404-in-1 #001 - Armadillo NES aka Mario IV
Still drafting A7 zines, but printing none of them.1. Title Page
2. Preview of the title page, screenshots, etc.
3. Introduction: Honestly, I could have these anecdotes in short form. Did You Know Gaming? The Western release of Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) is not an original game, but is actually a heavily modified version of the 1987 Japanese game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic. Say this fact at a party and impress nobody, actually you might get an eyeroll if this were your exclusive Bluesky feed... but in the real world I'm sure the room would look towards you staring, the room deathly silent, a single cough sounds out before everyone recommences their conversations, freezing you out entirely. Also, if I self-reflect upon this joke - it's shit, but it's a stone cold classic. I regret nothing.
Sometime ages ago, I hacked my Wii and downloaded a ROM directory of NES games, my mates and I used to browse the folder and load up ROMs at random. Enclosed were the big hitters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokemon Adventures, Donkey Kong Jr. Math and Marios numbered Super Mario Bros. 1 through to 16. Some were more legitimate than others, sure the title screen says Mario IV, or Super Bros 6, but as you start it out unrelated characters talk out a plot and once the action starts up Mario is the playable character sprite but that's it.
I find this intriguing, surely a bootlegger has some taste or choice as to what becomes a Mario bootleg and surely they have their own standards, sell a shit bootleg and turn off your audience? Or bootleg something decent enough and sell some units. Nintendo sorta did it with Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2 but the difference is, these are both Nintendo's intellectual property and in Doki Doki Panic's case - it's a bizarre Fuji TV tie-in title that can be stripped of its copywrited assets to be resold abroad, or remastered and released years later.
4. This brings us to Armadillo or Mario IV
5. Continued
6. More screen captures.
7. Mini-Review Ultraman Ball Game Boy 1994
8. Is this a Mario? #002 Teaser - Silouette of the next game. Copyright, where to find me (neocities) Month, Year Mario Maker ID? (Will I commit to making a level?)