In just over a weeks' time, we'll have our hands on the first ever Super Mario LEGO products and that lovely looking LEGO NES console. With a Starter Course, plenty of expansions and even an interactive toy, there's plenty to experience in the Mario collection, but how did the whole project come together?
In an interview with 4Gamer, Nintendo producer Takashi Tezuka has shared some insight into the development of the new LEGO collaboration. When asked about any troubles Nintendo might have had combining Mario's gameplay with LEGO's structure, he explained that the project was 'very much taxing work', but still fun (thanks to Siliconera for the translations):
Takashi Tezuka, Nintendo Producer: First, we spent a long time examining the size and design of the Lego Mario figure. Additionally, while Lego Mario will react based on the color sensor and take action based on what is read, it is unable to read actions such as Mario’s traditional action of hitting blocks from below. The changes to the game design based on the Lego Super Mario hardware, such as stepping on blocks counting as hitting them from below, was something that was discussed back and forth between The Lego Company and Nintendo.
While it was very much taxing work, I felt it was a fun time.
In the same interview, Tezuka explains why Nintendo and LEGO decided to incorporation digital tech into the new sets. Apparently, the idea came from LEGO, rather than Nintendo.
Tezuka: First, this is a Lego product. Expanding children’s imaginations while having them build with blocks was important, and it was The Lego Group who first decided on supporting this main concept by bringing in digital technology. As such, regarding the gameplay, we did take inspiration from the video games, but the main priority was to have children feel that building the block creations was fun. Playing through the courses you create can be used as a reference for what to create next, and the ideal scenario for Lego Super Mario is for children to have fun and feel like they want to create even more courses.
So essentially, it aims to serve as a physical, bricky version of Super Mario Maker? Sounds pretty cool to us.
If you haven't already, you can pre-order the new LEGO Mario sets right here. You might want to pick and choose which bits interest you the most, though; we recently did the maths, and a complete set of absolutely everything really isn't cheap.
[source 4gamer.net, via siliconera.com, gonintendo.com]
Comments 23
Man, I would have loved to work on that and share interesting ideas with the groups.
As an adult man who has been known to collect dumb toys (like Amiibo) I have zero interest in this LEGO Mario series.
@JHDK I'm not bothered by the LEGO Mario stuff, but that NES looks incredible
I hope it does well with it's target demographic. I feel this is Nintendo experimenting that should go well rewarded.
That said, it's probably not for me
@Bobb my kids are excited and want it but its way overpriced probably far to much tech in it
@Anguspuss That's a very fair point. Sorry to hear
It's somewhat too expensive I think. I mean it's right up there with a regular Switch price and the Switch plays video games.
@JHDK Thank you so much for logging on and taking the time to tell us that this product that is clearly marketed towards children is not made for you.
mario's design is taxing for my eyes
@SDP Why? That would great!
Much easier and better had they not reinvented the wheel
It's a worry that Hidden Side is apparently being abandoned this summer, that doesn't exactly bode well for digital integration of Lego.
I can't help but feel this would have been far more successful (with both kids and AFOLs) if they had gone down the route of traditional minifigures and sets. A mix of sets, minifigure blind bags and some very cool AFOL sets (like the NES) just feels like a much better approach to this than what is essentially a gimmick with figures that cannot really be integrated into the masses of regular Lego that kids already have (I know for a fact my son would have built a minifig scale Mario Kart, had they released traditional minifigures).
Next week... wow...
@bahooney No, thank you so much for deciding to be a jerk this morning. Have a wonderful day!
These look like cheap toys baby would put in their mouth when teething
@hakjie11 And then baby would choke, because they're Lego blocks.
How can making something so basic and horrible be taxing?!?!?!
Any 6 year old that builds a “Mario” set from their Duplo bricks has done an equally good job....
Super Fail
@Anguspuss lego are overpriced because you pay for the brand, its the same for Nintendo and disney stuff.
for actual lego fans they don't find it overpriced, and theres wayy more expensive lego sets out there that are also much more costly.
@Musharna im a lego fan and have a massive collection of SW lego. but from whats in these sets way way overpriced
@SDP
why not? a Lego Mario game sounds good. at least to me.
if Nintendo does a Lego Mario game; maybe they will make Super Mario Lego Maker. just imagine being able to create 2D and 3D based Lego courses.
but for now, its better in brick form. the only advantage of having Lego Mario as a video game is that Mario will have more options for interacting with his friends and enemies. either way i pre-ordered the Super Mario Lego set
@SDP I was disappointed to hear this was products and not a game.
Oh no! It was "taxing" to make a toy? Want to switch jobs?
@JHDK I hope you choke on a lego
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