User:Walkazo/Essays

Here's where I shall rant about my views on the Mario series or the Super Mario Wiki itself and/or draft stuff to actually use on the wiki. Old stuff includes:


 * Courtesy
 * MarioWiki:Redirect (formerly)
 * Template:Wikipolicy
 * Categories
 * Proposal Archiving
 * Template:PArchive
 * Proposals/Archive
 * Proposals/Archive_Template

MarioWiki:Version differences
When games are ported, remade, translated or otherwise localized for different regions, various changes may be made and it is important to document these changes. Solid references, screenshots and back-to-back visual comparisons through the use of the template are useful assets, with the changes themselves being organized into bulleted lists.

Types of sections
As explained here, all uniquely-titled games receive individual articles, including reissues (namely, ports and remakes). On these pages, Level 2 headers can be used for List of changes sections, with the understanding being that said changes are between the reissue and the original game. Compilation games can also use Lv. 2 headers, however each one should specify which game it concerns.

While games are sometimes renamed in the process of being translated or localized, unlike reissues, as they are still the same game, they are not given different articles. Any changes that do occur between the different versions are covered in Regional differences sections on the one article. As above, Lv. 2 headers should be used for these sections, and both types of sections can be further subdivided into specific kinds of changes using Lv. 3 headers.

Types of changes
There are four main types of changes. Gameplay changes can include new game physics or mechanics, different point allocations, and other changes that affect the playing experience. Level design changes do not affect gameplay beyond the specific changes made to certain levels, including structural differences, moved or new items, and altered time limits. Graphical changes do not affect gameplay at all, and include updating the graphics, fixing visual errors, and translating writing found in sprites. Actual changes to a game's script and credit sequences, however, are considered Textual changes, and can range from tweaking spellings and grammar, to translation work, to the addition of completely new narrative sequences, including any accompanying cutscenes.

In sections dealing with version differences, changes should be grouped under these four headers, provided each type of change is found in a given reissue or localization. For example, if no level designs were changed, that particular section can be omitted, and if only one or two bullet's worth of information is present, users can use their discretion on whether to create a section or not. Conversely, if there are numerous changes regarding another specific aspect of a game, additional sections may be created, with "Audio changes" being the most likely to occur. If a given change does not fit neatly into any of the major groupings, or if there are not enough differences to warrant a specific header, the information can simply be listed at the top of the overall section.

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Example: SMW Regional Differences
A number of changes were made to Super Mario World when it was released internationally following its initial Japanese version. This included translating the Japanese names and words and tweaking various levels to make the game easier for international audiences.



Gameplay changes

 * Yoshis can eat the Dolphins as if they were regular enemies in the Japanese version of Super Mario World, but not in the international versions of the game. However, this change was later reversed in the remake, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, allowing Yoshis to eat the dolphins in the non-Japanese versions of the game.

Level design changes

 * Donut Plains 2 has an added ! block after the three ? Blocks near the beginning of the level. Similarly, Vanilla Dome 1 has an extra Cape Feather hidden in the structure of Rotating Blocks found early in the level.
 * The secret exit to Chocolate Island 3 was made more conspicuous through the use of two additional arrow signs, rather than the lone sign found in the Japanese version.
 * In the Ghost Ship, the three 1-Up Mushrooms only fall from the sky after Mario in the international version.
 * Lemmy's Castle has a time limit of 400 seconds instead of 300 seconds. Funky also provided the players more time in the international versions of the game via the presence of nine green berries instead of the original three in the Japanese version; as having Yoshi eat green berries adds 20 seconds to the timer, this meant the international players could accumulate triple the extra time than in the Japanese version of the game.
 * The original Engrish "YOU ARE SUPER PLAYER!!" message at the end of Funky was corrected to "YOU ARE A SUPER PLAYER!!". As the message was spelled in coins, this also meant more points could be collected in this final level in the international version.

Graphical changes

 * Both the file select and mode select title screens change between the different versions. In the file select screen, the Japanese text was changed to English for international releases, and in both cases, 1991 was added to the original's 1990 copyright date to reflect when the North American and European versions were released. The logo was also changed to make the shadowing of the letters less pronounced and the "TM" was rewritten in the same lettering style as the title itself. As shown in the comparison of the file select screens below, the European version differed from both the Japanese and North American releases in height.


 * Donut Secret House has winder brick graphics on the sides so that a space cannot be seen beyond the walls.
 * All instances of Japanese names occurring in-game were changed to English.
 * The sign at Yoshi's House was changed from katakana (Japanese script) to the English alphabet.
 * The enemy names were all translated as well, although rather than Japanese script, they were written in romaji (English letters) in the Japanese version itself. This includes the credits, the writing on Reznor's wheel and the sign on Bowser's castle.

Textual changes

 * In addition to being translated, various other changes were made to the level names.
 * While block numbers were used in the original Japanese names, the numbers in the international version match the font style used in the lettering.
 * In the Japanese version, all level names were followed by 「コースｘ」, "Course X", however in the international version, the names were simply numbered (i.e. 「ヨースターとう　コース１」, "Yōsutā tō Cōsu 1", changes to "Yoshi's Island 1", instead of "Yoshi's Island Course 1").
 * Cheese Bridge Area, Cookie Mountain, Forest Secret Area and Chocolate Island Secret's Japanese names were all followed by 「コース１」, "Course 1", but as there were no additional levels sharing these names, the numerical designation was dropped for the international versions.
 * While various enemies change after the game is changed to the fall setting, in the credits, the new enemies are shown but labeled as the old enemies in the Japanese version; this was then noticed and corrected for the international release.
 * Like the enemy names, the staff credits were also written in romaji in the Japanese version, however various small changes were still made.
 * The somewhat odd title of "Total Director" was changed to "Main Director", "Back Ground" was corrected to "Background", and all instances of "Programer" were changed to the "Programmer" spelling for the international release. "C.G. Designer" was elaborated upon as "Character Graphic Designer" outside of Japan, and various other titles were tweaked, with "Course Director" becoming "Area Director", "Course Editor" changing to "Area Data Input", and "Player and System Programer" becoming "Mario and System Programmer".
 * The spacing of certain words were also tweaked, and a colon was added to "Special Thanks" in the international version.
 * Dayv Brooks was added to the list of "special thanks" for his translation work on Super Mario World.


 * References

Templates to fix

 * white overall backgrounds; solid grey borders; footnotes darker than headers, lighter than banners
 * alternating bg stripes; darker bg stripes first; if only two lines, both bg stripes dark
 * headers centered and subheaders right, or both centered? simply right when no subheaders
 * - characters
 * - Baseball
 * - Sluggers
 * - Sluggers
 * ''( - unique colours: add to chart below G&W)
 * (golf)
 * - DKJC
 * - DKJC
 * - DKJC
 * (karts; everything in )
 * series items
 * (series)
 * - items
 * ''(, - unique colours: classify as species)
 * ''( - only two lines, both bg stripes dark)
 * (series)
 * - golf series characters
 * DK templates - levels
 * ''{{{tem|NSMB Wii}} - "further info" is good way to include subpages/galleries/etc.)
 * - MH:3on3 (fancy bordering)
 * - SMW2:YI
 * - SMW2:YI minigames
 * - could be merged with YI and YIDS
 * - enemies
 * - minigames
 * - MPT
 * - series characters
 * - do something with it
 * - merge with SPM
 * - misc rpgs with SMRPG colours
 * - Strikers
 * - minigames
 * - MPT
 * - series characters
 * - do something with it
 * - merge with SPM
 * - misc rpgs with SMRPG colours
 * - Strikers

BS Super Mario USA
From my forum post here, from Feb. 21, 2012. (For admin eyes only.)

A translation of the ending dialogue is here, but it's not overly useful for plot stuff. The first episode's opening is on Nico Nico Douga (but I viewed it through page), and the entire fourth episode is on youtube: it's got the ending with narration and also the same opening as the first episode except for different closing enemy banter and one missing line from the Commander.

When I transcribed the text, I had only been studying Japanese for six months and listening comprehension was my weak point. Still is, but when I get a chance I'll give the videos a re-listen to try and figure out the stuff I missed before. Even in this crappy, unfinished transcription (italics and question marks are stuff I'm not sure about at all) and translation, however, some key plot points are quite clear.

Crappy transcription:

Narration: Yume no kuni Subcon. Kono kuni wa sono munokashi yasai ga daiki na Mamu to sono uchi ni otte kurushii me wa rarette imashita. Soko ni owarette ano wa onajimi Mario, Luigi, Kinopio, soshite Peach-hime. Kono yo-nin no daikatsuyaku no sei, Mamu wa sono uchi ni yasai yo ippai nitsu me komare, Subcon kara oidasareta no desu. Tokoro ga kurushii me rarette de Subcon wa hitotsu dake de wa arimasen deshita. Hito-bito no miru yume to onaji kase dake Subcon wa attano desu. Nigesata Mamu to sono uchi ni wa soto betsu na yume no naka ni moguri komi. Nandomo nandomo akuji o kurikashite tanō deshita. Commander: Ōsama, hoshi no chikara o tsukatte, Subcon o mamorimasho. King: Yoshi, Mario-kun-tachi onegai sho. Narration: Kōshite mata-mata ano yo-nin ga katsuyakusuru koto temota no desu. Shikashi, hoshi no chikara o tsukau, dōshite no e wa Ōsama-dachi dake dewa imasen deshita. Ano Mamu to sono uchi ni mo chika wa kui o shio[ to takuramu de imasu. Sono de hajime ni donchuru de ga me wa no akashii ano o gondo Mario. Sō doko ga me kakushite mata yo desu.

Crappy translation:

Narrator: Dream land Subcon. In the land, in a chest, are important vegetables - the painful sprouts that can drive away Wart and his group. There at the end are the familiar Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach. because of the foursome's great efforts, Wart and his group were packed full of vegetables and expelled from Subcon. Only one place of the painful, capable sprouts of Subcon was not there. The people [thought] Subcon had only been a dream. Wart and his group escaped outside and dived into a separate dream. Many times they repeatedly [did] various crimes. Commander: King, let's use the power of the star and protect Subcon. King: All right, [get] Mario and friends, please. Narration: Thus, those four [were] made active again (which they were not intending to be). But the star power is used ??why?? there, is not only the King's group missing. Wart and his group were also underground ??? plotting. That beginning ??? sprout ??? Mario. So, where have the sprouts been hidden again.

Basically, the narration confirms that Mario & Co. initially bested Wart with veggies and kicked him out of Subcon, but they thought it was a dream, but then Wart & Co., who had been hiding in another dream, come back and run amok, so the King summons Mario & Co. and they spring back into action again, only to find the King and his people gone (I'm not sure if he's kidnapped, however).

Table coding
Nested table, gradients, borders.

And to make it float...

(Also, note that the width of the background columns has to be of the overall template width - i.e. 17% gives you (approx.) half of 35%, whereas 50% just makes the column in question grow huge and the other one turn as skinny as the longest word will allow it.)

Sorting Table
"Title" = abc order; "Date" = default = release date order (reverse puts series at top); "Series" = abc order; right "#" = date-by-series order

Image Check
Check to see if the transparency is good, or crappy:

Koopa Taxonomy
There are many kinds of Koopa: some are like Koopa Troopas, some are like Bowser, some are like Lakitu, some are like Hammer Bros., and if I had my way, Buzzy Beetles and Clubbas would be Koopas too. Are these different species? Are Red Magikoopas and Yellow Magikoopas different species, or do they just wear different clothes? And what are sub-species? Koopatrols? KP Koopas? What's the relationship between Dark Koopas in Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Dark Koopas in Super Paper Mario? What is Bowser? And what the heck is a Koopa anyway? Since Nintendo didn't give us any sort of Koopa taxonomy, evolutionary chart, fossil record or family tree, it's totally up to us to answer those questions.

This is not impossible: mother nature didn't share her blueprints either, and yet we still know that spiders and crabs are cousins, and that tapeworms and earthworms aren't. We can't tell if Koopas evolved from turtles or dinosaurs, but we can tell that Bowser is not a Koopa Troopa based on the fact that they look nothing alike, besides their shells and overall skin colour. It's just like how tapeworms and earthworms look nothing alike beyond the fact that they're long and limbless and don't make for pleasant dinner conversations. By analyzing the facts, we can make reasonable deductions, enabling us to organize these enemy pages logically with minimal speculation involved, if we do it right. For example, we can associate Fire Bros. and Boomerang Bros. in because they are nearly identical except for colouration and some physical capabilities (fire or boomerang), just as we can say Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets are closely related based on the fact that their body makeup is virtually the same, but their facial feathers and songs are different. But unlike the cute little birdies, we can't speculate on how the Fire and Boomerang Bros. are related: we can't assign them genera or place them in phylogenetic trees, but I think we can say they're different species. True, Nintendo never said they are, but, I mean, one breathes fire and one doesn't: any biologist will tell you that's enough to separate them.

Unfortunately, the "species" vs. "sub-species" debate is where things get really sticky; if you bring race into it too, all the stickier. It's easier just to say they're different "types" of a larger "group" of Koopas which are "related" to one-another, but our nature is to stick "species" in there as well - since it sounds more professional, and more importantly, way more posh. We can justify "species" when there's no doubt to the biology (if it quacks like a duck, it's a duck; if it's pitch black and throws hammers, it's a Dark Hammer Bro.), but when you have really similar enemies, the arguments start to waver. A no-brainer example: KP Koopas are basic Koopa Troopas who merely dyed their shells a different colour; they're "different", but not different species or even a different race or sub-species, just like how punk rockers who dyed their hair blue are still humans - very cool humans. A more difficult example: Dark Koopas in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Paper Mario are more Koopa Troopas of a different colour, but they also have unique skills and live in a specific habitat, so are they a sub-species, or a race, or what? In cases like these, to label them is to make an assumption out of uncertainty, which we have to avoid as much we can: no more of this "sub-species" nonsense - therein lies the face of speculation.

Now, the reason for this spiel (aside from my love of taxonomy) is the confusion over "Koopa" vs. "Koopa Troopa", and what to do with their respective articles. As I said before, to the best of my understanding, the "Koopa Troopa" is a specific species (with many similar species and races attached to it, though the actual relationships between the organisms are ambiguous), and "Koopa" is a general term for all the vaguely turtle/dragonish creatures (I'd call it an Order, but that would be speculation to the max). Therefore, I believe it is a very good thing to have separate Koopa and Koopa Troopa pages: one for the species, one for all the shelled enemies. Currently, Koopa is just a partial list of all the major species and some of the minor species, and that should be changed: it should be an annotated list of all the species. Note the "annotated" part: that's what will set the page apart from a mere category or a list in Koopa (disambiguation): it will give context to the Koopas, allowing us to present them in an organized and logical manner, and as long as we watch ourselves, it can be one that is virtually free of speculation. An example of what the Lakitu section could look like is at the end of this essay.

Of course, some level of speculation is unavoidable. Like tapeworms and earthworms, things like Sumo Bro. and Hammer 'Bro. may not be related at all, but if names are good enough reasons to cram everything else on the Wiki together (A Pirate Goomba is a Goomba? Who knew!), why not here too? No matter what we do, we will have to make some assumptions, but none wil be as large and misguided as saying "Koopa" = "Koopa Troopa" = all Koopas and merging the pages. Bowser is not a Koopa Troopa: any biologist could tell you that even if they never played a videogame in their life (like my Animal Diversity teacher: instead, he spends all his free time studying tapeworms). Therefore, we can't write about Bowser's species in Koopa Troopa, and if we merge Koopa, we lose the only logical place to put it - we'd have to make a nameless stub about them, which would be against various Super Mario Wiki policies. For this specific reason, and for the organizational benefits I stated above, in the name of taxonomy and in the spirit of organization, I say we leave the pages separate.

Lakitu
Lakitus are bespectacled Koopas who ride clouds through the skies, and which can occasionally be found snorkeling in water and hiding in walls or pipes. Unlike most Koopa species, they do not have snouts or beaks, but flat faces; their shells are also unique in their circular patterning. To attack, Lakitus typically throw unlimited numbers of Spiny Eggs at their opponents, and some will also dangle 1-Up Mushrooms from fishing poles to lure their targets closer.


 * Lakitus
 * Aqua Lakitu - A race of Lakitu that lives underwater with the aid of scuba gear, coming to the surface to breathe and throw Spiny Eggs.
 * Calm Lakitu - Lakitus that inhabit Vibe Island, where they are associated with the Calm Vibe, incarnating the power by sleeping most of the time.
 * Dark Lakitu - Lakitus that are darker in colour with red shells and that throw Sky-Blue Spinies.
 * Fishin' Lakitu - Lakitus that use Fishing Rods baited with a 1-Up Mushroom to lure enemies near their clouds. Once the bait is taken the rod is withdrawn and Spinies are thrown. The Fishing Rod can also be used to hook enemies, support various objects, or to simply fish.
 * Lakipea - The Beanish Lakitus. Lakipea have a leaf-like appendage growing from their head, inhabit vine-covered clouds, and throw the Beanish variation of Spiny, Sharpea.
 * Lakitufo - Red-shelled Lakitus bioengineered by the Shroobs to possess strange extraterrestrial features, including antennae in place of hair. They ride UFOs instead of clouds and beam down Spiny Shroopas in lieu of Spinies. They can also jump off their UFOs and assault their enemies themselves with a screw attack.
 * Pipe Lakitu - Lakitus that hide in Warp Pipes to ambush enemies (still attacking with Spiny Eggs).
 * Roketon - A species of Lakitu that flies in airplanes through the skies of Sarasaland. Instead of throwing Spinies, Roketons fire large amounts of Giras from their aircraft to attack their enemies.
 * Thunder Lakitu - This species of Lakitu has a red shell (like Dark Lakitus) and tanned skin. Instead of throwing Spinies it shoots fire generated by a device in its cloud that harnesses the energy from the sun.
 * Wall Lakitu - Lakitus that hide behind hills and other objects in order to throw Spiny Eggs in surprise-attacks.

Timeline
Every Mario game, show, movie and publication in chronological order (right), and in chronological order sub-divided by series (left). Things without specific dates go before everything else released in that month/year. Non-game titles are bold. Issues in serialized publications and the set-of-three anime are marked with dashes on the right column; usually not included in left column. Remakes and notable ports are in brackets, although most ports/re-releases aren't listed. All that is to help with organization/comprehension. Non-English names often have translations (just for fun), and I also have the NA names in parentheses for the things we use the PAL titles for (because my memory is bad).

For the left column, games (or books, special comic issues (most not included), TV series, movies, etc.) in a series are numbered in most cases. Ports/remakes are in brackets and bulleted under the game they are a remake/port of; compilations are also bracketed, but are numbered like original game (All-Stars within the Super Mario series; Nintendo Puzzle Collection is on its own, as it includes games from multiple series). Similarly, the Super Mario Advance series of games is broken apart, with each game being filed under the original it is porting. In some cases, sequels are merely bulleted under the original (without brackets), rather than a new series being made for the two games. All other important notes are more case-specific, and are included as references (listed at the bottom); the entries with references are denoted with goldenrod text.