Polygon - Devs Make Mario: a Polygon original video serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/42931/favicon.ico2016-06-23T20:33:33-04:00http://www.polygon.com/rss/stream/91049782016-06-23T20:33:33-04:002016-06-23T20:33:33-04:00Watch Grand Kingdom's creator Tomohiko Deguchi build a Super Mario Maker level
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<p>On a recent trip to Japan, we visited a handful of Japanese game developers and asked them to contribute stages to our ongoing Devs Make Mario series. Among them: Tomohiko Deguchi, director of tactical role-playing game <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/14/11225318/grand-kingdom-gameplay">Grand Kingdom</a>, which saw release in North America on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita this week.</p>
<p>Deguchi, best known for directing the Japan-exclusive Vanillaware PSP title <em>Grand Knights History</em>, actually subverted the <em>Devs Make Mario</em><strong style="font-style: italic;"> </strong>formula — in preparation for our visit, he created his entire <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/mario-maker/37475">Super Mario Maker</a></em> stage ahead of time! The result: a surprisingly authentic <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/super-mario-bros-3/14334">Super Mario Bros. 3</a></em> level built around maximizing the abilities of Koopa Troopas. To play the level for yourself, use level code <strong>B425-0000-025D-38FA</strong>, or...</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/23/12020884/watch-grand-kingdoms-creator-tomohiko-deguchi-build-a-super-mario">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/23/12020884/watch-grand-kingdoms-creator-tomohiko-deguchi-build-a-super-marioNick Robinson2016-06-08T21:02:10-04:002016-06-08T21:02:10-04:00Watch Shantae designer James Montagna build a Super Mario Maker level
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<p>Next to Nintendo, few companies have carried the platformer torch as steadily as WayForward. Founded in 1990, the company spent its first decade of existence cutting their teeth on licensed games before breaking out with the critically acclaimed platformer <em>Shantae</em> for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game-boy-color">Game Boy Color</a>. From there, the company has gone on to release over 70 titles spanning countless licenses and genres, but they always seem to return to their platformer roots.</p>
<p>During this year's Game Developers Conference, we asked WayForward designer and artist James Montagna to try his hand at building a <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/mario-maker/37475">Super Mario Maker</a> </em>stage. Montagna, a long time WayForward employee, has contributed design work to well over a dozen of the company's games, including <em>Shantae:...</em></p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/8/11890470/watch-shantae-designer-james-montagna-build-a-super-mario-maker-level">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/8/11890470/watch-shantae-designer-james-montagna-build-a-super-mario-maker-levelNick Robinson2016-06-01T22:08:38-04:002016-06-01T22:08:38-04:00Watch Nidhogg creator Messhof build a Super Mario Maker level
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<p><strong><a style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUF7I74kCk&index=1&list=PLaDrN74SfdT6SYVWeF706YNj_OpEIqbO5">Watch in 60 fps on YouTube</a><span> | </span><a style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;" href="https://bitly.com/PolygonYouTube">Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube</a></strong></p>
<p>Between his 2014 multiplayer swordfighting game <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/nidhogg/14161">Nidhogg</a></em> and his 2015 ultra-challenging flight platformer <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/flywrench/38643">Flywrench</a></em>, Mark Essen knows a thing or two about fast-paced, arcadey indie games. That's why we invited Essen to build a stage in Nintendo's <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/mario-maker/37475">Super Mario Maker</a></em> as part of our ongoing original video series <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/16/9340937/devs-make-mario-a-polygon-original-video-series" target="_blank">Devs Make Mario</a>.</p>
<p>Above, watch Essen walk us through the strengths and limitations of <em>Mario Maker</em>'s toolset, before creating a challenging, precise stage about achieving pixel-perfect air control using <a style="font-style: italic;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/super-mario-world-super-mario-advance-2/6805">Super Mario World</a><em>'s </em>cape. Want to play the level for yourself? The Course ID for the stage is <strong>F93B-0000-024C-3C40</strong>, and <a href="https://supermariomakerbookmark.nintendo.net/courses/F93B-0000-024C-3C40" target="_blank">you can add the level to your in-game bookmarks on...</a></p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/1/11836392/nidhogg-flywrench-creator-messhof-mark-essen-super-mario-maker-devs-make-mario">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/1/11836392/nidhogg-flywrench-creator-messhof-mark-essen-super-mario-maker-devs-make-marioNick Robinson2016-05-18T21:46:58-04:002016-05-18T21:46:58-04:00Watch Zero Escape creator Kotaru Uchikoshi play Super Mario Maker
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<p>There are few games that better fit the label "cult classic" than Kotaru Uchikoshi's <a href="/franchise/zero-escape/10052" class="sbn-auto-link">Zero Escape</a> series. First, there was <em><a href="/game/999-nine-hours-nine-persons-nine-doors/7290" class="sbn-auto-link">999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors</a></em>, a <a href="/ds" class="sbn-auto-link">Nintendo DS</a> visual novel that gained a following in the West almost entirely from a combination of word of mouth and a few strong reviews from critics. Its follow-up, <em><a href="/game/zero-escape-virtue-s-last-reward/7287" class="sbn-auto-link">Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward</a></em>, was a similar story — it was well-loved by those who played it, and for a time, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/14/5411420/zero-escapes-third-entry-is-stalled-director-says">it seemed like progress on a a third Zero Escape game had stalled completely</a>, largely for budgetary reasons.</p>
<p>Now, a few years later, the third Zero Escape game is on its way: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/16/11250602/zero-time-dilemma-releases-date-steam-port">Zero Time Dilemma</a>, a continuation of the series due out this June featuring a cast of new and returning characters and an...</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/18/11707866/kotaru-uchikoshi-super-mario-maker-level-interview-zero-escape-zero-time-dilemma-devs-make-mario">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/18/11707866/kotaru-uchikoshi-super-mario-maker-level-interview-zero-escape-zero-time-dilemma-devs-make-marioNick Robinson2016-05-11T22:30:39-04:002016-05-11T22:30:39-04:00Watch Cibele creator Nina Freeman build a stage in Super Mario Maker
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdq4o0gqtZA&list=PLaDrN74SfdT6SYVWeF706YNj_OpEIqbO5&index=1" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Watch in 60 fps on YouTube</a> | <a href="https://bitly.com/PolygonYouTube" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube</a></strong></p>
<p>Nina Freeman has had quite a year. After joining <em><a href="/game/gone-home/11272" class="sbn-auto-link">Gone Home</a></em> developer The Fullbright Company in 2015 as a level designer to work on their upcoming game <em><a href="/game/tacoma/37964" class="sbn-auto-link">Tacoma</a></em>, she also released <em><a href="/game/cibele/38814" class="sbn-auto-link">Cibele</a></em>, her semi-autobiographical game about a girl who meets a young man in an online role-playing game. In January, Freeman was named as part of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlg45eiffm/nina-freeman-25/">Forbes' annual 30 Under 30 in Games list</a>.</p>
<p>We caught up with Freeman during this year's Game Developers Conference, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/16/11251114/igf-2016-winners">where <em>Cibele</em> won the Independent Game Festival Nuovo Award</a>, and asked her to create a <em>Super Mario Maker </em>stage for our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/16/9340937/devs-make-mario-a-polygon-original-video-series">Devs Make Mario</a> series. The resulting stage is called "Mario & Boo's Mall Date," a level she says is partially inspired by a <em>M...</em></p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/11/11661362/nina-freeman-super-mario-maker-level-cibele-fullbright-devs-make-mario">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/11/11661362/nina-freeman-super-mario-maker-level-cibele-fullbright-devs-make-marioNick Robinson2016-05-04T20:35:53-04:002016-05-04T20:35:53-04:00Watch the creator of Threes build a dense, puzzle-y Mario Maker level
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<p><strong><a style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLaDrN74SfdT6SYVWeF706YNj_OpEIqbO5&v=fRY0D_GRM3s">Watch in 60 fps on YouTube</a><span> | </span><a style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;" href="https://bitly.com/PolygonYouTube">Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube</a></strong></p>
<p>When it comes to minimalist mobile gaming, it's hard to imagine many games more iconic than <em><a href="/game/threes/36364" class="sbn-auto-link">Threes</a></em>. After being named <a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/3/5776986/games-apple-design-awards-2014">2014's best iPhone game by Apple</a> and seeing even greater success with<a target="_blank" href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/18/10612414/threes-is-now-free-to-play-in-your-browser"> a free, ad-supported version</a> of the game last year, <em>Threes</em> earned a permanent spot in all of our hearts and on all of our phones.</p>
<p>That's why, during this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, we invited <em>Threes</em> creator Asher Vollmer to try his hand at creating a stage in Nintendo's <em><a href="/game/mario-maker/37475" class="sbn-auto-link">Super Mario Maker</a></em> for the Wii U. The resulting level feels thoroughly <em>Threes</em>: an ultra-dense puzzle box of a stage where every move must be made carefully and thoughtfully.</p>
<p>Above, watch Vollmer walk us...</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/4/11593678/threes-creator-asher-vollmer-super-mario-maker-stage-puzzle-level-design">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/4/11593678/threes-creator-asher-vollmer-super-mario-maker-stage-puzzle-level-designNick Robinson2016-04-29T18:42:53-04:002016-04-29T18:42:53-04:00Watch the creators of Kill.Switch and Elite Beat Agents build a Super Mario Maker level
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1d5N4V69vM&list=PLaDrN74SfdT6SYVWeF706YNj_OpEIqbO5&index=14" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Watch in 60 fps on YouTube</a><span> | </span><a href="https://bitly.com/PolygonYouTube" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube</a></strong></p>
<p>From the outside, Chris Esaki and Keiichi Yano might seem like an unlikely pairing. The two developers have a long history in the video game industry, but of making very different games: Esaki is best known for creating the cover shooter genre with his game <em>Kill.Switch</em> and for his later contributions to major AAA franchises like <em><a href="/game/mass-effect/2468" class="sbn-auto-link">Mass Effect</a></em> and <em><a href="/game/gears-of-war/5285" class="sbn-auto-link">Gears of War</a></em>, while Yano is responsible for cult-classic rhythm games like <em>Gitaroo Man</em>, <em>Ouendan</em> and <em><a href="/game/elite-beat-agents/5282" class="sbn-auto-link">Elite Beat Agents</a>. </em>The two began their professional relationship on the Xbox 360 karaoke game <em>Lips</em>, and now, eight years later, they've co-founded <a href="http://www.polygon.com/features/2016/3/23/11287412/infinite-arms-jumo-games-to-life-preview" target="_blank">Jumo</a>, a new development studio that aims to revolutionize the toys-to-life genre.</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/29/11540324/devs-make-mario-chris-esaki-kill-switch-keiichi-yano-elite-beat-agents-super-mario-maker">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/29/11540324/devs-make-mario-chris-esaki-kill-switch-keiichi-yano-elite-beat-agents-super-mario-makerNick Robinson2016-04-20T15:45:02-04:002016-04-20T15:45:02-04:00Watch the designer of La-Mulana build a stage in Super Mario Maker
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ONnj1vD6Oo&list=PLaDrN74SfdT6SYVWeF706YNj_OpEIqbO5&index=13" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Watch in 60 fps on YouTube</a><span> | </span><a href="https://bitly.com/PolygonYouTube" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:13px; font-family: 'Gotham SSm A', 'Gotham SSm B', Arial, sans-serif;">Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube</a></strong></p>
<p>Over the course of <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/16/9340937/devs-make-mario-a-polygon-original-video-series" target="_blank">Devs Make Mario</a>, we've featured all sorts of game developers, from <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/4/9672382/yacht-club-games-michael-herbster-shovel-knight-devs-make-mario-super-mario-maker-stage-level-design" target="_blank">platformer experts</a> to <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/11/9715338/christine-love-visual-novelist-devs-make-mario-super-mario-maker-stage-level-design" target="_blank">visual novelists</a> and everyone in-between. But Takumi Naramura, designer of the 2005 exploration platformer <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/la-mulana/11340">La-Mulana</a></em>, represents an interesting middle ground: he's a creator of a well-regarded Japanese independent action platformer who actually has very little experience with Mario. Naramura's own personal gaming roots lie with the MSX home computer, and one only has to look at the MSX-inspired <em>La-Mulana</em> for evidence.</p>
<p>Recently, Polygon visited Playism headquarters in Osaka, Japan to put <em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="/game/mario-maker/37475">Super Mario Maker</a></em> in Naramura's hands for the first time. The results are right out of...</p>
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<a href="https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/20/11465358/la-mulana-nigoro-takumi-naramura-super-mario-maker-stage-level-design">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/20/11465358/la-mulana-nigoro-takumi-naramura-super-mario-maker-stage-level-designNick Robinson