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{{distinguish2|[[List of unreleased media|vaporware]], a commercial product which presumably started development but never got released}}
{{distinguish|[[List of unreleased media|vaporware]], a commercial product which presumably started development but never got released}}
A '''tech demo''' is a computer and video game industry term referring to short applications designed to gauge interest in an upcoming product or to demonstrate hardware-specific features. Tech demos have various levels of interactivity, ranging from real-time videos to short but fully playable demonstrations. Tech demos are rarely intended to be turned into fully fledged commercial products, though their ideas and concepts are sometimes reused.
A '''tech demo''' is a computer and video game industry term referring to short applications designed to gauge interest in an upcoming product and/or to demonstrate hardware-specific features. Tech demos have various levels of interactivity, ranging from real-time videos to short but fully playable demonstrations. Tech demos are rarely intended to be turned into fully fledged commercial products, though their ideas and concepts are sometimes reused.


Due to its status as [[Nintendo]]'s flagship franchise, the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' franchise has been the subject of or has been featured in many tech demos. The following is a list of them.
Due to its status as [[Nintendo]]'s flagship franchise, the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise has been the subject of or has been featured in many tech demos. The following is a list of them.


==List of ''Mario''-related tech demos==
==List of ''Super Mario''-related tech demos==
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
|- style="background-color: lightgrey;"
|- style="background-color: lightgrey;"
! Game
!Game
! System
!System
! Image
!Image
! Description
!Description
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''snd_test''
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|[[File:Snd test-gameplay.png|150px]]
|Features a basic playable ''Super Mario'' game, among several other features. The ''Super Mario'' mode (and variations thereof) is selected by choosing options 11 through 14, which are all labeled blank in the selection menu.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWOaaOsKWg</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''Mario Demo''{{anchor|Mario Demo}}
|rowspan=2 | [[Virtual Boy]]
|[[File:Mariodemo.png|150px]]
|An animation sequence to show off the console's stereoscopic 3D effect, featured at the Japanese Shoshinkai event on November 15 and 16, 1994. The sequence shows a rendered [[Mario]] under the Virtual Boy logo, which flies into the viewer letter by letter.<ref>PlanetVirtualBoy (June 28, 2010). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odall6Jhd24 Mario Demo at Shoshinkai 1994 (Virtual Boy)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref> The render of Mario is actually a photograph of a [[Media:Mario Demo Statue.jpg|statue]] which was used as part of Nintendo store displays in Japan.<ref>(September 12, 2023). [https://www.virtual-boy.com/games/mario-bros-vb/images/1052007/ Gold Super Mario Statue]. Retrieved January 28, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240127053917/https://www.virtual-boy.com/games/mario-bros-vb/images/1052007/ Archived] January 27, 2024, 05:39:17 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|Unnamed ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' proof-of-concept{{anchor|Unnamed Donkey Kong proof-of-concept}}
|N/A
|A short, side-scrolling, split-level demo with a jungle background with Donkey Kong walking/running/jumping and some rats (lifted from the [[Game Boy]] ''{{wp|Battletoads (Game Boy video game)|Battletoads}}'' game) running around him to test the capabilities of the Virtual Boy. The art was lifted from ''Donkey Kong Country'' which had already gone through some conversion for ''[[Donkey Kong Land]]''. The proof-of-concept was [[List of rumors and urban legends#Donkey_Kong_Country_2_for_the_Virtual_Boy|misremembered]] as an attempt to port ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' to the Virtual Boy.<ref>Cameron. "[https://dkvine.com/?p=games&page=dkvb&section=red_dead_reflection Red Dead Reflection]". ''DK Vine''. Retrieved October 16, 2020.</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''snd_test''
|''morphdemo''
| [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|rowspan=3 | [[Nintendo 64]]
| [[File:Snd test-gameplay.png|150px]]
|[[File:morphdemo tech demo.png|150px]]
| Features a basic playable ''Mario'' game, among several other features. The ''Mario'' mode (and variations thereof) is selected by choosing options 11 through 14, which are all labeled blank in the selection menu.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWOaaOsKWg</ref>
|A basic demo that shows a cube morphing to a sphere with artwork of Mario from ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''Mario Demo''{{anchor|Mario Demo}}
|''puzzle''{{anchor|puzzle}}
| [[Virtual Boy]]
|[[File:puzzle tech demo.png|150px]]
| [[File:Mariodemo.png|150px]]
|A slide puzzle featuring artwork of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from ''Donkey Kong Country''.
| An animation sequence to show off the console's stereoscopic 3D effect, featured at the Japanese Shoshinkai event on November 15 and 16, 1994. The sequence shows a rendered [[Mario]] under the Virtual Boy logo, which flies into the viewer letter by letter.<ref>PlanetVirtualBoy (June 28, 2010). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odall6Jhd24 Mario Demo at Shoshinkai 1994 (Virtual Boy)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''spritemonkeyEX''{{anchor|spritemonkeyEX}}
|[[File:spritemonkeyEX tech demo.png|150px]]
|A basic demo that shows images that can be interacted with to showcase the console's ability to manipulate images. The first picture features artwork of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from ''Donkey Kong Country''.
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Wario Land II]]'' samples
|[[Game Boy Color]]
|[[File:WLII sample tech demo.png|150px]]
|Two sample demos based on ''Wario Land II'' included in the Game Boy Color development kit, showing the system's ability to display different colors.<ref> Borman (April 17, 2020). [https://www.obscuregamers.com/threads/wario-cgb-samples-found.2091/index.html 'Wario' CGB Samples Found]. ''Obscure Gamers''. Retrieved January 20, 2023. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230120170231/https://www.obscuregamers.com/threads/wario-cgb-samples-found.2091/index.html Archived] January 20, 2023, 17:02:31 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''morphdemo''
|''[[Yoshi Demo]]''
| rowspan=3 | [[Nintendo 64]]
|rowspan=3 | [[Game Boy Advance]]
|
|[[File:Yoshidemosceenshot.png|150px]]
| A basic demo that shows a picture of Mario morphing from a cube to a sphere.
|Loosely based on ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', it is unknown if this demo was ever meant to be a full game.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/07/yoshis-story-gba-tech-demo/]</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Mario Kart XXL]]''
|[[File:MKXXL title screen.png|150px]]
|A playable ''Mario Kart'' demo developed by {{wp|Manfred Trenz|Denaris Entertainment Software}} made to showcase the Game Boy Advance's ability to render two separate background layers.<ref>Hard4Games (October 15, 2022). [https://youtu.be/kaqAiXnsaBY?t=44 FOUND! Mario Kart XXL - The Unreleased Demo!]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved April 12, 2024.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|Purple Yoshi tech demo
|[[File:Purple Yoshi GBA tech demo.jpg|150px]]
|A tech demo starring a [[Yoshi (species)|Purple Yoshi]]. ''IGN Pocket'' posted a watermarked screenshot of a presumed tech demo featuring a Purple Yoshi in a forest in a behind-the-back perspective as blue and red spider-like creatures attacked them. No other information about this alleged tech demo arose.<ref>LSuperSonicQ (February 17, 2018). [https://youtu.be/8qah_2QS--U The Mystery of the Purple Yoshi Tech Demo (Game Boy Advance, 2000)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved February 18, 2018.</ref><ref>August 11, 2000. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020209074151/http://pocket.ign.com/news/23455.html IGNboards – The Joint is Jumping]. Archived February 9, 2002.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Super Mario 128]]''
|rowspan=4 | [[Nintendo GameCube]]
|[[File:Mario128titlescreen.jpg|150px]]
|A series of experiments originally intended to be a sequel to ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. Concepts from this demo were used in other projects, such as ''[[Pikipedia:Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/super-mario-128-gc-tech-demo/]</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[NDDEMO]]''
|[[File:PC Entrance.png|150px]]
|A tech demo included in a revision of the GameCube Software Development Kit, created to show developers the graphical capabilities of the console.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2009/03/01/peachs-castle-gamecube-tech-demo/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''puzzle''
|''[[List of Luigi's Mansion pre-release and unused content#Early iterations|Luigi's Mansion]]''
|
|[[File:LM Prerelease Spaceworld Mansion Exterior.png|150px]]
| A slide puzzle featuring Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
|''Luigi's Mansion'' was originally shown off at Space World 2000 as a tech demo designed to show off the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo GameCube.<ref name="SpaceWorld 1">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zr0Nu24OCU Nintendo Gamecube, SpaceWorld 2000]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref name="SpaceWorld 2">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qUavULj4Bo Space World 2000 GameCube Movie Reel]. ''YouTube''.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[List of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! pre-release and unused content#Early iteration|Mario Kart for Nintendo GameCube]]''
|[[File:Mariokartproto01.jpg|150px]]
|A seven-second clip featuring [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] driving [[kart]]s using ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' models. It was most likely reworked into ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''.
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' tech demos
|rowspan=4 | [[Nintendo DS]]
|[[File:DKR Climax DS tech demo.jpg|150px]]
|Two tech demos based on ''Diddy Kong Racing'' developed by the {{wp|Climax Studios|Climax Group}} in May 2004, featuring a playable [[Diddy Kong]] in [[Timber's Island]]. These demos are unrelated to ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''.<ref>
@forestillusion (February 20, 2022). ''[https://twitter.com/forestillusion/status/1495405910360948738 Twitter]''. Retrieved April 30, 2023. ([http://archive.today/dthj0 Archived] January 19, 2023, 21:24:37 UTC via archive.today.)</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Balloon Trip]]''
|[[File:BalloonTriptitle.jpg|150px]]
|A ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''-themed [[minigame]] making use of the [[Nintendo DS]]'s touchscreen and dual screen setup. It ended up forming the basis of ''[[Yoshi Touch & Go]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/balloon-trip-yoshi-touch-go-ds-proto/]</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Mario's Face (tech demo)|Mario's Face]]''
|[[File:Mariof2.jpg|150px]]
|A tech demo featuring Mario and [[Wario]]'s heads that could be squeezed or stretched in various ways, similar to the title screen for ''[[Super Mario 64]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/marios-face-ds-tech-demo/]</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''DSpeak''{{anchor|DSpeak}}
|[[File:E3 2005 DSPeak Tech Demo.jpg|150px]]
|A tech demo featured at E3 2005 which showcased the DS's wireless communication and microphone capabilities. Each DS system displayed Mario's or Wario's head on the top screen. Their mouths were synchronized to the input of the opposing DS.<ref>Craig Harris. (May 18, 2005). [https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/18/e3-2005-dspeak-impressions E3 2005: DSpeak Impressions]. ''IGN''. Retrieved October 2, 2022.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''Koopa Troopa Forest''
|rowspan=2 | [[Wii]]
|[[File:Kpf.png|150px]]
|A demo showcasing the various ways pointer controls can be utilized.<ref>orcastraw. (July 20, 2021). [https://twitter.com/orcastraw/status/1417575184383545348?s=20]. ''Twitter''. Retrieved December 14, 2021.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''Mario FPS''
|[[File:Fpsm.jpg|150px]]
|A demo which tests 3D movement using motion controls. It uses [[Delfino Plaza]] as its environment.<ref>orcastraw. (July 20, 2021). [https://twitter.com/orcastraw/status/1417576286034276356?s=20]. ''Twitter''. Retrieved December 14, 2021.</ref>
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Mii]]''
|rowspan=6 | [[Wii U]]
|[[File:NSMBM Title Screen.jpg|150px]]
|An experience tech demo loosely based on ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' appearing at {{wp|E3 2011}}. The demo's primary purpose was to show off the "{{wp|Off-TV Play}}" function of the Wii U. It served as the basis for ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''spritemonkeyEX''
|''[[Mario Chase|Chase Mii]]''
|
|[[File:Chase Mii.png|150px]]
| An image slideshow; the first picture features Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
|It features [[Mii]]s in ''Super Mario''-themed costumes playing a game similar to tag. A refined version of this demo appears in ''[[Nintendo Land]]'' under the name Mario Chase.
|-style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''Shield Pose''
|[[File:Shield Pose.jpg|150px]]
|A rhythm-based minigame in which the player moves the GamePad around to block attacks. Initially developed as pre-installed software for the console,<ref>[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gameandwario Iwata Asks: Game & Wario]</ref> the demo's scope was expanded and it was reworked as the ''[[Game & Wario]]'' minigame [[Pirates]].
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[List of Luigi's Mansion pre-release and unused content#Early Iterations|Luigi's Mansion]]''
|''Measure Up''
| [[Nintendo GameCube]]
|[[File:Measureup.jpg|150px]]
| [[File:LM Prerelease Spaceworld Mansion Exterior.png|150px]]
|A minigame in which the player is instructed to draw geometrical shapes. It was released as the ''Game & Wario'' minigame [[Design]].
| ''Luigi's Mansion'' was originally shown off at Space World 2000 as a tech demo designed to show off the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo GameCube.<ref name="SpaceWorld 1">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zr0Nu24OCU Nintendo Gamecube, SpaceWorld 2000]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref name="SpaceWorld 2">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qUavULj4Bo Space World 2000 GameCube Movie Reel]. ''YouTube''.</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Yoshi Demo]]''
|Zapper tech demo
| rowspan=3 | [[Game Boy Advance]]
|[[File:Zapper.png|150px]]
| [[File:Yoshidemosceenshot.png|150px]]
|A minigame in which the player moves the GamePad to shoot [[Mii]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141029051021/http://www.nindb.net:80/system/wii-u/demo.html Wii U Demo Software (Pre-Release)]. ''nindb''. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014, 05:10:21 UTC via Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 19, 2023.</ref> It ended up being the basis of the ''Game & Wario'' minigame [[Shutter]].
| Loosely based on ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', it is unknown if this demo was ever meant to be a full game.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/07/yoshis-story-gba-tech-demo/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Mario Kart XXL]]''
|''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' [[Wii U]] demo{{anchor|Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo}}
| [[File:MKXXL.png|150px]]
|[[File:Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo.png|150px]]
| A playable ''Mario Kart'' demo developed by {{wp|Manfred Trenz|Denaris Entertainment Software}} made to showcase the Game Boy Advance's ability to render two separate background layers.<ref>Steven Seventyeight (August 15, 2015). [https://youtu.be/zL8FdA3lshY Mario Kart XXL Nintendo Gameboy Advance Prototype / Demo]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 15, 2015.</ref>
|Developed with {{wp|Wii U#Development tools|Nintendo Web Framework}} (a {{wp|Deployment environment#Development|development environment}} based on {{wp|WebKit}}), the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Wii U demo was shown at {{wp|Game Developers Conference|GDC 2014}}, used as a sample to show the potential of Nintendo Web Framework. Like previous installments in the series, the goal of each level is to guide the [[Mini Mario (toy)|Mini Marios]] to the exit, creating paths through the positioning of platforms and other interactions with the setting made through the touch screen of the {{button|wiiu|GamePad}}. The first stage shows some of the basic features of Nintendo Web Framework, and then after this stage is a bigger stage, which brings more complex lighting effects and animations.<ref>[http://mariopartylegacy.com/2014/03/mario-vs-donkey-kong-wii-u-demo-playable-at-gdc/ Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Wii U Demo Playable at GDC - Mario Party Legacy]</ref><ref>[http://www.reinodocogumelo.com/2014/03/demo-tecnica-de-mario-vs-donkey-kong.html]</ref> This title was reworked into ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| Purple Yoshi tech demo
| [[File:Purple Yoshi GBA tech demo.jpg|150px]]
| A tech demo starring a [[Yoshi (species)|Purple Yoshi]]. ''IGN Pocket'' posted a watermarked screenshot of a presumed tech demo featuring a Purple Yoshi in a forest in a behind-the-back perspective as blue and red spider-like robots resembling severed segments of [[Mechawiggler]] attacked him. No other information about this alleged tech demo arose, however.<ref>LSuperSonicQ (February 17, 2018). [https://youtu.be/8qah_2QS--U The Mystery of the Purple Yoshi Tech Demo (Game Boy Advance, 2000)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved February 18, 2018.</ref><ref>August 11, 2000. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020209074151/http://pocket.ign.com/news/23455.html IGNboards – The Joint is Jumping]. Archived February 9, 2002.</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Super Mario 128]]''
| rowspan=3 | [[Nintendo GameCube]]
| [[File:Mario128titlescreen.jpg|150px]]
| A series of experiments originally intended to be a sequel to ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. Concepts from this demo were used in other projects, such as ''[[Pikipedia:Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/super-mario-128-gc-tech-demo/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Peach's Castle (tech demo)|Peach's Castle]]''
| [[File:PC Entrance.png|150px]]
| A tech demo included in a revision of the GameCube Software Development Kit, created to show developers the graphical capabilities of the console.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2009/03/01/peachs-castle-gamecube-tech-demo/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[List of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! pre-release and unused content#Early iteration|Mario Kart for Nintendo GameCube]]''
| [[File:Mariokartproto01.jpg|150px]]
| A seven-second clip featuring [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] driving [[kart]]s using ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' models. It was most likely reworked into ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Balloon Trip]]''
| rowspan=2 | [[Nintendo DS]]
| [[File:BalloonTriptitle.jpg|150px]]
| A ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''-themed [[minigame]] making use of the [[Nintendo DS]]'s touchscreen and dual screen setup. It ended up forming the basis of ''[[Yoshi Touch and Go]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/balloon-trip-yoshi-touch-go-ds-proto/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Mario's Face (tech demo)|Mario's Face]]''
| [[File:Mariof2.jpg|150px]]
| A tech demo featuring Mario and [[Wario]]'s heads that could be squeezed or stretched in various ways, similar to the title screen for ''[[Super Mario 64]]''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/08/marios-face-ds-tech-demo/]</ref>
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Mii]]''
| rowspan=6 | [[Wii U]]
| [[File:NSMBM Title Screen.jpg|150px]]
| An experience tech demo loosely based on ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' appearing at {{wp|E3 2011}}. The demo's primary purpose was to show off the "{{wp|Off-TV Play}}" function of the Wii U. It served as the basis for ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Mario Chase|Chase Mii]]''
| [[File:Chase Mii.png|150px]]
| It features [[Mii]]s in ''Mario''-themed costumes playing a game similar to tag. A refined version of this demo appears in ''[[Nintendo Land]]'' under the name Mario Chase.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''Shield Pose''
| [[File:Shield Pose.jpg|150px]]
| A rhythm-based minigame in which the player moves the GamePad around to block attacks. Initially developed as pre-installed software for the console,<ref>[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gameandwario Iwata Asks: Game & Wario]</ref> the demo's scope was expanded and it was reworked as the ''[[Game & Wario]]'' minigame [[Pirates]].
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''Measure Up''
| [[File:Measureup.jpg‎|150px]]
| A minigame in which the player is instructed to draw geometrical shapes. It was released as the ''Game & Wario'' minigame [[Design]].
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| Zapper demo
| N/A
| A minigame in which the player moves the GamePad to shoot [[Mii]]-like characters. It ended up being the basis of the ''Game & Wario'' minigame [[Shutter]].{{ref needed}}
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
| ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' [[Wii U]] demo
| [[File:Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo.png|150px]]
| Developed with {{wp|Wii U#Development tools|Nintendo Web Framework}} (a {{wp|Deployment environment#Development|development environment}} based on {{wp|WebKit}}), the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Wii U demo was shown at {{wp|Game Developers Conference|GDC 2014}}, used as a sample to show the potential of Nintendo Web Framework. Like previous installments in the series, the goal of each level is to guide the [[Mini Mario (toy)|Mini Marios]] to the exit, creating paths through the positioning of platforms and other interactions with the setting made through the touch screen of the {{button|wiiu|GamePad}}. The first stage shows some of the basic features of Nintendo Web Framework, and then after this stage is a bigger stage, which brings more complex lighting effects and animations.<ref>[http://mariopartylegacy.com/2014/03/mario-vs-donkey-kong-wii-u-demo-playable-at-gdc/ Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Wii U Demo Playable at GDC - Mario Party Legacy]</ref><ref>[http://www.reinodocogumelo.com/2014/03/demo-tecnica-de-mario-vs-donkey-kong.html]</ref> This title was reworked into ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''.
|}
|}


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{{unreleased media}}
[[Category:Tech Demos|*]]
{{Super Mario games}}
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[[Category:Games|*]]
[[Category:Games|*]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Terms]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, April 12, 2024

Not to be confused with vaporware, a commercial product which presumably started development but never got released.

A tech demo is a computer and video game industry term referring to short applications designed to gauge interest in an upcoming product and/or to demonstrate hardware-specific features. Tech demos have various levels of interactivity, ranging from real-time videos to short but fully playable demonstrations. Tech demos are rarely intended to be turned into fully fledged commercial products, though their ideas and concepts are sometimes reused.

Due to its status as Nintendo's flagship franchise, the Super Mario franchise has been the subject of or has been featured in many tech demos. The following is a list of them.

List of Super Mario-related tech demos[edit]

Game System Image Description
snd_test Super Nintendo Entertainment System snd_test screenshot Features a basic playable Super Mario game, among several other features. The Super Mario mode (and variations thereof) is selected by choosing options 11 through 14, which are all labeled blank in the selection menu.[1]
Mario Demo Virtual Boy Mariodemo.png An animation sequence to show off the console's stereoscopic 3D effect, featured at the Japanese Shoshinkai event on November 15 and 16, 1994. The sequence shows a rendered Mario under the Virtual Boy logo, which flies into the viewer letter by letter.[2] The render of Mario is actually a photograph of a statue which was used as part of Nintendo store displays in Japan.[3]
Unnamed Donkey Kong Country proof-of-concept N/A A short, side-scrolling, split-level demo with a jungle background with Donkey Kong walking/running/jumping and some rats (lifted from the Game Boy Battletoads game) running around him to test the capabilities of the Virtual Boy. The art was lifted from Donkey Kong Country which had already gone through some conversion for Donkey Kong Land. The proof-of-concept was misremembered as an attempt to port Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest to the Virtual Boy.[4]
morphdemo Nintendo 64 Screenshot of the Nintendo 64 tech demo morphdemo A basic demo that shows a cube morphing to a sphere with artwork of Mario from Super Mario All-Stars.
puzzle Screenshot of the Nintendo 64 tech demo puzzle A slide puzzle featuring artwork of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from Donkey Kong Country.
spritemonkeyEX Screenshot of the Nintendo 64 tech demo spritemonkeyEX A basic demo that shows images that can be interacted with to showcase the console's ability to manipulate images. The first picture features artwork of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from Donkey Kong Country.
Wario Land II samples Game Boy Color The sample tech demo based on Wario Land II from the Game Boy Color development kit Two sample demos based on Wario Land II included in the Game Boy Color development kit, showing the system's ability to display different colors.[5]
Yoshi Demo Game Boy Advance Yoshi Demo Loosely based on Yoshi's Story, it is unknown if this demo was ever meant to be a full game.[6]
Mario Kart XXL Title screen of the tech demo Mario Kart XXL A playable Mario Kart demo developed by Denaris Entertainment Software made to showcase the Game Boy Advance's ability to render two separate background layers.[7]
Purple Yoshi tech demo Alleged screenshot or mockup of a Game Boy Advance tech demo featuring a Purple Yoshi targeting its tongue towards an enemy on the right. Along with a meter gauge on the lower left, a star icon to the lower right, and a timer on the upper left. A tech demo starring a Purple Yoshi. IGN Pocket posted a watermarked screenshot of a presumed tech demo featuring a Purple Yoshi in a forest in a behind-the-back perspective as blue and red spider-like creatures attacked them. No other information about this alleged tech demo arose.[8][9]
Super Mario 128 Nintendo GameCube Title screen of the unreleased game Super Mario 128. A series of experiments originally intended to be a sequel to Super Mario 64. Concepts from this demo were used in other projects, such as Pikmin and Super Mario Galaxy.[10]
NDDEMO PC Entrance.png A tech demo included in a revision of the GameCube Software Development Kit, created to show developers the graphical capabilities of the console.[11]
Luigi's Mansion A pre-release version of Luigi's Mansion. Luigi's Mansion was originally shown off at Space World 2000 as a tech demo designed to show off the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo GameCube.[12][13]
Mario Kart for Nintendo GameCube Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Early A seven-second clip featuring Mario and Luigi driving karts using Super Smash Bros. Melee models. It was most likely reworked into Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.
Diddy Kong Racing tech demos Nintendo DS The Diddy Kong Racing Nintendo DS tech demo developed by the Climax Group Two tech demos based on Diddy Kong Racing developed by the Climax Group in May 2004, featuring a playable Diddy Kong in Timber's Island. These demos are unrelated to Diddy Kong Racing DS.[14]
Balloon Trip Balloon Trip A Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island-themed minigame making use of the Nintendo DS's touchscreen and dual screen setup. It ended up forming the basis of Yoshi Touch & Go.[15]
Mario's Face Screenshot from the unreleased tech demo, Mario's Face A tech demo featuring Mario and Wario's heads that could be squeezed or stretched in various ways, similar to the title screen for Super Mario 64.[16]
DSpeak The DSpeak tech demo at Nintendo's E3 2005 booth A tech demo featured at E3 2005 which showcased the DS's wireless communication and microphone capabilities. Each DS system displayed Mario's or Wario's head on the top screen. Their mouths were synchronized to the input of the opposing DS.[17]
Koopa Troopa Forest Wii Koopa Troopa Forest, a prototype for the Wii A demo showcasing the various ways pointer controls can be utilized.[18]
Mario FPS Mario FPS, a prototype for 3D control on the Wii A demo which tests 3D movement using motion controls. It uses Delfino Plaza as its environment.[19]
New Super Mario Bros. Mii Wii U NSMBM Title Screen.jpg An experience tech demo loosely based on New Super Mario Bros. Wii appearing at E3 2011. The demo's primary purpose was to show off the "Off-TV Play" function of the Wii U. It served as the basis for New Super Mario Bros. U.
Chase Mii Chase Mii, a tech demo that would become Mario Chase. It features Miis in Super Mario-themed costumes playing a game similar to tag. A refined version of this demo appears in Nintendo Land under the name Mario Chase.
Shield Pose Chase Mii, a tech demo that would become the Game & Wario game Pirates. A rhythm-based minigame in which the player moves the GamePad around to block attacks. Initially developed as pre-installed software for the console,[20] the demo's scope was expanded and it was reworked as the Game & Wario minigame Pirates.
Measure Up Measure Up, a tech demo that would become the Game & Wario game Shutter. A minigame in which the player is instructed to draw geometrical shapes. It was released as the Game & Wario minigame Design.
Zapper tech demo Zapper, a Wii U tech demo that would become the Game & Wario game Shutter. A minigame in which the player moves the GamePad to shoot Miis.[21] It ended up being the basis of the Game & Wario minigame Shutter.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo A tech demo for a Mario vs. Donkey Kong game that would become Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Developed with Nintendo Web Framework (a development environment based on WebKit), the Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo was shown at GDC 2014, used as a sample to show the potential of Nintendo Web Framework. Like previous installments in the series, the goal of each level is to guide the Mini Marios to the exit, creating paths through the positioning of platforms and other interactions with the setting made through the touch screen of the GamePad. The first stage shows some of the basic features of Nintendo Web Framework, and then after this stage is a bigger stage, which brings more complex lighting effects and animations.[22][23] This title was reworked into Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars.

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWOaaOsKWg
  2. ^ PlanetVirtualBoy (June 28, 2010). Mario Demo at Shoshinkai 1994 (Virtual Boy). YouTube. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  3. ^ (September 12, 2023). Gold Super Mario Statue. Retrieved January 28, 2024. (Archived January 27, 2024, 05:39:17 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  4. ^ Cameron. "Red Dead Reflection". DK Vine. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Borman (April 17, 2020). 'Wario' CGB Samples Found. Obscure Gamers. Retrieved January 20, 2023. (Archived January 20, 2023, 17:02:31 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ Hard4Games (October 15, 2022). FOUND! Mario Kart XXL - The Unreleased Demo!. YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. ^ LSuperSonicQ (February 17, 2018). The Mystery of the Purple Yoshi Tech Demo (Game Boy Advance, 2000). YouTube. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  9. ^ August 11, 2000. IGNboards – The Joint is Jumping. Archived February 9, 2002.
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ [3]
  12. ^ Nintendo Gamecube, SpaceWorld 2000. YouTube.
  13. ^ Space World 2000 GameCube Movie Reel. YouTube.
  14. ^ @forestillusion (February 20, 2022). Twitter. Retrieved April 30, 2023. (Archived January 19, 2023, 21:24:37 UTC via archive.today.)
  15. ^ [4]
  16. ^ [5]
  17. ^ Craig Harris. (May 18, 2005). E3 2005: DSpeak Impressions. IGN. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  18. ^ orcastraw. (July 20, 2021). [6]. Twitter. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  19. ^ orcastraw. (July 20, 2021). [7]. Twitter. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  20. ^ Iwata Asks: Game & Wario
  21. ^ Wii U Demo Software (Pre-Release). nindb. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014, 05:10:21 UTC via Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  22. ^ Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Wii U Demo Playable at GDC - Mario Party Legacy
  23. ^ [8]