Mario Artist: Polygon Studio
Developers	Nintendo R&D 1[1] Nichimen Graphics
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform	64DD
Release date	August 31, 2000[2]
Genre	Creative
Mode	Single player
Format	64DD: Magneto-optical drive
Input	Nintendo 64: Nintendo 64 Controller Nintendo 64 Mouse
Serial code	NUD-DMGJ-JPN

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio is the fourth and final game released in theMario Artist series and overallSuper Mario franchise on the64DD, released in Japan on August 31, 2000.^[2] The game allows players to assemble models from pre-made or player-made parts and use them in a variety of side modes. The game features interconnectivity with otherMario Artist gamesTalent Studio andCommunication Kit. By swapping disks, 3D models created withinPolygon Studio can be exported to be used as talents inTalent Studio's movie creation modes. Additionally, 3D models could be uploaded withCommunication Kit to the Randnet, where they would be printed in the form of paper crafts and mailed back to the player.

Gameplay[edit]

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio is primarily a 3D-modelling game where players can create objects such as creatures, vehicles or buildings from pre-made parts (known as "blocks"). Beyond the avaliable blocks, players are also able to use a simple but robust 3D modeling mode to create their own blocks, by modeling with individual polygons and texturing them. They are then able to photograph their creations in an animated stage, or use them in the Sound Bomber and Go Go Park minigames, as well as theJikken World side mode, an open world mode centered around finding blocks to improve the player's vehicle.

Controls[edit]

Action(s)	Input(s)
Move cursor Adjust blocks (when selected)	/
Select buttons and blocks Advance page	/
Rotate or Zoom into a creation Return page	/
Move cursor to exit button
Undo
Move the screen
Act as the button / Slow mouse movement by 50%[a]

3D modeling modes[edit]

There are two main modes:Kantan ni Tsukuru (かんたんにつくる, "Creating Easily") andPro e no Michi (プロへのみち, "Road to Pro"). Kantan ni Tsukuru is geared towards beginners, only allowing players to use pre-madeblocks to create works. Pro e no Michi, conversely, allows players to model their own blocks in a simple 3D modeling program, in addition to the pre-made blocks. Pro e no Michi is divided in three modes, of which the first one, Block Dome, is largely equivalent to the Kantan ni Tsukuru main mode.

The Gallery (ギャラリー,gyararī) allows the player to view their saved creations.

Block Dome[edit]

A block creation in the Block Dome

TheBlock Dome (ブロックドーム,burokku dōmu) is a mode in Pro e no Michi. In it, players can create Block Sakuhin (ブロック作品,burokku sakuhin, "block creations") using pre-made blocks. Players are able to resize, rotate and move blocks in order to build creations. Block can be from one of five categories:

• Parts Blocks (パーツブロック,pātsu burokku): Basic blocks that act as the body of the build.
• Animation Blocks (アニメーションブロック,animēshon burokku): Animated blocks that move in certain ways.
• Sound Blocks (サウンドブロック,saundo burokku): Blocks that continuously emmit sounds.
• ? Blocks (？ブロック,? burokku): Bonus blocks that can be used as decoration on a creation. More are unlocked by finding them in Jikken World.
• Dōryoku Blocks (どうりょくブロク,dōryoku burokku, "Power Blocks"): Blocks that act as wheels or legs, allowing creations to move. More are unlocked by finding them in Jikken World.

From Block Dome, players are able to take their creations on two side modes: Chotto Kyūkei (ちょっときゅうけい, "Quick Break") and Jikken World (じっけんワールド,jikken warūdo, "Experimental World"). In Chotto Kyūkei, players can play two minigames, Go Go Park and Sound Bomber.

Modeler Rocket[edit]

a 3D creation in the Modeler Rocket

In theModeler Rocket (モデラーロケット,moderā roketto) mode, players are able of creating their own blocks, called 3D Sakuhin (3D 作品, "3D creations"), by utilizing a basic 3D modeling software capable of cutting, extruding, adding bevels and other functions. Players can select from various base meshes to start with, such as cubes, cyllinders, animals and houses, as well as other models such asMario,Yoshi andKoopa Troopa fromSuper Mario 64.

The mode also features a number of tutorial videos showcasing different objects being modelled with the editor's features.

Objects created in this mode can be imported intoMario Artist: Talent Studio as props for movies.

• 

  マリオ
  (Mario)

• 

  ノコノコ
  (Koopa Troopa)

• 

  ヨッシー
  (Yoshi)

Stage UFO[edit]

An owl creation on the Stage UFO

TheStage UFO (ステージUFO,sutēji UFO) mode is the last mode accessed from Pro e no Michi. In it, players can position their creations on pre-made 3D stages, with customizable backgrounds and lighting. They can also overlay special effects such asrain or falling leaves on top of the scenery. They can then access the chosen scenery from the Pro e no Michi menu for observation or taking photos.

Side modes[edit]

Go Go Park[edit]

Go Go Park (ゴーゴーパーク,Gō Gō Pāku) is one of the two minigames found in the Block Dome. In it, the player must "wind up" their model (by pressing or moving the mouse forward) and try to get them to stop as close to the edge of a cliff as possible without going over. The minigame features three stages of difficulty. The first stage takes place on a grassy plains and the layout is a straight line. The second stage takes place on a fiery lava landscape, with the layout now having an incline. The third stage takes place in a starry night landscape and its layout features a slope going up and down in the middle. After beating all three stages, they repeat in order.

The minigame serves as a predecessor to the minigameChicken Race inWarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

• 

  Stage 1

• 

  Stage 2

• 

  Stage 3

Sound Bomber[edit]

Sound Bomber (サウンドボンバー,Saundo Bonbā) is the other minigame found in Block Dome. It is a collection of eight simple minigames involving the player's creation that must be completed in quick succession by utilizing simple controls. The minigame has three levels of difficulty and after three mistakes, the minigame ends. Sound Bomber would go on to inspire the creation of theWarioWare series.^[1]

• 

  ROULETTE

• 

  JUMP

• 

  SHOOT

• 

  BASEBALL

• 

  MAZE

• 

  BLOCK

• 

  FLIES

• 

  RACE

Jikken World[edit]

A vehicle exploring Jikken World

Main article:Jikken World

Jikken World is a side mode accessed from the Block Dome. In it, the player can control their creations and drive them around a series of worlds, finding Dōryoku Blocks and ? Blocks along the way. These blocks can then be added to the player's creations, allowing them to explore further. Each Dōryoku Block added on the vehicle, has different stats such as speed and traction on snow, sand and thorny terrain or maximum altitude. By having different types of blocks, the vehicle can have separate walking, driving, swimming and flying modes. Spread around Jikken World are a series of hints written onslices of bread byUdetate and Banzāi, giving advice on how to control the vehicle, as well as secrets about the world itself.

Staff[edit]

Main article:List of Mario Artist: Polygon Studio staff

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio was directed byHirofumi Matsuoka, who would go on to directWarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, a game which follows the same format of quickmicrogames as the Sound Bomber minigame.

Gallery[edit]

Artwork[edit]

• 

  Cover art

• 

  Mario artwork

Screenshots[edit]

• 

  Pre-release

• 

  Editing a face polygon inMario Artist: Polygon Studio.

• 

  Title screen

• 

  TheHajime Terminal in theJikken World

• 

  The entrance toPorigoneshia

• 

  Collecting a new part in the Jikken World

• 

  Aflying egg pursuing the player

• 

  Atube creature in the overworld

Miscellaneous[edit]

• 

  Game drive

• 

  A photo of theMario Artist series demonstration event in Nintendo Space World '99, which the game was demonstrated

References to other games[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 3

• One of the Animation Blocks is a brown striped tail which resemblesRaccoon Mario's orTanooki Mario's tail.

Mario Paint

• TheBaby can be seen floating in the background of the model creation menu, and makes its signature noise when clicked on.
• As with all otherMario Artist titles, a dog's head serves as the "Undo" icon, a reference toUndodog.
• When starting up the game, there is a chance that a scene ofUdetate and Banzāi doing aerobics will play, just like in this game. They also appear inJikken World leaving behind messages, and can be eventually collected and used as blocks by the player.

Super Mario 64

• Untextured versions ofMario,Yoshi andKoopa Troopa's models from this game can be loaded in the Polygon Editor.
• A part called thePower Star can be found in the Jikken World mode, which makes all Power Block parts perform like their most superior counterparts.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

• An untextured version ofKirby's model from this game can be found in the Polygon Editor.

References in later games[edit]

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

• The concept of microgames originated fromPolygon Studio's Sound Bomber mode. The introduction stage taking place inside a boombox is a direct reference to Sound Bomber. Additionally, all of the Sound Bomber microgames appear in this game, under different names and with different graphics and controls:
  • JUMP appears asCrazy Cars.
  • BLOCK appears asDiamond Dig.
  • SHOOT appears asRepellion.
  • ROULETTE appears asWario Whirled.
  • BASEBALL appears asBatter Up.
  • FLIES appears asMario Paint: Fly Swatter.
  • RACE appears asHectic Highway andRacing 112.
  • MAZE appears asMaze Daze.

Names in other languages[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

The Cutting Room Floor has an article onMario Artist: Polygon Studio.

• American website
• Playthrough of the game

• Games
• 64DD games
• Japan-only games
• 2000 games
• Mario Artist: Polygon Studio

• Articles with titles from the English Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia