Browsing around the depths of the Internet we came across a super low tech version of Super Mario from [Sata Productions]. The video presents a complete tutorial on how to make a playable, cardboard version of the famous Super Mario game. If you are a fan, you probably going to like this.
You basically need cardboard, a hot glue gun, a ball bearing, a couple of DC motors, some iron BBs, some magnets, batteries, some wires… it sounds just like shopping list for a MacGuyver episode. But it works and it’s playable. It has a wired remote control, you control Mario to move and make him jump up and down in a kind of turning dashboard game. It even has a game over screen when Mario dies. Yes, Mario can die in this cardboard version. If you want to make a custom version you can always print a bigger level and resize the cardboard box.
Super Mario has had its shares of hacks, like this interface hack using a Kinect to control Mario or this super tricky jailbreak hack that allows players to run their own game mods, but this one is just on another level: a low tech approach. It seems like it could be a fun weekend project, especially if you have kids. If you’re not into Super Mario, it’s possible to just print a different game, the supporting platform is pretty generic and could support several simplified platform games.
Check out the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6gXzqvnc_s
If you make one, we’d be happy to know about it.
Love it! cardboard is underrated
+100
Really? Nobody made the obvious Paper Mario joke?
You just did
this is great, this proves that low tech doesn’t have to be boring. A job well done. I really love those cardboard gears, brilliant thinking!
Therapeutic :)
Excellent! Arvind Gupta (toys from trash) on steroids!
(mind blown away)
Very cool.
Like a pinball version.
Love it.
i rate this ???? ???? ???? ???? ????
Nicely done… although a more secure mounting for that magnet would be a good idea as it seems to have broken loose from its glue bonds towards the end.
Freakin sweet! Kudos to the builder(s) and great find HaD
MOAR cardboard awesomeness like this please.
Awesome project!
The MarkII could use a roll of cardboard.
I’d like to see this programmable with scrolls for new levels kinda like if super mario maker were physical and made of cardboard …
I was actually thinking how you could add sound to it… Graphite “resistors” marked on a loop of paper driving a NE555 in frequency modulation mode?
Man, watched to the end! That was awesome!
I was thinking while watching that it would be feasible to add a scoreing mechanism fairly easy along with a few refinements to the game play. It’s very clever
nice cardboard building , but at least tin the copper contact wires ..
Pah, proper low tech would have a donkey, a carrot and a stick fastened to the top of the drum for rotation, electricity will never catch on.
It also needs more elastic bands and washing up bottles.
Now this is some clever use of card board esp the part with the gears.