Mario Kart 8

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 6 Comments

This is included in the press release already posted on the site, but I figured the below news deserves some attention of its own. Nintendo has officially confirmed both voice and text chat (the latter coming in the form of certain phrases) for Mario Kart 8, though the feature will only be available if playing with friends and in lobbies.

Nintendo’s official notice about Mario Kart 8’s chat functionality states:

Like to trash-talk your friends while you’re preparing for a race? You’re in luck! Mario Kart 8 lets players chat with one another in the lobby area using the Wii U GamePad microphone or text phrases as they wait for their friends to join.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 15 Comments

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–One month from today, Mario Kart 8 will be driving players wild with anti-gravity racing action. To get people revved up for the Wii U game, Nintendo released a new Nintendo Direct video that announced some additional news nuggets, including a Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle, a free downloadable game offer for Wii U owners who buy Mario Kart 8, details about online features, cool new characters and devastating new items.

“Everyone loves Mario Kart,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s a franchise that brings people together for fun at a family gathering, a frenzied race against friends or just an afternoon break at the office. The numerous new features of Mario Kart 8 make this the most ambitious version yet, and one that will have players of all skill levels racing for the checkered flag.”

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Some of the new information announced today included:

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 4 Comments

Mario Kart 8 will include some sort of “game chat” feature, according to a listing on the Wii U eShop. This term is a bit unclear, though some believe it relates to voice chat.

Originally, it was thought that Mario Kart 8 wouldn’t allow players to chat online. The discovery above, however, may prove otherwise.

Note that Nintendo has not announced voice chat for Mario Kart 8 at this time.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Images, Wii U | 0 comments

The images above come from the Mario Kart 8 video we posted earlier today. If you don’t want to sift through an hour’s worth of gameplay and are only interested in the menus, check out the gallery above.

We also have the following translations of the menus:

Customization Items

Mario Kart 8 Karts – Standard Kart, Airship, Classical Cat, Bad Wagon, G-Force, Para-Bidybud, Pipe Frame, Princess Coach, Sneaker, Steel Diver, Superstar, Tri-Smash, Turbo One.
Mario Kart 8 Bikes – Standard Bike, Broad Bean, Burning Bowl, Jet Rider, Mach GP, Maximum, Motor Dozer, Super Comet, Yoshi Bike.
Mario Kart 8 ATVs – Standard ATV, Bean Rider, Wild Wiggler.
Mario Kart 8 Tires – Standard Tires, Normal Blue, Ring Tires, Spicy Rings, Roller, Sky Rollers, Monster, Wild Hot, Sponge, Slick, Cyber Slick, Block Tires, Cream Blocks, Metal Tires, Wood Rings, Button Tires, Cushion Tires.
Mario Kart 8 Gliders – Super Glider, Cloud Balloons, Flower Glider, Koopa Kite, MKTV Parafoil, Parachute, Para-glider, Peach Parasol, Sail Plane, Waddlewing Kite, Wario Glider.

Options menu screen

Team, Item, Class, CPU, CPU Machine, Course, and Race Count options

Characters (previously reported)

1st Row: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Metal Mario.
2nd Row: Yoshi, Toad, Koopa Troopa, Shy Guy, Lakitu, Toadette.
3rd Row: Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, ??, ??.
4th Row: Bowser, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa
5th Row: Lemmy Koopa, Larry Koopa, Wendy O. Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., ??.

Source 1, Source 2

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

Footage is somewhat low-quality, but we do get another look at the game – including some of Mario Kart 8’s menu screens.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 9 Comments

In what might be the strangest pre-order offers we’ve seen this year, Best Buy is giving out gas credit with Mario Kart 8 reservations. The offer is valid while supplies last, and is valid both in-store and online.

Best Buy’s Gas Cash can be redeemed at any gas station in the United States that accepts MasterCard. You’ll just need to enter the code provided by the retailer at www.revupyourkart.com/redeem.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 14 Comments

Nintendo is planning an extensive marketing campaign for Mario Kart 8. The campaign, which has already started through social media, will last through the end of 2014. Online and TV activity will kick off on May 30.

Nintendo UK’s Mario brand manager Roger Langford told MCV:

“To herald the launch of the most hotly anticipated Wii U title to date we will have marketing activity pre-launch as well as post-launch moving through the summer and into peak season. For the first time in HD, Mario Kart 8 introduces original course designs that highlight the game’s new anti-gravity feature, which allows players to race upside down or up vertical surfaces. This adds a whole new dimension to the racing.”

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