Another day, another fan-made project using a Nintendo IP that may soon be quashed by Nintendo's lawyers. This fan-made version of the classic Super Mario 64 impressively allows 24 players to play at once. Not only can you play as Mario, you can even play as Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Rosalina, Wario and even Waluigi. Naturally it's caused quite a stir among online enthusiasts.
The work of Kaze Emanuar, a well-known name on the modding scene, this mod is certainly impressive. All the characters have different abilities in the game, and lots of fun can be had running around the Mushroom Kingdom with a bunch of online buddies.
In a recent interview with Red Bull, Emanuar was not worried about Nintendo trying to shut down this project:
Nintendo hasn't contacted me. This whole 'DMCA meme' needs to stop. Even if they did, there are already thousands of alternate download links. Some people get irrationally mad at other people for sharing Nintendo fan games, because they think they're going to get DMCA'd due to the publicity. There's nothing that can stop this fan project now, though.
It's worth checking out the full interview - conducted by a familiar name around these parts - if you want to know more about how it came together.
Let us know if you have tried out this mod, and whether you think it'll get the takedown treatment from Nintendo.
[source redbull.com]
Comments 60
I love this project
Like the attitude!
Nintendo will shut down that project in Tres... Dos... Uno... Beeeepp !!!
It'll get the takedown treatment if Nintendo decides that they're going to remake Super Mario 64 themselves, ala Samus Returns and AM2R.
After that interview? If NoA's lawyers didn't know, the do know now. The letter must be on its way by now.
If these guys are so creative, why instead of a mod don't they create something new?
He's not wrong. This beast is in the wild now. Even if Nintendo did C&D, it won't stop it.
I can see this adding a ton of fun to an absolute classic game. More than anything though, imagine the Games Done Quick speedrum races, with all the runners visible in the same game!
@Luna_110 Boy, only took us six comments to get the inevitable "hurr why cant people be ORIGINAL" comment. The worst thing about the heavy handed approach companies take with their fans these days is that they've managed to get other fans to put down expressions of fandom for them, like showing your love for a game by creating something related to it is somehow a deplorable act.
I never understood why if your so talented to make such things, then why wouldn't you be making you own game, characters, and assets?
Hmm, I wonder if Nintendo even can take this down. As far as I know, it's not a fan game or a game in general. It's a mod that needs Super Mario 64 to be playable.
But I don't know, maybe they can take this down.
@Benjamin DMCAs can only control and impede public distribution, not creation.
@Dakt It's "personal", not "personnel".
Nothing can stop it, nor it should.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
You're unaware of the Coldsteel The Hedgeheg (sic) meme.
When I first posted new of this and realized that the project was a standalone executable that did not come with anything from Nintendo I do reckon this project is safe. To send a C&D to this project it would be like sending a C&D order to a emulator that runs Nintendo 64 games: unless the emulator uses proprietary code or assets from Nintendo, the C&D simply has no legal standing.
Lol
"There's nothing that can stop this fan project now, though."
Even if Nintendo knew and was ignoring it, the arrogance in this statement will make them target it now.
@KoopaTheGamer If it's really just a mod that needs the original game cart then I doubt Nintendo would touch it. If it's used with ROMs they'll hammer it faster than you can say "It's a Me".
Doesn't look very fun to me but I guess people are enjoying it.
@Luna_110
Yeah I feel the same way. I realize they are taking a game that everyone loves and doing a fan project, but why not make a game like it with your own characters and themes? Oh well.
I've played this mod a good bit already and I gotta say, it really is fun. Although I do think the creator should tone down his ego a little.
Isn't this what they all say before the Nintendo legal Squad destroys them?
There's plenty of other infringing fan games that have all somehow avoided litigation, like Zelda Classic and Advance Wars By Web. I have no idea how they're doing it and they don't show any apprehension either. Either way, I like that this guy has some backbone unlike the dozens of other games that get attention on site like this and I'm sure he has a plan in the worst case, like making his code open source so it will really live forever.
The only real limitation at the point is the N64's RAM!
Take the hackers down Nintendo!
Can he make Star Fox Zero into something good next please?
Love the confidence
How cute. He thinks he's invincible to C&Ds. While he is correct that fan projects never truly go away and can be found if you look hard enough, I highly doubt Nintendo will let this one continue to slip by for much longer.
Also, DMCA meme? That's no meme, son.
I kind of wish Nintendo would take a clue--people are doing this BECAUSE YOU AREN'T, NINTENDO. Don't get salty about fans doing a better job than you, get a clue and try to recruit these developers to your team.
@MrGawain Totally. That's what the guy who made Axiom Verge did and that's huge. You can see from the flickering that this doesn't hit any of Nintendo's quality control standards and it's that which will get them to go after the project. Oh and...You don't mess with Mario!
While I read his comment as: even if I do get shut down from updating this game, its on the internet on many sites below the radar that are much harder to shut down. I don't think he meant Nintendo couldn't possibly shut him down at the source which most commenters seem to have assumed.
@Alikan Finally someone who can read.
Why would they take it down? It's a mod. There are 100s Mario 64 mods. Maybe not hundreds, but dozens. And hundred, thousands of mod for all Nintendo games. AM2R was not of mod of a rom, it was a new game using Nintendo IPs for a game they were recreating.
@Luna_110 what a garbage, cookie-cutter comment. Nobody is praising him as some sort of creative genius, we all just like playing SM64 online.
He's arrogant person. I don't really like him but I admit his work is really good.
How many full-on mods has he made now? 5? Of course he's confident people, he hasn't been touched yet!
@Luna_110 Because he isn't creative. He just did what he did. Who said he was?
@MrGawain That is much more difficult.
Great attitude. Take that Nintendo!
@Yasaal He doesn't talk to Nintendo.
He isn't like being arrogant or anything. He's just stating the obvious.
Nintendo may try to stop him from distributing the mod, but that's now impossible. It's already in the wild, nothing can stop it from spreading.
A similar thing happened with AM2R, if I recall. Unfortunately I trust most low-key distribution/mod sites about as much as a queen from Morocco emailing me about getting half of their fortune.
Except the Nintendo lawsuits, lololol!
"Nothing can stop it now"
I bet if Nintendo threatened to sue the hell out of him if he doesn't get all the links taken down it would soon end.
@NCChris The thing is, a lot of the links are out of his control. All he can do is take down all the ones that he has provided.
Looks really fun... If I were still in college, this would be a dream come true in a dorm...
That being said... Nintendo: I will settle for a really good Super Mario 3D World sequel.
@NinNin Duh. I meant take that by how brutal Nintendo is with their DMCAs and one fan dev is standing up to them by saying they aren't scared if Nintendo finds out.
@David_Dudeney Good point but I bet that wouldn't stop him from trying.
Not even common decency.
As @jimi said, its not a modification directly to their ROM. It is a separate application that's modifies how the ROM works. It really doesn't seem much different than the old Game Genie to me, and look how popular that was. Nintendo didn't shut that down.
@Yasaal I don't think you understand what he means. He's annoyed by some foolish people and wants them to shut up. You should visit this website: https://www.smwcentral.net/.
Some people seem to misunderstand him. He isn't arrogant or challenges Nintendo. He just states the fact and wants some people to stop spreading misinformation.
Darren Calvert doesn't seem to understand this either. I think it's quite obvious.
@NCChris Of course. But legally, he wouldn't be responsible for those links anyway. Nintendo would have to try to shut them down one by one, which is really not worth their time.
Cool project. I'm kinda clueless about this sorta thing, should the fact that Nintendo doesn't seem to care be taken as a sign that they're not currently interested in remaking 64?
Apart from anything else this just looks like a lame idea.
Nintendo needs to start hiring these guys
@Zapazoid Nintendo doesn't take down ROM hacks.
@NEStalgia +1 for Ace Attorney reference. Also +1 because a comment like that does reek of arrogance.
He's right, you can still find links for AM2R to this day. The problem isn't that you can't download it, it's that the creators stop updating them after getting the DMCA hammer.
A thief and arrogant about it to boot. Swell. Why not make your own game instead? Also Nintendo Ninja Lawyer Team won't let this challenge to their honor stand.
I'd say he's creative enough in doing something interesting with Super Mario 64, creative enough to code, transform and breath new life into a great classic, creative enough to make it a very fun Super Mario 64 multiplayer experience.
You can argue all you want that he is not creative in making his own IP's or characters, but that's not the point of his creations at all.
I'd say Nintendo should pick that multiplayer demonstration up and make it their own. SM64 Online is like a dream game I wanted for decades, similar to Super Mario Maker.
It's probably worth pointing out that Nintendo have only taken down their IP's being used in new games, or games being reimagined on new engines. This is just a mod, they've had no issues with the HD texture scene or any previous ROM hacks that are probably far more popular...
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Thank you. I was about to say that.
@NinNin Oh ok XD
Boy, every time I try to watch a video of this just to know what gameplay it has the video has been taken down by Nintendo already!
Those of us who don't live stuck to internet 24/7 have a hard time watching these videos and pre-ordering a SNES Classic.
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