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User:Catstorm/Sandbox
i am going to overhaul this page idk
Super Mario 64 description goes here.
Contents
Development Timeline
- 1995
- November - The Nintendo 64 (then known as the Ultra 64) is unveiled at the first-ever Shoshinkai show, along with two prototypes, one of which was Super Mario 64.
- December - Initial anticipated date.
- 1996
- April - Second anticipated release date.
- May 16th - A playable prototype is present at E3 1996.
- Jun, 23nd - Super Mario 64 is released in Japan.
Conception
 | To do: Info to Include: |
Shoshinkai '95 Demo
Information about Super Mario 64 first leaked out in November 1995, and a playable version of the game was presented days later as part of the world premiere for the Nintendo 64 (then known as the "Ultra 64") at Nintendo Space World. At this point, the basic controls had been implemented and the game was reportedly 50% finished, featuring 32 courses, although about 2% of mapping was complete.
Being the first unveiling of Super Mario 64, it contains the earliest assets available to the general public. Visually, this version of the game has little in common with the retail release.
Players could control Mario freely in each stage and explore the castle, as well as use a stage select that used early names for levels.
Interface
(Note: The minimap interface was only seen at Shoshinkai '95. For this reason, no clear screenshots or scans of it exist.)
| Nov. '95 |
|---|
 |
| GUI | A minimap is present in the upper-right corner, similar to the ones later seen in Ocarina of Time. It can be toggled on or off. |
|---|---|
| Lives | Mario's head is represented by a flat, stylized drawing, and is located at the upper-left corner. |
| Stars | Like Mario's head, the Star counter is also represented by a two-dimensional drawing. Located at the center-right of the screen. |
| Coins | Located directly below the Star counter. They're both at the center right of the screen, making room for the minimap. |
| Font | A very standard bubble font with blue numbering, with the Xs being small and yellow. |
| Health | Mario's health is displayed in a clock-like object. His remaining health is also shown in numerical form, similar to prerelease screenshots of Super Mario Sunshine and final release of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. At this point of development, his health regenerates automatically if he is not underwater. |
| Camera | There is no HUD for camera options yet. |
Environments
Castle Grounds
An image of a black compass is displayed above the castle entrance. Although footage quality is poor, the brick texture is noticeably simpler than it would be in later builds of the game. There's also no wooden fencing surrounding the moat.
The clearest screenshot of this castle can be seen in a Nintendo 64 patent. The patent is dated Nov 22, 1995, which is a few days before the Shoshinkai trade show. However, one could assume this image was taken before then, as the bridge has different characteristics than the demo one.
Castle Interior
Instead of the green hills and blue sky wallpaper seen in the final, a simple blue to orange color gradient decorates the bricks. Also, the numbered doors don't have their star design yet.
The most jarring difference is the lack of stairs to the second floor area; only 2 big slabs leading up to the center door, likely intended to be a jumping tutorial of sorts.
It should also be noted that the entrance to Lethal Lava Land is in the second door on the bottom-right, where Whomp's Fortress would be in later builds, and the door that would normally lead to the top floor now leads to the first Bowser battle.
Cool, Cool Mountain
Mother Penguin and her baby, Tuxie, have different designs than they do in the finished product: their eyelids are droopy, and their torsos are thinner. Note that there's also a stone pyramid structure behind them, which was later replaced by a cabin.
The slide area seen in this demo would later be re-purposed for Tall, Tall Mountain in the retail release.
Whomp's Fortress
- Whomp's Fortress uses a texture-less white Skybox.
- The floor texture consists of colorful circle shapes.
Dire, Dire Docks
- The Water Mine object that went unused in final version is used throughout in the level.
- The framerate drops heavily in the area around Bowser's sub.
General Graphical Differences
Title screen
The font for the "Press start" and "Game over" text on the title screen use a generic font rather than the custom font used in the final version.
Power Stars
Power Stars are two-dimensional sprites in this build, with a design similar to how they looked in Super Mario RPG. That game also started development in 1995, so they might have shared the same base model.
Coins
The coins also differ from the final. Instead of a star insignia, they have a rectangular indentation. This matches the design they had in previous games, such as the original Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World, as well as their design in most modern Mario games.
Miscellaneous
- When Mario enters a level, he sparkles while falling from the sky.
Audio Differences
| To do: Post more source sound files. The jumping clips are still not found |
- Mario's voice clips are very different, featuring samples from Warner Brothers' SFX library.
| Description | Early | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Mario exclaiming "Yahoo!" | ||
| Mario exclaiming "Yippee!" | ||
| Mario taking fire damage. |
- The coin sound effect is very high-pitched compared to the final version.
- The music in Dire, Dire Docks uses slightly different instruments.
First Release Delay
Miyamoto thought he could create more courses, up to 40 plus bonus levels. However, the actual number turned out much lower in the final game, as only 15 courses could fit.[20] According to Nintendo of America chairman Howard Lincoln, Miyamoto's desire to put more into Super Mario 64 was a major factor in the decision to push the Nintendo 64's release date back from Christmas 1995 to April 1996.[28]
Second Release Delay
"On September 30th, Dinosaurs Will Fly!" was the slogan used to promote the new release date after the American launch was delayed from April 1996 to September 1996.
Environments
| To do: Compare the assets of this build to the '95 demo. Compare and contrast the interface, castle interior, etc. |
Castle Grounds
By this point in development, the compass seen above the castle entrance has been replaced with a stained glass image of the princess.
The windows and brick textures have also been updated, and wooden fencing has been added around the moat.
It is very similar, if not the same, as the finalized Castle Grounds.
Castle Interior
While the wallpaper is the one seen in the final game, the brown brick texture by the entrance is still different. Proper fencing has been adding to areas Mario could fall off.
The main staircase to the second floor is still missing, though the platforms in its place are wider than they were in Shoshinkai '95.
The final lifebar shape of Mario's head is based on the early life counter icon.
Info to Include
Footage
- Prerelease footage & screenshots
- Shoshinkai '95 footage
- Various footage 1
- Various footage 2
- Various footage 3
- Various footage 4
- E3 1996 playable demo
- Prerelease footage, screenshots, & info
Images
- Prerelease footage & screenshots
- Prerelease info & screenshots
- Prerelease screenshots and scans
- Concept art
- Prerelease footage, screenshots, & info
- Screenshots
Info
Interviews
- Interview with Giles Goddard
- Super Mario 64 DS interview (JP)
- Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto (JP)
- Super Mario Sunshine interview (JP)
- Nintendo 64 interview (JP)
- Interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto (JP)
- 5 page interview with Miyamoto in Next Generation #26
- Miyamoto interview
- Miyamoto GDC keynote speech
- Miyamoto & Tezuka interview
- Iwata Asks
