Playable Paper Super Mario... no really, he's made of paper

Taking Paper Mario to its logical -- albeit extreme -- conclusion, an artist / DIY'er named Keith Lam has created the first physical, playable implementation of Super Mario Brothers. By emphasizing Mario's movement on the background, and turning the "TV" into the object which moves, the character appears to traverse the familiar landscape of SMB, complete with collision detection, brick movement, and mechanized jumping. The "system" is built using a chain-driven platform, which is shakily directed with an actual NES (well, Famicom) controller, thus allowing for some game play -- though with response times like this, you're better off just watching. Speaking of, check the video after the break and see the system in action.

[Via Wired]

[Philippe @ Feb 7th 2008 12:48PM]

Now, one could wonder why he didn't put the background on a rotating cylinder instead of moving the TV screen.

[Jagannath A @ Feb 7th 2008 12:57PM]

cos curvature is a bitch

[Tommy Crashwreck @ Feb 7th 2008 2:46PM]

Did you watch the video? The idea of moving the television set, and therefore Mario, along a background changes the way you as participant interact with the game. That's actually the concept behind the installation, not to make a physical Mario just for the sake of making a physical Mario.

[Philippe @ Feb 7th 2008 3:02PM]

The problem with the setup is the finite state of the background. He could also have gone with a BIG column, with fixed background, and you'd make runs around the whole setup. A continuous background would also allow for a multi-player experience.

[randompass @ Mar 6th 2008 3:04PM]

that would go against the concept

[David Vogt @ Feb 7th 2008 12:49PM]

We need more posts like this.

[recon @ Feb 7th 2008 12:51PM]

I hate to be "that guy" but, this is dumb. Like mentioned above, why not have the background move. anyway, my 2 cents

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 7th 2008 1:06PM]

Because he's nit picking about moving the background vs. moving the character. Apparently moving the character is more "real" *shrugs* Interesting...if not even remotely practical.

[broli @ Feb 7th 2008 1:03PM]

Anyone would understand the concept in the first 10 seconds, the rest is like explaining the obvious.

"You press right and the tv moves right". Thanks Captain Obvious I didn't see that!

[Fernando @ Feb 7th 2008 1:05PM]

LOL

[Krono6 @ Feb 7th 2008 5:59PM]

I'd agree with that, if I hadn't already spent 5 minutes explaining how to play Mario Bros. 1 to someone.
I don't have much faith in the 'general public of gamers', but it was fun watching someone fall down over and over whilst yelling "WOW THIS IS FUN!!".

[kyle allen @ Mar 7th 2008 12:16AM]

i agree. By agreeing i have the same opinion on the subject as you. we are of the same opinion. if you agree with me, than i agree with you. we are in agreement on this instalation.

[Fernando @ Feb 7th 2008 12:55PM]

This is a perfect example of people with way too much time on their hands.

[lonecow12 @ Feb 7th 2008 3:21PM]

As opposed to sitting on a tech blog site all day and responding to comments?

[Fernando @ Feb 7th 2008 3:54PM]

That was during my lunch break look at the time. As if you are any different anyhow!

[Allen @ Feb 7th 2008 12:56PM]

It'd be harder to change out different panels if the background had to move...

But I do agree, what a waste of time! What the hell? Are there no starving people, no poor, no HDTV-less denizens of earth? Engadget will hopefully save me from being that last one, but common, why even bother with this BS?

[Electromodo @ Feb 7th 2008 1:02PM]

What you are saying is - why bother with oils and brushes, while you have a digital camera and a Photoshop?

This is art, guys, and art is illogical. The guy is not making money on his paper Mario, he is an artist.

[EddieW @ Feb 7th 2008 1:47PM]

What do you mean no HD?
With this method, you can have something that has more detail than a 1080p TV!!
Too bad he can't make the mushroom moves tho~ I would pay a quarter to play that.

[brian @ Feb 7th 2008 12:58PM]

isn't it "Super Paper Mario"? not "Paper Super Mario"

[looseinthedeuce @ Feb 7th 2008 1:04PM]

Were they "Pirate Ghosts" or "Ghost Pirates"? I can't remember.

He took "Super Mario" and made it from paper, ergo - "Paper Super Mario".

QED

[Jordan @ Feb 7th 2008 1:04PM]

This is "Paper Super Mario" because it's Super Marioesque but in paper form. If it was "Super Paper Mario" it would be Paper Mario in super form.

[brian @ Feb 7th 2008 1:07PM]

Right i get it now, It is pretty lame IMO.

[Luigi193 @ Feb 7th 2008 1:54PM]

Beat me too it... I take my mario very seriously!!!
LOL

[Rubicon @ Feb 7th 2008 1:03PM]

Where do i insert my catridges?! i wants my metroid, pong...so on so forth

[Imran @ Feb 7th 2008 1:04PM]

How does he grow bigger with a mushroom? Where's the fireflower? How does he throw fireballs? Why can't he turn left and run? Why did I watch the whole video? Don't answer the last one.

[Ryan @ Feb 7th 2008 5:41PM]

There are no fireballs because it is made of paper. The whole installation would go up in a blaze!!!

[Imran @ Feb 8th 2008 3:59AM]

Paper fireballs! It's paper super mario!

[Fernando @ Feb 7th 2008 1:05PM]

Can it play Doom?? HAHA!

[James Ollier @ Feb 7th 2008 1:07PM]

Its a bit f ing slow to be super.

Its a bit 50cc, needs to be 150cc...

[Skippy @ Feb 7th 2008 1:07PM]

FYI: that's a Famicom controller.

[applefreak @ Feb 7th 2008 1:09PM]

dude, this is so cool !

[jtc970 @ Feb 7th 2008 1:11PM]

Someone please buy that "artist" a can of 3-in-1

[erik @ Feb 7th 2008 1:15PM]

one word... lame.

[looseinthedeuce @ Feb 7th 2008 1:17PM]

Isn't that three words?

[ben @ Feb 7th 2008 2:25PM]

lame is the one word...

[Magnulus @ Feb 7th 2008 1:22PM]

Wow, that was SO much less awesome than I was hoping it'd be!

[calvin @ Feb 7th 2008 1:25PM]

can mario (i mean... the tv which houses mario in it) run? since, you know.. b is to run.

[michaelportent @ Feb 7th 2008 1:27PM]

This is pure genius. Totally impractical, but art nonetheless.

[toyotaboy @ Feb 7th 2008 1:32PM]

wait, I go right and the screen moves right? I only have 2 brain cells, u must explain slower. Seriously, did he really have to go into that in depth explanation, this isn't quantum physics.

Also, he doesn't have the mario character turn around when he goes left, mario is moonwalking. He's got the bricks rotating to reveal mushrooms, why not the character? That's the problem with art, there is no right or wrong, because it's.. art

[still sdh @ Feb 7th 2008 2:06PM]

Once when I sat down on a chair in haste my balls got caught in between.

[Philpott @ Feb 7th 2008 2:11PM]

I really enjoyed how long it took to explain how the game worked - 2 mins. The video in made for people who have never even seen a video game.

[Robert @ Feb 7th 2008 2:25PM]

Everyone knows that Mario can't go left!!!!!!

[Sauerkraut @ Feb 7th 2008 2:31PM]

Until I see a moving turtle creature it sucks

[dsfrantz @ Feb 7th 2008 2:42PM]

this is sad. very sad.

what's next? super puppet mario?

[Dismal @ Feb 7th 2008 3:10PM]

well the first 1:40 of the video told me about 20 times that when you push right on the controller mario (and the TV) move right and when you push left mario (and the tv) move left. that was a few minutes of my life I will never get back.

[OneLove @ Feb 7th 2008 3:33PM]

oil yo damn gears!

[Lesz8986 @ Feb 7th 2008 3:50PM]

His next project is Descent. He will need a large warehouse and when you sit in the actual space ship and move the controller left it will move left, when you move right it will move right. And get this! When you push forward the ship will move forward. Problem is, you can only move and not shoot other ships. ))sigh((

Or, maybe he was doing Doom! Yah, that’s what he said, Doom and he will pay people to get shot and die for a real art affect.

[Craig @ Feb 7th 2008 5:43PM]

wow. when i was little (4 or 5), this is how i thought the tv worked.

[tom @ Mar 9th 2008 10:49AM]

That IS how a tv works, isn't it?

[Rocketboy @ Feb 7th 2008 5:44PM]

Congrats. You just re-invented old belt-driven type electronic games.