Super Mario Run is coming out on December 15; however, to play the game, players will need an active net connection. This means that you cannot play the game on a plane or a subway, unless of course you are connected to the internet.
Internet connectivity to play Super Mario Run
In an interview with Mashable, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said the internet requirement was introduced to curb piracy. Miyamoto said they view their software as being a very important asset for them. So for players who are buying the game, they wanted to make sure that they offer secure software, he said.
“We wanted to be able to leverage that network connection with all three of the [game] modes to keep all of the modes functioning together and offering the game in a way that keeps the software secure,” said Miyamoto.
When Miyamoto was asked if “security” referred to the risk of piracy, he said, “That’s correct.” The game, unlike Nintendo’s other dedicated game devices, is not being released in a limited number of countries. The Mario creator said they are releasing it in 150 countries. Since each of the countries has different network environments, it was important for them to be able to make it secure for all users.
He said that Nintendo had considered making the single-player World Tour story mode available to play offline. But doing so would have complicated the connection to the Mushroom Kingdom and Toad Rally modes, which depend on mobile data. In the Mushroom Kingdom, players can create and share their own courses. In Toad Rally, they can challenge “ghost” versions of other players to complete a course the fastest.
Why release it on iOS first?
Miyamoto said security was at least partly responsible for why they decided to release Super Mario Run for iOS first, much before releasing on Android in 2017. For Super Mario Run fans who were hoping to enjoy the game, during commutes, this news is disappointing. Nevertheless, if the gaming giant has created a compelling-enough title, it should not be a deal-breaker.
In other news related to Super Mario Run, it is known that other Mushroom Kingdom universe characters can be unlocked in-game, but it is uncertain if they will be included in the $10 “unlock all content” paywall.
Super Mario Run was recently shown off on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. Along with the game, the Nintendo Switch also made an unexpected debut at the show.
