Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
With all the bad press happening in the game industry, I wanted to share a positive game-adjacent experience I encountered this year. Over the past 3 years, I've collaborated with Boston Cyberarts to develop the curriculum for their Summer Unity Program. As part of the introductory phase, I took the opportunity to showcase Nintendo's design tools to gamify fundamental skills of game development. This year, I challenged our students to design a stage together in Super Mario Maker 2, while learning the level design process. Here is the result over the course of 2 days of development!
Special Thanks to Boston Cyberarts! Check out their website: bostoncyberarts.org
DEVELOPMENT STAGES
Phase 1: Planning - 1:29
Phase 2: Development - 3:08
Phase 3: Publishing - 7:23
ARTICLES REFERENCED
Iteration in Game Dev reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/7a4pa0/how_important_is_iteration_for_game_development
Xbox Certification Requirements: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/gaming/gdk/docs/store/policies/console/console-certification-requirements-and-tests?view=gdk-2604
When a Xbox Game FAILS Certification: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/gaming/game-publishing/concepts/certification
Cyberpunk's HORRENDEOUS Launch State: nme.com/news/gaming-news/cyberpunk-2077-developers-knew-extent-of-issues-were-before-launch-says-new-report-2858026
Kingdom Hearts Had to Recreate Assets for HD Rerelease: siliconera.com/kingdom-hearts-1-data-is-lost-square-had-to-recreate-everything-for-hd
Concord Budget Troubles: ign.com/articles/concords-initial-development-deal-was-200-million-but-it-wound-up-costing-sony-much-more-report
GTA VI Took A Decade to Make: gtaboom.com/is-gta-6-the-game-with-the-longest-development-time-ever-5503
Intro by @Tarvis260
Outro Animation by @matthewgaming2408
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MUSIC USED
Game Builder Garage - Excited (BGM Nodon)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - GCN Daisy Cruiser
Super Mario Maker 2 - Title Theme
Rhythm Heaven Groove - Brolly Good Show
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - WarioWare, Inc.
Super Mario World - Castle
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - Pursuit ~ Cornered
With all the bad press happening in the game industry, I wanted to share a positive game-adjacent experience I encountered this year. Over the past 3 years, I've collaborated with Boston Cyberarts to develop the curriculum for their Summer Unity Program. As part of the introductory phase, I took the opportunity to showcase Nintendo's design tools to gamify fundamental skills of game development. This year, I challenged our students to design a stage together in Super Mario Maker 2, while learning the level design process. Here is the result over the course of 2 days of development!
Special Thanks to Boston Cyberarts! Check out their website: bostoncyberarts.org
DEVELOPMENT STAGES
Phase 1: Planning - 1:29
Phase 2: Development - 3:08
Phase 3: Publishing - 7:23
ARTICLES REFERENCED
Iteration in Game Dev reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/7a4pa0/how_important_is_iteration_for_game_development
Xbox Certification Requirements: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/gaming/gdk/docs/store/policies/console/console-certification-requirements-and-tests?view=gdk-2604
When a Xbox Game FAILS Certification: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/gaming/game-publishing/concepts/certification
Cyberpunk's HORRENDEOUS Launch State: nme.com/news/gaming-news/cyberpunk-2077-developers-knew-extent-of-issues-were-before-launch-says-new-report-2858026
Kingdom Hearts Had to Recreate Assets for HD Rerelease: siliconera.com/kingdom-hearts-1-data-is-lost-square-had-to-recreate-everything-for-hd
Concord Budget Troubles: ign.com/articles/concords-initial-development-deal-was-200-million-but-it-wound-up-costing-sony-much-more-report
GTA VI Took A Decade to Make: gtaboom.com/is-gta-6-the-game-with-the-longest-development-time-ever-5503
Intro by @Tarvis260
Outro Animation by @matthewgaming2408
SUBSCRIBE: youtube.com/@AquaTwist_?sub_confirmation=1
Join the Mii Force Today:
youtube.com/@AquaTwist_/join
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aquatwist00.bsky.social
MUSIC USED
Game Builder Garage - Excited (BGM Nodon)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - GCN Daisy Cruiser
Super Mario Maker 2 - Title Theme
Rhythm Heaven Groove - Brolly Good Show
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - WarioWare, Inc.
Super Mario World - Castle
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - Pursuit ~ Cornered






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