Construction Zone
- Not to be confused with Construction Site or Work Zone.
Construction Zone is a game mode which allows the player to create and save their own levels. It is introduced in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, and returns in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, where in the latter it is known as the Workshop mode. In Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, a similar mode called "Create & Share" makes its debut. Before the discontinuation of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service in 2014, players could utilize the service to distribute their own levels online.
The concept for the Construction Zone dates back to the "Design" mode of Wrecking Crew and was going to be in the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong, but it was replaced by e-Reader support in the final game.
History
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
The Construction Zone is introduced in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. After opening the Construction Zone, the player can enter one of its modes.
Play Level
If the player selects Play Level, they can play certain levels made in the Construction Zone.
- Your Levels: levels that the player has created which have passed the play test. Up to 8 of these levels can be stored.
- Received Levels: levels that the player has received from other players, either locally or via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Up to 24 of these levels can be stored.
Edit Level
To create or edit a level, the player must select Edit Level, then select a slot to edit. Slots with a blue outline indicate a level which has passed the play test, while all other slots use a yellow outline. To erase a level, the player must tap Erase Level and select a level to erase. If the player chooses an empty slot, they must select a construction kit to begin creating a new level. Before selecting a construction kit, the player can toggle the Template button to create a sample level instead of a level with only one Mini Mario and the exit. There are a total of 11 construction kits.
| Construction kit | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| Mushroom Mayhem | Available from the start. |
| Tropical Island | Complete Boss Game 2. |
| Pipe Works | Complete Boss Game 3. |
| Magnet Mania | Complete Boss Game 4. |
| Lava Dome | Complete Boss Game 5. |
| Toadstool Castle | Complete Boss Game 6. |
| Spooky Attic | Complete Boss Game 7. |
| Jungle Hijinks | Complete Boss Game 8. |
| Special Kit 1 | Reach the goal score for Shy Guy Smash! in Mushroom Mayhem, Tropical Island, and Pipe Works. |
| Special Kit 2 | Reach the goal score for Shy Guy Smash! in Magnet Mania, Lava Dome, and Toadstool Castle. |
| Special Kit 3 | Reach the goal score for Shy Guy Smash! in Spooky Attic and Jungle Hijinks. |
Editing toolbar
- Confirmation Menu:[1] Represented by a green Mini Mario button. Lets the player add objects to the level.
- Edit Menu:[1] Represented by a blue hammer button. Lets the player change the current mode.
- End Menu:[1] Represented by a red gear button. Lets the player save the level, test it, or exit editing.
- Undo & Redo[1] buttons: Let the player undo their last action or restore their last undone action, respectively.
- Meter:[1] Decreases as more level elements are placed. If the meter runs out, the player cannot place any more objects into the level.
Editing modes
The icon to the immediate right of the Edit Menu button shows the current editing mode. The player can change the editing mode by clicking on the Edit Menu button.
- Erase: Lets the player remove objects.
- Move: Lets the player move objects.
- Flip: Lets the player flip objects.
- Reset: Clears the level (if Template is set to off) or resets the level back to the sample level (if Template is set to on).
If no icon is displayed, the player has selected an object from the Confirmation Menu; tapping the Touch Screen allows the player to insert that object into the level.
Inserting objects
Once the player enters the Confirmation Menu, a list of objects appears in two columns. The left column contains blocks and inanimate objects and items, while the right column contains a Mini, enemies, and other objects and items. To insert an object the player should tap on an object, then tap where the object should be placed. For some objects, like Pink Blocks, the player can drag the stylus across the Touch Screen to change the size of the object.
Removing objects
To remove an object, the player must activate Erase mode, then tap on the object. To remove multiple objects at the same time, the player should tap and drag the selection rectangle around the objects. However, if there is only one Mini present in the level, that Mini cannot be removed; additionally, the goal can never be removed.
Moving and resizing objects
To move an object, the player must activate Move mode in the Edit Menu, then tap on the object and drag it to another location. To move multiple objects at the same time, the player should drag around the objects to select them before dragging them to another location. While in Move mode, tapping and dragging the edge of some objects (such as Pink Blocks) lets the player change the size of that object.
Flipping objects
To flip an object, the player must activate Flip mode in the Edit Menu, then tap on an object. Objects that can be flipped include Minis, most enemies, conveyor belts, rafts, and Moving Platforms.
Play test
To share a level created in the Construction Zone with other players, the level must pass the play test. To test a level, the player must tap the "Play Test" button in the End Menu. The player must save their level before testing it. To pass the play test, the player must direct all of the Minis in the level so that they reach the exit. If all of the Minis in the level do not reach the exit within 600 seconds, the level does not pass the play test.
Nintendo WFC
Before Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was discontinued, players could use it to send or receive levels from other players.
- Synchronize - By connecting to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players could synchronize their levels to make them available to others.
- Receive - As long as players knew each other's friend codes and had them installed under their friends list, they could receive levels from each other. Every so often, Nintendo also published an official level.[citation needed]
- Nintendo WFC Config - Allows the player to enter Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Setup.
- WFC Friends - Up to 60 friends can be stored here, registered with a friend code. The player's friend code is displayed on the top screen.
Multi-Card
Two players, each with a copy of the game and with Nintendo DS systems close to each other, can locally send and receive levels made in the Construction Zone.
- Broadcast - One player can send a level to another player, if the other player chooses "Receive".
- Receive - One player can receive a level from another player, if the other player chooses "Broadcast".
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | エディタールーム Editā Rūmu |
Editor Room |
