Mario Paint
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Mario Paint<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;"> | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Intelligent Systems
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)</th><td>Nintendo</td></tr> |
| Release date(s) | August 1, 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Creativity |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Super NES
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media</th><td>cartridge</td></tr><tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Input</th><td>SNES Mouse</td></tr> |
Mario Paint is a video game created by Nintendo for use with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and was released on August 1, 1992<ref>Nintendo.com [1]. Retrieved May 17, 2006.</ref> along with the SNES Mouse peripheral device. Mario Paint is the most well-known game to make use of the SNES mouse technology. The game's package was a larger than normal size in order to accommodate a plastic mouse pad which was included along with the SNES mouse.
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
The game allowed the user to create artwork using various tools controlled by a mouse (similar to computer painting programs like Microsoft Paint). Not only could the user paint and draw freehand, but colorless pre-made drawings could be displayed and then colored in using various methods similar to coloring books. Another feature included pictures that could be inserted with the stamp tool. Stamps of everyday objects such as the Sun and fruit were provided by default, and users could even make custom stamps pixel-by-pixel. Several publications, such as Nintendo Power, released how-to guides on how to create iconic Nintendo related stamps for use within Mario Paint. Besides just creating static pictures, a user could also make simple looping animations which could then be set to music created in the music generator. These animations painted by the user could only be viewed on a television screen, as there was no way to export any of work done in Mario Paint.
In addition, standard features consist of:
- 15 different colors
- 75 textures/backgrounds
- Battery back-up capability for saving certain aspects of the game
The game also contains a number of mini-games, one of which is a music generator similar to a piano roll, in which the player places icons representing sounds onto a staff. Other activities include a fly-swatting mini-game, known as "Gnat Attack," which was a fast-paced action game that took full advantage of the Super NES mouse. The player controls a gloved hand (similar to the one seen on the title screen) holding a flyswatter, which must swat all the flying insects on the screen in a limited amount of time. Each level contained a counter with how many insects were left before the boss appeared. There is no final level, as the game will loop endlessly. In a way, even the title screen for Mario Paint proved to be a mini-game of sorts. The user was able to click each letter in the title to trigger a certain action. Certain letters would cause the music to change, have Yoshi run by on screen, and even allow the user to temporarily paint the background.
[edit] Reception
Nintendo Power magazine held contests centered on the creativity exhibited by Mario Paint users, and received a healthy amount of individual submissions from children and adults alike.
[edit] Sequels
A series of games was released exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo 64DD under the title Mario Artist. The initial game was a launch title for the 64DD and was packaged with a mouse for the Nintendo 64. Throughout the series, the games featured ways for the user to create 3D polygonal models, insert images onto 3D models via a Nintendo 64 Capture Cartridge, and even share their artwork via an online Communication Kit.
While no official sequel has been released in North America, Mario Paint makes a cameo appearance in WarioWare: Touched! as "Wario Paint," allowing the player to use the stylus to color various characters in the game. Also, you can listen to the Mario Paint Song with the toy "Turntable" in the "Toy Room". The fly-swatting game makes an additional appearance in the preceding game, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$.
[edit] Other Appearances
- "Kazumi Totaka's Song" first appears in this game. It later appears in Animal Crossing as "K.K. Song" and in the background of Yoshi's Story and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. In the latter two, there are certain areas in each in which the song will play if the area's music loops eight times.
- In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, the song Up, Down, Left, Right is a remix of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, which appeared as a music demo in Mario Paint.
- Mario Paint was used to create a very early version of the web cartoon Homestar Runner.<ref>homestarrunner.com [2]. Retrieved May 17, 2006.</ref> More recently, Mario Paint was again featured in the episode Strong Bad is a Bad Guy.
- The fly-swatting game was regularly contested on the children's game show A*mazing.
- In WarioWare: Touched!, the theme song was included in a Mario Paint micro game in 9-Volt and 18-Volt's stage, and in the record player souvenier. If you listen long enough, it will turn into a remix of the song theme.
[edit] References
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