Update (Tue 28th Jul, 2020 14:45 BST): To provide some extra clarification about the recent Nintendo 64 leaks, we reached out to the YouTube channel Modern Vintage Gamer.
How significant is this N64 leak - can much be achieved with all of the data that's been discovered?
MVG: Nintendo has always been a private company when it came to information that wasn't part of any official press announcement. This N64 leak is obviously a way for many to learn more about the games and the history behind them. This leak also verifies some rumors - for example Luigi's assets discovery, URA Zelda and others.
Gaming Historians and preservationists have interest in prototype binaries, audio soundtracks and assets discoveries - these findings have all been documented. The leak answers many questions and it also gives the public a look at how the development process worked. The problem with this leak is that it's illegal. Nintendo never released this information, but for some, the curiosity to turn stones over is too great.
From a significance standpoint - I think anyone who's a fan of Nintendo - especially the N64 era is probably keeping an eye on what has been uncovered. However in general, leaks like this won't help the emulation community as they are required to not be in any contact with any Nintendo source code that is private and legally protected.
What's going on with the Luigi assets that have been discovered - is he actually in the game?
MVG: Luigi's model assets are included as a folder as a part of the code, but there's no reference of that model to any game code. It's said that Luigi was part of the initial storyboard and design process but was removed. So no, he isn't in the game. What you've seen on the internet are reconstructions by fans that have experience with 3d models and in some cases using the Super Mario 64 recompilation project to replace Mario's model with Luigi. It's fascinating that his model has surfaced. but nothing really beyond that.
Is there anything else we should know about this leak?
MVG: Things are moving fast. On my Twitter timeline I keep seeing new discoveries occurring. I expect that we keep hearing more discoveries over the coming weeks. I also expect Nintendo to respond in some fashion, either by going after the leakers or serving DMCA takedown requests if they feel it hurts their brand in any way.
Thanks to MVG for answering our questions. For more information about the Nintendo 64 leak, check out his own video about it.
Original article (Sun 26th Jul, 2020 07:15 BST): A day after prototypes and source code for SNES games were spilled online, leakers have reportedly moved onto N64 titles.
Perhaps the highlight is a supposed early build of Super Mario 64 - titled, "Ultra 64 Mario Brothers". It has files referencing Luigi and there appears to have been no time wasted getting them up and running in-game. In an interview dating back to 1996, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed Luigi was originally planned for Super Mario 64 as a second playable character (thanks, VGC).
https://twitter.com/greendev123/status/1287160464720486401
There's also the game's original artwork, box art, character models and more:
If that wasn't already exciting enough, the data leak also allegedly contains source code and files for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Some references to the expansion "Ura Zelda" have also supposedly been uncovered. It never saw the light of day, because of the failure of the 64DD peripheral (via Zelda fandom). Here are some of the shots that have surfaced so far:
There's an original uncompressed sound file for the famous Star Fox 64 line, too:
In addition to this, the leak is believed to contain source code data for other Nintendo 64 games like Mario Kart 64, Wave Race 64, Yoshi's Story, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Dr. Mario 64, and even the original Animal Crossing (Animal Forest).
It's all apparently linked to the leak we first reported on in May this year, which contained source code for the Wii, GameCube, a PokΓ©mon game, the iQue, and much more. To view all the SNES-related leaks, see our previous post.
If we see or hear anything else exciting about this leak, we'll be sure to let you know.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 65
I was there watching this whole thing before my very eyes, all the renders, luigi discoveries, Ura Zelda castle, it was great
Still no Earthbound 64 leak... a man can deam.
The message in SM64 says L is real 2401. Itβs been 24 years and 1 month since Super Mario 64 released. cue X files music
Edit: it said that i couldn't post my original comment for some reason.
Original Post: now that luigi has been discovered in the game, maybe someone will mod Super Mario 64 to add luigi as an Unlockable
Not gonna lie. When I heard the uncompressed "Do a Barrel Roll" I rolled a tear.
Christmas came in July for sure this year. What a gold mine!
Edit: And it's 25th..
No Wario Apparition?
For real, it's quite insane how people were able to find old but still interesting info on decade-old games.
This is the true E3
Go and play the Super Mario 64 in Ocarina of Time hack. That game is like 10 kinds of awesome. And don't get me started on 2-player Mario 64, Super Mario Bros 64 or Mario Oddysey 64
Insane! L was real after all...
These leaks never cease to amaze, and for a preservation standpoint, are awesome.
I love the original resolution images used for packaging; you can appreciate them better.
Hears Do a barell roll uncompressed
There is a 2nd Christmas!
I've always loved the N64 standardised box art, with the additional artwork behind a different layer of colour on each side. This is the content I didn't know I needed
The uncompressed star fox 64 audio! Hope they find more of those.
Imagine if they changed Super Mario to Ultra Mario!
Anyway, ultra interesting this!
@PrincessAzunyan I think it's an Italianised "So long, Bowser'"
("So long-a BowseRrRr".) NOT what this Tweet (with uncompressed audio) suggests https://twitter.com/AShadowLink/status/1287156871003070464?s=20
Would have loved to have a two player Mario64 with Luigi when i first played the game
Great stuff but really..... how does this happen??? Was all this just stuffed away on Nintendo's servers?
@JayJ a man can also be depressed. We mother fans and know it best.
Back in the 90s, that jump to 3D with Mario 64, we wonβt ever see that kind of generational leap again. Glad I was there to experience first hand what was probably the most exciting time in gaming.
@Rodan2000 You never know. It's hard to see but I'm sure there are concepts to be discovered in the future, that we may not have started to even imagine yet.
@Rodan2000 VR.
@Pichuka97 it's Boxing Day here, then!
This is all superb stuff, I think the early Mario World and Mario 64 stuff is the most exciting to me. Itβs a pity thereβs no Rare source code in there, I bet the source to GoldenEye has some interesting stuff!
@PrincessAzunyan That was an edit I made.
Where did these guys even find these files to begin with?
Also looking forward for ocarina of time pc port π€©
@Slowdive yea, hoping for beta hyrule castle town, lake hylia, lost woods et all seen in the 1997 magazine articles.
Again, while this is all neat and relatively harmless this many years after these games were released, I disagree with how these files were obtained.
@Yosher, @Arkay To quote the original article NL ran when this first surfaced in May:
"So, how did this happen? The servers of BroadOn were supposedly hacked. This company was hired by Nintendo during the Wii generation to develop both hardware and software."
Not from Nintendo directly, but one of their affiliates in the Wii era.
Really amazing stuff. Nintendo would make a mint on a production art book that included all this stuff. Pipe dreams
I love that first image of Luigi with the blurred face, like heβs in witness protection or something π
Darn, no EarthBound 64 or Dinosaur Planet stuff, how unfortunate. Hopefully someday, for now i just wanna see that good beta SM64 and Zelda OoT stuff, and MagiKoopa on MK64
Not only did the leaked info drop 24 years and 1 month after the original launch of Mario 64, it happened on July 25th.
L is real 2401.
24 + 01 = 25
2 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 7
H o w
@echoplex That's not the real thing, just a really good edit
Nintendo should release an archives app for Nintendo online subscribers. Clearly theyβre not gonna include things like source code but it would be so cool to have high resolution artwork and uncompressed audio clips like weβre seeing from this leak.
They pretty much admitted they tried to make it multiplayer and include more characters but needed to launch it with the system. That's what Mario 64 Ds told us like 15 years ago. I don't get the appeal of acting like Luigi in the game is new.
This company is most likely going to get sued by Nintendo for not getting rid of their files. No way in their contract it said keep our stuff on your servers even after your development work is done.
Loving the uncompressed voice bites people are uncovering <3
...now if only we could get hold of the Duke Nukem Forever 2001 build.
I hope they can do with Ocarina of Time what they've done with Mario 64 on the PC. Mario plays amazingly at 60fps, with the HD models a nice bonus. I wonder how Nintendo's Switch port will compare?
I have a hunch Nintendo is going to take some noticeable measures to stop this from happening again. Who knows what form, but hopefully nothing drastic. Would be absolutely insane to sit on all this stuff forever without compiling it in a book. Free money
@Darlinfan I don't dispute the historical value and general interest, and I stated in my previous post that, overall, I believe little to no harm will come from this. However, I can't agree with how this information and the accompanying assets were obtained. This was literally breaking into a server and stealing private information. To me it's the equivalent of breaking into an old storage unit owned by the friend of a big name artist just to see what one can find and running off with an old sketch of a famous painting that they threw on the cutting room floor. Something the thief has no right to, regardless of their intentions.
I should make it clear that I support preserving, archiving, and if needed disclosing such information, but through legal means.
For years, Luigi was involved in multiple urban legends about Super Mario 64, but at this point, these legends should have died already, Super Mario 64 fans analyzed the code so much that there's no way Luigi is still hiding in the final code of the version released in cartridges.
Sure, they found Luigi in the source code of the prototype versions, but it's safe to say everything was removed when the game launched.
@Crockin yeah, but who cares if they do. The interesting stuff is out now. Those were the days when ideas simply got cut because they couldn't fit them onto a cartridge and programmers were given more creative freedom to test and play.
I'd imagine Nintys newer stuff is alot more secure. Of more recent times the only thing of interest is the Wii U Breath of The Wild with Sheika slate Gamepad integration. Nintendo purposelessly butchered it out of the Wii U version to give the Switch the edge.
@Aozz101x well there is Super Mario 64 Splitscreen multiplayer which also works perfectly on real hardware. Player one Mario, player two Luigi.
@rjc-32 Nintendo were probably planning a VC port, they're being forced to make the best version of Super Mario 64 now alright.
@liveswired it could manifest in clamping down on content creators or weird security measures that impact consumers. All speculation, donβt think anyone has anything to worry about
I love the 3D Super Mario series as-is, but this reminds me that they should really consider returning the series to its proper title of βSuper Mario Bros.β I believe they only changed it because they didnβt have time to include Luigi for Super Mario 64. (After that, I guess they figured theyβd just keep doing the same thing.)
It almost feels like a separate series now, but thatβs mainly due to graphics. Imagine if Super Mario 64 was 2D but still didnβt include Luigi... how weird. Anyway... I donβt have time to make a profound point. Goodnight! ππ΄
This is fascinating stuff! Really gets your imagination going thinking what might have been...
@liveswired i'm aware of there being multiplayer hacks for Super Mario 64.
i'm talking about a mod where you can switch from mario and luigi in Super Mario 64 after unlocking him.
@echoplex I'm so surprised people never knew this was simply "So long Bowser" in an Italian accent.
It was clear Mario never said King Bowser because Bowser was never referred to as King Bowser in any official Nintendo documentation or interviews - and knowing Nintendo they are very strict on character names/nicknames and references.
@Crockin yea I know you're speculating - but it's the internet - Nintendo can only do so much clamping down - always have, always will and the games, hacks and mods keep reappearing.
If anything Mario 64 PC and these leaks will force Nintendo's hand into giving Mario a proper anniversary and remaster unlike the joke disc of 25years on Wii - a feckin disc with a handful of emulators.
Preservation lol.
Nintendo really needs to re-release Super Mario 64 on Switch. If there's a 35 year anniversary coming to Switch in some form, I don't understand why they are dragging with the announcement. We need something to look forward to.
@NoLife Maybe there's nothing coming for the 35th anniversary so that's why Nintendo hasn't announced anything.
Shout out to MVG! Best Brit out there (JK)
Does anybody know where we can see the various discoveries made thanks to/because of that link? I don't mean download but just, you know, read a list or something. Twitter is cluttered with junk and memes and Google isn't very helpful either.
@echoplex itβs β So long gay Bowserβ.
"...so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Curious stuff, but still, it's Nintendo's stuff. Releasing it into the wild, and the method in how it is presented, should've been left up to them.
Modern vintage gamer: luigi was planned for Super Mario 64 but never made it into development.
Miyamoto: Luigi was in the game and cut in February 1996 due to memory constraints.
So according to Miymoto in the official strategy guide Luigi was only cut a few months before release due to cart space.
I know who I believe. Modern Vintage Gamer didn't do his research on this one.
@Tyranexx I am thankful no one cares you happen to disagree with how these magical things were obtained.
Nintendo needs to realize that when they create content that is so dearly beloved, in a certain sense they truly do not have ownership over it anymore. Of course, they will never realize, admit, or understand this. Being so fearful and paranoid about protecting their IP feeds the narrative that their content is not the end in itself, but rather the means to the end of shareholder profits. So, what's the point of all this then?
Notably this is not unique to Nintendo- I just pick on Nintendo because I love them so deeply and we always tend to hold those things and people we care about to a higher standard.
Shame on you for reporting this like it is good, this is quite clearly not a case of a leak and the future use will of the assets will likely only lead to more illegal projects appearing online.
No doubt I can look forward to articles in the future of 'fan made' games that you are so pleased about.
Do you feel the same way about your possessions!
@dew12333 Nintendo fans really are fragile at times, if such a thing happened with the PS1 i doubt anyone at Pushsquare would cry like this.
@echoplex That's an edit I made.
I uploaded it before the leaks.
@WallyWest How would you suggest that they would react then?
@dew12333 Well most people ether don't give a damn because it doesn't them effect them in the slightest or show interest in what they games originally were. Your getting very defensive and emotional over something so pointless, this leak has harmed nobody and instead has giving out some pretty interesting info but you're acting like this is personal attack on your favourite billion dollar corporation.
@orangepanda Late reply - took an internet gaming news break for a lot of this past week.
Believe me, I do wish Nintendo was less heavy-handed with their IPs sometimes. I would gladly pay for art books showing scrapped concepts, renders, and trashed scripts of franchises I enjoy, such as with Hyrule Historia. On the other hand, I do agree that they shouldn't be too liberal with their IPs either; so far they've done a pretty decent job when they do let their franchises fall into third-party hands (with supervision), but then there are cases out there where this didn't go well....Going with the Zelda series, a good example of IP handling done right would be Cadence of Hyrule. Conversely, those campy Zelda CDi atrocities exist. XD
Security breaches on a digital level are a touchy subject for me; besides moral objections, I'm in I.T., and I work closely with people (Though I'm not personally in charge of the following) whose main job is to ensure the security of my company's network. It could be argued that the sort of break-ins they defend against are very different in nature, but at the end of the day what happened in this case was still an unauthorized breach of information on a server that the acting party/ies had no right to.
Again, I would LOVE if Nintendo would disclose such info, but I just can't go along with how it was leaked. Tl;dr - I pretty much agree with the added points from the Modern Vintage Gamer interview above.
The Zelda room reminds me of the room where Link obtained the Triforce in Oot (you know, the fake screenshot). One of the biggest gaming urban legends.
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