The History of Super Mario Maker | An Innovative Title that Paved the Way for Users to Create Courses
"I want to create my own Mario course" — this dream was realized with the Super Mario Maker series. Since the release of the original in 2015, players around the world have become creators, producing unique courses. This article will take a chronological look back at the history of Mario Maker, explaining its impact on the gaming industry as a pioneer of user-generated content. We will introduce how Mario Maker has evolved and built a UGC (User Generated Content) culture through its innovative journey.
What is Mario Maker | An Innovative Game Where Users Create Courses
Super Mario Maker is a groundbreaking game that allows players to freely create their own Mario courses. While the traditional Mario series involved clearing stages prepared by Nintendo, in Mario Maker, users become creators and can **design everything from enemy placements, gimmick settings, to the path leading to the goal**.
This shift from "a game to play" to "a game to create" was an innovative idea in the gaming industry. By allowing players' creativity to flourish within the universally known Mario series, it created infinite ways to play. Furthermore, the ability to share created courses with players around the world via the internet established a new form of **user-generated content (UGC)**. It aligns well with streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, significantly contributing to the development of gaming commentary culture. Mario Maker is not just a game tool; it is a platform that fosters a creative community and continues to be beloved by many fans today.
The Arrival of the First Super Mario Maker (2015)
On September 10, 2015, the original "Super Mario Maker" was released as a Wii U exclusive. This title was developed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. and became a monumental title that fulfilled fans' long-held dreams. From the moment it was released, it drew attention worldwide, and the total number of user-created courses exceeded millions, opening up new possibilities for the Mario series.
- Born to commemorate Mario's 30th anniversary
- 4 Game skins and over 100 types of parts
- Creating UGC culture through Internet sharing
Born to commemorate Mario's 30th anniversary
The original Super Mario Maker was born in the milestone year of **30 years from the original Super Mario Bros., which debuted in 1985. Nintendo's development team decided to provide an experience where fans can "create their own Mario" as a gesture of gratitude.
The impetus for development came from using course creation tools in-house. In the Mario series' development environment, designers were assembling stages with dedicated tools, and this work was **very fun and creativethat the idea emerged to want users to experience this as well. In this special 30th year,the concept of making all players creators** was a new challenge in Mario's history. Upon release, it received enthusiastic support from fans around the world, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Mario series.
4 Game skins and over 100 types of parts
The biggest feature of the original Mario Maker is the ability to **choose from 4 different game skins**. You can switch between the graphics and gameplay of different eras: "Super Mario Bros." (1985), "Super Mario Bros. 3" (1988), "Super Mario World" (1990), and "New Super Mario Bros U" (2012).
Each skin has its own unique features; for example, in Super Mario World you can ride Yoshi, and in Super Mario Bros. 3 you can transform into Tanooki Mario.
Players can choose the visuals and gameplay of Mario from their favorite era and freely create courses. Furthermore, **more than 100 types of parts are provided** which allows a combination of a variety of elements such as enemy characters, blocks, mechanisms, and items. From classic enemies like Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Piranha Plants to Hammer Bros and Bowser, every element of the Mario series is packed in. This rich array of parts enables beginners to easily create courses, while advanced players can generate high-difficulty stages that combine complex gimmicks.
Creating UGC Culture Through Internet Sharing
The main reason the original Mario Maker was innovative is the **function to publish created courses worldwide via the internet**. Players can upload their works and download courses created by other users to play. This mechanism has evolved Mario Maker from just a course creation tool to aplatform for user-generated content (UGC)**.
Published courses can be liked and commented on, and popular courses are displayed at the top of the rankings. Players are motivated when many people play their creations, creating a **virtuous cycle where they further innovate and create unique courses. Moreover, it pairs well with game streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, where famous streamers attempting challenging courses have become a hot topic. Viewers can search for the course ID that the streamer is playing and challenge it themselves, thus energizing the entire community. This cycle of creating, playing, and sharing** propelled Mario Maker beyond a mere game software to a cultural phenomenon.
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (2016)
On December 1, 2016, "Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS" was released for portable game consoles. Following the success of the Wii U version, it aimed to deliver the fun of Mario Maker to more players. By capitalizing on the convenience unique to handheld devices while imposing some functional limitations, it proposed a different way to play. The 3DS version was developed with a different concept than the Wii U version, receiving support especially from beginners and users who wanted to enjoy local play.
- Creating courses on mobile devices is now possible
- Limitations on online sharing features
- Super Mario Challenge Mode included
Creating courses on mobile devices is now possible
The biggest charm of the 3DS version is that **you can create courses anytime and anywhere on a portable game device**. While the Wii U was a home console that connected to the TV, the 3DS is portable, allowing you to create courses immediately whenever ideas come to mind during your commute or when you're out and about.
**Intuitive operation using the touch pen** makes course creation comfortable even on a small screen. You can smoothly perform all operations, including placing parts, setting enemies, and editing blocks. Additionally, by displaying tools on the lower screen and reviewing the entire course on the upper screen, you can work efficiently. The convenience unique to portable devices lowered the barrier to course creation, enabling more users to participate as creators.
Limitations on online sharing features
The 3DS version had significant constraints compared to the Wii U version. That is, **you cannot freely upload the courses you create to the internet**. In the Wii U version, anyone could freely publish their courses, but this function is restricted in the 3DS version.
However, **it is possible to share courses with nearby friends using StreetPass and local communication**. Additionally, you can download and play some courses published in the Wii U version on the 3DS version, allowing you to enjoy the works created by creators around the world. This limitation was a result of considering the hardware performance and network environment of portable devices, but some users expressed dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the enjoyment of exchanging original courses among friends became a factor that reappraised the appeal of local play.
Super Mario Challenge Mode Included
As a unique feature of the 3DS version, a mode called "Super Mario Challenge" has been added. This is a mode that involves clearing more than 100 stages officially created by Nintendo.
This mode also functions as **learning content for acquiring the skills needed to create courses **. Each stage incorporates specific gimmicks and parts usage, allowing players to gain ideas such as "using this part in this way will make it fun". It is designed for beginners to first experience Nintendo's design philosophy before attempting course creation. The difficulty also gradually increases, enabling even Mario newcomers to enjoy it without difficulty. Moreover, by clearing all the courses, players can experience a sense of accomplishment, which has been highly regarded as an engaging element.
Evolution of Super Mario Maker 2 (2019)
On June 28, 2019, "Super Mario Maker 2" was released as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. After four years since the first title, this game underwent significant power upgrades, overwhelmingly surpassing the previous title in terms of course creation freedom, new features, and the richness of the online community. The sequel that Mario fans around the world had been eagerly awaiting achieved record sales immediately after its release, and the number of user-generated courses grew to a scale far exceeding that of the first title. As the culmination of the Mario Maker series, this work opened up further possibilities for creativity.
- New game skin "Super Mario 3D World" added
- Significant addition of new parts and gimmicks
- Story mode and cooperative play
- Enhanced course sharing and ranking features
New game skin "Super Mario 3D World" added
In Super Mario Maker 2, in addition to the original four game skins, **the fifth skin "Super Mario 3D World" has been added. This addition is one of the biggest evolutions in the series' history**.
Super Mario 3D World is a 3D action game originally released on Wii U in 2013. With this skin, **courses can be created in a three-dimensional perspective, offering a completely different gaming experience compared to traditional 2D Mario**. It has become possible to design new courses using unique 3D World features such as transforming into Cat Mario, transparent pipes, and clear pipes. For example, characters can move backward and forward, allowing for courses that incorporate three-dimensional gimmicks. As a result of this addition, Super Mario Maker 2 has gained even broader expressive capabilities, infinitely expanding the imagination of creators.
Significant addition of new parts and gimmicks
Super Mario Maker 2 has seen a massive addition of new parts and gimmicks. Among them, the highlight is the "slope -- raw HTML omitted -->". In the first game, the terrain was only made of right-angle blocks, but in Mario Maker 2, slopes can be created, allowing for smoother and more natural course designs.
Furthermore, a groundbreaking mechanism called "ON/OFF switch" was introduced. This allows certain blocks and gimmicks to be toggled by pressing a switch, enabling the creation of complex courses with puzzle elements. Additionally, the feature to "set clear conditions" was added, allowing players to establish unique rules such as “collect 100 coins” or “clear without defeating enemies.” Various components like swing cranes, Builder Mario, and the Master Sword have also been added, dramatically expanding the range of expression. Thanks to these new elements, innovative course ideas that were impossible in the first game have emerged in succession, greatly enhancing the creativity of the entire community.
Story Mode and Cooperative Play
Mario Maker 2 features a single-player-only "Story Mode". The story revolves around the destruction of Peach's Castle and Mario collecting coins to rebuild it. Players will clear over 100 original courses prepared by Nintendo.
This Story Mode also serves as a **model for course creation. By playing high-quality courses created by Nintendo designers, players can learn the nuances of gimmick placement, difficulty adjustments, and game balance. Furthermore, Mario Maker 2 adds cooperative play and competitive play for up to 4 players**. Players can clear courses online with players from around the world or compete to see who can reach the goal fastest. This feature has transformed Mario Maker from a game to enjoy alone to a game that everyone can enjoy together.
Enhanced Course Sharing and Ranking Features
In Mario Maker 2, the mechanism for course sharing has been significantly improved. In the original game, players had to enter course IDs directly, but in Mario Maker 2, the **search function has been enhanced, allowing players to easily find courses using keywords and tags**.
Now, players can select courses from various categories like "popular courses," "new courses," and "by difficulty," making it much easier to find works that match their preferences. Additionally, "Added a profile feature for creators called course makers so you can follow your favorite creators and check out new works right away. By connecting with players around the world and playing each other's courses, the community has become more lively. Furthermore, in the massive online mode called Super World, you can enjoy courses while cooperating and competing with other players in real time. These enriched online features have established Mario Maker 2 as a global creative platform that transcends mere gaming software.
The Impact of Mario Maker on the Gaming Industry
The Super Mario Maker series has had a significant impact on the entire gaming industry. Not only is it a new installment in the Mario series, but it has also provided a new perspective to many game developers as a successful model of user-generated content (UGC). The establishment of a culture where players become creators and the synergistic effect created with gaming livestreams and community formation is immeasurable.
A New Form of User-Generated Games
Mario Maker has established a new standard for user-generated games. Traditionally, games were about enjoying content created by developers, but Mario Maker has established a system where players create their own content.
This success has led other game makers to begin adopting similar approaches. For example, games like "Dreams Universe" and "LittleBigPlanet" are increasing, allowing players to freely create content. What Mario Maker has demonstrated is how to provide infinite content. By providing players with creation tools instead of preparing 100 stages, millions of stages can be produced.
This idea fundamentally changed the way content is created in the gaming industry. The success of Mario Maker as a UGC platform has become an important model case that shows the future of game development.
Integration with Game Streaming Culture
Mario Maker was perfectly compatible with game streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. The sight of streamers challenging extremely difficult courses created by viewers, striving to clear them while failing repeatedly, gained immense popularity as entertainment.
The phenomenon occurred where a specific course became famous instantly when a well-known streamer played it, prompting many players to try their hand at it. Moreover, viewers were inspired by the streams, leading them to create their own courses. This cycle of "Creating - Playing - Streaming - Watching" explosively expanded the community of Mario Maker. The fusion of game streaming culture and user-generated content created a new ecosystem within modern gaming communities, and Mario Maker proved the importance of community building in the gaming industry as its pioneer.
Conclusion: The Era of User Creativity Pioneered by Mario Maker
The Super Mario Maker series has paved the way for a new era of users creating courses since the release of the original in 2015. The original, born as a 30th anniversary tribute to Mario, crafted a creative culture with four game skins and abundant parts, transforming players worldwide into creators. The 3DS version released in 2016 enabled course creation on mobile devices, and in 2019, Super Mario Maker 2 evolved further with the addition of the new game skin "Super Mario 3D World" and a significant expansion of new parts.
The UGC culture built by Mario Maker has greatly influenced the entire gaming industry. The cycle of players creating content, sharing it, and enjoying it has become the foundation of today's gaming communities. Through the integration with game streaming culture, Mario Maker has grown into a cultural phenomenon beyond just a game software. Moving forward, the Mario Maker series will continue to evolve as a platform that maximizes user creativity.
Why not create your own original course in Mario Maker and share it with players around the world? Experience the joy of participating in a new chapter of Mario's history as a creator.
