Mario's Cement Factory
{{Short description|1983 handheld electronic game}}
{{Infobox video game
|image = File:Mario's Cement Factory (widescreen) - Game&Watch - Nintendo.jpg
|caption = Handheld version
|image_upright = 0.8
|developer = Nintendo R&D1
|publisher = Nintendo
|director =
|producer =
|artist =
|composer =
|series = Mario
|platforms = Game & Watch
Nintendo DSi
|released = {{Unbulleted list|Tabletop||April 28, 1983}}{{Unbulleted list|New Wide Screen|June 8, 1983}}
|genre = Action
|modes = Single-player
}}
{{nihongo foot|Mario's Cement Factory|マリオズ・セメント・ファクトリー|Mariozu Semento Fakutorī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is an LCD handheld electronic game developed by Nintendo and published in 1983 under their Game & Watch series. It follows earlier Mario games, like the arcade and Game & Watch versions of Donkey Kong. Players control Mario as he navigates elevators and funnels concrete through a factory down into cement trucks while trying to prevent the concrete from overflowing crushing his fellow workers. Two modes were released: a tabletop model; and a handheld version akin to most other Game & Watch titles. Development was headed by Nintendo R&D1, led by engineer Gunpei Yokoi.
The game has been re-released several times; it was featured as part of Game Boy Gallery for the Game Boy, Game & Watch Gallery 4 for the Game Boy Advance, and as a digital download for the Nintendo DSi's DSiWare service. It has been described by critics as one of the strangest games in the Mario franchise and one of the best Game & Watch games. Multiple critics believed it was among the most complex Game & Watch titles, as well as being among the best choices between the Game & Watch games released on DSiWare.
Gameplay
File:Mario's_Cement_Factory_screenshots.jpg
Mario's Cement Factory is a single-player action game{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-DSiWare/Game-Watch-Mario-s-Cement-Factory-263357.html#gameDetails |title=Game & Watch™ Mario's Cement Factory |work=Nintendo.com |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} that puts the player in control of Mario, who works in a truck-loading dock at a cement factory, funneling concrete into hoppers, which must be emptied into cement-mixer trucks. There are two pairs of hoppers and trucks, as well as two elevators positioned side-by-side between two chutes that deposit concrete automatically. The left elevator can only go down, and the right elevator can only go up. The hoppers are able to hold three loads of concrete at a time, and Mario must drop the concrete from the top hopper into the lower hopper, using the left elevator to move down to the lower hopper to drop from that hopper into the truck. Every load of concrete dropped from the top hopper into the bottom hopper is worth one point, and two points for each load dropped from the bottom hopper into the truck. If concrete enters a full hopper, it overflows and knocks out the driver, causing Mario to lose a life. He can also lose a life from falling or being crushed by the elevator. The game ends when all lives are lost. At 300 points, all lost lives are erased; if no lives have been lost, the lower hoppers are kept open temporarily, ensuring that the player only has to pay attention to the upper hoppers. There are two game modes: A and B, the latter being faster paced and more difficult.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/4c0c6bbd-b214-453a-a2d5-a8e5f4e6919d |title=After Rescuing Damsels, Mario Works at the Cement Factory! |work=Electronic Games |date=January 1984 |accessdate=April 10, 2025 |publisher=Reese Publications |issue=10 |pages=125-127}}
Development and release
File:Mario's Cement Factory (Tabletop) - Game&Watch - Nintendo.jpg
Mario's Cement Factory was developed by Nintendo R&D1, which at the time was led by Gunpei Yokoi, and published by Nintendo.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendojo.com/features/the-history-of-game-boy-revised-for-2019 |title=The History of Game Boy (Revised for 2019) |last=Marrujo |first=Robert |date=August 2, 2018 |website=Nintendojo |language=en-US |access-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827043034/http://www.nintendojo.com/features/the-history-of-game-boy-revised-for-2019 |url-status=live}} Like all Game & Watch releases, each unit is a standalone portable device that doubles as a clock and can only play the one game. Hirokazu Tanaka composed the game sounds.{{cite web|last1=Tanaka|first1=Hirokazu|title=Nintendo Archive - Works|url=http://www.hirokazutanaka.com/works/nintendo/|website=Sporadic Vacuum|access-date=November 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808171105/http://www.hirokazutanaka.com/works/nintendo/|archive-date=August 8, 2014|language=ja}} The game was released the same year that Nintendo's Famicom system debuted in Japan, and two years after the first Mario title (the arcade game Donkey Kong).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzdcDwAAQBAJ |title=Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years |last=Nintendo |date=October 23, 2018 |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |isbn=9781630089450 |pages=237–238 |language=en |access-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816152830/https://books.google.com/books?id=qzdcDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live}} It was one of the first games to feature Mario's name in the title.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Two versions of the game were released. The first is part of the Game & Watch Table Top series and debuted on April 28, 1983. It has a full color illuminated screen, and approximately 250,000 models were produced.{{cite web |url=http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/game-and-watch-a-retrospective-2/881015/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705111303/http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/game-and-watch-a-retrospective-2/881015/ |title=Game & Watch: A Retrospective: Just add table |work=DS Fanboy |access-date=May 26, 2019|last=Panayiotakis|first=Michael|date=June 24, 2008 |archive-date=July 5, 2008}} The game's graphics are accomplished through matrixing small images of elements from the game in conjunction with an opening in the top to allow the screen to be illuminated. These small images are drawn onto the screen, and the system requires a light source for play. The Table Top series did not sell as well, leading to Mario's Cement Factory being one of only four Table Top units ever produced.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/01/feature_how_nintendos_game_and_watch_took_withered_technology_and_turned_it_into_a_million-seller |title=Feature: How Nintendo's Game & Watch Took "Withered Technology" And Turned It Into A Million-Seller |work=NintendoLife |last=McFerran |first=Damien |date=January 1, 2021 |accessdate=July 25, 2021 |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701155306/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/01/feature_how_nintendos_game_and_watch_took_withered_technology_and_turned_it_into_a_million-seller |url-status=live}} A smaller handheld version, part of the Game & Watch "New Wide Screen" series, was later released on June 8. It has a monochrome screen with a color overlay, and approximately 750,000 units were produced.{{cite web |url=http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/game-and-watch-a-retrospective-2/878873/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705111217/http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/game-and-watch-a-retrospective-2/878873/ |title=Game & Watch: A Retrospective: Not just any old Wide Screen ...|work=DS Fanboy |access-date=May 26, 2019|last=Panayiotakis|first=Michael|date=June 24, 2008 |archive-date=July 5, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7699/mario-this-is-your-life |title=Mario, This Is Your Life |work=Nintendo World Report |last=Powers |first=Rick |date=August 29, 2002 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825014928/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7699/mario-this-is-your-life |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Mario's Cement Factory. (Registration Number PA0000180908) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=6 June 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531152425/https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ |url-status=live}} It was one of eight titles released in the New Wide Screen series.{{cite magazine |title=Game & Watch Multi Screen |work=Retro Gamer |page=87 |issue=10}}
Re-releases
Mario's Cement Factory has been re-released in various forms. It was included in the 1995 Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy, featuring updated graphics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/17/game-watch-gallery-review |title=Game & Watch Gallery Review |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=July 17, 2011 |website=IGN |language=en |access-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527014848/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/17/game-watch-gallery-review |url-status=live}} It was also re-released in the Nintendo Mini Classics line, which repackaged Game & Watch games in small Game Boy-like devices.{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-s-game-watch-come-back-as-mini-classics-142927.phtml |title=Nintendo's Game & Watch come back as Mini Classics |work=Destructoid |last=North |first=Dale |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008214937/http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-s-game-watch-come-back-as-mini-classics-142927.phtml |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2009/08/nintendo-mini-classics-resurrects-game-watch-titles/ |title=Nintendo Mini Classics resurrects Game & Watch titles |work=Arstechnica |last=Thompson |first=Michael |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=August 25, 2019}} Both the New Wide Screen and an updated version were included in the 2002 Game & Watch Gallery 4 for the Game Boy Advance.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/game_and_watch_gallery_advance_gba |title=Game & Watch Gallery Advance Review (Wii U eShop / GBA) |work=Nintendo Life |last=Frear |first=Dave |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816153902/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/game_and_watch_gallery_advance_gba |url-status=live}} In 2009, the game was re-released for the Nintendo DSi's DSiWare download service (along with other Game & Watch games).{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/03/nintendo_download_22nd_march_2010_north_america |title=Nintendo Download: 22nd March 2010 (North America) |work=Nintendo Life |last=Aaron |first=Sean |date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526225351/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/03/nintendo_download_22nd_march_2010_north_america |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/07/game_and_watch_games_to_be_released_on_dsiware |title=Game & Watch Games to be Released on DSiWare |work=Nintendo Life |last=Van Duyn |first=Marcel |date=July 10, 2009 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526203923/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/07/game_and_watch_games_to_be_released_on_dsiware |url-status=live}} The DSi version was released in Japan on August 18.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/games/dsiware/game_and_watch_marios_cement_factory |title=Game & Watch Mario's Cement Factory (2010) |work=Nintendo Life |date=15 April 2010 |access-date=May 15, 2019}} It was released in North America and Europe in March 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/03/nintendo_download_26th_march_2010_europe |title=Nintendo Download: 26th March 2010 (Europe) |work=Nintendo Life |last=Van Duyn |first=Marcel |date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526225351/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/03/nintendo_download_26th_march_2010_europe |url-status=live}} The DSi version was also given as a reward on Nintendo's now-defunct Club Nintendo service.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/club_nintendo_rewards_updated_for_january |title=Club Nintendo Rewards Updated for January |work=Nintendo Life |last=Whitehead |first=Thomas |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526225352/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/club_nintendo_rewards_updated_for_january |url-status=live}}
Reception
Mario's Cement Factory received generally positive reception, called one of the best Game & Watch games by multiple critics.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-8-best-game-watch-games/ |title=The 8 best Game & Watch games |work=GamesRadar |last=Gilbert |first=Henry |date=March 20, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=April 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429161420/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-8-best-game-watch-games/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2461028/game-watch-revival-30-years-later-and-still-ringin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527003237/http://www.mtv.com/news/2461028/game-watch-revival-30-years-later-and-still-ringin/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |title=Game & Watch Revival - 30 Years Later And Still Ringin' |work=MTV.com |last=Cipriano |first=Jason |date=May 3, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2019}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/04/dsi-wares-game-and-what/ |title=DSi Ware's Game and What? |magazine=Wired |last=Robertson |first=Andy |date=April 23, 2010 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922155416/https://www.wired.com/2010/04/dsi-wares-game-and-what/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3603/game-namp-watch-gallery-4-game-boy-advance |title=Game & Watch Gallery 4 |work=Nintendo World Report |last=Kosmina |first=Ben |date=July 16, 2002 |accessdate=January 24, 2024 |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124125536/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3603/game-namp-watch-gallery-4-game-boy-advance |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/research/articles/114740/ |title=【任天堂ゲーム＆ウオッチ】人気のタイトルランキングTOP10！1位は「オクトパス」【2021年最新投票結果】|work=ITMedia |date=February 9, 2021 |accessdate=January 24, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125034600/https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/research/articles/114740/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/03/game_and_watch_marios_cement_factory_dsiware |title=Game & Watch Mario's Cement Factory Review (DSiWare) |work=NintendoLife |last=Dillard |first=Corbie |date=March 22, 2010 |accessdate=January 24, 2024 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816154025/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/03/game_and_watch_marios_cement_factory_dsiware |url-status=live}} Multiple critics recognized it as one of the strangest entries in the Mario series,{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-weirdest-super-mario-games-ever-1328333 |title=The weirdest Super Mario games ever |work=TechRadar |last=Lynch |first=Gerald |date=March 11, 2017 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526225349/https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-weirdest-super-mario-games-ever-1328333 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/10-mario-games-youve-probably-never-heard-of-6392755 |title=10 Mario Games You've Probably Never Heard Of |work=Houston Press |last=Rouner |first=Jeff |date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111145438/https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/10-mario-games-youve-probably-never-heard-of-6392755 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/the-7-weirdest-mario-spin-off-games/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616033632/https://nerdist.com/the-7-weirdest-mario-spin-off-games/ |title=The 7 Weirdest MARIO Spin-Off Games |work=Nerdist |last=Gaspin |first=Ben |date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2018}} due in part to Mario's role as a cement factory worker.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/26-jobs-mario-inexplicably-qualified/ |title=26 jobs that Mario is inexplicably qualified for |work=GamesRadar |last=Houghton |first=David |date=October 9, 2017 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526210027/https://www.gamesradar.com/26-jobs-mario-inexplicably-qualified/ |url-status=live}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_JvDwAAQBAJ |title=Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America |page=61 |last=Ryan |first=Jeff |year=2012 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1591845638 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816153443/https://books.google.com/books?id=9_JvDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live}} Following its DSiWare launch, it ranked among the best-selling DSiWare games.{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2009/08/27/37327.html |title=『ドンキーコングJR.』『マリオズセメントファクトリー』『マンホール』が初登場・・・週間DSiウェアランキング(8/26) |work=Inside Games |date=August 27, 2009 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}
MTV.com writer Jason Cipriano felt it was similar to the Game & Watch game Manhole, though felt that it had more depth and complexity. He felt it was among the best Game & Watch games released as DSiWare in Japan. IGN writer Lucas M. Thomas considered it a comparatively robust game for a Game & Watch title, believing it was the best value of the DSiWare Game & Watch releases and the best quality between them. Despite this, he noted that it was not a strong recommendation, as he took issues with the controls being too precise.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/27/dsiware-capsule-reviews-third-week-of-july?page=13 |title=DSiWare Capsule Reviews: Third Week of July |work=IGN |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526225349/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/27/dsiware-capsule-reviews-third-week-of-july%3Fpage%3D13 |url-status=live}} NintendoLife writer Corbie Dillard felt that its gameplay was diverse, which contributed to him enjoying it more. Despite admitting he may have nostalgia for it, he still had fun playing it. Electronic Games staff felt that the Table Top version was attractive thanks to the images drawn onto the screen, though stated that this is lost if the player is not using it in good lighting. Multiple contemporary reviews felt that it was primitive compared to modern standards,{{cite web |url=http://www.cubed3.com/review/829/1/game-and-watch-marios-cement-factory-nintendo-ds.html |title=Game & Watch: Mario's Cement Factory (Nintendo DS) Review |work=Cubed3 |last=Riley |first=Adam |date=April 11, 2010 |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517181500/http://www.cubed3.com/review/829/1/game-and-watch-marios-cement-factory-nintendo-ds.html |url-status=live}} though Cubed3 writer Adam Riley felt it was worth the price, more so than fellow Game & Watch game Judge. Despite this, Riley felt it to be inferior to other versions of Mario's Cement Factory bundled in the Game & Watch Gallery games, both in terms of the value of the collection and the visuals.
Legacy
The original units have become collector's items and, like many Game & Watch titles, a complete-in-box unit can sell for over US$100. The game was featured in a Gunpei Yokoi exhibit in Harajuku in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/23911/gunpei-yokoi-exhibit-in-harakuju-the-man-who-was-called-the-god-of-games |title=Gunpei Yokoi Exhibit in Harakuju: "The Man Who Was Called the God of Games" |work=Nintendo World Report |last=Walker |first=Matt |date=August 24, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816154033/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/23911/gunpei-yokoi-exhibit-in-harakuju-the-man-who-was-called-the-god-of-games |url-status=live}}
Notes
{{notelist}}