View source for Tech demo

{{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 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)|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==
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
|- style="background-color: lightgrey;"
!Game
!System
!Image
!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;"
|''morphdemo''
|rowspan=3 | [[Nintendo 64]]
|[[File:morphdemo tech demo.png|150px]]
|A basic demo that shows a cube morphing to a sphere with artwork of Mario from ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''.
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''puzzle''{{anchor|puzzle}}
|[[File:puzzle tech demo.png|150px]]
|A slide puzzle featuring artwork of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from ''Donkey Kong Country''.
|-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;"
|''[[Yoshi Demo]]''
|rowspan=3 | [[Game Boy Advance]]
|[[File:Yoshidemosceenshot.png|150px]]
|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>Steven Seventyeight (August 15, 2015). [https://youtu.be/zL8FdA3lshY Mario Kart XXL Nintendo Gameboy Advance Prototype / Demo]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 15, 2015.</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;"
|''[[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 Luigi's Mansion pre-release and unused content#Early iterations|Luigi's Mansion]]''
|[[File:LM Prerelease Spaceworld Mansion Exterior.png|150px]]
|''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;"
|''[[Mario Chase|Chase Mii]]''
|[[File:Chase Mii.png|150px]]
|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;"
|''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 tech demo
|[[File:Zapper.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]].
|- style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"
|''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' [[Wii U]] demo{{anchor|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]]''.
|}

==References==
<references/>

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