informa
/
1 MIN READ
News

Nintendo cracks down on speedrunner, ROM-hacker YouTube

Nintendo's policies around YouTube have been restrictive, but the company is taking renewed action with emulation and ROMs in its sights.

Kotaku reports that a YouTube user by the name of "PangaeaPanga" has been hit by a takedown notice and the removal of a number of speedruns of Super Mario World -- and he's not alone. "YouTube just wrecked my channel," he tweeted.

Kotaku supplies an email reportedly sent by Nintendo's anti-piracy team that, in part, the company has its eyes both on tool assisted speedruns, "which require making a copy of a game’s ROM file, and running the copied ROM through an emulator."

The email also asks "that you please remove the video in question from your channel, and confirm that you will not post any videos using unauthorized software or copies of games, distribute or continue work on the modification, or take any other steps that would infringe Nintendo’s rights."

The company launched an affiliate program last year. It's the only authorized way to share YouTube videos of Nintendo games, and entitles the company to the cut of the ad proceeds.

Only games whitelisted by Nintendo are eligible for the program. It's worth noting that PangaeaPanga had posted not just vanilla Super Mario World videos, but those of hacks of the game, such as "Item Abuse 3," which Kotaku describes here in an earlier story.  

It's also worth considering that this request comes as Super Mario Maker, which allows players to create their own Mario levels, is about to release; it's due in two days, and offers the first sanctioned way to "hack" classic Mario levels. For more on that game, read our analysis.

Latest Jobs

IO Interactive

Hybrid (Malmö, Sweden)
3.02.23
Gameplay Director (Project Fantasy)

Arizona State University

Los Angeles, CA, USA
2.27.23
Assistant Professor of XR Technologies

IO Interactive

Hybrid (Copenhagen, Denmark)
3.02.23
Animation Tech Programmer

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN, USA
3.02.23
Assistant Professor in Game Design and Development
More Jobs   

CONNECT WITH US

Explore the
Advertise with
Follow us

Game Developer Job Board

Game Developer

@gamedevdotcom

Explore the

Game Developer Job Board

Browse open positions across the game industry or recruit new talent for your studio

Browse
Advertise with

Game Developer

Engage game professionals and drive sales using an array of Game Developer media solutions to meet your objectives.

Learn More
Follow us

@gamedevdotcom

Follow us @gamedevdotcom to stay up-to-date with the latest news & insider information about events & more