During the ascent of the Wii, Nintendo experimented with an idea.
In 2009, it launched the Wii console game New Super Mario Bros., a modern spin on the classic franchise that featured the ability for four people to break blocks and scoop up mushrooms together.
As Nintendo developers worked on the game, they tinkered with a simpler concept for Super Mario, using the Wii remote and a single button, only controlling how Mario jumps without worrying about his movement.
That experiment will come to life as Nintendo’s first ever smartphone game. Next week, the video game publisher will launch Super Mario Run for the iPhone.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the famed game designer who helped bring Mario and other Nintendo icons to life, says the original idea was sparked by concerns Super Mario games were becoming too complex for a segment of the audience. He cites the original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System, noting a big reason for its popularity was how easy it was to play.
“We thought if we were to focus in on a game where you don’t have to worry about controlling Mario with the plus (shaped) control pad, and instead you could just focus in on Mario’s jumping, then it would make the game simpler for a wider audience to enjoy,” said Miyamoto through a translator, during an interview with USA TODAY.
Super Mario Run will feature three modes: World Tour, Toad Rally and Kingdom Builder. The game will be free to download, with limited access to all three modes. The game is a free download, but accessing all the levels will cost $9.99.
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SOURCE: USA Today, Brett Molina
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