Super Mario Run creator: you will only play if you have an Internet connection

For us, we view our software as being a very important asset

This disappointing tidbit emerged from an interview with the game's designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He mentioned that this is done because it would be complicated to loop the connections from the World Tour single-player mode, to the Mushroom Kingdom and Toad Rally regimes that require a data connection. 

Here's the kicker, though - even though Mr Miyamoto says "we wanted to be able to leverage that network connection with all three of the modes to keep all of the modes functioning together and offering the game in a way that keeps the software secure,” he later acknowledges that by security Nintendo means piracy, plain and simple.

Oh well, Nintendo's walled garden consoles with games that cost $40 a card should have given us a hint what could happen when the company finally makes its move to mobile. Cheer up, though, having to maintain an Internet connection to play Super Mario Run shouldn't be that difficult, given the ubiquitous Wi-Fi and LTE blanket all around us, though if you are flying, cruising, or roaming abroad, getting your Mario game on might not be that easy. Bummer.

source: Mashable