Nostalgia junkies will be pleased to hear that Super Mario 64 is getting a complete overhaul as fans are rebuilding the game from scratch using the FOSS Blender Game Engine with a Linux release confirmed.
I have to say, when I first heard about this I was skeptical, but after seeing early footage and artwork, it is looking very good, especially after learning that they did all this in just one year and with a very small team (which has now grown in this last month). Mario’s movements seem to be very close to the original and the visuals look improved, but without losing the game’s charm.
Though all in all, the game (like much of the N64 library) hasn’t aged too badly in the almost 20-year period since its release, there are certain aspects which have, in particular the game’s camera system which by today’s standards is extremely frustrating. The developers have said that a more modern right analogue stick camera control is one of the things they will add.
All in all, this is pretty exciting stuff and will hopefully open the door for modding in the future, maybe some additional fan-made levels or even things like the ability to play as Link or even Sonic. One of the things they aim to include is multiplayer, though I’m not quite sure how that would work.
The developers have also said that there will be no Alpha or Beta builds available (though this might change) and testing will be done predominantly by Super Mario 64 speed runners, who are most familiar with the original game. So it seems that, for the time being, the only way to get your hands on the game will be by contributing.
It will be interesting to see how Nintendo reacts to this considering how infamous Japanese developers are for their stance towards mods, copyright and general community input, with Nintendo in particular being hostile even to let’s play videos of their games.
The group doesn’t have a website yet, but for now you can find details on their Faceook page. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
I have to say, when I first heard about this I was skeptical, but after seeing early footage and artwork, it is looking very good, especially after learning that they did all this in just one year and with a very small team (which has now grown in this last month). Mario’s movements seem to be very close to the original and the visuals look improved, but without losing the game’s charm.
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Though all in all, the game (like much of the N64 library) hasn’t aged too badly in the almost 20-year period since its release, there are certain aspects which have, in particular the game’s camera system which by today’s standards is extremely frustrating. The developers have said that a more modern right analogue stick camera control is one of the things they will add.
All in all, this is pretty exciting stuff and will hopefully open the door for modding in the future, maybe some additional fan-made levels or even things like the ability to play as Link or even Sonic. One of the things they aim to include is multiplayer, though I’m not quite sure how that would work.
The developers have also said that there will be no Alpha or Beta builds available (though this might change) and testing will be done predominantly by Super Mario 64 speed runners, who are most familiar with the original game. So it seems that, for the time being, the only way to get your hands on the game will be by contributing.
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It will be interesting to see how Nintendo reacts to this considering how infamous Japanese developers are for their stance towards mods, copyright and general community input, with Nintendo in particular being hostile even to let’s play videos of their games.
The group doesn’t have a website yet, but for now you can find details on their Faceook page. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The original is great and this looks like a lovingly crafted modernization of that. I introduced my 4 year old to the DS remake last year and he really likes it too, so it will be interesting to hear about this project as it develops. Unfortunate that they only have a Facebook group though.
That's one problem.
While IANAL, I guess the biggest problem will arise from making a -remake- of the game (content).
Some companies let you use some of their IP's for free software project as long as you don't
attempt to make money from it and the game content is well aligned with the canon,
I'm sure this does not cover remakes of existing game contents.
Now, with the jokes aside...
The Nintendo threat is quite real.
What could end up happening is Nintendo threatens to sue the creators and the creators are forced to replace the characters.
But that's all speculation right off my mind. Let us hope this goes through as it is a hell of a project I would be glad to support!
Yeah, I had to borrow an account to see it haha. Hopefully they'll have a website, maybe if a few Linux people join they'll show them more effective ways of working collaboratively as well.
I agree with everyone in that the big barrier to this is Nintendo. Though this game is non-commercial, they might still kick up a fuss. For their own PR interests and considering they lose no money from this, if I were them I'd keep quiet like they did with that silly Flappy Bird game. I think certain companies are starting to realise that playing Big Corporate Baddie makes them look bad.
In Japan it's definitely a cultural thing, remnants of budhist/shinto ideas of the spirit of the artist being in his/her creations and that being sacred. Combined with the hysterical lawyer culture of North America, it's a country quite tied to copyright, intellectual property. It's probably one of the main reasons Linux barely has a presence there.
All in all I'm pretty hopeful though actually :). And I loved the game back in the day and the N64 in general, second-best console of the generation :P
EDIT: Also, I think if Nintendo want to protect the artistic integrity of Mario, then they'd go after those thousands of horrible Chinese Mario clones rather than a game which actually does the characters and world justice.
Well now that you mentioned it, I just remembered something and it is exactly why I might be wrong about The Big N having a dummy-spit - Nintendo announced a few weeks back that they are permitting fair use of their intellectual property for fan-made projects!
I had completely forgotten about it, but then I remembered today because the cake-decorating/novelty cake community were going nuts about it (my wife semi-professionally does cake-decorating and novelty/wedding cakes), due to the fact that they are no longer bound by legal restrictions.
Wifey sent me a few links just now, which you will find below - but bear in mind, I've only skimmed these articles and I'm no lawyer, so I can't comment on the specifics of this new stance by Nintendo...
But, it is a positive sign.
Anyway, it should be interesting to see if this fan-made version of Super Mario 64 falls under this new policy or not...
Here's the links, if you want to read them in full or clarify the specifics:
* http://artisancakecompany.com/2014/11/nintendo-makes-it-legal-to-make-character-cakes/#sthash.6BTbdjHO.gbpl
* http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-ips-can-officially-be-used-for-fan-projects-endorsement-scheme-announced-for-japan/
* http://www.gamnesia.com/news/nintendo-properties-can-officially-be-used-for-fan-projects
* http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=934441
Wow, that's interesting stuff. Might explain why they kept the project secret until now as well and why they make sure the word "FAN" is very clearly visible. Higher hopes for this now!
EDIT: Also does this mean we can get a full remake of Pokemon Red and Blue on Linux? I would be up for that!
By going to a lawyer and sending you a Cease & Desist letter. If you'll ignore it, they're going to sue you for trademark infringement (use of the Super Mario name and character likenesses), as well as copyright infringement (creating and distributing works that is based on existing copyrighted work (character models, level layout, ...) without the expressed permission of the copyright holder).
These things are completely unrelated to you getting any money or not. Just the fact that you're doing it is enough.
Additionally, they're going to argue that, even though you're not getting any money, they're missing out on revenue as well, because instead of playing your free remake, people could have bought their original game.
It is copyright infringment no matter whether you profit from it.
Also, you could argue that you do profit from it. Not with money, but with fame, recognition and popularity.
Note that "MikeRoweSoft" is similar, but not exactly like "Microsoft", so the case is different. Microsoft has to proof that people might confuse those two, something Nintendo wouldn't have to do when the name is the same. Also, this was purely a trademark case, not copyright. Also also, Mike Rowe was the actual name of the person.
Also also also, they did settle out of court in the end and Microsoft took control of the domain.
Really, those cases are nothing alike.
True, but if the source code is released under an Open Source license, then the company (in this case, Nintendo) would have to go after anyone hosting, reviewing or otherwise interacting with/using that source code...
Like I said, it can be done (action taken, that is) if the source code is released as Open Source, but it's potentially a lot of work on behalf of the copyright holder, largely depending on how quickly the source code is distributed throughout the Interweb.
I'm not a lawyer, but wouldn't that potentially open those people up for high damage claims? Maybe even claims of indirect contempt, since they're willingly defying a court order?
Although Nintendo put many a pressure on Pokemon Online, they're treking strong. I mean seriously, why Nintendo wouldn't make a Pokemon Online is beyond me, wow makes what 2 billion dollars a year in subscriptions at least?
Nintendo is no longer the Indie game company I loved growing up in the 90s, BTTA this game looks awesome, I hope they throw all their dev files out into the ether and cordinate in a decentralized way as It would be great to play.
I've always theorized that a game could release a "official version" where all the models were Tux + Tux Castle, and then it was just a known fact that the game had a "Mario Model Mod", if I was going to put up a shield and even want to get my game on Steam that's what I might try to do,
We see so much proprietary Content by Content Creators in Garrys Mod, etc... and they get a pass because the game itself is its own creation and separate.