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2D and Tomorrow: How the Devs of ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ Find Joy in Making Side-Scrolling Games

GDC Festival of Gaming

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Following last year’s launch of the Super Mario Bros.TM Wonder game, developers Takashi Tezuka and Shiro Mouri discuss the unique challenge of taking classic side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. gameplay and turning it upside down…literally.

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20 Comments

@1gnore_me. 2 years ago

the fact that nintendo devs still show up to these events and provide their wisdom, shows that they really care about game development.

@Encyclopedia_Brown97 2 years ago

Every Nintendo GDC presentation rules

@Goolix_Aero 2 years ago

I wish Nintendo did GDC talks for all their games! I'd watch them all.

@MissNorington 2 years ago

Having Nintendo actually showing prototypes, and having the Main Programmer talk = surprising!

@Yamartim 2 years ago

The pipe pin made by Mouri-san's daughter anecdote is one of the most adorable things I've ever heard 😭

@liraco_mx 2 years ago

46:44 I actually had this experience a few times, but have a special memory of playing the hardest stage and found an online player who stuck by me and we helped each other beat it. Still wish I could thank him more. ❤

@Telmarine55 2 years ago

So much for the people who said that Super Mario Wonder was made by Nintendo’s C team. Now we know straight from the horse’s mouth: this game was a top tier development that took just as long to develop as a 3D Mario game.

@killaknight12 2 years ago (edited)

LMAO I love how in the prototype it's just some japanese dude yelling "WONDAAAAA"

@Drstrange3000 2 years ago

Thanks to playing Super Mario Maker, I now understand how much thought and attention goes into making a compelling level. It taught me that even things that look simple sometimes aren't.

While Super Mario Wonder isn't super hard, it made me realize how much fun 2D levels are that are bursting with personality and things to constantly interact with. The best part is they all aren't challenges. Despite levels being very short, there is a lot of variety in certain levels and game maps. It made me rethink what the main goals should be in completing levels. I really liked some of the break levels which deviated from the normal level design and had different goals.

@etansivad 2 years ago

WHAT!?!? WHAT!?!?!? You got NINTENDO to talk about the creation process? Well done. Cannot wait to hear this talk. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

@Amro_games 2 years ago (edited)

Wow that was a insightful talk! So much information about their ideation process, protype, philosophy and general game design. I was only planning to watch the first 30 mins then finish it off later, but it was so engaging, informative and motivational that I watched the whole thing! Great talk from Industry legends!

@blakestewart7200 2 years ago

WHOAAAAAAA!!!!!! TEZUKA GDC PRESENTATION?!?!??? INCREDIBLE!!!

@voltcorp 2 years ago

At a point in the presentation. they claim that there is no "special Nintendo way" of making games. But there is, and it's right in the first few lines as the presenters introduced themselves: They have been at the company for decades, and given director roles after starting in the "trenches".
That's the secret sauce, quite simply. Don't do massive layoffs in favor of executive-appointed directors. Keep your talent and let them guide the products.

@vavaman 2 years ago

Mario Wonder is the true sequel to Mario 3. It's THAT good!

@NIMPAK1 2 years ago

I hope Tezuka-san plays Pizza Tower one day. Not out of a desire for Mario to adopt its gameplay features, but because I just feel like he'd really enjoy the game.

@spacewalkersguidebook 1 year ago

This is a wonderful game design 101 walking through the design thinking and problem solving process. There is a reason why Nintendo is such a long lasting presence in the gaming space. :yougotthis: