Why Mario 64 was Designed Using Sega Controllers
Channel: Video Game Story Time
Date: 2020-10-16

Super Mario 3D All-Stars has reminded everyone of just how great Super Mario 64 is. It's also reminded everyone of just how frustrating Super Mario Sunshine is, but that's beside the point.

All subsequent Mario games, plus pretty much every other game that involves moving around in a 3D space, has taken cues from the way Mario controls in Super Mario 64. This Nintendo 64 classic set the standard for 3D game movement.

So, thanks very much to Sega for making this possible! After all, Mario 64 wasn't originally built using Nintendo controllers - instead, the company borrowed inspiration from their rivals in order to make a game with fluid movement.

Now, this video does involve a little guesswork as to why Sega game pads were used instead of Nintendo ones, but in fairness, anyone who's spent any time playing with both a SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis controller can tell you that one is more suitable for 3D movement than another.

Alternatively, if you've ever played Super Mario 64 DS and tried in vain to figure out the game's baffling control options, you'll know why the team building the original Mario 64 wouldn't want to use any controller with a D-pad.

Anyway, hope you're doing well.
Lots of love,
BretonStripes (http://twitter.com/bretonstriped) and Kotor (http://twitter.com/kotorcomics)

Sources:
http://pixelatron.com/blog/the-making-of-super-mario-64-full-giles-goddard-interview-ngc/ 
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvajn7/meet-the-community-keeping-obsolete-supercomputers-alive