3 Reasons Why You Can't Play Super Mario Run on Your Mobile
Come December 15, fans from 151 countries and regions will be able to play Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s side-scrolling, auto-runner platformer video game for mobile – the company’s very first mobile game as a matter of fact (and second mobile app after Miitomo).
The question is: are you going to be among the people who get to play Super Mario Run? I ask because there are at least 3 things that might keep you from playing the game on your mobile. Such as…
1. Super Mario Run is only playable online
You’re mobile data is turned off and you’re not connected to Wi-Fi? No Super Mario Run for you!
The game requires an always-on internet connection to work. So if you’re not connected to the internet, you won’t get past the game’s main screen.
Why is Nintendo doing this? According to Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, two main factors are to blame: security a.k.a. piracy and the fact that the game is playable across many different regions on hardware that isn’t under Nintendo’s control.
"Unlike our dedicated game devices, the game is not releasing in a limited number of countries. We're launching in 150 countries and each of those countries has different network environments and things like that. So it was important for us to be able to have it secure for all users,” said Miyamoto in an interview with Mashable.
2. You have to pay for the full experience
Super Mario Run is not a free app.
You can get the app for free and you can try elements of the app’s three game modes for free. But if you want full access, you will have to pay. How much? A rather expensive $9.99. On the bright side, this is a one-time fee. Pay once and that’s it! You won’t have to make any additional payments after that.
In a mobile games ecosystem that is dominated by free-to-play titles, Nintendo’s choice to price Super Mario Run at ten bucks does seem a bit odd. Will players be willing to pay that much money for a game based on the world’s most famous video game plumber? Will Nintendo be forced into lowering the price? We’ll just have to wait and see.
3. It’s an iOS exclusive (for now)
Nintendo will release Super Mario Run on December 15 – but only for iOS (iOS 8 or newer).
Nintendo confirmed that an Android version is in the works, but it did not offer a release date. Super Mario Run is coming to Android… sometime in the future, we don’t know precisely when.
This isn’t exactly surprising since Nintendo unveiled Super Mario Run at Apple’s iPhone 7 even in September. It doesn't make it any less annoying though.
Main things you must know about Super Mario Run
Super Mario Run has been designed so you can easily play it with just one hand. In World Tour, one of 3 available game modes, Mario constantly runs forward. What you have to do is tap the screen to get Mario to jump over obstacles and enemies. Tap once to jump, tap & hold to jump higher.
“We have created Super Mario Run to be perfect for playing on your iPhone,” said Mr. Miyamoto, who first devised the Mario character more than 35 years ago. “Super Mario has evolved whenever he has encountered a new platform, and for the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy a full-fledged Super Mario game with just one hand, giving them the freedom to play while riding the subway or my favorite, eating a hamburger.”
Super Mario Run has 3 game modes to offer:
Learn more about Super Mario Run.
In related news…
Super Mario Run is just one of many games that are scheduled to be released this month. Take a look at 20 more games that come out this December.
And let’s not forget that Nintendo will release a hybrid handheld console that works as a stationary and as a mobile gaming system: the new Nintendo Switch, coming March 2017.
“Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO, Nintendo of America. “It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries.”
Learn more about Switch.
The question is: are you going to be among the people who get to play Super Mario Run? I ask because there are at least 3 things that might keep you from playing the game on your mobile. Such as…
1. Super Mario Run is only playable online
You’re mobile data is turned off and you’re not connected to Wi-Fi? No Super Mario Run for you!
The game requires an always-on internet connection to work. So if you’re not connected to the internet, you won’t get past the game’s main screen.
Why is Nintendo doing this? According to Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, two main factors are to blame: security a.k.a. piracy and the fact that the game is playable across many different regions on hardware that isn’t under Nintendo’s control.
"Unlike our dedicated game devices, the game is not releasing in a limited number of countries. We're launching in 150 countries and each of those countries has different network environments and things like that. So it was important for us to be able to have it secure for all users,” said Miyamoto in an interview with Mashable.
2. You have to pay for the full experience
Super Mario Run is not a free app.
You can get the app for free and you can try elements of the app’s three game modes for free. But if you want full access, you will have to pay. How much? A rather expensive $9.99. On the bright side, this is a one-time fee. Pay once and that’s it! You won’t have to make any additional payments after that.
In a mobile games ecosystem that is dominated by free-to-play titles, Nintendo’s choice to price Super Mario Run at ten bucks does seem a bit odd. Will players be willing to pay that much money for a game based on the world’s most famous video game plumber? Will Nintendo be forced into lowering the price? We’ll just have to wait and see.
3. It’s an iOS exclusive (for now)
Nintendo will release Super Mario Run on December 15 – but only for iOS (iOS 8 or newer).
Nintendo confirmed that an Android version is in the works, but it did not offer a release date. Super Mario Run is coming to Android… sometime in the future, we don’t know precisely when.
This isn’t exactly surprising since Nintendo unveiled Super Mario Run at Apple’s iPhone 7 even in September. It doesn't make it any less annoying though.
Main things you must know about Super Mario Run
Super Mario Run has been designed so you can easily play it with just one hand. In World Tour, one of 3 available game modes, Mario constantly runs forward. What you have to do is tap the screen to get Mario to jump over obstacles and enemies. Tap once to jump, tap & hold to jump higher.
“We have created Super Mario Run to be perfect for playing on your iPhone,” said Mr. Miyamoto, who first devised the Mario character more than 35 years ago. “Super Mario has evolved whenever he has encountered a new platform, and for the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy a full-fledged Super Mario game with just one hand, giving them the freedom to play while riding the subway or my favorite, eating a hamburger.”
Super Mario Run has 3 game modes to offer:
- World Tour – run, jump, get to Bowser and rescue Princess Peach.
- Toad Rally – compete against and challenge "ghost" versions of people from all over the world (similar to the time attack modes in Mario Kart).
- Kingdom Builder – create your unique Mushroom Kingdom with buildings and decorations that you purchase with coins.
Learn more about Super Mario Run.
In related news…
Super Mario Run is just one of many games that are scheduled to be released this month. Take a look at 20 more games that come out this December.
And let’s not forget that Nintendo will release a hybrid handheld console that works as a stationary and as a mobile gaming system: the new Nintendo Switch, coming March 2017.
“Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO, Nintendo of America. “It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries.”
Learn more about Switch.
