Twitch Community Makes Game For Speedrunner & ROMHack Creator

Super Mario Maker streamer Mason Cramer, aka Glitchcat7 is well known for his creations and playthroughs of his own content and that of others in the creative platforming community. That said, his community recently came together to create something just for him, and it’s pretty heartwarming.

Cramer has been combing through the rom hacking world in between his usual viewer level streams. He’s even made a rom hack of his own and has a few notable speedruns on rom hacks others have made. Beside him through it all has been his funny little cat Mallow, a character on stream in his own right. So when the community made Mallow the center of a new ROM hack and presented it to Cramer, it created quite the special moment. 

Playing through an entire game made by one’s audience can be a really powerful thing. Cramer has given some pretty motivating speeches from his humble room, surrounded by old Atari games and oddities. Trying to capture his feelings about his community couldn’t have been easy for him in the wake of the treasured gift.

This isn’t even the first time Twitch audiences have collectively made games either. There are several other Super Mario Maker streamers who have been gifted a rom hack, or have helped put one together themselves. Seeing Cramer play Super Mallow World though, a streamer some of us here at Twin Galaxies have been watching since he’s had a Twitch account, definitely reinstates why gaming on Twitch can be such a great experience. 

We talked to Cramer about this moment and streaming in general. Starting first with his favorite memories. 

“Honestly, getting to play this game for the first time. That or Kaizo 3 Bowser,” Cramer recalled, referring to the tough-as-nails ROM hack of Super Mario Bros. 3. “But this game beats that because it's a deeper thing than any kind of personal accomplishment. And it makes me really proud of our community for making something of this scope and depth.”

Kaizo World 3 is notorious for being brutally hard, even among all of the other Kaizo levels and games. For those unaware, the term Kaizo was brought on by T. Takemoto who made some of the most popular and challenging Mario hacks out there. This started a revolution of players creating ridiculous challenges, making Kaizo a genre. 

Watch Kaizo 3 Bowser - The Win from GlitchCat7 on www.twitch.tv

Cramer also talked about his future hopes for his stream and beyond. 

“We made 2018 the Year of the personal best, in games and just in life.” Cramer claimed, expanding on his goals for gaming in the new year. “I'm going to be learning a bunch of new speedrun games and focusing only on improving my own times without regard to world records or anything else. If I pick up one along the way that's cool, but it isn't the point and if I never do who cares. I've also got my second Super Mario World hack coming out soon - The Search For Salmon - which is way too hard please don't play it ever. Even so, I think folks will dig the videos and enjoy the couple of playthroughs that will ultimately get done.”

Outside of his personal projects, Cramer spoke to his desire to try other creators’ ROM hacks, planning a more diverse variety of events and fun for his Glitchcat7 channel, and taking on new and unique creative projects of his own, including a musical album on indie music website Bandcamp.

“There's a ton more SMW kaizo hacks to play as well. Plus we've got our New Years special coming up with some marathon streaming and giveaways and such. I'm also working on getting more live music on the stream, recording an album with the band, and starting to design and program a game in Unity with my wife.”

It’s clear to see by his words and by the actions of his fans, Cramer has built a rewarding and tight-knit community of both player skill and creativity. For those looking to chill with one of the most talented and down-to-earth retro gamers out there, be sure to stop by Glitchcat7’s Twitch channel.