Gameplay Journal Entry #6: Mitchell Dreifuerst

A developer or programmer can easily identify glitches within their projects, as they comprehend on what is intended to be between a feature and a bug. However, when a player is unable to tell the disparity and mistakes a glitch as part of the core game, the glitch loses its own meaning and is then forgotten as an intended feature. What signifies the uniqueness of a glitch is the difference of the norm from its surrounding elements, which in turn, should mark it as such when interacted with. In other words, “The audience has to understand the glitch’s role “as disruption — the semiotic role that a specific glitch has in determining the meaning of the work compared with other works” (Betancourt 2017, 160)”¹. Sometimes, the most notable glitches are known an unintentional or random. One glitch in particular, also, are not always visible, but instead audiovisual.

One glitch present in Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System has a very hidden glitch shown at the end of the video below at 6:30². At the end of the fifth and final level for Star Road, if Mario is riding a Yoshi and consumes a green apple when the level enters its final one hundred seconds, the time will increase by twenty and the music will double in speed. On top of this glitch serving as a useful exploit to increase the time used to complete the level, the faster-paced music breaks the generally comfortable striding the player was adjusted to and encourages a more rushed pacing of gameplay. This speedy interruption on solid immersion serves not only as an unanticipated break of traditional videogame experiences, but also provides a great example for what a glitch is meant to be.

Sources:

- ¹Ferreira, Pedro, Citing Source: Post-Digital Aesthetics in Contemporary Audiovisual Art, 2020, Pg. 115

- ²Video Glitch Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z9cbqIdutc