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Mario Kart 8 races past 1.2 million sales in debut weekend
Despite first appearing last Friday, Mario Kart 8 has already managed to attract 1.2 million sales, a figure that earns the mascot kart racer the title of "fastest selling Wii U game to date." Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime greets this news with all the excitement of an over-caffeinated puppy. "The early response to Mario Kart 8 demonstrates that the best days for Wii U are still ahead," said Fils-Aime. "This year's E3 is just days away, and it will be all about the future games for Nintendo platforms. This milestone is a great place to start!" If Fils-Aime's enthusiasm doesn't immediately convince you to give the game a shot, take a look at our Mario Kart 8 review. Thomas awarded the racer a nearly perfect, 4.5 of 5 stars, and though he feels the game doesn't do much to introduce new ideas to the franchise, the combination of series-first high-definition graphics and classic Mario Kart gameplay make for yet another first-party Nintendo classic. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario rides the hood of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth
Mario can drive in pretty much whatever direction he wants in Mario Kart 8, but today he'll be practicing left turns on the hood of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth's No. 20 car. Kenseth will be racing in the annual, 200-lap History 300 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a track with a disappointing lack of gravity-shifting sections. Really though, if we could at least throw some item boxes down, we'd have a pretty decent replica of Baby Park. If you're actually heading down to the Charlotte Motor Speedway instead of just tuning in from home, Nintendo will be there with MK8 kiosks for fans to test drive. Mario and Luigi will be around too, in case you'd like photographic evidence that the Bros. are real, just like Santa and everything else you've ever loved. Both the game and the Bros. will be present in the Fan Zone today and tomorrow. Best of luck to Kenseth today, but we think the competition's just lucky that Josh Wise isn't using his No. 98 car. Can you imagine coming up to his bumper and getting that unflinching Doge staredown? [Image: Nintendo]
Oh look, a developer is making Nintendo's money without them
I've pointed out apps taking advantage of popular IP before, but Poppy Kart is different. Rather than stealing established characters or franchise names to attempt to lure in unsuspecting buyers, Poppy Kart is filling a demand that Nintendo could, but so far refuses to. While clearly inspired by Mario Kart on SNES, Poppy Kart is a fantastic, high-quality racing game that is quite simply a blast to play... and it's making Nintendo's money without them. Poppy Kart is a kart racing game with 16-bit characters, Mode-7 style graphics, and playful weapons that will undoubtedly remind you instantly of Nintendo's classic racer. Developer Webrox was very careful not to actually copy any assets from the SNES Mario Kart title, and all of the racers and tracks are easily distinguishable from the ones they are clearly emulating. The racing is fantastic. Everything is super smooth and moves very fast, there are plenty of karts and tracks to keep you busy for a long while, and even the musical score is a love letter to anyone who enjoys the Mario Kart series. There are also some great bonuses here like multiple on-screen or accelerometer-based control options, which greatly expands the number of people who will find the game enjoyable. In short, it's exactly what a retro Mario Kart release would look like on iOS, and it's become quite popular. The reached the top 100 racing games in 47 countries, and broke the top 100 highest grossing in 19 countries. And it hasn't just been a flash-in-the-pan success, as the game as been a consistent performer for several months, all without a single recognizable character or world class marketing budget behind it. The user reviews are extremely popular, and the users who took the time to pen written reviews mention Mario Kart more often than not. "This game is amazing. The full game costs $2, but I would be willing to pay $5 for this game! If any of you reading this are Mario Kart fans, this is a must have." "Just like the original Mario Kart, worth every penny." "This looks really fun but I wish Nintendo would make a Mario Cart for iPhone." So here you have customers praising a game for simply being a high-quality nod to a long-standing Nintendo IP, begging Nintendo to embrace the App Store itself, and suggesting they'd be willing to pay even more than the current US$1.99 price to unlock the full game. If this isn't proof that Nintendo has money waiting on iOS, I don't know what is. To be clear, I don't think that Poppy Kart should be removed or looked down upon in any way -- it's a fantastic game that I highly recommend. This is Nintendo failing its own fans. The company needs to embrace iOS. We know it, Nintendo knows it, and app developers know it. But until they do, apps like Poppy Kart will continue to deliver where Nintendo refuses to, and Nintendo's investors will continue to question why they are leaving money on the table.
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.
Pennzoil and Nintendo bring Mario Kart to life at SXSW
Our friends at Engadget report that Pennzoil and Nintendo have partnered up for what the 8-year old inside us could only describe as "the coolest commercial ever, next to those Stretch Armstrong guys." The two companies have brought the Mario Kart franchise into the real world with modified karts on a specially-designed track at the SXSW festival. Icons representing familiar in-game weapons like the banana peel and red shell (as well as a Pennzoil icon) are spread throughout a 1,000-foot long track, and grant bonuses when activated. The Pennzoil icon, for example, will speed up a driver's kart. The karts are representative of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser who - hey, imagine that! - will be appearing in Mario Kart 8, due this May. This might seem like a strange partnership, but hey, it's not the first time Nintendo has spread to the real world to cross-promote products. Besides, the Big N couldn't have found a more appropriate partner - Pennzoil is owned by Shell. Shell. Get it? Cuz it's Mario Kart. *drops mic* [Image: Nintendo]
We kick off SXSW 2014 with some real-life Mario Karting (video)
The first few days of SXSW have brought quite a bit of excitement for our team on the ground. After starting the show with a stun-copter demo, we stopped by the Palmer Events Center to play a little a live-action Mario Kart. Pennzoil has set up a go-kart track here in Austin to promote its new Platinum line of natural gas-based motor oils, though -- let's face it -- we were really only here to be Mario (and Luigi, Bowser and Princess Peach) for a day.
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]
Nintendo needs to embrace iOS as a games platform
In 2011, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata vowed that his company would absolutely not create games for iOS devices. That same year saw the launch of the 3DS, Nintendo's new hope for mobile gaming dominance. Now, in 2013, with its marquee home console, the Wii U, thoroughly underperforming in sales and the 3DS falling considerably short of its predecessor's performance over the 28 months since its release, it's time for Iwata-san to reconsider. I believe Nintendo could be successful making games for iOS, and it's the kind of "creative destruction" that's necessary to keep the gaming giant relevant in the App Store era. Times have changed When the original Nintendo DS hit the market in 2004, the Motorola RAZR was all the rage. Since then, Nintendo has launched an all-new platform in the 3DS. Fliphones have given way to smartphones, with current devices like the iPhone 5 producing gaming experiences that oftentimes surpass those of dedicated portable gaming systems. Mobile gaming is now dominated by app stores, and a franchise like Angry Birds can draw downloads by the billions. There's still room for a console like the 3DS, and that's made clear by the fact that its sales are still climbing. Profits from the 3DS have saved Nintendo from fiscal disaster with the Wii U. However, with 32.5 million units sold over the first 27 months of availability, the 3DS still falls well short of the 40.3 million units the original DS was able to move in the same amount of time. The ground is ever so slowly shrinking beneath Nintendo's feet. On top of this, Nintendo -- perhaps more than any other company -- has franchises that are perfectly suited to life on the iPhone and iPad. Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and even the various iterations of Mario could be easily adapted for iOS. With the generally outstanding quality of first-party Nintendo releases, there should be little doubt that these games would be fantastic. It's hard to imagine a Mario Kart, Pikmin, or WarioWare title not taking the App Store by storm. "But why iOS? Why not Android?" Simple: Apple already caters to many principles Nintendo believes in. Most notable in this regard is piracy prevention. It's the reason Nintendo often chooses irregular media formats for its devices, such as the tiny GameCube optical discs, and why the company has aggressively fought the sale of devices like the R4 card which mimics a DS game card. Unlike Android, Apple's marketplace is highly policed even before software is put up for sale, meaning Nintendo would have less concern over losing money to cracked versions of its games. Google Play generates more app downloads overall, but when it comes to monetization the iOS App Store blows the doors off of Google Play. iOS apps generated more than double the revenue of Google Play, and if there's one thing that would push Nintendo to build mobile games for a platform other than its own, it's cash. Will it happen? I'm not going to say it will definitely happen, but it could, and it most definitely should. Nintendo has already shown that it's not entirely against the idea of iOS apps in general with the release of its Pokédex app. Right now, the Pokédex is seated in the top 25 of the reference section, after having been released in March. But it's not a game, and games are what Nintendo is (obviously) known for. The company may have been just testing the waters with the release of the Pokédex, but from there it's not exactly a stretch to publish a proper game, whatever it might be, on the App Store as well. Nintendo knows that people would buy its titles on iOS, and it knows the money is here waiting, so it may be just a matter of time before it decides to cash the check.
Mario Kart 8 races to Wii U Spring 2014
During today's E3 Nintendo Direct stream, president Satoru Iwata revealed Mario Kart 8 for Wii U. This new entry in the series will launch in Spring 2014. Last month, Nintendo teased not only a new Mario Kart, but also the new Smash Bros. and more. You can watch the ongoing Nintendo Direct stream here.%Gallery-191096%
Smash Bros, 3D Mario, Mario Kart in pre-E3 Nintendo Direct
In lieu of an E3 press conference, Nintendo is going to present a Nintendo Direct before E3, showcasing the "new Smash Bros., 3D Mario game, Mario Kart and other Wii U titles." The company previously announced that all three games would be playable at E3. This means for those not attending the show, the games may be playable at Nintendo's special Best Buy E3 demo extravaganza (note: fullness of "extravaganza" is TBD). The most recent Nintendo Direct held last week covered the company's summer plans and Hedgehog snuggles.
New Mario 3D and Mario Kart announced, playable at E3
During today's Nintendo Direct, company president Satoru Iwata announced that the team behind 3D Mario is working on a new installment for Wii U. A new Mario Kart is also en route to the platform.The games will be playable at this year's E3, during which we'll learn whether they'll be in homes by the holidays.
Exercise bike connects to original Mario Kart, Rainbow Road shortcut gets even trickier (video)
Canadian modder Brent Smith has managed to connect an aging exercise bike to Nintendo's perennial racer. Naturally, there's some Arduino involvement, but the whole setup plugs directly into an original SNES console -- no emulation necessary. Power-ups are accessed with a button in the center of the exercise bike's handles, each of which has a directional button for steering, while the pedals function as the acceleration button, accurate to one sixth of a rotation. According to Smith, "it's a lot harder than it looks" -- and we believe him. Watch his test-drive kart plow off-track in the video demo after the break.
Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games
I have to be honest -- I wasn't the biggest Nintendo fan. I grew up right as the whole thing was really smashing and keeping kids glued to their TVs, but I generally went outside and played more than stayed inside and played games. (Odd, huh?) Still, I had my fun with certain titles. Contra rocked my boat, along with Kid Icarus and a bit of Mario Brothers. My friends, on the other hand, were full members of the Nintendo nation. They subcribed to the magazine, played the same games for hours and hours, and generally acted as though the fate of the real world hung in the balance as they attacked that last boss monster. Stylistically, the games have left a mark on the genre. Many of those same titles still sell as well, some of them reaching so many variations that I lost track a long, long time ago. I thought it might be fun to list off some free-to-play MMOs that remind me of those old classics. See what you think, and leave any suggestions in the comments section!
Caption Contest: Mario stops by for a surprise visit
What often gets lost amongst all the flying and painting and partying is that Mario, he's just a regular dude. He's a blue red collar plumber just looking to earn an honest days pay, hangout with his lady and occasionally deliver a racing kart to unsuspecting Tennesseans. When the artist formerly known as Jump Man rang the bell of Nathanial Stehley to drop off his West Coast Customs-built ride, we can only imagine what went through his mind -- probably something about not eating Toad's relatives.Tim: "Honey, there's a plumber on the porch again."Michael: "Wrong castle, buddy. All the 'word-up' posturing in the world won't get me to bring out Princess Peach."Brian: "You called for a plumber?"Jon: "Imma da new mailman. Yeah, M is for mailman."Joe: "So, uh, you brought the mushrooms, right?"Dan: "Yeah, the name's Cooper. King Cooper. You wanna see my girl? You'll have to go through me, pal."Brad: "I'm sorry Mario, but your princess is in another condo."Dante: "What do you mean you were expecting Xzibit?"Terrence: "Hey Pauline, this guy says he knows you."Zach Lutz: "In a desperate attempt to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario swallows his pride and asks for directions."James: "I told you before Mario, Princess doesn't want to see you, you have to stop calling like this."Richard Lai: "Which part of 'stay 100 yards away from her' do you not understand?"Sean Buckley: "I'm a bit short on change, mind if I bang my head on your wall for a little while?"David: "No, I don't have any 'powerups' today, come back tomorrow."Darren: "All I do is win, win, win no matter what."
Mole Kart is the iOS Mario Kart rip-off you never wanted
It's not the first blatant rip-off to appear on the App Store by any stretch, but it might be one of the most obnoxious. Mole Kart is the quintessential Mario Kart clone, copying key gameplay mechanics, power-ups and even track designs from Nintendo's classic rubber-band racer. To top it off, it has fewer memorable characters and, based on the video above, what looks to be some way janky steering. The game is currently available for $2.99 on the App Store and is compatible with both the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad, granted they're running iOS 4.1 or later. Also, you'll need a high tolerance for cartoon moles because this game is totally full of them.
Caption Contest: Blue shells can't slow Miyamoto down
Monumentally important game designer and producer Shigeru Miyamoto made waves this week by saying he was / wasn't retiring from duties at Nintendo. There's been plenty of confusion regarding what his new duties at the company will entail, but this image makes it pretty clear. All hail Nintendo's new shopping mall test driver. Tim: "I'm developing a new power-up. It's called Golden Parachute." Richard Lai: "I once gave Kaz's ex a ride on this." Myriam: "I guess the shrink ray finally works." James: "The new Hotel Lobby level proved a success" Billy: "What? At least it's a hybrid." Mat: Miyamoto looks forward to exhibiting at next year's Tokyo Motor Show. Brian: "Miyamoto had an important message to impart on the youth of today: do enough magic mushrooms, and you're going to end up driving your car through a mall food court." Sean: A clean shave and a suit jacket revealed far more than Mario had ever intended. "Well," he thought, "at least I can still keep the 'M' logo." Jon: "In movie news: Photos from the 'lost camera' sequence in the upcoming The Hangover III started surfacing today..." Darren: "You should see what happens when I get Star Power."
Mario Kart 7 review: An exercise in fun/frustration
Mario Kart 7 is, as its predecessors always have been, an exceedingly hateful game. Three laps' worth of perfect corner negotiation, aggressive drafting and creating enough sparks to manufacture a small sun can be overturned instantly, sometimes in sight of the finish line. Who am I kidding? It is always in sight of the finish line, and it's always Toad, an innocuous-looking bastard who's caused me to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory more times than I could ever hope to count. (Estimated guess, though: A hundred billion.) Frustrating though they may be, those turnabouts are how the franchise skirts around recurring poxes of the racing genre. Last place racers get far more potent weaponry than the pace cars -- not rubber-banding in the traditional sense, but the result's the same. Mario Kart 7's changes and additions are few in number, but they're rich in the refinement of that concept. More than ever, it's a game about getting screwed over without getting too angry about it, a pair of goals it achieves with panache. %Gallery-135959%
Nintendo and West Coast Customs bring Mario Karts to life
Normally, Mario's Kart is just a bit of virtual video game magic, confined to a world where turtle shells fly and banana peels litter racetracks. But Nintendo has joined forces with auto shop West Coast Customs to produce two real life Mario Karts, currently on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both Mario's main ride, above, and Luigi's Bumble V kart were made, and both are equipped with front-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels in the back, and a propeller add-on for traveling through water. Unfortunately, that propeller doesn't really work underwater (so says the press release), but the karts really do move. Their construction will be spotlighted in an upcoming episode of West Coast Customs' reality TV show. You can see more shots of the karts over on the company's site (including one of Reggie Fils-Aime himself driving).
Mario Kart 7's impressive commitment to community
When it comes to Mario Kart, you can always count on two things. The first: an overabundance of "Nintendo Fairness," wherein race-leaders endure firestorms of powerful item attacks, while lagging competitors are showered with said items -- and brandish them with reckless abandon. This inexorably results in an embattled first-place spot, and guarantees even the least-competent players a decent shot at claiming a last-second lead. The 3D-powered Mario Kart 7 thankfully dials this down a bit from the artificial-fairness excess last seen in Mario Kart Wii, but damn, is it ever annoying. I've learned to live with this, though.%Gallery-135959%
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: gaming
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Ah, the holiday season. That special time of year when we give our loved ones the new hotness of the video game world, and then promptly exploit their over-excited reactions to propel them into unwanted YouTube fame. Even if your familial relations don't have the stuff to become this generation's "N64 kid," you can still kick a few rad toys their way just for the love of it. And if you're having trouble finding the perfect gift for the gamer in your life, we're here to help. Head past the break to take a peek at Engadget's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for video games. Not finding what you're looking for? Skip on back to our 2011 Back to School Guide for bonus gift ideas.
