Nintendo denies German mag's Mario Kart Wii rumors
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 30th 2008 at 1:30PM }
After yesterday's boatload of leaked Super Smash Bros. Brawl information, another leak about another major Nintendo series would seem to good to be true. And it probably was, because while GoNintendo is reporting the coming issue of Germany's NMag has some new information about Mario Kart Wii, Eurogamer is reporting that Nintendo has dismissed the widely-publicized report as "just pure rumour and speculation on their part."Which doesn't mean it won't end up being true. NMag's reported predictions range from the incredibly obvious (the controls will be similar to Excite Truck) to the only slightly obvious (powerslides and snaking will return) to the non-obvious but still unsurprising (online battle mode, Baby Peach and Baby Boo as characters).
Come on NMag ... if you're going to speculate, you might as well throw some really crazy stuff out there. Here, we'll get you started: Sonic will be a playable character, but he won't have a kart, he'll just run! Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2 will be featured in a boss race! On-track coins can be used to purchase Wii Shop points! Commenters, take it away.
Read - NMag rumors on GoNintendo
Read - Nintendo dismissal on Eurogamer
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jeff Smith @ Jan 30th 2008 1:35PM
Dr.Robotinik will try to shoot you down from his spaceship as you pass.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 30th 2008 1:37PM
The karts no longer move, they simply print money.
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 30th 2008 1:37PM
I love Mario Kart... it is my most played game since last gen.
I'm a little worried about this game... not the graphics or characters or the courses, because I know they will good.
I'm worried about the gameplay... I'm very good at Mario Kart, but I don't want to control the Kart with motion. I hope that they include two modes... one for the casuals and newcomers, with motion control, like Excite Truck, in easy mode, 50cc...
But for the experts, I hope they give us the option to use the analog josytiq.
I can't see how I will do miniturbos and drift with motion controls.
Nate @ Jan 30th 2008 2:17PM
As a Mario Kart fan myself, I 100% agree. Trying to use motion controls to play will likely just end up with very imprecise steering. I could still see all the same gameplay, I just don't think motion controls are easy enough to use to do so accurately (not a bash on the Wii's motion controls... it's just hard to hold your arms steady in midair for any length of time).
This and Smash Brothers are the two major reasons I'd buy a Wii... maybe I'll be able to get away with mooching off friends, though.
Raikage (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) @ Jan 30th 2008 2:59PM
Kinda strange how the 2 most anticipated games on the Wii, according to the majority, should be played with a normal controller.....
Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2008 4:58PM
Imprecise?
None of y'all have played Sonic and the Secret Rings (and i mean really played it, i know he controls like a drunken duck at the beginning of the game, but if you get all the power-ups, you get something incredibly amazing for control)
Doesn't worry me
ThornedVenom @ Jan 31st 2008 3:27AM
Imagine driving with the Nunchuck buttons+stick, and using the Wiimote to aim and throw stuff at enemies.
Mr.ESC @ Jan 30th 2008 1:37PM
Bu,but Sonic,it's his name and speed is his game.
(Seriously Nintendo add Sonic to Mario Kart,Just do it F...)
Zertoss @ Jan 30th 2008 1:45PM
It would either be ridiculously unfair, or people would complain that Sonic is "too slow." Then come the inevitable comparisons to Sonic R, because no one played Sonic Drift 1 or 2.
On the other hand, Sonic in Mario Kart! HELL YEAH!
Mr.ESC @ Jan 30th 2008 1:51PM
We all know that all these new Mario games are all about pleasing the fan base, they should add Sonic.
Now Sonic is awesome and it wouldn’t be ridiculous, now that Snake in Mario kart using a Metal Gear Rex kart, well now that would be f**ing ridiculous, it would replace Ronald Mcdonalds in the “Lol,Internet” meme.
Martez @ Jan 30th 2008 1:38PM
OMG, BATTALION WARS 2! These guys really strike me as on top of things. Didn't that come out months ago?
WiNG @ Jan 30th 2008 2:01PM
Not in Germany.
FOXHOUND @ Jan 30th 2008 1:43PM
I can't wait to see the character select screen featuring "Robocop and Jeebus"(sounds like a good sitcom for the FOX TV Network).
Obie @ Jan 30th 2008 1:47PM
Snakers suck, it ruined the DS game for me.
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 30th 2008 1:56PM
Maybe you try and learn snaking.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 30th 2008 1:59PM
No really, snaking sucked.
Martez @ Jan 30th 2008 2:00PM
Maybe he knows how and doesn't want to snake because it's stupid.
Obie @ Jan 30th 2008 2:03PM
"Maybe he knows how and doesn't want to snake because it's stupid."
Exactly.
Nigeria @ Jan 30th 2008 2:10PM
Just what I was thinking.
I really hope they remove the power slides.
In fact, apart from removal of power slides, I really do not see anyway Nintendo can top Mario Kart DS.
Unless there's an extraordinary announcement - such as a Sonic or Puggsy cameo - I don't think I'll get this game.
Intentless @ Jan 30th 2008 2:12PM
Power slides are critical but the ability to chain them together should be removed...
Mr.ESC @ Jan 30th 2008 2:14PM
I agree with Nigeria.
Sonic FTW.
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 30th 2008 2:15PM
"Power slides are critical but the ability to chain them together should be removed..."
Best response ever... really. I was not bashing, in fact, that is why I don't enjoy Mario Kart DS online... but the slides and miniturbos are necessary... Mario Kart Double Dash makes a ery good use of miniturbos.
Maybe they should implement the miniturbos in that way.
Obie @ Jan 30th 2008 2:16PM
Hmm good point, maybe have a "powerslide meter" so you can only do up to two in quick succession.
deaftly @ Jan 30th 2008 2:40PM
Agreed 100%, snaking totally ruined the ds game
Zertoss @ Jan 30th 2008 2:53PM
You should be able to do as many as you can muster around a turn, but snaking on straightaways is just stupid. It probably wouldn't be difficult to just disable miniturbos on certain track sections.
And hey, if there's a track editor, give the users the ability to "paint" certain parts of the track (or none of it, or all of it) as "No Miniturbo" zones.
Intentless @ Jan 30th 2008 3:28PM
It was the straight aways that really pissed me off... You don't powerslide in straight aways that is cheap... I remember in NFS in the drift racing you could do that and make points it was ridiculous...
Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2008 5:01PM
(adds kudos to Intentless)
That's it in a nutshell. Power Slides kicked ass, but I hated how if you took your finger off the R button, you would get left in the dust by some punk using Luigi in that fucking Vacuum cart of his
Eventually my win/loss ratio plummeted in random matches, and i dropped the game
Grimmus @ Jan 30th 2008 5:29PM
I never bothered with Mario Kart DS, but the situation with snaking is similar to any exploit or abusive "gameplay element" in a lot of other games; Creating a ridiculous bunny-hopping script in any of the Source games, for example. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's right.
Grimmus @ Jan 30th 2008 5:31PM
My last comment should read "I never bothered with online multiplayer in Mario Kart DS...".
Mr.ESC @ Jan 30th 2008 1:47PM
Rumor: Mario kart is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry, Never gonna say goodbye, Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you : Most likely.
Rumor:Captain Falcon will be an unlockable character: It could be possible.
Rumor:Sonic, Tails and the rest of the gang will be there: Ok Nintendo just add Sonic, Tails and Dr Robotnik and I will buy it first day with all the crap you want to sell me with it.
Rumor:DLC will allow the King of Cosmos and the Burger king compete in the ultimate royal showdown: Lulwut?
Rumor:DLC: I don’t think so Tim.
Mario kart can divide by Zero:Oh shi-
Raikage (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) @ Jan 30th 2008 2:44PM
Ugg I got Rick Rolled...
Also, If the BK guy is in it... well I would buy it anyway..... i guess I'd buy 2 if he was in it...
riggs @ Jan 30th 2008 2:05PM
*Takes it and stomps on it*
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 30th 2008 2:00PM
You know, that bit about sonic being it it and not having a kart is probably the awesomest bit of made up speculation I've heard today.
Delgado @ Jan 30th 2008 2:13PM
I fully support the Kartless Sonic Movement.
WiNG @ Jan 30th 2008 2:03PM
Although it would be awesome for Sonic to be in the game kart-less, Nintendo would never do it because:
It would make Sonic look bad-ass awesome compared to all the Nintendo characters.
Case closed.
Obie @ Jan 30th 2008 2:13PM
Here is another question where the HELL is Mario Kart for the Virtual Console??? I NEED this game.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 30th 2008 2:16PM
Mario Kart 64 is out. But SNES mario kart needs to be there, STAT!
mattclarkie @ Jan 30th 2008 2:23PM
The graphics will be greater than Crysis, or any PS3/X360 game to date.
How can you get any wilder than that.
Quiggy @ Jan 30th 2008 5:51PM
LOLZ WII HAS BAD GRAPHIX!!1
Seriously, we all know the Wii doesn't have the best graphics out there. Does anyone really care any more?
samfish @ Jan 30th 2008 2:25PM
If Nintendo puts Sonic in another one of their games, I fully support them buying the rights to Sonic from Sega.
...or just buy Sega. Whatever.
deaftly @ Jan 30th 2008 2:41PM
Considering Sega's recent track record, not really the best idea to be had
hvnlysoldr @ Jan 30th 2008 3:57PM
That's why Nintendo should just buy the trademarks. Forget those slacking developers. Or reorganize them Retro Studios style.
Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2008 5:03PM
hvnlysoldr's right
There's a helluva lot of talent in SEGA and in Sonic Team, you can see the parts of their games that shine, they are just too often outweighed by the parts that don't
A sterner manager could whip Sega and Sonic Team back into true powerhouses
west @ Jan 30th 2008 2:30PM
Rumor: Mario Kart Wii will come with free health insurance b/c so many players will dislocate their wrists and elbows from shaking the wii mote to activate power slide.
Wild Rumor: DS connectivity
h8rain @ Jan 30th 2008 2:29PM
"Sonic will be a playable character, but he won't have a kart, he'll just run!"
Zertoss mentioned it, but does anyone else remember the sonic "racing" game on Saturn. It was either the first stage or second that had a song that drove my sister crazy. I remember picking it up for like $5, and it wasn't bad, but no masterpiece.
alu @ Jan 30th 2008 2:36PM
mmmm, SNES Mario Kart.. so many years spent on that game.
markhill66 @ Jan 30th 2008 3:01PM
I heard they are ditching the Mario Kart name and making "Super Smash Brothers Gran Prix." It's going to have all the Smash Bros in it, including Link, who rides Epona, and Solid Snake, who rides one of those mini Metal Gears.
-Mark
http://www.threevue.com
Mike @ Jan 30th 2008 3:50PM
Samus will also be a playable character. She will turn into morph ball instead of having a cart.
hvnlysoldr @ Jan 30th 2008 7:35PM
On one hand Samus has a boost ball. On the other she has shinesparking in the 2D games.
Microswirl @ Jan 30th 2008 4:20PM
Sonic will have the Flinstones car, so technically he'll both run AND have a vehicle.
Peach can throw cakes which obscure the view of rival players.
Vehicle tweeking system, including custom paint jobs using a revamped Mario Paint interface.
Rainbow Road will revist many famous locales from Mario Galaxy, including Space Junk Galaxy, featuring a track that will construct itself from blocks as you drive over it.
Option for standard analog control... I hope...