DEMO Super Mario Nation - Video Demo

[DaisysThirdEye]

Your engine looks pretty solid with a good amount of features to it. Level design and graphics looks pretty good, although I'd probably need to play for myself to be more critical of the level design. It's impressive how much you've done with this.

For feedback, I watched your latest video here and the levels do seem overly long for stages in a Mario game. Also, the screen transitions, while nice, do seem a bit too slow and I could see them being a drag if playing the game for a good chunk of time.

Other than that, nice job with this project and being committed to it for 5+ years!

[GeneSu730]

Dear Daisy:

I will take your suggestion into consideration. I noticed that the stage transition in Super Mario Bros 3 is about twice as fast.
I originally wanted to make my levels the same size as Super Mario World. If you notices, the default stage length is 16 screens. The thing is that I want to scatter the Gems (findable items which will serve the same purpose as Dragon Coins and Star Coins) in many different places. Thus, I made a lot of side areas.
Would you like to play test my game when I am done with it this year?

Yours truly,
Gene Su

[GeneSu730]

I did my best to create a new video within a month. I didn't want to wait another year to upload another video. Of course, I had delays throughout the month of March. First, I had to do my taxes. I don't use an accountant so I am going crazy. Then, I built my 64th stage - a nasty ghost house in the Sky World. You will see that next month (if I can beat it).
This video shows 3 more levels of World 6 - Mario Megalopolis. World 6-4 features a sewer level with lots of running water - something that hasn't been used enough in the newer Mario games. What the deal? Isn't Mario a plumber?
I needed some time to code the Hammer Bros. I plan on creating Hammer Bros battles similar to Super Mario Bros 3, where you can win treasures if you beat the Bros. For now, enjoy World 6-5, a formidable gauntlet filled with the Boomerang, Fire, Ice, and Hammer Bros.
I not only coded rail platforms, but I also coded the saw wheels that could travel along the rails. They were first seen in the Fortresses in Super Mario World. Of course, I am sticking them in my factory. World 6-6 has these obstacles along with some Chain Chomps.
And finally, Luigi is going to take the spotlight once again. Stay tuned next month for a video demo of World 7 - Cotton Candy Clouds.

[GeneSu730]

After 2 and a half months, I have another Super Mario gameplay video. This is the first time I couldn't beat a stage I created. Subscribe to my channel... or else.

[GeneSu730]

I am finally putting the finishing touches on my Super Mario fan game. I decided to also code a Bowser fight similar to that in SMB1 from the original NES. Mario must get past Bowser and step on the switch at the end of the drawbridge to beat him and rescue Toad. Bowser will have 4 forms in my game: Regular Bowser, Dry Bowser, Cyborg Bowser, and Giganto Bowser (final boss fight). Please tell me if you want to play my game.

[VinnyVideo]

Your game looks interesting, and I know people will want to check it out! It's nice to see this nearing the finish line.

Course clear! You got a card.

[GeneSu730]

I think I made my fangame a little too hard, especially the Sky World. Then again, should I make the last 2 worlds challenging? I kept dying during my gameplay. It does feel hot in my house and I had trouble concentrating. This was my third playthrough attempt. I got game overs the first two times on the first stage, On Shaky Ground. There was a stage in SMB3, World 5 where Mario has to run on Donut blocks. I decided to make a stage like that in my own game. However, On Shaky Ground also has wind in it to make things more difficult. Carpeting the Sky showcases again the magic carpet platforms. However, I now coded the Fire Chomp for my game. I surprising got a game over on Sightseeing the Sky. I didn't think I made it that difficult. Anyway, I decided to code some metal saws that could run along the rail. These came from SMW. Almost done with my game. Subscribe to my channel. Volunteer to playtest my game. I know where you live.

[VinnyVideo]

As the designer of your game, you know your game far better than anyone else does. If you're testing your own game and you find it to be a little too hard, you may find that people playing your game will find it to be unreasonably difficult. If you want your game to be enjoyable to a wide audience, it's always wise to get a variety of people to test your levels.

Also, you don't have to go to my house - I'd be happy to give this a try when you're ready! Though you can always bring me some brownies or something.

Course clear! You got a card.

[GeneSu730]

As the designer of your game, you know your game far better than anyone else does. If you're testing your own game and you find it to be a little too hard, you may find that people playing your game will find it to be unreasonably difficult. If you want your game to be enjoyable to a wide audience, it's always wise to get a variety of people to test your levels.

Actually, Vinny. I played the third level yesterday again. I was able to beat it on the first try. I guess the heat made me to tired to concentrate on playing video games.

If I ever make a second fangame, I probably will make it a little more challenging.

[GeneSu730]

I was hoping that this was a finishing touch for my Mario game but it looks like I have some bugs I still need to fix. I just created a tank auto-scrolling stage similar to World 8 in SMB3. As you can see, the Super Mushroom falls through the scrolling ground and Mario is crushed on the right side of the screen. Perhaps I also made this stage a little too hard. Of course, this is the tank that guards Bowser's castle so it should be tough... 68 stages. Almost done.

---

[GeneSu730]

Dear Fans and Followers:
My fangame is not quite complete but I finally have completed enough of it such that I am ready to ask for volunteers to playtest it. Please message me and I will send you a link to my DropBox.
Yours truly,
Gene Su

[VinnyVideo]

I'd be happy to give this a try.

Course clear! You got a card.

[GeneSu730]

I decided to upload more videos to Youtube so they could be viewed on this website.



Here is Bowser's Keep.



Here is a Hammer Bros battle.



This is Bowser Jr. He appears twice in my game.



Here is a sample video of the final duel with Bowser. I know that it requires a bit of polish. After this fight, you win the game.

[GeneSu730]

About a week ago, I released a new version of my game on Dropbox. I am sending out this announcement not just to entice new playtesters but also to inform current playtesters of some of the changes I made:

1. The game will no longer freeze if the game window is minimized or made inactive. It only took me 10 minutes to research Direct X to find out how to do this. I should have made this quality of life change years ago. A lot of people have complained about the game crashing and freezing. I hope this solves this problem. Note that I made this change to all 3 apps: the main game executable (PlaySMN), the map tester (SMMapTst), and the single stage tester (VGMario).
   
2. The title screen used to freeze if allowed to run for more than 2 minutes. This was due to a graphical scrolling error. I fixed this.
   
3. I made the Mario and Luigi's Hit Box / Footprint a little smaller. Some people were complaining that it was too sensitive when they were trying to stomp baddies.
   

If you have agreed to playtest my game and notice my game crashing or freezing, please inform me and send me as many details as possible (preferably with a video). I hope I can improve my engine and make a second game in the (far) future.

[gamester]

I'm down to playtest it too

[GeneSu730]

Hello. I decided to take a hiatus from this project back in January. I think that by June, I will go back to this project, putting the finishing touches on my game. I have worked on this for 8 straight years. I just need to put the ending scene where you rescue Princess Peach Toadstool. Tell me if you want to play test my game. If you have playtested my game, I would appreciate it if you begin to send me feedback.

[GeneSu730]

Here is a link to the newest build of my game.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6din8l61a...2055w&dl=0

I have some instructions in Instructions.txt. The file you want to execute is PlaySMN.exe in the PlaySMN folder.
Please tell me if you come across any bugs. I fixed a lot of bugs in the last week.
Please also tell me if you think any of the stages I made are too difficult.
Finally, some people say that they can't get PlaySMN.exe to work. Please tell me if the executable file works for you.