Super Mario has a long history of spearheading innovation in its genre. The original Super Mario Bros. was not the first platformer but it is known for revolutionizing the genre and setting the ground rules that are still being used till now. The series was also responsible for proving that 3D platforming was possible with its perfectly-tuned Super Mario 64.
Ever since the original Super Mario Bros. was released in 1983, the series has made its way to all gaming platforms including consoles, handhelds and now mobile. Interestingly enough, it looks like Mario finally isn't able to make the jump to one major platform: Virtual Reality.
Speaking to USA Today, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto explained why he believes that Mario is an ill fit for virtual reality.
"I would agree that adapting Mario to new platforms is a key to keeping him relevant," he said. "But we want families to play together, and virtual reality (which requires players to be closed off from the real world) doesn't really fit well there. We also like people playing for a long time, and it's hard to do that in VR."
Miyamoto's might have valid concerns here, but they sure feel like temporary technical limitations. We already know that Microsoft is working on shared virtual reality experiences and that several hardware makers including Oculus, Valve and Sony are researching ways to extend virtual reality session time. It sure feels sad to know that Nintendo is just sitting back waiting for others to advance the technology instead of being a forefront runner.
