"Get that Coin" Minus World Studies GIF, 1165 Frames, 830 x 700px 2021

** ROM Corruption and photographed game performance of "Super Mario Bros" (1985) for the Nintendo Entertainment System **

Minus Worlds are perhaps one of the oldest and most well known video game glitches. They usually consist of sandbox-style levels tucked away deep inside the code of 8-bit Nintendo games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. The former has a specially well known Minus World that can be accessed through a glitch at the end of level 1-2. In Western versions of the game, this glitch leads Mario to an underwater world that loops endlessly until he dies.

"Minus World Studies" began as a collaboration with Rudolf Lingens for his short film "Song of Love." Rudolf wanted a glitch of the minus world, so why not go straight to the source rom to uncover the glitches that lurk beneath the glitch. Dozens of Minus World glitches were made in the process and this series features some of the best and strangest from that Fall 2021 collab.

Song of Love: youtu.be/yauov9vsZa0

"Minus World Studies" is dedicated to the Beige Programming Ensemble for their foundational work hacking NES cartridges.

// Artwork by Sabato Visconti // @sabatobox // www.sabatobox.com //