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These are the courses of Mario Kart 8
With the launch of Mario Kart 8 just one month away, Nintendo has few details it has yet to share about the game, which will receive its own Wii U bundle next month. Of the details the publisher now offers on the game's site is a listing of the 32 race tracks players will tackle in late May, half of which are new courses, the rest being reimagined circuits from other games in the series. We got our hands on the eight retro courses in the shell and banana cups during our video preview of the game. The other eight familiar tracks are as follows: Wario Stadium (DS), Sherbet Land (GCN), Melody Motorway (3DS) and Yoshi Valley (N64) in the Leaf Cup as well as Tick-Tock Clock (DS), Piranha Plant Pipeway (3DS), Grumble Volcano (Wii) and Rainbow Road (N64) in the Lightning Cup. Head past the break for the full list of the 32 race tracks and eight battle courses in the game. Mario Kart 8 launches May 30 on Wii U, and those that register their copy of the game on Club Nintendo by July 31 will receive one free Wii U game on the eShop.
Arma 3 takes us all for a ride with Kart DLC [April Fools!]
The first official (and totally not real) bit of premium DLC for open-world shooter Arma 3 is kart racing. Arma 3 Karts includes (well, it would, if it existed) time-trial races and open-world kart battles, with seven versions of vehicles to choose from. "Since we're already in the zombie business with DayZ, we felt the next logical expansion would be to take on karting," (real) Creative Director Jay Crowe writes on the Bohemia Interactive blog. "Our sandbox could not be called complete without karts, and thus we set ourselves the goal to recreate this pure form of racing. Welcome to Arma 3's World of Karts: drive / overtake / win." Arma 3 Karts is due out in the second quarter of 2014 (no, it isn't). [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
Mario Kart 8 shooting turtle shells on May 30
Mario Kart 8 will launch on May 30, Nintendo announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. The next entry in the long-running driving series will also be the first on the Wii U. The kart racer was announced during the publisher's E3 2013 presentation and was initially given a "spring 2014" launch window. [Image: Nintendo]
Watch two whole minutes of Mario Kart 8 right here
Actually, make that two minutes and four seconds of high-octane Nintendon't-know-how-to-slow-down kart racing. Mario Kart 8 will launch in spring 2014 on Wii U and will feature new buggy-type vehicles, as announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream.
Fist of Awesome's lumberjack joining indie racer Super World Karts GP
Super World Karts GP, a 16-bit-style kart racing game from One Legged Seagull, will include a cameo from Tim Burr, the time-traveling lumberjack that stars in another indie game, Fist of Awesome. The news comes from an update on Super World Karts GP's Kickstarter page, which announced the crossover with Fist of Awesome developer I Fight Bears. The game boasts SNES-like, mode 7-style kart racing, bearing strong resemblance to Nintendo's Super Mario Kart, down to its name. Super World Karts GP is in development for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Ouya, and is a part of Ouya's revised Free the Games Fund. As for Tim Burr, the lumberjack-turned-kart racer will be an unlockable character, available to use "once you've gotten a few tournament cups under your belt." Tim Burr joins three other unlockable crossover characters: Dr. Boom from Tuesday Knight Games, Turing from Read Only Memories and Lobodestroyo's Mutt. Read Only Memories recently found success on Kickstarter, and also participated in Ouya's Free the Games Fund. Super World Karts GP is seeking $16,000 AUS ($14,348.80 USD) by Monday, December 23 on Kickstarter to bring its brand of retro-style kart racing to players, of which the project has currently raised $7,536 AUS ($6758.28 USD).
Angry Birds Go is a kart racer, complete with Hasbro toy line
Hasbro recently announced a new line of toys for an upcoming mobile game in the Angry Birds series, Angry Birds Go. The toy manufacturer's brief description of the game notes that the series' iconic birds and pigs "have jumped into karts to battle it out in a calamitous downhill race to the finish," indicating that Angry Birds Go is a kart racer of some sort. Hasbro's Telepods and Jenga toy line includes nine separate sets with the Angry Birds Go theme, ranging from $5 packs to full $30 game sets that feature pirate ships, trophy cups and towers to knock down. The Jenga toy sets include codes for in-app content to be used in Angry Birds Go, whereas the Telepods sets have toy bases that "teleport your kart" into the game. That certainly sounds like Angry Birds Go is hoping to fling its way into Skylanders and Disney Infinity territory.
LittleBigPlanet Karting arriving in 2012 from ModNation Racers devs
After briefly hearing about LittleBigPlanet Karting in early February, Sony decided to share some new details this morning on the upcoming adorable kart racer. United Front Games is handling production duties – which makes sense given the developer's track record with ModNation Racers – and the team promises the same level of dedication and attention to detail that Media Molecule lavishes on its main franchise LBP titles.Like those main titles, LBP Karting will support a full creation system, which allows players to craft new levels, racers, and even "to modify the rules of the game itself to create completely new modes and challenges," according to UFG senior producer James Grieve. He also says that some form of "community experience" will be included, though he stops short of saying whether LBP.me will play some part in that experience.When we first heard about LBP Karting, the game was said to feature PlayStation Move functionality as well, a la Mario Kart for Wii. However, neither Sony nor United Front Games mentions as much in this announcement. What we do know for sure is this: LittleBigPlanet Karting will launch at some point in 2012 on the PlayStation 3.%Gallery-151249%
GDC 2011: Sega demos Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing
At the 2011 Game Developers Conference, Sega revealed that it has decided to port its Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing game to the iPhone and iPod touch (no iPad announcement yet, but presumably it's coming). Sega then handed us a demo of the game to try out. It was (surprise?) a pretty standard kart racing game, with the added bonus that it uses official artwork, settings, characters and music from Sega's most popular franchises, from Sonic the Hedgehog to lesser-known classics like Billy Hatcher and Space Channel 5. This game's been out on other console platforms already, and to be honest, it's missing a little content, with fewer characters and tracks than the other versions. But the gameplay is all there; up to two players on Bluetooth or four players on Wi-Fi can race against each other across 12 tracks using 10 different characters. There are also three arenas to play in, as well as 30 "challenge missions" to play. As you race, you collect "lifetime miles" which unlock items in the game and break open official Game Center achievements and leaderboards. %Gallery-117840%
Blur trailer takes a lap around the world, pulls into the virtual garage
Xbox 360 owners can actually sample Blur's particular brand of chaos right now -- a decision we'd say is "most wise." For the rest of you, the only solace we can offer is via a new trailer, admittedly awesome in its own right due to a high volume of hot whips. From licensed cars to completely fictional autos, it's all covered in the video above. There's even a rundown of the 14 different locations you'll be able to deposit some burnt rubber, if that's what you're after. Check it all out in the video above.
Metareview: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
It could just be our lowered expectations for games including kart racing, Sonic or "All-Stars" in the title, but we were pretty surprised by the positive buzz for Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing; the Wii, PS3 and 360 versions are all doing well with a 79 percent average on Metacritic. Here's what's being said: GameSpot (80/100): "Although the core of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is obviously pulled straight out of Mario Kart, this wacky racer can stand on its own four wheels. The tight controls and excellent track design ensure that head-to-head competition is always exciting, but it's so fun just to play around with these karts that it's easy to lose hours climbing the online leaderboards in Time Trial mode." 1UP (B): "Though it has some hiccups, unexciting party modes, and a questionable difficulty curve, All-Stars Racing is a respectable effort that makes a good kart racer at its core (and is at least much more cohesive than Sega Superstars Tennis)." Nintendo Power (8/10): "It isn't quite the fan paradise it could have been, but it's a very good racer that makes great use of classic Sega franchises. We wouldn't mind a sequel with more franchises and tracks included." IGN: (8/10): "It's pleasantly surprising to find out that the Nintendo Wii edition – apart from the lower resolution – gets similar treatment with close to the exact same features as the stronger hardware."
ModNation Racers expanding to PSP
Sony's customizable PS3 kart racer, ModNation Racers, is being shrunk down for a PSP version, to be released alongside its big brother sometime this spring. According to SCEE product manager Liam Quigley, the PSP game will have the same creative tools as the console iteration -- meaning you'll be able to mod and not just race, with the ability to create your own tracks, cars and racers. In addition, "You will also be able to upload, download, remix, and race creations by the PSP ModNation community," Quigley said. Once you've created or downloaded your own (likely vulgar) avatar, car and racetrack, you'll be able to race on your new track with up to 6 other PSP players online. That's some pretty big functionality for a handheld game!
Namco registers Japanese trademark for 'Pac-Man Kart Rally'
Pac-Man World Rally for PS2 Namco Bandai has registered trademarks in Japan for Pac-Man Kart Rally -- and Pac-Man Rally Kart. It just couldn't decide! Siliconera notes that the previous Pac-Man kart racer, Pac-Man World Rally (not Rally World) was never released in Japan, so if this one is intended for Japan, it'll be the nation's first Pac-Man vs. ghosts racer. As for what Namco Bandai will use this trademark for, we have no real information. It makes sense for Namco Bandai to be thinking of releasing new Pac games on the 30th anniversary of the arcade original. Were we to guess, we would point out that there have been a lot of iPhone games out of Namco lately, and Konami recently put a mascot kart racer on the platform.
Banjo-Kazooie hit the track in Sega All-Stars Racing trailer
Rare's bear and backpacked bird make their debut in this latest Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing trailer. The Banjo-Kazooie team tear up the track big-truck style -- mainly because they're in a big friggin' truck. The trailer also takes care to remind us Avatars will be playable in the Xbox 360 version of the game -- but, really, who cares? Banjo and Kazooie are in a big friggin' truck!
Activision announces Madagascar Kartz, misses crucial naming opportunity
How it is that a company as business savvy as Activision misses the staring-them-right-in-the-face opportunity to name a kart racing-themed Madagascar game "Madagaskartz," rather than Madagascar Kartz? That's just what the company has named its upcoming kart racer, starring the cast of the animated movie, coming to current-gen consoles on October 27. Worried that the game might only be for kidz? Activision's David Oxford claims the game was designed for all ages, saying, "With the whole family competing against each other as their favorite zoosters, you have never seen action this wild." Clearly Mr. Oxford doesn't know about our weekend trip to Tijuana a month back. %Gallery-75327%
Krazy Kart Racing: Pyramid Head vs. Frogger
Konami's mascot kart racing game Krazy Kart Racers materialized on the iPhone App Store last night. Why would you possibly want to pay $8 for a 3D kart racer on iPhone, if you're not one of the few people dying for a successor to Konami Krazy Racers on GBA? Well, the roster includes not only Pyramid Head, but Robbie the Rabbit from Silent Hill, making this officially the creepiest kart racer ever. In fact, the App Store description says, "If you have trouble staying on course try using Robbie the Rabbit. He's a bit slow but easiest to control." He's not just in the game, he's the beginner character!Other confirmed characters ("confirmed" meaning we see them in screens) include Power Pro-kun, Frogger, Evil Rose from Rumble Roses ( ... ), Sparkster, Pentarou, Goemon, and Tako from Parodius.Krazy Kart Racers (Konami, $7.99)
A WoW player's guide to Free Realms
Our good friends at Massively have written up a post just for you WoW players about the new hotness in MMOs lately, a game called Free Realms. I haven't gotten a chance to play it, but it's all the team over there can talk about, and the game itself just hit a whopping three million players. It's a free-to-play game (with more premium memberships getting more features -- the minimum is about $5 a month) put out by Sony Online Entertainment that aims towards a more casual audience, with extra content placed in for more hardcore gamers. The questing and leveling itself is very forgiving -- you have a dotted green line leading you to quest targets, and combat only takes place in instanced areas. But the crafting and other various minigames (in order to do mining, you actually play a Bejewelled-style matching game, and there's even a "Kart Driver" profession) can get pretty hard. Just like WoW, those who want to collect pets or build skills can do that, while those who are more interested in dungeon crawling have that option as well.I've been meaning to pick up the game and check it out (on the free level, of course -- with my WoW subscription running, I'm not made of MMO money), and Massively's guide is an excellent first overview to how the game relates to our favorite MMO. If you're getting a little bored in Azeroth waiting for the next expansion announcement and are looking for something else to try, Free Realms might just be it.
SOE's Free Realms closed beta now open
As per Sony Online Entertainment's word, the free-to-play MMO unironically named Free Realms has opened the doors of its closed beta to the world. Aside from the kart racing and pet raising, we imagine users will start flooding into the online world and immediately partake in our time-honored tradition of Quincying. (Go, Joystiq Hive Mind!)Like most betas, this one's asking its users to keep quiet on the inner workings of the game, though, ironically, SOE is asking participants to blabber on to their hearts content on the game website's public forums. For those of you looking for hot scoops on Free Realms, now you know where to go. And did we mention we have a tips box that guarantees anonymity?
