Mario no Photopi (Japanese: マリオのふぉとぴー, Hepburn: Mario no Fotopī) is a creativity video game released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 exclusively in Japan.[2] With a variety of photo retouching and image composition functions, SmartMedia storage card slots, and planned 64DD floppy disk compatibility, the game was intended to supplant the Japanese market's desire for a personal computer.[1]
Overview
Gameplay consists of puzzles that the system constructs from images, encouraging user-generated content. The player can compose a unique image using the included Mario series clip art, borders, fonts, and other graphics. The composition's layout can become a postcard, namecard, poster, or a TV slideshow series.[2]
To facilitate such compositions, the user can optionally exchange EXIF images with any other SmartMedia device via the two card slots on the top of the game cartridge. Images can be imported and retouched into the game's compositions from a personal computer or camera. Completed compositions can be exported to a personal computer or printing facility.[1][2] Three optional SmartMedia cards were produced separately and specifically intended for use with the game, preloaded with video game themed graphic files: Sylvanian Families, Bomberman, and Yoshi.
In December 1997, the game was preannounced with optional compatibility with the 64DD floppy drive at a time when the drive was expected to launch in June 1998, but the drive's launch delays meant the game was released in December 1998 without the use of the drive. The 64MB disk would have provided greater mass storage than a SmartMedia card, intended to hold a user's entire photo album and therefore further supplant the need to buy a personal computer.[1] As a nonstandard cartridge with the only SmartMedia adaptor compatible with the Nintendo 64, it has a model number of NUS-023.
^ abcd"Mario no Photopi". Nintendo Co, Ltd. December 2, 1997. Archived from the original on February 5, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
