Editing Paper Mario (video game) (section)

== Development ==
''Paper Mario'' was developed by [[Intelligent Systems]]. [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] served as producer and consulted on the project. Kumiko Takeda and Kaori Aoki wrote the game's script, while Naohiko Aoyama was the art director responsible for the game's distinctive graphical style.<ref>{{cite web|title=Game Credits for Paper Mario|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/n64/paper-mario/credits|access-date=March 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070951/http://www.mobygames.com/game/n64/paper-mario/credits|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Nintendo approached [[Square (video game company)|Square]], who had developed ''[[Super Mario RPG]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], to develop the game, but they turned down the offer due to work on ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. Instead, the company initially hired [[HAL Laboratory]] to write the main story before development was handed over to [[Intelligent Systems]] to develop the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com/n64/mariorpg2/index.html|title=Nintendo: Mario RPG 2|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=May 30, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980530133735/http://www.nintendo.com/n64/mariorpg2/index.html |accessdate=March 15, 2024|archive-date=30 May 1998 }}</ref> The game was initially called ''Super Mario RPG 2'', was slated for release on the [[64DD]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=In Development|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=29|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=May 1997|page=58|url=https://archive.org/stream/NEXT_Generation_29#page/n58|quote=The original Super NES game was programmed by Square, but the Nintendo 64 version will be handled, amid some controversy, by Nintendo in-house.|access-date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216175304/https://archive.org/stream/NEXT_Generation_29#page/n58|archive-date=February 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=EGM103>{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo 64 Previews: Super Mario RPG 2 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=103 |date=February 1998 |page=52}}</ref> and was first revealed at [[Nintendo Space World]] '97, a video game [[trade fair|trade show]] hosted by Nintendo.<ref name=EGM103/> However, the development moved to cartridge format instead. Aoyama took inspiration from the graphics of ''[[PaRappa the Rapper]]'', [[Traditional animation|cel animation]], and the work of [[Walt Disney]] and ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' for the art style. According to producer Hiroyasu Sasano, the series' distinct paper-like style for character graphics came about from the belief that players "might be getting tired" of the computer-generated 3D graphics seen on consoles like the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] as it was difficult for polygons to bring out the characters' "cuteness".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jensen|first1=K.Thor |title=20 Years Ago, Nintendo Transformed the RPG Genre With Paper Mario
 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/20-years-ago-nintendo-transformed-the-rpg-genre-with-paper-mario |website=[[PC Mag]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=March 14, 2024 |date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924092629/https://www.pcmag.com/news/20-years-ago-nintendo-transformed-the-rpg-genre-with-paper-mario |url-status=live }}</ref> Miyamoto stated that the game was being developed with amateur gamers in mind.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mario RPG is for the Kids|date=November 21, 1997|website=[[IGN]]|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/11/22/mario-rpg-is-for-the-kids|access-date=June 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805222700/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/061/061492p1.html|archive-date=August 5, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The game later released for the [[iQue Player]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/games/paper-mario|title=Paper Mario|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=June 1, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212214234/http://uk.cube.ign.com/objects/709/709922.html|archive-date=December 12, 2007}}</ref><ref name="IQue PM">{{Cite web|title = Paper Mario|url = http://www.ique.com/games/21021.htm|website = iQue Ltd.|access-date = October 30, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040100/http://www.ique.com/games/21021.htm|archive-date = September 24, 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> ''Paper Mario'' saw a number of re-releases for later Nintendo consoles: the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] in July 2007, the [[Wii U]] Virtual Console in April 2015,<ref name="PM VC">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/17/vc-monday-071607|title=VC Monday: 07.16.07|website=[[IGN]]|date=July 17, 2007|access-date=June 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908220234/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/805/805656p1.html|archive-date=September 8, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and via the [[Nintendo Classics]] service in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/23/22688780/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-64-sega-genesis-controllers|title=Nintendo Switch Online is getting an 'expansion pack' with N64 and Genesis games|date=2021-09-23|access-date=2021-09-24|website=[[The Verge]]|last=Peters|first=Jay|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924083217/https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/23/22688780/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-64-sega-genesis-controllers|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, ''Paper Mario'' was fully [[decompiled]], making an unofficial PC port and mods possible.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wolens |first1=Joshua |title=Paper Mario PC ports beckon as coder completes full decompilation of the N64 classic |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/paper-mario-pc-ports-beckon-as-coder-completes-full-decompilation-of-the-n64-classic/ |website=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=April 20, 2023 |date=April 20, 2023 |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420130304/https://www.pcgamer.com/paper-mario-pc-ports-beckon-as-coder-completes-full-decompilation-of-the-n64-classic/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The game had a marketing budget of $4 million.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Gaudiosi|url=http://videobusiness.com/games/121400_nintendo_game_boy_advance.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010204093800/http://videobusiness.com/games/121400_nintendo_game_boy_advance.asp|title=Nintendo to price GBA about $99|website=Video Business|archivedate=February 4, 2001|accessdate=August 12, 2024}}</ref>

=== Music ===
The game's soundtrack was first released in Japan on September 21, 2000, with the game's original title by [[Enterbrain]], and distributed by the magazine ''[[Famitsu]]''.<ref name="SEM">{{cite web |title = Paper Mario, album info |url = http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/papermario.shtml |publisher = Square Enix Music Online |access-date = June 4, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120409143726/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/p/papermario.shtml |archive-date = April 9, 2012 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name ="VGMms">{{cite web |title = Paper Mario, Album Stats |url = http://vgmdb.net/album/409 |website = Video Game Music Database |access-date = June 4, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120617141418/http://vgmdb.net/album/409 |archive-date = June 17, 2012 |url-status = live }}</ref> It was followed in the United States a few months later as a [[Nintendo Power]] exclusive with the illustration from the international game cover. It included both the original music to the game, as well as sound effects, in 78 tracks on two discs. All of the game's compositions were written by [[Yuka Tsujiyoko]], with a reprised arrangement of previous ''Super Mario'' themes by [[Koji Kondo]].<ref name="SEM"/> The game's other event and sound effects music were composed by Taishi Senda.<ref name ="VGMms"/> The game's music mostly received positive reviews, with Lucas M. Thomas of [[IGN]] describing it as "vividly appointed with catchy, expressive tunes and comical audio cues."<ref name="IGN review">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/21/paper-mario-review|title=Paper Mario (Virtual Console) review|website=[[IGN]]|date=July 20, 2007|access-date=June 1, 2022|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317135009/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/807/807178p1.html|archive-date=March 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>