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Euro retailer Game expects greater profits thanks to 'buoyant' market
Things continue to look rosy for UK-based mega-retailer Game Group, as the company today announced that it raised its profit expectations for the year from £73 ($145 million) to £74 million ($147 million). Says the financial gurus at Bloomberg, the chain has much thanks to lay at the feet of Nintendo and its platforms' appeal to "women and older customers" for the elevated expectations. The group's like-for-like sales for the fifty weeks leading to January 12 were up around 43 percent while the company expects further growth of around 5 to 10 percent in the current year, driven by a "buoyant" video game market. Preliminary financial results are expected to drop on April 29, though given thin competition and what Game calls "a strong pipeline of innovative software," including such titles as Nintendo's Wii Fit and Mario Kart, as well as Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, we expect those calling the shots for the retailer to remain swimming in the deep end of the money pool for a good while longer.
The DS Life: First-person gaming
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.We're breaking away from our usual routine this week -- instead of fawning over touching scenes of handheld gamers, we'll look through ten pictures taken from the gamers's point of view. These photographs can reveal a lot about the shutterbugs who took them! You know, besides what game they were playing at the time.
Mario Kart Wii supports 8-player battle mode
Twelve players might be a nice round number for straight-out races, but we've still been waiting patiently to see how many online opponents Nintendo will allow us in Mario Kart Wii's version of the classic battle modes. Jeux France reports that eight players will be able to duke it out in the game's battle modes. To arrive at the magic number yourself, check out the radar in the lower-right of the above picture. Eight icons are clearly visible, making for ample amounts of balloons to burst, and stars to steal. We're sad that twelve-player support isn't possible in the battle mode, but we'll definitely take what we can get. [Via Wii Fanboy] %Gallery-16165%
Mario Kart Wii features text chat; still no voice support
The Wii is woefully behind the curve in terms of online features, a problem that Nintendo is slowly trying to fix with upcoming AAA titles like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii. While the former won't offer much by way of in-game communication, the latter will in fact feature chat room options, allowing users to text it up with anyone on their Wii Friends list.IGN reports that the texting option in Mario Kart Wii is limited to people you've swapped friends codes with (of course), and text-chatting is only possible before, and presumably after, racing matches. Text entry via Wii Remote is assumed, and IGN wagers that USB keyboards may be supported as well, as keyboard support has been included in most Wii software.It's no voice chat, to be sure, but at least we'll be able to argue with friends over the fairness of blue shells.[Thanks, Bigfoot]
GDC08: Extended Mario Kart trailer, remixed music
Remember that Mario Kart Wii trailer we posted just two days ago? Well, shift-delete that footage from your memory and replace it with this extended promotional video which debuted at the Game Developers Conference. Not only is this clip twice as long as the previous one we featured, but it has a remixed version of the old Mario Circuit music as its audio track instead of some guy who sounds like Jerry Seinfeld yelling in the background.We can totally get behind this song! It sounds like something out of Bust a Groove!%Gallery-4772%
GDC08: Mario Kart Wii in motion
For those of you who've decided that just looking at screens isn't enough for you, IGN has uploaded video of Mario Kart Wii in action. And, from the looks of it, this game is going to be just as we thought: fun. Seriously, did you ever doubt it could be anything but?%Gallery-4772%
Mario Kart megaton: Mii integration, online menu navigation, and tracks exposed
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/nintendo/Mario_Kart_megaton_Online_Miis_and_tracks_exposed'; Hot on the heels of yesterday's news (and today's, for that matter) on everyone's favorite upcoming racer, Mario kart Wii, comes fresh screens depicting a variety of the game's selling points. We get to see Mii integration (above), as well as a taste for some of the tracks making their way into the game, new and old alike. Not only that, but we get some screens for navigating the online arena and setting up a race.For all of the eye candy, check out our gallery below. %Gallery-4772%
Mario Kart Wii preview discusses new control methods
Mario Kart fans worried that the Wii remote/Wii Wheel combination would lead to an uncomfortable lack of precision in the upcoming Mario Kart Wii (yes, that's the official name) can breath a sigh of relief. A new 1UP preview of the game reveals that, much like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the racer will also support more traditional controls via a GameCube pad, a remote/Nunchuk combo, or the Wii's Classic Controller.While the preview notes somewhat predictably that the Wii Wheel controls "took a little while to get used to," the other play styles were reportedly "quite responsive and instantly familiar." There are some advantages to the motion-sensitive controllers though -- while a quick shake of the Wii Wheel and/or Nunchuk will perform the game's new mid-air tricks, the Gamecube and Classic controllers require players to "awkwardly [reach] for the directional pad," according to the preview.The full article goes into more detail on the game's new items, new motorcycles, new power-sliding options and a new Mario Kart channel for online play. Check it out if, uh, you like hearing about new stuff.
GDC08: Nintendo sheds more light on Mario Kart Wii
IGN got their lucky, lucky hands on the latest build of Mario Kart Wii recently, taking the time to carefully analyze the differences between this game and the installments of old. Following this, they wrote a five-page preview on the game. We've read the whole thing (omg no wai?!). We're excited.First of all, each racer now has a plethora of rides to choose from: three karts and three bikes each. These are available from the start of the game. Also, the CC classes return, but with a small twist. The 50CC bracket is for karts only, the 100CC bracket is for bikes only and the 150CC is a mixture of both. IGN notes the difference between the two as the bikes having a tougher time with turns, but being easier to boost with (tip the wheel back to do a wheelie, hold it then zoom off). As for karts, they'll get boosts from powerslides, providing more boost depending on how long the player holds it, eliminating the need to slam on the d-pad to generate these anymore (we're not sure if this means no more snaking or not). Stunts will also provide boosts, allowing a player to perform a mid-air stunt off of a jump and shoot off once they land on the track.%Gallery-4772%
Wii Warm Up: What do you want from Nintendo at GDC?
Well, the big thing this week is the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, as folks from the gaming industry get together and create pandemonium throughout the intertron by releasing new details on upcoming projects and revealing some for the first time. And we wouldn't have it any other way.So we were wondering what you Nintendo lovers would want to see most from the show. A new game announcement? A release date set in stone for Wii Fit or perhaps Mario Kart? What kind of things regarding this week's show are rattling around in your mind?
Mario Kart screens reveal playable Koopa Troopa, stunt track
The folks at Nintencast have posted a clutch of new Mario Kart Wii screens, and even taken the time to extract fresh factoids about the game from said shots. While one or two of their findings are less than earth-shattering ("Luigi's circuit is still a simple track"), the odd nugget will prove interesting to those following the game's progress.For instance, we now know that Koopa Troopa will be making only his third appearance in a Mario Kart game (having previously appeared in Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!), that race spectators will comprise entirely of Miis, and that the game will feature a kind of "half-pipe" track, presumably to encourage players to pull off stunts, a new addition to the series. We're still not totally convinced by the sight of Donkey Kong performing a handstand while riding a motorbike, but Nintendo doesn't often drop the ball on this series, so we'll remain quietly confident for now.Admittedly, a handful of these screens did already appear in the Famitsu scans we posted a couple of weeks back, but the majority are new to us. Accelerate past the break for more, or race over the "Read" link at the bottom of this post to access the full set.%Gallery-4772%
Mario Kart cheat adds paddle controller support
As fun as Taito's paddle controller might be, the peripheral's limited compatibility restricts experimentation with any games outside of Arkanoid DS or Space Invaders Extreme. What about the other Breakout DS clones or all the titles packed in Retro Atari Classics? Will they ever know the wheeled affection they desperately pine for? Or will their love go unrequited, the spinner playing the part of the "little red-haired girl?"Yasu's Action Replay "cheat string" doesn't unlock universal support for the paddle, providing us with a Valentine's Day miracle, but it does allow the controller to be used with an unexpected title -- Mario Kart DS. It's an important first step towards the greater goal! As you can see in the demonstration video above, it's not the most effective control scheme. We're sure that won't stop the jerks "snakers" out there from finding a way to exploit the setup.
Wii Warm Up: On Mario Kart Wii
We've been hearing new details about Mario Kart Wii recently, and it's pretty clear that there's going to be some notable tweaks made to the tried-and-trusted formula. Firstly, we should make one thing clear: we are genuinely thrilled about many of these modifications. Online leagues, global rankings, and online multiplayer for up to twelve people is the stuff dreams were made of back in 1991, when Super Mario Kart (above) was soaking up our afternoons like a particularly fun, addictive sponge (and on a tangential note, how well has that game aged?).But look at some of the other changes being made: we already know about the bikes, but it looks like the game will also include aerial tricks and bike wheelies, introducing some sort of stunt element to the experience. Is this a case of Nintendo over-egging Mario Kart, in the same way that it over-egged Mario Kart: Double Dash!!? There's an awful lot to be excited about when it comes to Mario Kart Wii, but are you Mario Kart traditionalists concerned by some of these new developments, or is it simply too soon to tell?
Mario Kart rumors surface, quickly get denied
This has nothing to do with the leaked release list from earlier in this very same day, but some more specific features about the game other than when it will officially exist in the sense that you may buy it, play it and perhaps snuggle with its instruction manual. According to an upcoming issue of NMag (by way of GoNintendo), snaking will make its way back into the game, along with a total of 32 tracks (16 new, 16 old) and Baby Peach and Boo will be drivers. Also, the controls are supposed to be very much like those that are in Excite Truck.Apparently, this is all speculation, though, as a Nintendo rep told Eurogamer that these tidbits of info are nothing more than rumors. "Nintendo has not announced any further information on Mario Kart," the rep said. "We've spoken to the magazine and it's just pure rumour and speculation on their part." So while Nintendo shoots down all of this info, you can still be sure in betting on the track list being a mixture of older tracks, with some new ones sprinkled in for good measure. We'll just all have to make our own guess as to how many there will be.Read - GoNintendo leaks info from upcoming issue of NMagRead - Nintendo tells Eurogamer it's all rumors
The DS Life: Shoreline
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com."And because they had once written themselves a beach, on which to dream themselves together, they decided that to celebrate they'd have another one of their rare days, and for it, they would go to a beach." - Looper, "Impossible Things"
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/17-12/23
Another week in Japan has come and gone, which means yet another week of ridiculous success for the DS. The hardware managed to top 300k for the week, while heavy hitters like Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest IV, and Mario Party DS littered the top ten in the software charts. It was also a good week for baseball game Dorabase, which debuted at the number nine spot with 96k, selling 90% of it's total stock. Hardware: DS: 319,000 Wii: 264,000 PSP: 162,000 PS3: 51,000 PS2: 24,000 Xbox 360: 8,100 Check after the break to see the software numbers for 12/17-12/23 in Japan.
Dojo update: Going to the races
There's been a few less-than-stellar updates on the dojo recently, but today's unveiling of the Mario Circuit stage has atoned for that somewhat. Not that the stage is entirely new, of course; those with strong memories may recall this stage being part of a trailer first shown back in November 2006. Nevertheless, Mario Kart totally rocks our socks, so we'll forgive it.Based on the figure-eight Mario Circuit course that has appeared in every Mario Kart game to date (battles take place at where the track joins in the middle), this stage features a field of eight Shy Guys zipping about in karts as you scrap. Being hit by a kart deals out damage, and they approach from all directions as well: from the sides, back, and front. Luckily for brawlers, the giant screen at the back of the track keeps tabs on their location. And if that fails, you can even wipe out the karts yourself with one well-timed swing of a weapon.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Rumor: new Famitsu loaded with Wii info [update]
Looks like Nintendo fans in Japan are about to have a lot to crow about. While we'll have to see if any of these goodies make it outside that country in bundle form, apparently new Wii colors will be released as bundles with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The colors include Diamond Black, Red, Mint Blue, Snow Pink, and Famicom colors, and the bundles will include two Wii remotes and two nunchuks so you can get your brawl on in style. The packs will retail for ¥35,000, which is a little more than $313 U.S.. Not a bad deal at all.It's not all about Brawl, however. Word is that Mario Kart is coming in February and is confirmed as having eight player multiplayer (the number just keeps dropping), and on top of the bikes we'd already heard about, there will be animals as well. Maybe they should change the name to Mario Things-You-Can-Drive-Or-Otherwise-Navigate?None of this has been confirmed yet, but if it is ... we could use some of those new colors! Oh, wait. Y'know, we could just use a few more Wiis, in any shade.[Update: Alas, this news report was not the Famitsu you're looking for. Or, as commentor MidnightScott said more succinctly, this was confirmed as a fake translation.]
Mario Kart + slot car racing = awesome
File this under "amazing gamer gift ideas." Sure, we haven't really touched slot car racers since we were ten, and all we can really recall is flying off the damn track every twenty seconds, but this still makes our hearts flutter. German slot car manufacturer Carrera has created a high-quality Mario Kart slot racing set, complete with star-laden track, and Mario and Wario racers in their own unique karts.The Mario Kart Go! set is officially licensed by Nintendo, and features about 20 feet of track (we're not slot car racers, so we don't know if that's good or bad). The set is apparently popular, because it's already sold out, with a new shipment due in this Tuesday, December 12th. We'd prefer to see Yoshi, Luigi, or even Bowser as Mario's slot car rival, rather than Wario, but who can complain? Mario Kart and slot car racing is truly a match made in heaven.
Mario Kart Go! makes us want to go broke
We're no slot-car racing aficionados, and yet we're still impressed by this Mario Kart themed kit for sale at Firebox. Luckily for us and our itchy "have to buy it, can't resist" fingers, this $90 toy is out of stock. The only disappointing thing about the track is that you can't choose which characters you want (it automatically comes with Mario and Wario), but overall it's probably a nice gift for anyone into video games and slot-car racing.[Via GoNintendo]
