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Mario Gets a Portal Gun In New Indie Game

jjp9999 sends word of a game in development that mashes up Super Mario Bros. and Portal. Dubbed Mari0 by its developer, the game is being built on the Löve framework and will be released for free. The original Super Mario Bros. levels will be included, as well as some puzzle-style maps and a level editor. They also plan to include simultaneous multiplayer.

85 comments

  1. How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo? by intellitech · · Score: 3, Informative

    I wonder what Nintendo has to say about all this. If I remember correctly, they tend to protect their trademarks and other intellectual property.

    --
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  2. Hmm.. saw it originally on Hacker News.. by uofitorn · · Score: 2

    ..And rolled my eyes. Did not look fun to play despite the novelty.

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    1. Re:Hmm.. saw it originally on Hacker News.. by erroneus · · Score: 1

      Similar impression here. Hilarious blasphemy. Won't stop Nintendo from attempting to Koopa this thing away though.

    2. Re:Hmm.. saw it originally on Hacker News.. by adamofgreyskull · · Score: 1

      Indeed, it seemed tacked on and contrived in the Mario level shown. Also, there must be numerous 2d portal "clones" by now surely? Why bother with this, just because he ripped the Mario levels/sprites?

    3. Re:Hmm.. saw it originally on Hacker News.. by jbonomi · · Score: 1

      New indie game manages to rip off two non-indie games at once, showing the strength of indie game development! Pfffft.

    4. Re:Hmm.. saw it originally on Hacker News.. by JorDan+Clock · · Score: 1

      The current footage is of remade Mario levels, but the plan seems to be to release completely original levels with the finished game. That could be fun, but I don't see why they need to use Mario when they could just make a 2D Portal game with the same mechanics (Jump height, running speed, enemy types) as Mario and an original art-style.

  3. Oh dear... by atomicbutterfly · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From developer's link:

    and will be released for free (so we don't get stabbed by lawyers)

    Being released for free doesn't mean much. Even completely free mods for other games, if they impinged on the intellectual property of another company have been taken down through the typical use of cease and desist letters.

    Which means that

    Original SMB levels and Lost levels will be included

    is likely going to bite this guy in the ass, assuming he didn't get permission from Nintendo (which from a lack of mention on the site I doubt he has).

    1. Re:Oh dear... by Sc4Freak · · Score: 4, Informative

      Absolutely correct. People have the misconception that making something free somehow absolves you of all copyright liability. Free may be less bad in the eyes of the copyright owner, but they still have every right to send a cease and desist.

      I mean, if I was making my own games and somebdoy decided to take my work without permission and distribute it for free, I certainly wouldn't be happy about it.

    2. Re:Oh dear... by MischaNix · · Score: 0

      If he didn't deliberately copy levels, the rest of the concept counts as original art, I believe. Not that legal pressure won't be able to circumvent fair use as it always does in the hands of large corporations, but simply pointing it out.

    3. Re:Oh dear... by gallondr00nk · · Score: 1

      Which means that

      Original SMB levels and Lost levels will be included

      is likely going to bite this guy in the ass, assuming he didn't get permission from Nintendo (which from a lack of mention on the site I doubt he has).

      Even if he did get permission, it doesn't stop the company from tearing up that agreement. Bomber Games did an incredible remake of Streets of Rage, and had gone to the trouble of asking Sega, who gave them permission. Years later when the final version was released Sega demanded it was removed a couple of days after release.

    4. Re:Oh dear... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But what if it has a direct link back to you and the author of said project sucking on your metaphorical penis for making such a Good Game?
      Would you equally be as unhappy with that?

      The way I see it, free advertisement.

      Of course, the way Nintendo sees it is "someone is corrupting our magnificent work, this is not Nintendo Quality, WE MUST DESTROY THEM!"
      God forbid you make a fan-based movie on a Nintendo product, they'd end your after-after-after-life as well.
      Valve. I don't think Valve could care less about it. Valve are usually pretty decent when it comes to fan-based works.

    5. Re:Oh dear... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It doesn't matter how you see it, it isn't up to you.

    6. Re:Oh dear... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Essentially this.

      The way the levels saved could be completely unique, and the textures could be slightly different, it'd be entirely original.
      Hell, even if the levels were somehow saved exactly the same way, as long as the actual textures were different, that'd be good enough too. (well, besides maybe in the US and whatever other place has software patents)

      Pretty sure level designs aren't protected work either since that essentially comes down to software that generates it.
      If it was a backdrop, that would probably be protected work, but this case isn't.

      Still, as you said, lawyers can easily confuse those simpleton judges in to thinking anything is illegal.
      They are so good at confusing people that they even confuse their self in to thinking things are illegal.

    7. Re:Oh dear... by blahplusplus · · Score: 1

      " Even completely free mods for other games, if they impinged on the intellectual property of another company have been taken down through the typical use of cease and desist letters."

      And this is exactly what is wrong with copyright and software never entering the public domain. The original Mario is over 20 years old if anything this clearly an example where IP laws are interfering with the publics ability to remix and build upon old stuff (which they bought). The whole idea that customers never own anything or get a share of ownership when we buy stuff has to go.

      We can't fix old games and have to hold out for great people like John Carmack (Doom, Quake) or the guys at Volition inc (descent, Freespace) to release sourcecode to their games.

    8. Re:Oh dear... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      Even completely free mods for other games, if they impinged on the intellectual property of another company have been taken down through the typical use of cease and desist letters.

      Now that it has been posted on Slashdot, it's almost a certainty. If they had laid low it probably wouldn't have been a problem. Now Nintendo knows about it and has to do something.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    9. Re:Oh dear... by tecnico.hitos · · Score: 1

      Well, Super Mario Bros. Crossover is still out there.

      --
      The good, the evil and the vacuum tubes.
    10. Re:Oh dear... by TheSpoom · · Score: 1

      They're completely screwed. They were screwed as soon as they used the Mario name in a non-parody way; adding to this that they're illegally distributing the original levels gives them a nice copyright infringement charge as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo skipped the C+D and just sued them outright.

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
  4. In Coming... by stms · · Score: 1

    Cease and Desist Letter in 3... 2... 1...

    1. Re:In Coming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1. Make Game called MariO
      2. Infringe upon patents, get a C&D
      3. ???
      4. PROFIT!

    2. Re:In Coming... by GigaplexNZ · · Score: 2

      In this case it'll likely be trademarks and copyright rather than patents.

    3. Re:In Coming... by Antarius · · Score: 2

      3. Challenge Nintendo to a Super Smash Bros Tournament

    4. Re:In Coming... by Robert+Zenz · · Score: 1

      Hello, this is Nintendo. We're holding the U.S. patent #4,257,131, which is holding the technique of making a red/blue-clothed italian blumper with a moustache jump in a 2D-environment populated with owles and turtles...oh and of course he eats mushrooms and flowers. You infringe upon this patent so stop copying our technology!

      Joke aside, the word you're looking for is "copyright" and maybe "trademark", not "patent".

    5. Re:In Coming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you see that thing that fell out of me? It's not the Cease and Desist Letter, I've never seen it before!

  5. hey slashdot by Osgeld · · Score: 2

    welcome to 3 weeks ago

    1. Re:hey slashdot by elrous0 · · Score: 2

      Are you kidding, last week they posted an article announcing the upcoming release of the Commodore 64.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    2. Re:hey slashdot by Pope · · Score: 1

      But is JonKatz going to use it to interview kids in Afghanistan this time?

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
  6. Get back in your De'Lorian, McFly, and beat it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Forward to the past!

  7. Clone ripoffs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't get why people make all these junk "mario" games. Normally as soon as I see ripped sprites I ignore the game.

    There are a lot of free / flash / indie games out there to play. Lots of which invent or evolve odd gameplay mechanics.

    I've only been surprised once or twice by a game that feels the need to rippoff Mario/Sonic/Megaman sprites in order to attract people. And my though on the rippoff games that were actually good was "heck if this guy forked out a few $ for an artist to draw up some original sprites I'd have paid for this as a game".

    1. Re:Clone ripoffs by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      this is like a 2 min video, not a full fucking game you dink

    2. Re:Clone ripoffs by icebraining · · Score: 1

      It will be, the video is just a preview.

    3. Re:Clone ripoffs by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      yea sure it will cause video animation and game programming are totally the same skill

    4. Re:Clone ripoffs by icebraining · · Score: 1

      The video is a video capture of the game. If you had bothered to take 2 minutes to look at the website, you'd see he has plenty of games for download already, and a freaking open source game library.

      "It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

  8. Taking Bets by bky1701 · · Score: 1

    Closest time until DMCA without going over, and you win one fine, only slightly used internet. Me, I'll go with noon tomorrow.

  9. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by PyroMosh · · Score: 1

    I was thinking the same thing. And then when I clicked this article, I noticed the slashdot ad was for "Super Mario Bros", but clearly not from Nintendo. Ad leads to: http://www.flashgamespy.com/gog/Mario-Games.html/_FGS?ce_cid=000hLZ0000001nOb8G8xBRqz3l000000

    Classy, slashdot, classy.

  10. hey osgeld by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    welcome to slashdot

    -ac

  11. darn lucky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    troll is darn lucky that nobody be awake right now to mod 'em down, thinks me.

  12. That can't stop him releasing if they wanted. by Cito · · Score: 0

    The creator on his youtube video already said when he releases it will be spread on torrents as well as direct download sites. So even if he was told to take it down, he's already said it will be continuously updated via open source and redistributed via torrents, filehosts like megaupload, etc. Nintendo/Valve may try to slap him on the wrist, but there will be no stopping it, regardless of what people are claiming.

    1. Re:That can't stop him releasing if they wanted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      He's stupid. It's not done yet. If they tell him to stop before it gets released and then a week later it's everywhere online, it should be easy to demonstrate that since he had the only copy, he was the one to initially distribute it. If it gets released, he'll be sued.

    2. Re:That can't stop him releasing if they wanted. by Cito · · Score: 1

      of course there isn't a single person working on it, there are 2 official devs messing with it http://stabyourself.net/ And there is a 1st level leak on piratebay so unless there is a lawsuit prior to that then it's already circulated a little

  13. YES! Want bad! by pecosdave · · Score: 0

    Please make a version that is SNES compatible so I can play it on my PSP.......

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    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  14. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by Inconexo · · Score: 1

    If I remember correctly there are hundreds of Mario games in the web.

  15. Might be safe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Super Mario Crossover is still up http://www.explodingrabbit.com/games/super-mario-bros-crossover , and that is pretty much the same idea.

    I think what authors of these fan mashup games sometimes forget is that the quickest way to gather legal attention from Nintendo, SquareEnix, EA, etc is to use the exact title of the the source game while making no attempt at making it unconfusing with the real thing. In the case of the Super Mario using the 8-bit NES era sprites, the chances of people being confused is extremely low.

    BUT...

    Hacked roms are frequently sold in China as "legitimate games", and these make their way into HK and Korea, eventually reaching Japan and North America. There are several pokemon hacks sold this way. The second they touch eBay, they are taken down.

    Remember, a "fangame" turns into a "counterfeit game" the second you attach a price tag to it.

  16. The point is.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People have been brought to court or sent cease & desist letters for less.

    1. Re:The point is.. by tmosley · · Score: 1

      Sometimes for nothing at all!

    2. Re:The point is.. by monkyyy · · Score: 0

      more often then not, for nothing at all

      --
      warning pointless sig
  17. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by vidnet · · Score: 2

    But this one brings something new and interesting to the Super Mario franchise. They must cease & desist at once!

  18. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder what Nintendo has to say about all this. If I remember correctly, they tend to protect their trademarks and other intellectual property.

    That newgrounds link to a cease and desist letter was an April fools joke. Skip to the end.

  19. MEME_1 gets a MEME_2 in new vapourware project by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

    Lawks, if I'd known that all it takes to get free marketing for a no hope project is to rip off not one but two other companies' lovingly crafted ideas, I'd have announced Sonic the Star Fleet Ensign years ago.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  20. How do you pronounce LÖVE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is the dots on Ö a diaeresis, or an umlaut; or is the Ö perhaps a separate character like in Swedish, Finnish and Turkish?

    It means lion in some Swedish dialects, but "the leaf" in other dialects, with completely different stress and tonality.

    Or is it just a hard rock umlaut, that isn't pronounced at all?

    1. Re:How do you pronounce LÖVE by ddegirmenci · · Score: 1

      Is that "separate character" you mention not the same as the O with umlaut in German? It is pronounced exactly the same, at least in Turkish (don't know much about the Scandinavian languages).

    2. Re:How do you pronounce LÖVE by isCreeper($('Ssss')) · · Score: 1

      Pretty sure the project itself just uses the character for the appearance. From what I know of it, it's just pronounced like the English word "love", without any particular accent.

    3. Re:How do you pronounce LÖVE by orgelspieler · · Score: 1

      I assumed it was pronounced like Lua but with a V in there. Similar to loovuh. Or Louvre.

  21. The tetris was more fun. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While I smiled about portal Mario, the Other project this guy showcased: "Not Tetris" was hilarious to watch.

  22. really by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    does every single fucking thing involving portal or mario REALLY need a post?

    1. Re:really by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 0

      Yes, yes a thousand times yes :)

      --
      This is the sig that says NI (again)
  23. Similar Project - SMB Crossover by loimprevisto · · Score: 2

    http://www.explodingrabbit.com/games/super-mario-bros-crossover I came across a similar project last month. It has been active for about a year now and features the original mario levels that you can play through with any of several other old NES characters. Maybe Nintendo is actually playing nice with the fan community?

    --
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    To a discerning Eye --
    Much Sense -- the starkest Madness
  24. The sum of the parts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I enjoy leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. I enjoy chocolate. I do not enjoy leftover Thanksgiving chocolate turkey sandwiches.

    1. Re:The sum of the parts by bughunter · · Score: 1

      As usual, it's all in the execution.

      Turkey Mole is pretty good.

      --
      I can see the fnords!
  25. Iwata: N has no non-commercial fanwork ban by tepples · · Score: 2

    The article on TV Tropes about fanwork bans links to interviews with Nintendo executives after Nintendo's overreaction to the "Suicide Girls" incident, such as a Kotaku article that quotes Nintendo president Satoru Iwata: "it would not be appropriate if we treated people who did something based on affection for Nintendo, as criminals." So avoid porn and commercial use, and you'll probably avoid "diminish[ing] the dignities" of the settings and characters of Nintendo products.

    1. Re:Iwata: N has no non-commercial fanwork ban by ginbot462 · · Score: 1

      Man, there goes my "Peach Porks Portals" game.

      --
      Atlas Shrugged : Thematic Story :: Battlefield Earth : Organized Religion
    2. Re:Iwata: N has no non-commercial fanwork ban by del_diablo · · Score: 1

      Avoid porn? I think you need to go to a comiket man, and buy some super mario doujins.

    3. Re:Iwata: N has no non-commercial fanwork ban by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not entirely true. Pokenet got C&D'd and at no moment did we ever seek monetary gain or even compensation for running the servers.

      We merely had an Open Source Pokemon MMO, and Nintendo didn't like that.

  26. Set design; SMB1 compression by tepples · · Score: 1

    Pretty sure level designs aren't protected work either

    Would you also guess that the set design for a film is not a copyrightable element? I'd like to see a judge's opinion one way or another on that.

    since that essentially comes down to software that generates it.

    Software decodes MP3 into PCM for playback, but that doesn't mean a work represented as MP3 isn't copyrightable. There's a distinct format in which the levels of SMB1 and SMB2 (J) are compressed, and it's essentially a list of (X, Y, thing) tuples with 4 bits for Y, 4 bits for X, 1 bit for whether X has crossed onto a new 16-block-wide "page", and 7 bits for the thing placed there. The level is 13 tiles tall, and the bottom three rows have different meanings for the things, such as choosing from one of several predefined wall or terrain patterns to add behind the things.

  27. 2D Portal by saurongt · · Score: 1

    And if you can't wait for some 2d portal action, there's a flash game: http://portal.wecreatestuff.com/portal.php Very fun, and someone has actually created a map pack for the original Portal inspired by levels in the flash game.

    1. Re:2D Portal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And there's the ascii version too: http://cymonsgames.com/asciiportal/

  28. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by trum4n · · Score: 1

    the music style "Mashup" has been deemed protected, and is fair use. Maybe this is too?

  29. Not what you want to hear after defeating miniboss by LordStormes · · Score: 1

    "The princess is a lie!"

  30. Re:YES! Want bad! by CastrTroy · · Score: 0

    I was hoping it would be available on the Wii Homebrew scene.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  31. raocow by hort_wort · · Score: 1

    This news pleases me. I wouldn't play it, but sometimes I like watching a guy named raocow play through these. His voice makes my ears tickle.
    http://www.raocow.com/

  32. Re:YES! Want bad! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    there already is two portal related games. check them out in Homebrew Browser!

  33. Super Mario Bros. Crossover! by hoborg1 · · Score: 1

    Don't forget about Super Mario Bros. Crossover! http://www.explodingrabbit.com/games/super-mario-bros-crossover Almost the same idea and it's an amazing game.

  34. Re:Not what you want to hear after defeating minib by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

    Cake or princess? The cake is a lie!

    --
    All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
  35. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by elrous0 · · Score: 1

    Don't worry, of course I'm sure that whoever created this project got permission from Nintendo and Valve before starting it--and so won't have to bitch and moan about them sending him an inevitable cease-and-desist letter at some point in the future.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  36. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And pretty soon the few of us remaining who remember the days when fans could lovingly create an homage to the target of their affections and would be looked upon favourably for spreading the love will die out and everyone will only ever remember the time when we were consumers buying stuff and keeping our heads down lest we attract the attention of the corporate lawyers. Yay, progress.

  37. Re:Not what you want to hear after defeating minib by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Way to totally kill the joke asshat.

  38. they shouldn't have announced it beforehand by gl4ss · · Score: 1

    they shouldn't have announced it beforehand.. they should have just finished it and release it(though publicity gives them a motivational boost, sure).

    but still, I don't find this story to be that interesting, a new indie game that piggy backs on mario.. I mean, the 2d portal done in flash seems cooler and the portals aren't that cool nor hard to implement when it's a 2d sidescroller.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  39. Re:Not what you want to hear after defeating minib by xhrit · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry but the cake is in another castle...

  40. Mari-O now Micky-O by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 1

    Now you can run around with Micky-O. I'm sure Disney has no use for that old, dried up copyright, right? ;)

    --
    I8-D
  41. Top Score by Xaide · · Score: 1

    What an ingenious way to avoid points! A mere 2,500 AND missed the flag to complete the level. Perfection.

    --
    No fair! You changed the outcome by measuring it!
  42. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by AP31R0N · · Score: 1

    "Maybe this is too?"

    What is this question asking? It doesn't parse.

    --
    Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!
  43. Re:YES! Want bad! by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    I swear I have my own personal stalker/mod-down fairy.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  44. Make your own Pokemon region by tepples · · Score: 1

    You're right. Zelda Online got retooled into Graal Online after (IIRC) a C&D. So perhaps I should add MMOs as the third prohibited category of fan works, given that allowing strangers to communicate goes against everything that Nintendo and its friend code policy stand for.

    But Pokemon is one of the easier franchies to fork: just pretend you're making a new region and then go to deviantART and get a bunch of tARTlets to draw you some new mons for that region. Use no Poke-trademarks and no copyrighted graphics, and any similarity between their cockfighting sim and your cockfighting sim is more likely to fall into a favorable side of the idea/expression divide.

  45. Re:How do they plan to avoid the wrath of Nintendo by Johann+Lau · · Score: 1

    The question you refer to is in itself asking nothing. However, the person who uttered it very likely wished to use it as a means to ask if the mario/portal mashup the article brought to our attention could also be considered fair use.