Topic: Mario Kart Wii Gets U.S. Release Date

[WindyMan]

America is getting it last, but still, April 27 isn't too far off.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15547

 Nintendo Speeds Into Spring With Mario Kart Wii    

Hotly Anticipated Racing Game Includes Innovative Wii Wheel    

REDMOND, Wash., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, the typical signs of   spring will be accompanied by the sweet sound of revving engines and the sight   of lightning-fast shells whizzing around every corner. Mario Kart(R) Wii is   zooming toward its launch in the United States on April 27. The game comes   with the intuitive Wii Wheel(TM), which makes it easy for novices to compete   against veterans, so no one is left in the dust. And with a broadband hookup   to Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with up to 11 other   drivers from around the world for racing dominance.    

"Mario Kart Wii transforms one of our most popular franchises into a race   that every member of the family can join," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of   America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Driving with the Wii   Wheel could not be more natural, and this is one place where speeding is   encouraged."    

Mario Kart Wii will include 16 new courses and 16 classic courses from   previous Mario Kart games. For the first time ever, players have the option of   racing with either karts or motorbikes. Players can also hit the road as their   personalized Mii(TM) caricatures in addition to the handful of classic   Nintendo characters found in the game. True to the series, the game features   tons of racing, plenty of power-ups and oodles of objects for players to use   to slow down other drivers. And 10 battle arenas will keep players busy   between trips around the circuit.    

The easy-to-use Wii Wheel will also be sold as a separate accessory,   giving every driver in the household a chance to get behind his or her own   wheel. And if veteran Mario Kart fans are afraid of getting smoked by rookie   drivers using the Wii Wheel, they can rest assured that Nintendo has them   covered. Mario Kart Wii supports four different control options: Wii   Remote(TM) with or without the Wii Wheel, Wii Remote and Nunchuk(TM)   controller combo, Classic Controller and even the Nintendo GameCube(TM)   controller. So there's bound to be a configuration that fits everyone's style.    

Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to   enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the   huge online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments,   check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download   ghost data.    

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the   content their children can access. For more information about this and other   Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about Mario Kart Wii, visit   MarioKart.com.

[pSYCO-gAMER321]

Not that far from the Japanese release. Still considering getting the Japanese version... but the gap is not that far! I'll think about it some more.

[NWR_insanolord]

I put $10 down on this when I picked up Brawl, and I'm glad it's coming out sooner rather than later. Also glad that this almost certainly means Nintendo has something big planned for later in the year (the key word there being "almost").

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Nintendo has shown all its cards.  All signs point to them folding this winter.

[Nick DiMola]

I put $10 down on this when I picked up Brawl, and I'm glad it's coming out sooner rather than later. Also glad that this almost certainly means Nintendo has something big planned for later in the year (the key word there being "almost").

Yup I'm sure something is planned for later this year, however we won't be playing it until next year.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Nintendo planned on Brawl and MK selling thru the winter.  No new games, sorry.

[Caliban]

April 27? That's kind of too soon to release a game that looks to me, from what I heard, like it needs some more polish.

[planetidiot]

Is this wheel still just a useless piece of plastic?  Because I fail to see how that's "innovative".  Now adding some analog triggers, well then we'd have something worth wasting plastic over.

[NWR_pap64]

 

Nintendo has shown all its cards.  All signs point to them folding this winter.

In all honesty, anyone who believes that Nintendo doesn't have any games for the fall and winter seasons is foolish.

I still find the choice of releasing MK Wii a mere month after Brawl a weird one. This year's E3 should reveal the titles they have planned for the rest of the year, both first party and third party alike. There's also WiiWare and the release of other new channels, too.

So again, I doubt they don't have anything for the end of the year. Otherwise, they wouldn't release three of its biggest titles (the third one being Wii Fit) at the start of the year.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I was excited for MK Wii but after hearing Matt and Mark's impressions at IGN I'm not so sure anymore.

[UltimatePartyBear]

I predict that Nintendo will have a big money maker for the end of the year, but it will be something that doesn't appeal to most of the people here, leading to much belly-aching and gnashing of teeth.

[NWR_pap64]

I predict that Nintendo will have a big money maker for the end of the year, but it will be something that doesn't appeal to most of the people here, leading to much belly-aching and gnashing of teeth.

Even the stuff that DOES appeal to people here leads to belly-aching and gnashing of teeth.

There's no pleasing people, I tells you...

[ShyGuy]

Let's get the predictions in right now: 7.9

[NWR_pap64]

Let's get the predictions in right now: 7.9

7.5
- Online mode is lacking and laggy
- Graphics are just par
- Steering with the Wiimote is sketchy, its best with the GC controller
- *Insert generic Wii fanboy complain here

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

- No customizable skins for cars or characters

[TheFleece]

Is this wheel still just a useless piece of plastic?  Because I fail to see how that's "innovative".  Now adding some analog triggers, well then we'd have something worth wasting plastic over.

Check out this month's Nintendo Power, they have a breakdown of the wheel and the controls for the game. Yes it's just a piece of plastic, but I like it better than the Zapper which I still have no plans on picking up.
While I like that we'll get the game earlier, I also am wondering what Nintendo will show up with in the 3 and 4th quarters of this year. I know they will have something, but well, it's just too far to speculate about.
I think an 8 will be alright for the score. I was hoping for a way to customize the karts with different parts and stuff, but whatever. I'm sick of schooling fools on the DS, I'm ready to show some class with my Wii.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

E3 is too late to start any hype train for the same year.  They can't possibly release anything that'll be anticipated unless they announce it before the summer and actually promote it (Metroid? whuts dat?).

[animecyberrat]

I think it is a bold move on Nintendo's part but it does make you wonder what their plans are for the rest of the year. It could be they want to get their big releases out of the way early to let 3rd parties have some time to shine.

[Nick DiMola]

I think it is a bold move on Nintendo's part but it does make you wonder what their plans are for the rest of the year. It could be they want to get their big releases out of the way early to let 3rd parties have some time to shine.

MOTHER

OF

GOD

[Mario]

We'll get no games from anyone at the end of the year because all the devs will be too busy playing Mario Kart.

[Svevan]

Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the huge online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments, check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data.

Zero points for lack of Oxford Comma but otherwise HOLY **** is Nintendo trying to do this right for once? And where's the Super Smash Bros. Brawl Channel?

[Kairon]

I think it is a bold move on Nintendo's part but it does make you wonder what their plans are for the rest of the year. It could be they want to get their big releases out of the way early to let 3rd parties have some time to shine.

I wonder... No. Well... Nintendo won't release anything the rest of the year of course... except Animal Crossing. They just GOTTA!

[Ceric]

Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the huge online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments, check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data.

But why a seperate Channel?
Zero points for lack of Oxford Comma but otherwise HOLY **** is Nintendo trying to do this right for once? And where's the Super Smash Bros. Brawl Channel?

[king of snake]

HOLY **** is Nintendo trying to do this right for once? And where's the Super Smash Bros. Brawl Channel?

It's a separate channel, yet you can only see when your friends are playing one specific game. How is that doing it right?

If it's a separate channel, you should at least be able to see when your friends are playing ANY game.

But there are game-specific friend codes, so they'll never be able to implement it right even if they wanted to.

Bad design from the outset. Nintendo dug themselves into a hole. Like they hired some cheap contractors to come up with their online architecture.

[Svevan]

Cheap contractors named Iwata and Miyamoto.