Post by: NWR_Neal on April 03, 2014, 03:06:00 AM
Maybe it's not quite as sad as the blank screen in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, but it isn't much better.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/37037/mario-kart-8s-use-of-the-gamepad-is-disappointing
There’s no easy way to say this. The use of the GamePad for Mario Kart 8 is generic, boring, and dumb. When we first saw Mario Kart 8 back at E3 2013, there was a big horn in the center of the GamePad. When you were Wario, it would emit a fart noise when pressed. Surely, we all thought, that’s not what the final use of the GamePad will be in Mario Kart 8, right? Well, not entirely, but it’s not much better.
You have three options of what you can do with the GamePad in Mario Kart 8. To make it easy, let’s just list them below:
- Horn: Just like E3 2013, you have a horn that you can honk.
- Map: Akin to the 3DS/DS entries in the series, the second screen turns into a map.
- TV Screen: It shows exactly what is on the TV screen. So if you’re playing split-screen, it’ll show exactly what the TV shows.
So any dream of the five-player racing that Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed did at launch is gone. Any thought about how cool it would be to race your friend on the GamePad screen while he used the TV screen is gone. Something that could have made this safe, iterative entry in a racing series unique will not be happening. It’s a severe bummer.
We didn’t really hear an explanation for why this is the case, but as the game is silky smooth and gorgeous, it’s probably some chicanery about not wanting the graphical experience altered. Truthfully, the splendid visuals would likely have to be muddled to push out two comparable and smooth displays on the GamePad and the TV, but if that’s the kind of thing that can’t be worked out on a Nintendo game on the Wii U, then what is the point of even having the GamePad as a controller?
I’m not beating the drum for Nintendo to remove the GamePad from the Wii U. More so, I’m at a loss for how the two major releases from Nintendo in 2014 either don’t use it or use it in a mundane, superfluous manner. Several games have highlighted how cool the GamePad could be used in games, whether it’s in the single-player and multiplayer in ZombiU, the golfing in Wii Sports Club, or the multiplayer fun in Wii Party U and Nintendo Land. Its disappointing that when Mario Kart 8 comes out, I’ll probably toss aside the GamePad unless I want to play off-TV, because why bother?
Post by: Evan_B on April 03, 2014, 07:16:34 AM
Post by: ejamer on April 03, 2014, 07:26:16 AM
As you said, if Nintendo themselves can't find a way to make the gamepad controller cool and relevant, then why should anyone expect third parties to do a better job? Very disappointing.
Post by: Adrock on April 03, 2014, 07:28:52 AM
Post by: Soren on April 03, 2014, 08:29:50 AM
A few quick thoughts.
- I'm never questioning a third party developer's lack of GamePad features in their game ever again.
- I'm no longer expecting Nintendo to come up with any unique GamePad features for their own damn console.
- I had no problem waiting to get DK Tropical Freeze at a later date. I might do the same with this game. And if I'm not even excited for first party Nintendo games, why even bother supporting the console anymore?
And probably the most damning of them all:
- A five person indie studio in Denmark can collaborate with a guy from Sweden to make a game that actually uses the GamePad in a meaningful vital way (I'm talking about KnapNok and Nifflas' "Affordable Space Adventures"). But the Nintendo EAD group that exists only to make Mario Kart games think the only new feature worth adding to the GamePad is a horn. A #$%^&*@ horn.
Post by: Ceric on April 03, 2014, 09:28:27 AM
Post by: Adrock on April 03, 2014, 09:52:50 AM
Post by: Leo13 on April 03, 2014, 10:43:17 AM
Post by: necro909 on April 03, 2014, 10:45:55 AM
And also, Soren, I had not heard of Affordable Space Adventures. I found a trailer and look forward to it. I assume that it is a long ways off from release, though, since there isn't even an entry for it at Gamefaqs.
Post by: Ian Sane on April 03, 2014, 01:13:06 PM
I wonder if there is some inner-office split about the design of the Wii U. Nintendo has always been kind of inconsistent on whether this is a casual or core focused console. The whole design mimics the Wii's "last gen hardware with gimmick controller" approach but Nintendo talked a lot about core gamers and hasn't pushed the gimmick and hasn't pushed the Miis as aggressively as they did before. I wonder if part of Nintendo wants to focus on casuals and the other on the core and the Wii U is a compromise. Frankly Nintendo's whole effort from day one has been very half-assed. The games have come out at a slow pace, are mostly very generic safe titles, don't use the Gamepad, and there is virtually no marketing. It's like they've been going through the motions, putting in a token effort on something they don't actually want to do.
I maintain my prediction that the Wii U will be in bargain bins before the end of the year. Nintendo clearly doesn't care and if they don't care why should anyone else? Why would you buy a Wii U if the only company making games for it doesn't care?
Post by: Adrock on April 03, 2014, 01:21:25 PM
I maintain my prediction that the Wii U will be in bargain bins before the end of the year.Care to make a friendly wager?
Post by: Fatty The Hutt on April 03, 2014, 01:21:40 PM
Not trying to be a Pollyanna Nintendo Apologist but this feature seems like gamepad usage 101 for this game. The lack of this ability severely hampers my excitement for this game. Maybe I'll just stick with the Sonic racing game.
Post by: Soren on April 03, 2014, 01:42:14 PM
I maintain my prediction that the Wii U will be in bargain bins before the end of the year.Care to make a friendly wager?
God yes. The Wii U is in bad shape but even I know that's a silly prediction.
Post by: ShyGuy on April 03, 2014, 01:54:06 PM
Post by: marvel_moviefan_2012 on April 03, 2014, 02:19:08 PM
Post by: Tomato on April 03, 2014, 02:21:16 PM
I'm still mad that Nintendo dropped the NES Zapper so early in the console life cycle. NOBODY WANTS YOUR HALF HEARTED GIMMICKS NINTENDOAt least be happy you're playable again.
Post by: Ian Sane on April 03, 2014, 02:38:15 PM
Post by: Adrock on April 03, 2014, 02:45:17 PM
Now, about that wager...
Post by: Ian Sane on April 03, 2014, 04:31:18 PM
Besides I don't want to root for the Wii U to fail. As much as I don't like it I would rather it become a product I want to own then for it to fail, unless Nintendo replaced it with something I liked and that replacement turned Nintendo's console fortunes around. I just want a better product from Nintendo and in theory the Wii U flopping could inspire that but it seems more likely Nintendo will just give up on console gaming and focus on lame health stuff. The day the Wii U is discontinued won't be a happy day. I'll be in a very bad mood, pissed off that Iwata's leadership has torpedoed Nintendo to the point that it would come to that.
If Nintendo busted out a proper Pokémon RPG on the Wii U or something like that and it turned the Wii U around and the third party support improved and Nintendo made better and more ambitious games on it at a decent pace and then the eventual successor fixed all of the numerous problems the Wii U had and Nintendo was no longer out-of-touch and out-of-date in hardware, online services and third party relations that would be fantastic. But I would never assume such a thing would happen.
Post by: pokepal148 on April 03, 2014, 05:48:41 PM
Post by: Khushrenada on April 03, 2014, 06:02:20 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on April 03, 2014, 06:18:12 PM
There was a console pokemon game, two of them in fact on the gamecube, that did nothing for that system.
There is a qualifier that is to be assumed in every suggestion I make to anyone ever - "... and it should not be done poorly!" Obviously no one wants a console Pokémon game that sucks.
Post by: MegaByte on April 03, 2014, 06:34:44 PM
Quote
We didn’t really hear an explanation for why this is the case, but as the game is silky smooth and gorgeous, it’s probably some chicanery about not wanting the graphical experience altered. Truthfully, the splendid visuals would likely have to be muddled to push out two comparable and smooth displays on the GamePad and the TV, but if that’s the kind of thing that can’t be worked out on a Nintendo game on the Wii U, then what is the point of even having the GamePad as a controller?Other outlets are reporting that the game drops to 30fps in 4-player and possibly 3-player split-screen. That was understandable on GameCube and Wii, but pretty sad here. It also means that the experience can already be degraded, which takes that away as a good reason for lack of GamePad support.
Post by: Mop it up on April 03, 2014, 06:53:12 PM
Post by: Pixelated Pixies on April 03, 2014, 07:30:52 PM
This was my thinking also. Regardless of the reasons why more interesting uses of the gamepad weren't included, the fact of the matter is that they weren't. I'm sure many people enjoy off-TV play, but that is not enough to justify packing in such a costly and unwieldy controller?
It's a shame. When I think back on the excitement fans had about 'project cafe', and then consider the complete lack of effort amongst developers (Nintendo included) to do anything remotely interesting with the technology, it really bums me out.
...
Now that I think about, why the f*** isn't the gamepad being used to bring back a 'Double Dash' mode? Wherein the second player controls a turret-like trailer or sidecar and can move gamepad to aim and shoot projectiles! That would be awesome.
As Mop it up has said, even a rear-view mirror option would have been worthwhile.
Post by: ResettisCousin on April 03, 2014, 07:47:14 PM
This is just said. They had a comment recently about how they didn't allow player-made courses because the player courses wouldn't be to the standard. So what?! OK, so all the player made courses would have generic backgrounds and billboards, big deal. The gamepad would have been outstanding for dragging out courses on. And they couldn't think of a single multiplayer mode that has someone playing god or ref or joker on the gamepad as the TV split-screen players are driving? BLARGH
Post by: Soren on April 04, 2014, 11:37:16 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on April 04, 2014, 12:51:41 PM
This is just said. They had a comment recently about how they didn't allow player-made courses because the player courses wouldn't be to the standard. So what?! OK, so all the player made courses would have generic backgrounds and billboards, big deal. The gamepad would have been outstanding for dragging out courses on.
I think I can speak for everyone in the entire world except the executives at Nintendo when I say "who gives a ****?" Who cares if player courses might suck. No kidding. So why was there a create-a-track mode in some Japan-only F-Zero games? Why did Excitebike have it? Why does Animal Crossing let you design custom patterns for clothes? I might, you know, SUCK at that and then the quality is down.
Post by: marvel_moviefan_2012 on April 04, 2014, 04:42:48 PM
For a racing series as high profile as Mario Kart to not have a track editor is not only confusing, it just doesn't make sense. Yeah, when you open up the game for community to tinker with, you're going to get varying degrees of quality. But that's why we have rating systems. And if you make the editor robust you can certainly attract some of the very talented editors who could be making some fun tracks. Either fantasy or real world locations(I'm imagining karts racing down the LeMans track right now).
Is that a common feature in the other big racing games? or is it just something people wanted and didn't get? I have never played a racing game that let you edit the levels, in fact I haven't played many games that do have level editors and the ones I did, like Excitebike, well sucked anyways.
Post by: Stealth on April 06, 2014, 06:28:36 PM
Post by: nickmitch on April 06, 2014, 07:17:40 PM
Post by: Gamingsince75@yahoo.com on April 06, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
MegaByteAaron Kaluszka, Associate EditorApril 03, 2014
Quote:
We didn’t really hear an explanation for why this is the case, but as the game is silky smooth and gorgeous, it’s probably some chicanery about not wanting the graphical experience altered. Truthfully, the splendid visuals would likely have to be muddled to push out two comparable and smooth displays on the GamePad and the TV, but if that’s the kind of thing that can’t be worked out on a Nintendo game on the Wii U, then what is the point of even having the GamePad as a controller?
Other outlets are reporting that the game drops to 30fps in 4-player and possibly 3-player split-screen. That was understandable on GameCube and Wii, but pretty sad here."
Wow.. This is true of any multi player game on any console. Even Killzone on PS4 drops from 1080p in MP.
How can someone be part of running a game site, yet make such a foolish statement? Just really sad honestly and I am sure you will defend your stance rather than admit you were wrong but I am curious why its okay for X1 and PS4 to change in MP mode but sad for the Wii U to do the same
Post by: Gamingsince75@yahoo.com on April 06, 2014, 09:26:17 PM
6 months ago it was, "I don't want to take my eyes off the TV to see the pad and kill the experience."
Or this one "
Now it is." They should let you use the pad in some way maybe to draw the route of the boomerang" or some other thoughtless excuse. Yes I am sure in a racing game, the one thing you should have plenty of time to do is take your eyes and hands away from the controller to draw a route for a weapon.
GT has a track editor? Forza? NFS? Sonic? Nope but those get a pass, this is Nintendo and they need an editor or they fail as a company but MS, Sony, Sega and EA are okay without them.
You know people are threatened when they defy common sense to hate on something
Post by: Ceric on April 07, 2014, 09:20:40 AM
Post by: Adrock on April 07, 2014, 09:43:03 AM
A track editor would have been neat (and probably intuitive to use with the touchscreen), but I can ultimately live without it. How poorly the GamePad is used is just a bummer even if I'm mostly playing 2-player.
Post by: Ceric on April 07, 2014, 10:01:15 AM
Post by: Mop it up on April 07, 2014, 05:35:14 PM
Post by: Khushrenada on April 07, 2014, 06:32:09 PM
Post by: Leo13 on April 07, 2014, 07:15:06 PM
Post by: Shaymin on April 07, 2014, 10:17:35 PM
