Making Super Mario Bros Even More Difficult…For Science

When a group of developers at Microsoft's SIGNAL game jam created a customized NES console that would intentionally malfunction and produce unexpected results, Andrew Reitano was inspired to create more complex experiences using Node.js and Socket.IO. By analyzing the behavior of these malfunctions, he discovered new possibilities for creating interactive and real-time user interfaces for multiple users, allowing him to develop games like Contra with custom modifications that could produce unusual outcomes, such as the infamous "wall auto-scrolling" glitch. This project has helped Andrew to overcome his initial hesitation towards JavaScript and Node.js, and has allowed him to create innovative experiences that celebrate old games in new ways.