there's really no better word for this, despite the negative connotation "gimmick" has gathered over the years. Most of the stages in SMB3 took a concept and focused on it throughout the stage - the Kuriboh's Shoe stage comes to mind.

@Shadow Hog

I agree with you and @Mmmmz. NSMB felt like the original Super Mario Bros but with controls that weren't as tight. And felt nothing like SMW or SMB3 (at least to me).

@Rocket Raccoon the Wii version was like mario world

@(Unverified)
It really wasn't. More-so than the DS version, sure, but outside of the bonus world and a couple winks, it really wasn't close enough. Not by a long shot. SMW deserves much better than that.

@(Unverified)

I guess that is true. But I still didn't really get that vibe from playing the game (which admittedly wasn't for very long).

I guess what I just didn't like was that Mario felt too floaty.

@Shadow Hog

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was like if SMB 3 and SMW had a baby.

Also, the final boss fight with Bowser in that game was harder than any one since World.

Awww, and here I was thinking Miyamoto still did all his trademark games himself. Y'know... programming and all.

1st Mario game i'm not excited for. I'm not into two plane, quasi isometric design. I hope it turns out good though.

The word 'iconic' is tossed around way too liberally these days. There is nothing iconic about Mario's jump or run speed. If you want to say customary or traditional, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

@Hoops

i totally agree!

Every time I see a Nintendo screenshot I can't help but be stopped by the jaggies. Jaggies everywhere, every time.

@greenpipepilgrimage

Says the 16 year old who's never played a console older than the first Xbox.

Just because you modded your Xbox to have all the NES and SNES games in the world doesn't mean you grew up with gaming.

@Co
Ouch.

Sure he could just be trolling, but he does have a point: Nintendo screenshots always seem to have jaggies. What he may not realize is that you NEVER see these jaggies while playing, but they definitely are visible on screenshots.

@Co
woah now, his opinion is still valid. the presence of jaggies in older generation games does not excuse them in more modern ones.

3ds game screenshots tend to look rather bad. For example, in the one on the article the textures look very low rez, like an early psp game or so. Granted, in person the games look much better due to the smaller screen size and 3d effect.

@mrantimatter Of course the 3DS screenshots are going to look bad. I mean, after all, you're taking a small, condensed screen photo from a handheld gaming device and putting it on a much larger computer screen. Also, the fact that its not in motion will make it look a lot worse, and the fact the pixel density probably isn't as high on the monitor as it is on the 3DS.

The game will look fine- probably somewhere between Sunshine and Galaxy, which is A-okay with me.

@Co
I'm kinda confused by your comment, and let's not make this about me. I just said these screenshots have jaggies. They do.

I wonder if they'll ever create new types of worlds of if it will be an eternal circle-jerk of new games inspired by old games. They used to be very brave, each new Mario game dropped staples of the previous one and yet it was always great and no one complained. But now everything is an homage to past creativity.

Now that they are done with another 3D adventure mario they need to come out with a new 2D platformer mario (the type most mario fans prefer) and really put some effort in coming up with interesting new locales. No more lifeless bland grass world, water world, ice world crap.

Why not a dry bones/after life world or Mario Galaxy themed world?

@TwEE Uhm, who says most Mario fans prefer 3D? I'd say that's quite the contrary...

And also, if you somehow forgot, or didn't actually read the article, there's this supaww kewwl game called "New Super Mario Bros." which is 2D, and was released not too long ago, soooo....

Not to mention, much of this game IS in 2D. Maybe not sprite-drawn, but the perspective is definitely 2D (not taking into account the 3D visual effects from the 3DS).

@MW49350

I think you misread what I typed, or I wasnt clear enough. 2D is the mario that sells more.

"Not to mention, much of this game IS in 2D. Maybe not sprite-drawn, but the perspective is definitely 2D (not taking into account the 3D visual effects from the 3DS). "

That may be so, but the 3d mario games even when viewed from the side lack the precise control of a real 2D mario.

And I was refering to NSMB Wii when I typed this "lifeless bland grass world, water world, ice world crap. " Still was a great game though.

I'm disappointed he allowed the run button. There's analog control now. You don't need that!

He also points out that Mario's upcoming 3DS game draws from the world of Super Mario Bros. 3, while the "New" Super Mario Bros. titles drew from Super Mario World's foundation.

Nook translation of 1up translation:

We are indeed creatively bankrupt.

It's a difficult position and maybe there is enough of a new user base to continue to consume rehashes of mario games - galaxy was great, i passed on 2 due to the feeling it was more of the same with just some overall minor tweaks to the gameplay. platformer is platformer.
I know i'm way wrong here for some - others will agree.

I'd prefer it if mario took a nap. maybe someone could let me know when the last year was that we did not see a mario game of some sort.

@Nook
There will always be a large enough new user base.
Kids keep poppin' out every second who have no idea what a VCR or Jurassic Park is.

And there will always be old players who want a re-taste of the old feel with a new look + additions. It makes it feel like their old games got an expansion pack.

Mario can't take a nap, sadly. Nintendo has to aim to appeal to both new consumers and old consumers, and Mario's just that mascot to do it. Nintendo can make new IPs, but they need a Mario to ensure that they're not making too big of a gamble... otherwise, investors will cut them, cut them bad.

Am I the only who, when reading this artlce, thought "This seems really backwards".

If anything, NSMB drew more influence from Super Mario Bros. 3 and even more so the original SMB. I mean, for christ's sake, the game is called New SUPER MARIO BROTHERS, not New Super Mario World.

As for SM3DL, the only real influences I can see here from SMB3 are the racoon suit and maybe a few other things.

To me, this game looks like a combination of the original Super Mario Bros. (complete with fireballs and flagpole) and Super Mario Galaxy, which frankly sounds awesome.

I would love to buy a 3DS for this game but I just can't justify it. Not enough software worth playing right now.

oh the graphics its just horrible.... nintendo you can make it better... all those jaggies

Super Mario 3D Land

Yes, of course Shigeru Miyamoto is involved in Super Mario 3D Land

Reader Comments (39)

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 2:53PM CoconutSkittle said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:09PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 10:03PM pluupy said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 2:59PM Axcalibur said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 10:05PM pluupy said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:00PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:08PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:49PM Timjoy said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:57PM LittleMofreaky said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:01PM Undulation said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:02PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:11PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:31PM mrantimatter said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:09PM Shadow Hog said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:30PM Rocket Raccoon said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:04PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:09PM Rocket Raccoon said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:26PM Co said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:21PM Acid Fox said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 3:53PM Hoops said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:34PM Nook said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:12PM greenpipepilgrimage said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:29PM Co said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:39PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:46PM mrantimatter said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 12:45AM MW49350 said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 3:51PM greenpipepilgrimage said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:49PM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:49PM TwEE said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 12:47AM MW49350 said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 10:46AM TwEE said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:01PM Fuzunga said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 7:32PM Nook said

Posted: Oct 26th 2011 8:21PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 12:51AM MW49350 said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 3:35AM dtrain1183 said

Posted: Oct 27th 2011 11:05AM eilegz said

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