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Computer script plays Super Mario World by itself

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 13th 2009 at 2:00AM }

As you might have guessed, we're really busy guys. As such, we can't be expected to actually play the video games we write about. We dish out thousands of dollars every year to get local work release program participants to handle the grunt work for us -- but if a recent entry in the Mario AI Competition is any indication, we may soon be able to keep that cash in our wallets, opting for computer-assisted gaming instead.

Posted after the break is a video demo of the entry in question -- designed by artificial intelligence programmer Robin Baumgarten, this computer script effortlessly pushes the plump plumber through the hazardous environments of Super Mario World. It handles the game's challenges much better than our prisoner assistants -- and best of all, it definitely won't try to stab us in our sleep.

[Via Make: Online]

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First 4 Figures to sell Mario-themed Chess

by David Hinkle { Aug 10th 2009 at 11:15AM }

While not as classy as some of the other First 4 Figures offerings, the Super Mario Collector's Edition Chess Set is still kind of neat and, unlike the company's previous works, actually affordable for most human beings. Manufactured by USAopoly, this chess set will set you back $45 when it releases near the end of this year and is, uh, pretty much just chess with characters from the Mushroom Kingdom.

Kind of odd choice making Luigi the Queen, right? That might explain why he never found himself a nice lady like his brother did.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Mario used in original Punch-Out without Miyamoto's permission

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 9th 2009 at 4:30PM }

For fans of the NES' flagship pugilism sim Punch-Out!!!, the latest edition of Iwata Asks is chock-full of tidbits about the game that you probably didn't know. For instance, Nintendo Entertainment and Analysis Division's Makoto Wada reveals a long-hidden secret that makes fights against Bald Bull go much easier. Also, Glass Joe? He's got osteoporosis. Yeah, you should feel bad. Poor guy.

However, the most entertaining unearthed secret is the fact that Shigeru Miyamoto never signed off on the use of Mario as the game's mustachioed referree. In Miyamoto's own words, "we didn't have an approval system when using Mario images back then and it went right past my check." The interview transcript adds that he laughed after saying this, but we imagine at least one stink-eye was shot across the table.

[Via GameSetWatch]

Finally, Mario Sunshine's FLUDD jet pack a reality

by Justin McElroy { Aug 6th 2009 at 10:28AM }

Just because Super Mario Sunshine is the most underwhelming game in the main Mario series (fact, not opinion), doesn't mean we don't want a water-based jet pack for our own. In fact, we'd be happy with a something-based jet pack of any sort ... unless it's a murder-based jet pack, of course.

Jet Levitation is out there using good old American ingenuity (curious, for a Canadian company) to make our dreams come true with the JetLev, a pack limited by a 30-foot range and powered by a jet ski motor. If you'd like to see for yourself, we've got a video after the break.

[Thanks, Benjamin]

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New Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story trailer from the inside, out

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 31st 2009 at 8:15PM }

We're just about as excited as we could be for the next iteration in the long-running Mario & Luigi RPG series, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. It's been so long since we last got to try our hand at timing-centric, turn-based combat in the Mushroom Kingdom and, well, we really enjoyed our time with the game at E3. The newest trailer shows off a good deal of what we described from E3, with the ill-fated plumbers working with Bowser from the inside to solve problems in the outside world. Now all we need is a bit more of a solid release date than "this fall" -- how about it, Nintendo?

Gallery: Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS)

Nintendo reveals American Club Nintendo bonuses [update]

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 14th 2009 at 8:05AM }

Nintendo loyalists that have been diligently registering their games can now pick up a reward through the Club Nintendo loyalty program. Those who have earned 300 or more Coins (equivalent to 6 Wii game purchases) are granted Gold status, while those who have earned 600 or more Coins are granted Platinum status. These members are now entitled to an exclusive members-only bonus.

Platinum members have the choice of two prizes:

Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! -- this downloadable WiiWare game is available exclusively to Club Nintendo Platinum members. In this special download, you'll be able to fight one-on-one against your coach, Doc Louis. Update: Screenshots now added.
Mario Hat -- a "true-to-life" replica of Mario's signature headpiece. Nintendo notes that the hat "may be big for small children."

Gold members will receive a special 2010 calendar. See more images after the break.

Gallery: Doc Louis' Punch-Out!!

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Madmen completing every Mario game for charity

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 12th 2009 at 12:00PM }

We love Mario. We mean, we're somewhat contractually obligated to, being huge nerds and all. Still, there's certain stages in the core Mario games that are simply excruciating to play -- we usually skip them during our nostalgic romps. That's why we can't help but admire the efforts of three men who are playing through every Super Mario title -- collecting every star, completing every level and Shining every Get! (Err -- getting every Shine.)

They're not doing this for fun, of course -- for the second year in a row, they're running through this "Mario Marathon," collecting donations for Child's Play. They've already been at it for two days -- but with the team yet to totally complete Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Sunshine, then Super Mario Galaxy again (as that totally secret character), there's a lot of ballgame left to be played.

Top brands of 2008 owned by Nintendo, EA, Activision, and not Sony

by JC Fletcher { Jun 30th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Wedbush Morgan Securities' 2009 industry report includes a list of the top thirty brands of 2008. The report notes that of the companies whose brands appear on the list, Nintendo, EA, and Activision were the only three with more than one brand to generate over $100 million at retail in the US last year.

And boy, did they. The top brand of the year, Guitar Hero -- perhaps you've heard of it -- was responsible for $992 million in US sales in 2008. The next two brands, Mario Bros. and Rock Band, generated $761 million and $662 million, respectively.

One company is notably absent from the top brands list: "Most strikingly," the report reads, "Sony had no top 30 brands for the third year in a row." Microsoft had two brands on the list (Gears of War and Fable) and Nintendo had four (Mario Bros., Wii Fit, Wii Play, and Pokémon). See the list of brands after the break.

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Mario, meet Sonic (at the Winter Olympics)

by Mike Schramm { Jun 4th 2009 at 11:30PM }

Listen -- not every game at E3 is a winner. The Joystiq heavyweights get to go play all the big games and interview all of the developer hotshots, and that's the stuff you love reading about. But some of us are down in the trenches, doing all of the demos that no one else wants to do, checking out all the games whose names are read around the schedule planning table, and answered only with the silence of bloggers who have better games to play.

That's not to say that Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics is a bad game -- its audience will probably enjoy it. Just like the previous Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, it offers multiple Olympic sports-based minigames featuring popular Nintendo and Sega characters, controlled by various Wii and DS motions. People who like buying that kind of thing (parents wandering a videogame store looking for wholesome family entertainment) will probably enjoy it. But even though most of the Joystiq staff passed on this demo (and your faithful blogger bravely attended it), it was one of the more surreal things we've seen this week. Our strange experiences, let us show you them.

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New look at New Super Mario Bros. Wii

by JC Fletcher { Jun 3rd 2009 at 12:50PM }

New Super Mario Bros. Wii seems like such a simple thing -- more Mario platforming, with some multiplayer this time, but the simple fact of more Mario platforming is almost intolerably wonderful. Maybe it's because we're super-tired from E3, but just look at the footage. Look at the adorable propeller suit. Look at that cloud enemy. The giant, friendly air manta rays. There's all kinds of crazy new Mario stuff happening, even without the multiplayer.

The trailer shows the game's casual mix of coop and competitive gameplay -- sure, you can jump on each other's heads and stuff, but Luigi is also seen carrying Mario around on some moving platforms.

Gallery: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Seen@E3: Martinet works hard for the Mario voice money

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 3rd 2009 at 10:35AM }

The man who gives voice to Mario, Sir Charles Martinet (not actually knighted - nor a sir), was on the E3 show floor early yesterday and doing his thing. Speaking of his thing, we wanted to know if after bringing the unmistakable sound to Mario's virtual cords for the last decade if he still gets work at the Big N.

Martinet told us he just recently did voice work for five games (not Super Mario Galaxy 2, yet) and flew out to Kyoto for three and two in Tokyo. He enthusiastically expressed that although the publisher sometimes reuses some of the voice, "most of the time it's usually a new recording." We asked if he has to do different voices for Mario in a tennis game compared to something like Galaxy. He told us, "It's always the same. It's always just right in there. They show me some actions and I go, 'OK.'"

He tells us that most of the time he goes to Nintendo's headquarters in Redmond to do his recordings and sometimes he does it from his studio at home. All in all, over the last decade plus, he's only gone between four and six months without recording the latest "Woo-hooooo" or "It's a me." Check out Martinet's name badge after the break.

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Reality check: Super Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid: Other M not due 'til 2010

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 2nd 2009 at 2:30PM }

Nintendo's newly announced sojourns into space, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M, are already sending avid Wii fans into convulsive seizures of glee (gleezures, if you will). Though it's the kind of behavior that blends well with the bustling E3 crowds, it's rarely professional for those of us trying to do work. As a preventative measure, we've etched the tragic facts of Nintendo's release schedule into our minds, bringing us down to earth from the galactic highs offered by Mario and Samus' returns.

They're currently not due until 2010. Gleezure contained.

Gallery: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 shown for Wii

by Randy Nelson { Jun 2nd 2009 at 1:12PM }

Two new Mario platformers for Wii in one press conference? Believe it. Nintendo has just unveiled Super Mario Galaxy 2, which, as the company pointed out, will mark the first time two 3D Mario adventures have appeared on the same platform.

Mario's back traversing the galaxy on spherical worlds -- and he's brought an old friend: Yoshi. As in Super Mario World, Mario will ride Yoshi, who can now obtain power-ups of his own, including one that makes him puff up like a balloon. Mario's bee suit will make a return from the first Mario Galaxy as will classic side-scrolling style levels.

So, folks -- are you jazzed, even though we don't have a release date?

Nintendo reveals new Super Mario Bros. for Wii

by David Hinkle { Jun 2nd 2009 at 12:18PM }

Nintendo surprised nobody at its press conference by announcing a new Super Mario Bros. for Wii, with Cammie Dunaway and Bill Trinen from Treehouse introducing the aptly titled New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The title will feature multiplayer-friendly gameplay, supporting up to 4 players for some local action.

The multiplayer will have an emphasis on co-operative play, all while maintaining that classic Super Mario look and feel. Thus, you'll find warp pipes, hidden areas, and plenty of coins to collect. It's not all old hat, however, as the NIntendo presentation showed off a new Propeller suit, where Mario and company had a propeller attached to their heads. While playing (you hold the Wiimote sideways), players can jerk the Wiimote up to cause their in-game player to fly into the air.

Nintendo says the game will be available during the holidays this year, and will be on the show floor all this week. You can bet we'll be stomping Goombas as soon as we can, and will be sure to get you our impressions as soon as possible.

Rumor: Nintendo to show off new Mario game at E3, releasing this year in Japan

by David Hinkle { May 31st 2009 at 7:00PM }

Coming from Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper, we hear rumblings of a new Mario game destined for Japan sometime this year, and that we should expect to hear about this game during E3 this week. It's a fairly credible rumor, considering Nintendo admitted that the Mario and Zelda teams were working on something last year. Nihon Keizai Shimbun also says this is a title destined for Wii (sorry, DSi fans!).

Considering it's been a year since we've heard what little we have, it would make sense that Nintendo would be ready to unveil something at this year's show.

[Via IGN]

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