View source for Talk:? Block

==How the search is coded==
*cough* ?'s an searching. It has to do with how the search is coded. Anything starting with a non-alphanumeric character will cause it to send you back to the main page. -- [[User:Ghost Jam|Ghost Jam]] 22:42, 3 Apr 2006 (EDT)

==? Panel==

I feel that should get it's own page. [[User:Superchao|Superchao]] 17:16, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:I don't know what exactly a ? Panel is in this game. Which game(s) do they appear in? {{User|Wayoshi}} 17:18, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
::Paper Mario at least... and others... [[User:Superchao|Superchao]] 17:21, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:::Paper Mario has ? blocks, so I still don't understand. {{User|Wayoshi}} 17:25, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
::::There are a few ? paels. The onl one I remeber is in the great tree, and it lowers the switch that drains he water, so you have to jump on it, shoot Koops and hold him, and hit the switch, but the panel is still there. [[User:Superchao|Superchao]] 17:27, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:::::It's also in ''[[Mario Hoops 3 on 3]]''. {{User|Monty Mole}} 17:29, 20 September 2006 (EDT)

And the MH3o3 comment is coming from the guy who made the redirects? Since it appears as a major element in a title, a page should be made, knock yourselves out. :) {{User|Wayoshi}} 17:33, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:Yes, well, I do what I feel needs to be done. Though I still don't recall ? Panels in either Paper Mario. {{User|Monty Mole}} 17:36, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
::Play PM: TTYD until the Great Tree. [[User:Superchao|Superchao]] 17:38, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:::Oh yeah, I remember now. But that's an ! Panel. {{User|Monty Mole}} 17:42, 20 September 2006 (EDT)
:::Oh...

Don't forget they also appear in super mario kart.--[[User:Knife|Spike]][[Image:Spike Shield Badge PM.png]]

They should get thier own page.In this case I agree with superchao.--[[User:Peanutbutter-girl|Peanutbutter-girl]] 19:32, 16 March 2011 (EDT)peanutbutter-girl

== What are the blocks that rotate through powerups in NSMB called? ==

I couldn't find them on here. Basically, they rotate through Mushroom, Fire Flower, Blue Shell and Starman, and occasionally Mini Mushroom replaces one of the other options. I remember there being one in World 5's castle and another somewhere in world 6 (the level with the rising and lowering water level and all the Spinies). With good timing, you should be able to get what you want from them. What are these called, and is there a page for them? {{unsigned|Avengah}}

[[Roulette Block]]. {{User:Akfamilyhome/sig}} 07:35, 3 March 2012 (EST)

=="Block" Article==
Currently, [[Block]] redirects to this article, which is good, because searching for "? Block" doesn't work (it just takes the user to the main page). On the other hand, I think an article about Blocks in general would be good too. What do you think, would a "Block" article make sense? And if so, how will one find the "? Block" article, if not by typing "block" in the search field? :P {{User:Time Q/sig}} 17:09, 28 May 2008 (EDT)
:Agree, we have a "Blocks" category, but no article that explains what Blocks in general actually are. --[[User:Grandy02|Grandy02]] 10:07, 2 December 2008 (EST)

:Yeah, we should have a general article about blocks, then possibly listing types of blocks in the article.  At the top of the block page, we could add the <nowiki>{{articleabout}}</nowiki> tag to redirect users to ? Block if that's what they were looking for, as it is the most common type of block (besides maybe [[Brick Block]], but they're boring...haha).  We should also make sure [[Question Block]] and [[Question Mark Block]] redirect to ? Block. -- {{User|Son of Suns}}

::Seems like a nice idea to me {{User:Tucayo/sig|123}}
==Item Block?==
Is the name "Item Block" official or was it just changed to that to get rid of the question mark?--[[User:Vellidragon|vellidragon]] 11:22, 30 December 2009 (EST)
:I think we have as little proof that "? Block" is an official name. We should check games, manuals and guides as references. - {{User:Cobold/sig}} 11:25, 30 December 2009 (EST)
::If it helps, I've looked up text file versions of the English language ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' manuals on the net; the former simply calls all the blocks in general "bricks", the latter refers to this type of block as "Question Block". Seeing how they don't appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' (not Lost Levels) and didn't appear before ''Super Mario Bros.'' either, the name stated in the ''SMB3'' manual is probably the earliest official English name given to them.--[[User:Vellidragon|vellidragon]] 11:45, 30 December 2009 (EST)
So should this be moved to "Question Block" then? - {{User:Cobold/sig}} 12:02, 8 February 2010 (EST)

Yep. {{User:Time Turner/sig}}

==Merge Used Block==
{{Settled TPP}}
{{Proposal outcome|failed|3-7|no merge}}
Currently, [[Used Block]] is a stub that could use more content and [[Item Block]] is filling with information. I propose that we merge the two together, since Used Block in most cases is just an Item Block, just used up. There are some exceptions, and that includes the times that the P-Switch changes coins into Used Blocks or that the Used Blocks as moving platforms for Mario. Still, I propose this mainly that because Used Blocks have usually nothing to write about, since most in particular serve no function besides that they contain nothing more inside them.

'''Proposer''': {{User|BabyLuigiOnFire}}<br>
'''Deadline''': 17 January 2010, 15:00 
{{fake heading|3|Merge}}
#{{User|BabyLuigiOnFire}} Per comment below
#{{User|Lemmy Koopa Fan}} Per BabyLuigiOnFire.
#{{User|Zero777}} I am Zero! We are a wiki not a wikia who put in unnecasserry articles, that article should be merged. Plus generic enemies are one thing but for some reason generic items are completely different. Zero signing out.

{{fake heading|3|Leave un-merged}}
#{{user|Bloc Partier}} -- It's not a direct state of an Item Block, specifically, as Coincollector says below. Also, as Time Q and vellidragon said, there are some Used Blocks that were never Item Blocks at all, so why should we merge it here?
#{{user|Coincollector}} - I have to say no because the used block doesnt refer to the ? Block/Item Block only. Other types of blocks can become used blocks, for example, some [[! Block]]s turn used blocks after hit like those seen in SMW and in the M&L series.
#{{User|Garlic Man}} -- Per Coincollector. Most of the varieties of blocks in M&L: SS do turn into used blocks, as well as M blocks from the Yoshi series.
#{{User|Reversinator}} Per all.
#{{User|Gamefreak75}} Per all
#{{User|MarioKart66!}} Per All.
#{{User|Time Q}}: Per all.

{{fake heading|3|Comments}}
Used Block is just an item block, but used up. I propose we merge them together since one article (Item Block} contains a lot of information while the other (Used Block) is a stub and can't really be expanded, due to the lack of information concerning used blocks. 
{{User:BabyLuigiOnFire/sig}}

:I'm not quite sure but aren't there Used Blocks that have not been Item Blocks before? {{User:Time Q/sig}} 18:30, 3 January 2010 (EST)
::Uh, give me an example? {{User:BabyLuigiOnFire/sig}}
:::There's a lot of Used Blocks that haven't been Question Blocks before in various levels of ''[[Super Mario World]]'' because they turn into coins when you step on a [[P-Switch]] in that game, and vice versa.--[[User:Vellidragon|vellidragon]] 19:22, 3 January 2010 (EST)
::::I can still see it as this: Types of Item Blocks: Used Blocks: Used blocks are a type of item block. They generally are the item block's state after the player hits it and receives an item from it. Not all used item blocks are associated with item blocks; some are in effect of the [[P-Switch]] from coins in the area and a group of them sometimes act as moving platforms for Mario, but most come from item blocks. {{User:BabyLuigiOnFire/sig}}

This needs to be formatted more like a proper Proposal: there needs to be a clear description of the changes that will be made, as well as the deadline and the name of the proposer. (In particular, it needs to be stated that [[Used Block]] will be merged into this page; right now that's merely implied.) - {{User:Walkazo/sig}} 19:56, 3 January 2010 (EST)

:I'm new when it comes to talk page proposals. Sorry if I formatted completely wrong. :( {{User:BabyLuigiOnFire/sig}}

What's the difference between an [[Item Block]] and a [[? Block]]? I seen both the articles, and the images AND THE TEXT in the article are basically the same! That's because [[? Block]] redirects to [[Item Block]]. Sorry, Bloc Partier, but I don't understand what you are trying to say in your first and second sentence. 

{{User:LeftyGreenMario/sig}} 23:59, 4 January 2010 (EST)
:Ah, my bad. My vote has been edited. {{user|Bloc Partier}}

Just wondering, but have Item blocks ever been officially refered to as "Item Block" or "? Block" ? {{User|Garlic Man}}

How about an alternative? Merge to the general [[Block]] article rather than any specific block article. [[User:Redstar|Redstar]] 23:50, 5 January 2010 (EST)

:Nah, I don't think so and also, some [[Brick Block]]s in NSMB and NSMBW become Used Blocks.--{{User:Gamefreak75/Sig}}

Couldn't we just merge [[Used Block]] into the general [[Block]] article. Some of them don't come from Item blocks. {{User|Jjfs6mk&c}}
:That sounds better --{{User:Tucayo/sig}} 20:57, 10 January 2010 (EST)

Can you make another choice called "Merge with General [[Block]] Article"???{{User|War Of 1812}}

I have a question. It's already 17:13 on January 17 and it still doesn't say passed and it is supposed to be passd like 2 hours ago. {{User|MarioKart66!}}

It doesn't pass automatically. Somebody has to edit it to say that it passed. {{User:Time Turner/sig}}

== Title ==

Why is this article titled "Question Block" and not "?" or "Question Mark Block"? Please explain, as it makes no sense. I didn't want to move it without asking about it first. {{User|Blue Ninjakoopa}} 06:42, 27 July 2010 (UTC)
:They are officially called Question Blocks, at least in the SMB3 manual; look at the "Item Block?" section above, which deals with the article name.--[[User:Vellidragon|vellidragon]] 13:43, 27 July 2010 (UTC)

In every recent Mario game the blocks are called ? Blocks, which is the same as Question Mark Block, so why is it titled just Question Block?
-'''IGGY7735'''

==Block Research Room==
{{User|Platitudinous}} Should we list the comments about the retro blocks in ''[[Question Block#Mario .26 Luigi series|Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''?

==Split Flying Question Block from [[Question Block]]==
{{Settled TPP}}
{{Proposal outcome|passed|10-0|split}}
I am making this proposal because I feel that Flying Question Block deserves its own article. In the games it appears in, the Flying Question Block is different from the non-flying version. Take the ones in ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', for example. Question Blocks in this game are preset and appear in every level just like in all of the other Mario sidescrollers. However, the flying version are red and appear on the world map, where they fly above a randomly chosen level and appear in the actual level if Mario plays it. Clearly, Flying Question Blocks are different from Question Blocks and affect gameplay differently.

'''Proposer''': {{User|ThirdMarioBro}}
<br>'''Deadline''': July 15, 2011, 23:59 GMT

===Support===
#{{User|ThirdMarioBro}} Per proposal.
#{{User|YoshiGo99}} Per all.
#{{User|Goomba's Shoe15}} per proposal
#{{User|Reddragon19k}} Flying Question Block is going to be split? Yes! That is definitely a per all! I love this proposal! I'm Reddragon19k, and I support this message!
#{{User|Mariomario64}} &ndash; I was thinking about this for a while, and this really makes sense; I don't know why this wasn't already split. Per proposal.
#{{User|Zero777}} Per proposal
#{{User|BoygeyDude}} Per the proposal :)
#{{User|UltraMario3000}} Per all.
#{{User|Mariomaster228}} Per all.
#{{User|Mario Bros.!}} SSSBOOM! Per all.

===Oppose===

===Comments===

== Rectangular blocks ==

A coin block is defined as a block that gives multiple coins, '''normally''' coins blocks give one coin per hit and can be hit multiple times. However SM3DL's Rectangular blocks give multiple coins but can only be hit once, does this mean that they are coin blocks?  

-'''IGGY7735'''

== Question Box? ==

Could somebody make a page for the wearable ''[[Question Box]]'' from SM3D? I would do it myself, but I'm not autoconfirmed.--[[User Talk:Walleo|Walleo]] 12:10, 31 May 2012 (EDT)
==Move to [[? Block]]==
{{Settled TPP}}
{{Proposal outcome|passed|5-0-3|move to "? block"}}
I've always seen it as "? Block". I know about the url thing, but another option is <nowiki>{{DISPLAYTITLE:? Block}}</nowiki> like on [[Iggy's Castle|#1 Iggy's Castle]]

'''Proposer''': {{User|Pokémon Trainer Red}}
<br>'''Deadline''': January 20, 2013, 23:59 GMT

===Move===
#{{User|Electrical Bowser jr.}} Whoever said it was called "Question Block"?
#{{user|SWFlash}} Displaytitle is unnecessary, because there is no problem in linking to acticles, such as [[Bowser???]].
#{{User|Pokémon Trainer Red}} Per SWF
#{{User|BowserJunior}} Per all.
#{{User|Megadardery}} Per all.

===Use <nowiki>{{DISPLAYTITLE}}</nowiki>===

===Leave as is===
#{{User|Akfamilyhome}} It's sometimes called a ? Block and a Question Block, and since both have been used as official names before, then we should use the full title, rather than an abbreviation. Leave the '? Block' as a redirect instead.
#{{User|Coooool123}} I have to agree with akfamilyhome. They aren't actually SEPARATE items. Just different names for the same thing. (Like how luigi is also known as Mr. L, or how Princess Peach can also be called Princess Toadstool.) Redirect should be the way to go.
#{{User|DonnyKD}} Per Coooool123.

===Comments===
Seeing as you've suggested two possible courses of action, you might want to have three options ("move", "use DISPLAYTITLE" and "leave as is"), rather than just the choice between moving and doing nothing. - {{User:Walkazo/sig}} 23:31, 5 January 2013 (EST)
:Yeah Ok. [[User:Pokémon Trainer Red|PTR]] ([[User talk:Pokémon Trainer Red|talk]])
Hm... I don't know. What do "official" sources say? Maybe a Prima Guide. Something a long those lines. Eithier way, wouldn't Question Block redirect to ? Block, like the reverse does right now? - {{User:Toad's Pikmin Army/Sig}} 23:38, 5 January 2013 (EST)
:I have the same concern as TPA. Do you have anything to back up this, PTR? --{{User:Tucayo/sig}} 20:27, 20 January 2013 (EST)

== Red ? Block ==

If someone splits it, here is an interwiki link: <nowiki>[[</nowiki>[[:de:Roter ?-Block]]<nowiki>]]</nowiki> -- {{User:A gossip-loving Toad/sig}}  04:28, 14 August 2016 (EDT)

== Questionable statement in the intro ==

<blockquote>In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the manual states that [[Bowser]], using the [[Bowser's Minions|Koopa Clan]]'s famous dark magic, had cursed the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], turning its citizens (presumably the [[Toad (species)|Toads]]) into a variety of objects, including [[Brick Block|brick]]s '''(which the ? Blocks could alternately be thought of as)'''. [[Princess Peach]] could apparently reverse this spell, so she was kidnapped by the "Koopa Clan". The game's manual later talked about how [[Mario]] could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official origin story of the ? Blocks, it would appear to have been long since retconned out of ''Mario'' games, with ? Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. ? Blocks are not to be confused with [[! Block]]s, which are similar punctuation-themed blocks.</blockquote>
I am not understanding how ? Blocks can "alternately be thought of as" [[Brick Block]]s. This seems like speculation unless there is actually evidence of this. Here is [https://legendsoflocalization.com/media/super-mario-bros/manuals/Super-Mario-Bros-Manual-US.pdf the manual], which says
<blockquote>The quiet, peace-loving Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks, and even field horse-hair plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin.</blockquote>
This only seems to say that Brick Blocks are Mushroom People, not ? Blocks. --{{User:Supermariofan67/sig}} 15:33, 31 December 2017 (EST)

== Add disambiguation link to Item Box (Mario Kart) ==

A proposal to disambiguate further between ? Blocks and [[Item Box|Item Boxes]]. On the topic of boxes too, is there anything in the article about the rivets in each corner of the block? --[[User:Kitapio T.|Kitapio:]] [[User talk:Kitapio T.|Keepin' it cool]] since 2000 (not even close) 12:11, August 30, 2023 (EDT)

==Long ? Block==
I was wondering, why does this share an article? This wiki splits blocks for size differences (which the Long ? Block has), and the long blocks have different functionality to boot. I have no clue what reasons they share this article for. [[Special:Contributions/107.77.223.25|107.77.223.25]] 07:50, December 16, 2024 (EST)
:Bumping this from a lack of response. Same guy, different IP. [[Special:Contributions/100.1.209.240|100.1.209.240]] 01:39, December 30, 2024 (EST)
::BOO! Got ya, right? Well, if the split template on the top of the page is any indication, there are some users that agree with that. Trouble is, there are a lot of games with Long ? Blocks. Which is to say they've been in every 3D Super Mario game since ''Super Mario 3D Land'', plus ''New Super Mario Bros. 2''. That is a non-insignificant number of games, and there may or may not be spin-offs to worry about. Throw in how two of those are on the old 3DS and one of them is the un-wikiable ''Super Mario Odyssey'', and we have a problem on our hands. Maybe no one feels motivated; I do ''Odyssey'' and even I'm not touching Long ? Block with a three times the length of a ? Block length pole, because then I'd either have to track down old copies of games or bust out youtube walkthroughs that may or may not be hitting the Long ? Blocks. (That might be another stumbling point.)
::If you made an [[MarioWiki:Users|account]] on Super Mario Wiki, and got [[MarioWiki:Autoconfirmed users|autoconfirmed]] after a few days and some number of helpful edits, you could make the Long ? Block article. It's easier for people to add to an existing article than create it, maybe all the wiki needs is a little push in Long ? Block's direction. [[User:Salmancer|Salmancer]] ([[User talk:Salmancer|talk]]) 07:20, December 30, 2024 (EST)

== ? Block item (Mario Kart World) ==

The ? Block item from MK World is currently listed in the Coin Box page and is assumed to be intended to be the same as the Coin Box from MK Tour but with a name change. But I don't think this assumption is correct. The ? Block item is a floating block that your character hits from below to obtain coins, which is exactly what a ? Bock is, and not a Coin Box, which usually produce coins more passively, without being hit. On top of that, Coin Boxes usually have a reflective golden color, but the ? Block item doesn't have that, which just makes it more clear that it's actually intended to be a ? Block. And, of course, its name is also literally ? Block. So it seems like the item should be listed here instead, and be considered a brand new, distinct item from the Coin Box. I will go ahead and make the appropriate edits to reflect what I believe to be Nintendo's intention, but I thought I'd first leave a comment with my reasoning since I can see where the confusion comes from, with the items looking so similar. [[User:Esteban3000|Esteban3000]] ([[User talk:Esteban3000|talk]]) 18:41, June 28, 2025 (EDT)
:I think the real clincher here is that in Japanese materials for ''World'', the item is referred to as ハテナブロック ''Hatena Block'', the typical name for ? Block, as opposed to コインボックス ''Coin Box'', the name used for the item in ''Tour''. {{User:Arend/sig}} 19:05, June 28, 2025 (EDT)
::Indeed, the English name simply reflects the same intention of the Japanese one. But I'd argue the function and visuals matching more closely with typical depictions of ? Blocks are just as big of indicators for their intention of it being a ? Block. But it does all come together in the way you would expect if that is their intention. [[User:Esteban3000|Esteban3000]] ([[User talk:Esteban3000|talk]]) 20:36, June 28, 2025 (EDT)