Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars—How HTML and JavaScript Powered a Unique Wii U and 3DS Experience

Mario vs.

Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars—How HTML and JavaScript Powered a Unique Wii U and 3DS Experience When it comes to Nintendo’s robust lineup of games, few titles illustrate the company’s experimental spirit quite like Mario vs.

Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars.

Released in March 2015 for both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS via the eShop, Tipping Stars not only showcased classic puzzle-platformer gameplay but also demonstrated an innovative approach to cross-platform development, made possible by the Nintendo Web Framework—the company’s proprietary HTML5 and JavaScript engine for Wii U applications. A Surprising Discovery: Advanced Browser Porting Long after many of the Wii U’s acclaimed titles found renewed life on the Nintendo Switch, few fans expected to see these same experiences running seamlessly in a web browser.

This changed when independent developer JasperRLZ, known for contributions to the noclip project, revealed that Mario vs.

Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars was originally built using HTML and JavaScript. By developing approximately 1,400 lines of 'shim' code to adapt some platform-specific elements, JasperRLZ managed to successfully launch Tipping Stars within a Chrome browser.

Sharing footage of this achievement online, they effectively demonstrated the remarkable portability offered by the game’s use of web technologies. Quote Restatement: Explaining the Technology Shift According to JasperRLZ, the reason for developing Tipping Stars in HTML and JavaScript was to leverage the Nintendo Web Framework.

This system—now discontinued—was Nintendo’s solution for simplifying Wii U software development and was initially employed in apps such as Wii Street U, before being adopted for full game projects like Tipping Stars.

This framework allowed developers to create applications using web languages familiar to many outside traditional console development, boosting agility and facilitating unique features, such as easier cross-platform releases. Seamless Cross-Platform Play and eShop Integration A standout feature of Tipping Stars was its simultaneous release on both Wii U and 3DS, marking it as one of Nintendo’s early major cross-platform digital titles.

Nintendo further incentivized this cross-play by providing buyers with download codes for both versions upon purchase.

Using HTML and JavaScript not only streamlined this dual-release strategy but also simplified ongoing updates and patching across both systems. While the porting process required adjustments for Wii U-specific functions, the core code structure remained consistent, which ultimately made it feasible to run the game in a modern web browser.

However, the details of JasperRLZ’s implementation remain unpublished, and there are no plans to release the method to the public, respecting Nintendo’s proprietary work. Legacy and Developer Achievements Mario vs.

Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars stands as a testament to Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with non-traditional development tools and distribution strategies.

Although the Nintendo Web Framework has since been discontinued and newer titles like those on Switch have shifted to other platforms and engines, the legacy of Tipping Stars endures—a reminder of an era when web technology facilitated new possibilities for cross-platform gaming on Nintendo hardware. For fans and developers alike, this unique history highlights not just Nintendo’s innovation, but the ingenuity of independent coders who continue to preserve and celebrate the technical achievements of past gaming consoles.

Donkey Kong Nintendo Mario Wii Wii U 3DS Xbox Series X|S Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Nintendo Web Framework Mario vs. Donkey Kong