How a Gamer built a Simple Computer in Super Mario Maker 

A Gamer Was Able to Make a Calculator in Super Mario Maker

When computers were first invented they were able to do very basic tasks like addition and subtraction but, with the advancement of technology, computers were powerful enough to do addition subtraction, multiplication, division, and other math operations. Eventually, computers got powerful enough to run applications and perform millions of tasks in a matter of seconds. Now, a gamer has built a basic calculator in Super Mario Maker that is able to do addition and subtraction. 

How Does it Work?

A user built a very advanced and complicated level that is able to do basic calculations. The calculator is a 3-bit computer that is able to count up to 7. Computers use binary code to do everything from running games and doing mathematics calculations so, binary code is a must for calculations. In Minecraft, torches are used as binary code because they power Redstone but, it isn’t easy to find something like that in Super Mario Maker. This user cleverly decided to use turtle shells as binary code. A shell represents a 1 and the absence of a shell represents a 0. 

When the number 4 is inputted into the calculator, it shows that the binary equivalent for the number 4 is 0,0,1 or the absence of two shells and one shell. The calculator uses 3 different sections to calculate the answer to the operation. When you learn addition in elementary school, you’re thought that when doing an operation like 9+12 you first do the addition in the one’s place and then move over to the tens place and the calculator uses the same method. The first two shells in the A1 and A2 place (video below) are taken to the top box which takes the two bits on the right and adds the two bits together. If the final result is too big to fit into the first box, it will be moved down to the middle box which adds three bits of data and if the result is still too high, the shells will be moved down to the bottom box and the operation will be done.

For a more detailed explanation of the proccess, you can check out “We Built A Computer in Mario Maker! | Game Theory (Super Mario Maker)” from gaming YouTuber “The Game Theorists.”


Tags and Keywords:
Technology, Video Games, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Maker, Mario Maker Calculator

Sina Far