Mario Kart makes DS wifi a hit
by Jennie Lees 
{ Nov 22nd 2005 at 10:00AM }
Whether it's the
crazy ad campaign, the innovative aspect of
DS wifi play or the
unusual locations of DS wifi access points, Nintendo seem
to be doing something right.
In the last week they've sold over 110,000 copies of
Mario Kart DS, and over 52,000—more than 45%—have
been taken online. An interesting comparison is that Halo 2, arguably Xbox Live's
most dominant title, was only taken online by 18% of new
owners even after three weeks on sale.
Nintendo have some more interesting titles around the corner, many of which include and benefit from wireless play, so time should tell whether this launch is an oddity or an indication of things to come.
[Thanks, Infendo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
InfoMofo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I have heard from friends that MK DS is the best Mario Kart title to date, even without the wifi. Is this an exaggeration here? If not, I may have to adopt the cause of DS fanboisterism.
mat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I hope we see a deluge of online titles; both from N and the thrid parties...
Give me Blizzard mmorpg's or give me DEATH!!
dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Those are certainly impressive numbers. I'll get my hands on a copy as soon as they de-uglify the DS :)
Domingo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
It's pretty easy to set-up (with the WiFi access point I have at least) and it runs as smooth as silk. Did I mention the game itself is wonderful?
Actually I think the main think about MK that makes people play online is that it's naturally balanced. In a game like Halo or even an MMORPG, you're overwhealmed at first. With Mario Kart a rookie and an expert are separated by a lot less just because of the power-up balancing. A player could complete the first few cups, learn the tracks, and then go online without getting annhilated. Yes, there's a difference between an expert and a new player, but that line is a lot thinner than say with something like Halo or Counter-Strike. At the same time, you'll almost always see the better player winning more...BUT the new player is likely to win here and there, too. Everybody wins.
xbox360-forums.com @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Sounds promising. I'm buying my girlfriend mario kart DS in the UK when it is released
Sense @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Can you imagine Diablo on DS? It would be perfect for the stylus. Play the game on the bottom with a map and stats on top. It would be sweet.
I'm getting a DS just as soon as PSP is officially sold on eBay. The woman who bought it on Saturday still hasn't paid for it. It's driving me nuts.
Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Mario Kard DS is the best Mario Kart ever. It is tight and refined and well worth the price of the DS. Wi-Fi play is the icing on the cake.
Anyone who is missing out on Mario Kart, or ANY of the great DS games, because of how the system looks, has serious issues.
nick @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Yes, MK DS is the best Mario Kart to date. It combines the best parts of all previous incarnations and adds Wifi as a bonus. For $35 you get a sick amount of gaming. Yep, best Mario Kart, but also one of the best Nintendo games, period. Metroid ought to be sweet with the eight different bouny hunters.
Kevout @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
#1 yes I would say it's the best Mario Kart to date,, 36 tracks, 12 characters, single player battle mode, missions, very challenging, great track design. And that's not even mentioning the WiFi, which is also a blast.
MUhockey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"more than 45%have been taken online. An interesting comparison is that Halo 2, arguably Xbox Lives most dominant title, was only taken online by 18% of new owners even after three weeks on sale."
Sure, but then again, the Xbox doesn't come with Live ready to go, you have to go and purchase it, which leaves many people who bought Halo 2 with out Xbox live. People with the DS don't have to purchase anything, they can just simply go online w/o any strings attached. Not a fair comparison
32_Footsteps @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I would also agree that this is the best Mario Kart yet. The track selection is awesome (many of my favorite tracks were brought back as they were or tweaked to be less cheesy, like Wario Stadium). The controls are at their best (speaking only for myself, a huge improvement over the downgrade that was Double Dash). The characters are pretty good. And Battle Mode might be at its best yet.
And I haven't even tried the wifi yet.
mat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Sense, I agree Diablo DS would be amazing. Or better yet, a Warcraft themed mmorpg based on the Diablo style of play.
It could be done on the DS...
Rappateng @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Is this really fair to compare? Nintendo's wifi is free, while Xbox live is, well... isn't... I'm sure if everyone who purchased Halo2 was able to play on-line (hello xbox 360) the numbers will be vastly different.
That said, Mario Kart DS is hands down the BEST version of Mario Kart to date, and I've been around for all of em.
The WiFi is... good, but definately has room for improvement. Still, it's amazing to be racing wirelessly against other people. I'm constantly sneaking in a few races here at work with a buddy of mine who lives a few states away. It's a little iffy at times connecting to other players, but once you do it's a furious race to the finish line.
Unlike Xbox Live, it's nice to play against other people and not be called a noob every 5 seconds by some little punk. Only problem I do encounter is people disconnecting when they are losing. I guess some people are just always going to be poor sports, so what can you do. If anyone want's to exchange friend codes just let me know.
I agree with Domingo, the playing field is a slightly more balanced with Mario Kart then say Halo. You could be trailing an entire race and end up with a blue shell that puts you out on the top. I'm not saying that isn't frustrating as hell when you're in first place, but it's all in good fun now, isnt it?
Just wish wifi included battle mode :(
Terrell Owen's sense of loyalty @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
So far I have really enjoyed Mario Kart DS. The fact that my girlfriend will play it for an hour or two every night and leave me alone is priceless.
I had to run a few laps online today after in celebration that my bro was able to pick up an Xbox 360 (even though I didn't). My five games + his system = a very enjoyable Thanksgiving.
But yeah... this MK game is great. If you have a DS you really should pick it up. If you have a DS and a wifi connection at home you literally need this.
Kevout @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
#9 I think that was the point - the article is trying to show how sucessful the WiFi concept is as opposed to other online strategies.
bgumm @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
easily the best game to date. even w/out the wifi it's the p00p. and with the wifi, well...it's just about as close to handheld gaming perfection as you can get. extremely fun...
jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
MMOs on the DS for portability while you're away from the PC? Seamless virtual worlds across devices? It'll happen, folks.
As for the Halo 2 stat--well spotted. Indeed, the Xbox Live service is not free, although I'm pretty sure I got a free 2-month trial with my copy of Halo 2. It only goes to show how successful free services can be.
bd (formerly b) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
WiFi > LIVE
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
All hail Nintendo for their dominance in the portable gaming arena!
-John
http://www.NintendoRevolutionBlog.com/
Buck Q. Fitch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I am extremely satisfied with Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk DS. These are two outstanding online games.
Tigidal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
MarioKart have been starving for online play! Great marketing strategy on the part of Nintendo to not release online MarioKart play on Gamecube, since now Kart fans will buy the DS just for the online play, but it sucks for the player.
I actually bought a DS and MarioKart yesterday and returned (selling MarioKart on craigslist) the same day. Why? The DS is fugly and cheap when compared to the PSP. Plus, after playing only a few rounds of Kart my adult finger were sore from the odd angles they need to be contorted in during gameplay. The game itself was fun, but not worth $180. One can only imagine how great it would look on the PSP... but that is only a dream.
Here's to hoping MarioKart is brought to a quality Revolution quickly after launch and that it finally quenches non-portable online play!
Spence @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Of course it's a fair comparison you plebs: Microsoft did a bad thing by centralising the Xbox live service, because it was costly.
By making the wifi free Nintendo have a success on their hands, and you should also note that Xbox live is often not profitable, and people hacked it up anyway so they could play on their own servers for free.
I was originally considering waiting for the DS redesign.. but it doesn't seem worth it, when they announce a redesign just trade it in for 20 less.. isn't that worth it for the months of fun you've had?
Stu L Tissimus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I haven't bought MKDS yet, but I played it with a friend over single card multiplayer, and quite frankly, it's amazing. The graphics easily beat MK64, the gameplay is the best of all the Mario Karts put together (and then some), and there's supposedly a whole lot of content in it, what with 32 tracks. And of course, online gives it a lot of replay value.
But the real reason why so many copies have been played online? Because it's free! It doesn't make you pay monthly. And its' freeness comes at no cost to you (other than the supposedly bad friends system, which should be improved in the future.) Quite frankly, these numbers give me hope for Revolution.
Martin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Back when the DS first came out, about Nov 25 2004 I bought one. Then sold it when the PSP came out. Then I sold that 'cause, well, it sucks hard.
Now, with MKDS coming back out, I went out and bought this and a used DS, and I'm never letting this thing outta my sight. If there were no other games around, I'd say that online Mario Kart is worth $150, hands down.
The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Comparing Halo 2 online to Mario Kart DS online is not good. I did not see you guys say one word about how no one could play the Mario Kart online the first day. There were too many server issues. Furthermore, it still takes at least 1 minute to find a match on the DS. Do not get me wrong, I like the MK for the DS. However, there were too many issues at launch that you all chose not to mention.
Eran Hawke @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Sorry Tigidal. Mario Kart alone is better than anything on the PSP. I haven't used my PSP for at least 6 months since all my portable time is spent on the DS. I keep the PSP around hoping that one day it will have a half-decent game.
Until that day comes, Every moment with the DS is better and better. Sonic Rush is the best Sonic game ever made too. castlevania is a total blast. I beat it twice. PHOENIX wright is also top-notch. Viewtiful joe is next on the list but I'm also interested in the Shogun Real-time steagety game that comes out this week. Too many great games for the DS make my wallet sad but my heart happy!
Bender @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Hey The1, the number of people who played online has NOTHING to do server issues, or the time to match a game. The server issues were covered at that time.
I think Halo 2 - MKDS comparison is fine. They're both flagship titles for their respective platforms.
It will be interesting to know, in 3 months time, how many people are still playing online, compared to Halo 2 at that stage in its lifetime.
Martin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I've seen it take upwards of 5 minutes to find a match on Halo 2, so don't mark 1 minute matchmaking as a downside.
And yes, there were issues with the launch of Nintendo WFC, and they should be mentioned as to remain objective.
Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"People with the DS don't have to purchase anything, they can just simply go online w/o any strings attached. Not a fair comparison." That's the whole POINT. The online strategy Nintendo has (BECAUSE it's free, BECAUSE there are no strings attached, and BECAUSE they went out of their way to add hot spots) is achieving a far greater percentage of acceptance than XBox Live's most popular title.
LSSLAVE @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
How is it not a fair comparison? You seem to think that because live costs money that means that you can not compare, but that is BS. Nintendo made a free, easy to use way for people to play the games they buy online. Xbox did not. Is it Nintendos fault live costs money? No. The difference is, people are more willing to use a free service, and because it is so easy to use even more people are willing.
Thanks to family rule that I can not buy ANTHING for myself until after christmas I am left without my own copy of Mario Kart... but I have played it via download play (and shy guy is DAMN addicting) and can honestly say this is a great game.
But selling the DS because it is ugly and awkward? I found the PSP to be very awkward... and the DS body style I actually like. For 1 it is very secure, drop the sucker and itll still work (unless you drop it in such a way you are TRYING to break it) and the screens can not get scratched just from carrying it around. Also, thanks to the design, the weight is evenly distributed throughout the system.
Either way, MKDS I have only played download play and it is STILL one of the best games I have played in the battle-racing genre. Damn family rules >.<
Neko Tsukimi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Even though I experienced SEVERAL kinks when first starting up, my online experience with Mario Kart and the DS has been fabulous. The matchmaking is slow at time, but most of the time, I can find 3 people to play with within 5 minutes. And I can play online from the comforts of my bathroom. The best thing about it is once you have the Wi-Fi network and the game, the rest is of no cost.
1up_clock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Well, I congratulate Nintendo on creating a very fine and very successful first attempt at online gaming (Gamecube's doesn't count, it was just the X-Box's Phantasy Star Online sans voice chat). Hearing that a larger percentage of gamers are playing one game online than Halo 2 sounds like their doing something very right. I think it's mainly because it's a franchise that anybody can like, or at least anybody who's uninterested in Need For Speed, Gran Turismo, or just thinks Burnout needs projectile attacks and power-sliding. It could also be that the online's free and all, which also made Guild Wars so popular. Now, if they can do this for a DS Super Smash Bros., Advance Wars, and Diablo/Warcraft/Starcraft, they could officially dominate online gaming.
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Well it might help that Nintendos Wifi Connection is free opposed to Live. I dont get that, why charge for online when PC games online are (mostly) free? it seems to be only MMORPGs that pay to play online. Silly Microsoft trying to get more money.
I just got my Mario Kart today (US Import) and there seems to be a lot of British folks who got the game early too. both me and my sister had a race online. we have a wireless router, even if we didn't there are hundreds dotted around so yea. its just a beautiful system whose selling point is that, ironically, its free.
Romero @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"Is this really fair to compare? Nintendo's wifi is free, while Xbox live is, well... isn't... I'm sure if everyone who purchased Halo2 was able to play on-line (hello xbox 360) the numbers will be vastly different."
If you don't think its fair to compare then you must also thinks its not fair to compare xbox and gamecube sales numbers because only nintendo makes a profit on gamecube while MS takes a loss on the xbox. Its no different here. Nintendo is "taking a loss" by offering free WIFI to gain customers. MS is taking a loss on hardware to gain customers. Its the same thing so quit whining.
IMandIR @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I was very excited about mario kart DS and it really is a great game. But I am not too happy with the wifi connection there are few options and you can only play in races. With so many people buying and playing on the wifi why can I not find four people to race when I do worldwide, regional, and rivals. I am also getting tired of people leaving at the end of a race before they lose. Battle mode wifi would have be wonderful but I guess the lag would be too much to handle.
Hopefully nintendo can make some type of patch to add some features to the wifi for a better experience. Until then I will spend more of my time beating the Nintendo ghosts in time trials and playing missions over wifi.
I honestly like Mario Kart DD better than this version. I use the drift quite a bit and in DD the drifting is a lot easier than the DS and I also got addicted to the two of any item at a time so nice! The only thing I wished for DD was more tracks and they answered it in this game.
I just can't wait for make your own track hopefully on the revolution.
smarterray @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
As to people disconnecting at the end of races, it is to their own ill effect. Should a person decide to disconnect, three losses are counted towards the said person's record.
NOA_ALEX's FAQ (MKDS forum):
http://forums.nintendo.com/nintendo/board/message?board.id=mario_kart_ds&message.id=84170
Kye @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
James Bond Agent Under Fire - NGC
Street Fighter Alpha 3 - PS1
Two of my favourite games. On single and especially multiplayer I've dedicated triple-figure hours of game play.
But in comparison, both are dwarfed by the amount of time and energy Ive given to Mario Kart 64.
Ive yet to play another racing game like it. I've yet to find anyone who can beat me. And believe me - many have tried and all have failed. I don't think im the best, but I cant seem to find an equal.
After being dissapointed by DD (good game mind you, but it doesnt compare to MK64) i've been waiting patiently for the next mario Kart title. If this is as good as people claim, mark my words- I WILL purchase a DS (my first portable ever!) just for the pleasure.
In the next MK title, could someone tell nintendo to bring back feathers, multiple bananas, the ability to drag items & ghosts?. (pls forgive if they are in this title already)
Also it would be nice to have a yellow shell which targets and hits EVERY player ahead of you exploding on first place? :)
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
This is funny b/c a lot of you guys were bitching and whinning like babies over the router compatibility issue...plus all the cons that IGN listed.
You guys bitch too much...
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"In the next MK title, could someone tell nintendo to bring back feathers, multiple bananas, the ability to drag items & ghosts?. (pls forgive if they are in this title already)"
MKDS has multiple bananas, no feathers and you can drag items BUT they won't appear behind your kart when you are playing online.
CuddleFish @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
You can't compare Mario Kart and Halo 2. Why? Because Halo2 isn't on a portable system that you can take somewhere to use a wi-fi hotspot like at a McDonalds. A better comparison would be what percentage of Halo 2 owners who have Xbox live got online with the game. Or why don't they compare it to Socom on PSP? What percentage of Socom Fire Team Bravo users have brought their game online? Let's see how many Revolution ownes take there system online when it's grounded in their living room.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
You can't compare Mario Kart and Halo 2. Why? Because Halo2 isn't on a portable system that you can take somewhere to use a wi-fi hotspot like at a McDonalds. A better comparison would be what percentage of Halo 2 owners who have Xbox live got online with the game. Or why don't they compare it to Socom on PSP? What percentage of Socom Fire Team Bravo users have brought their game online? Let's see how many Revolution ownes take there system online when it's grounded in their living room.
--
Meh.. you can plug it into the wall.. something you've probably got anyway.. (ethernet).. Some DS owners have to buy wireless routers.. Seriously.. the difference here, as N has said, is that this is FREE and ready to go, out of the box..
This is what they wanted to do all along.. finally it's reasonably affordable to do (with the proliferation of hotspots, etc)
Give them credit for not following the trend prematurely ..
Hell give them credit for not doing what Sony's done and had some scatterbrain service (PSP owners know what i'm talking about.. logging onto a website to play Infrastructure?? wa??)
Adoobo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
to guy that said Mario Kart DS made your hand cramp. You should have waited till the next day, you're hand will get used to it. I know because mine did and I have large freak hands. And you don't think that doesnt happen with the PSP? try to attempt the same playing Virtua Tennis for a few hours. My hand hurt so much using the nub I couldnt take it anymore. And now I have a broken d-pad.
I own both systems now and to be honest, after having the PSP since launch and hating on the DS since its launch, the looks of the system just don't matter anymore. The PSP loses its wow factor after a while after some nicks and scratches, but especially when you see some 8 yr old spoiled kid swinging it around by the wrist strap, the jerk. I had to baby my PSP so nothing would happen to it (buy a face plate, put on the clear screen guards, the works) but I love the 'feel' of the DS. The extra thickness gives it that comfortable grip, helping out my huge paws. Plus I can just close the lid like an old busted up Dell laptop and know that the screens will be safe.
Anyways, yeah, you should have given it one more day and it'll feel natural.
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
hah it always makes me laugh to hear people say "you cant compare the DS and PSP" "you cant compare A PEN WITH A PENCIL! OMG!"
frankly you can compare. its just always the people who lose out with the comparison who complain. Of course you can compare Mario Kart online with Halo online. they are both freakin games! they are both played ONLINE. only difference is one is free, one isnt. Can we compare the Rev wifi with the Xbox Live when the Rev is launched next year? or is that too "out there" with the comparisons?
you people need to get a grip.
bubbacrosbysucks @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Free Wifi+Blizzard game= The largest selling gaming system of all time
Wari0 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"And I can play online from the comforts of my bathroom..."
Actually it is rumored that the Squid powerup item in MKDS that blots your screen out was originally a Diddy Kong powerup that threw mud-butt all over you screen. It was changed to the squid for ESRB reasons.
=D
mrk @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"I have heard from friends that MK DS is the best Mario Kart title to date, even without the wifi. Is this an exaggeration here? If not, I may have to adopt the cause of DS fanboisterism."
Better go get it then.
"Free Wifi+Blizzard game= The largest selling gaming system of all time"
Most definitely, but Blizzard doesn't like Nintendo anymore (*cough*starcraftghostcancelledforgamecubedueto"noonline"thoughps2'sonlineisnobetter*cough*).
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I wouldn't say that Blizzard hates Nintendo...they aren't the only ones canceling games for the Cube.
There is no point in developing a game for a system if the sales won't make up the costs for developing for it.
smarterray @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Let us remember, the act of comparison requires the pointing out of similarities as well as differences. Two things do not have to be the same to be compared.
Slashbunny @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I've been saying it forever. Nintendo is going to bring online gaming mainstream. 45% online? That's huge. Xbox Live is 10% total (search for previous article on this). As more people catch on, we will see over 50% and the Revolution will bring the number even higher. Xbox 360 online? No more than 25% I'm guessing. You have to supply internet and pay a fee on top of that. It's just not appealing to most poeple. That's why only a small percentage are using it now.
sheik124 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
MKDS is infectious, played it for 3 hours after I bought it, and continue to play the crap out of it. Some of the GCN courses seem smaller (in both terms of proportion and length) but its all good, didn't expect to find a bunch of N64, SNES, GBA, and GCN courses when I started it up :)
And to the people hating on the idea of a paid online service, they seem to be forgetting that with the XBOX 360, XBL is now two-tiered. You can get XBL Silver, which is free, but doesn't give you all the shiny gimmicks like profiles and whatnot like Gold does. Smart move by MS, people that like Silver will undoubtedly pay for Gold, and as soon as I can get my hands on an XBOX 360, AT MSRP (good god, saw one go for 1.5k on eBay) I'm takin my paid XBL sub onto PDZ. And that perfectly illustrates the difference between paid and free online services. Does WFC let you do half as much as XBL does? Hell no, you get what you pay for, but for a whopping sum of $0.00, I couldn't be any happier with what Nintendo did with WFC