Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka appeared on Nintendo’s E3 Digital event to talk Super Mario Maker, revealing amiibo integration and the game’s release.
It will be coming out September 11, 2015, which may seem like an interesting choice for a release date, but Nintendo has a good reason for choosing so. This is close to the release date of the original Super Mario Bros in Japan, in September 14, 1985 and commemorating the franchise’s 30 year anniversary.
Regarding amiibo, there will be two different kinds of integration. For existing amiibo, there is an unlockable ability called Costume Mario. Tap an amiibo into the game so that you can take on the appearance of another character, such as Wii Fit Trainer. It’s not clear if this will apply for the Mario series amiibo, or for that matter, what happens when you tap a Mario amiibo, but it should be interesting to find out.
There will also be a special 8-bit style Mario amiibo made just for the game. If you tap it, you will get a special extra large version of the 8-bit Mario in the game. The amiibo will be similarly large.
Tezuka and Miyamoto revealed that Super Mario Maker is essentially a modified version of the engine they used to make the classic Mario games. Miyamoto even talked to some degree about what many developers and core fans knew; that the first stage of Super Mario Bros was designed to teach you how to play the game, via observation and trial and error.
Super Mario Maker is releasing to commemorate Mario’s 30th anniversary, but Nintendo wants fans to bring their own odes to their flagship character as well. With this in mind, they want fans to share their own video with them in a new campaign called Let’s Super Mario. You can learn more and share your own video here.
Did you check out Super Mario Maker’s strong showing in the Nintendo World Championships? Are you looking forward to making your own Mario levels? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.