Topic: New Mario Kart 7 Features Announced

[famicomplicated]

A new Mario Kart channel, community features, and more!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/28155

During the Nintendo Direct Conference today, as well as in an extended Iwata Asks video interview, game producer Hideki Konno confirmed that there will be 32 courses (16 brand new courses, 16 retro) in Mario Kart 7, and detailed all the new online features.

StreetPass
Mario Kart Channel will be in the game this time, unlike the Wii's separate channel in the system menu. StreetPass records, collected ghosts and more are accumulated there. StreetPassed Mii's can now be raced in Grand Prix mode. The AI reflects the player's racing style. You can also race with the player online and make him your rival.

SpotPass
Up to eight ghosts at once will be distributed via SpotPass. Players' best times in time attack mode are uploaded to Nintendo's server. The distributed ghosts are based on those player's ghosts. You will race in time-attack with up to 7 ghosts simultaneously, all with varying degrees of skill levels.

Online multiplayer
The game will support up to eight players online, and the frame rate is locked at 60fps. Nintendo have put more countermeasures to combat cheating this time around.

Community
One of the biggest new online features, players can make (or join) up to eight communities. The idea came from the fact people on message boards arranged online Mario Kart Wii games by exchanging friend codes, so Nintendo decided to make this process easier. Each community has a 14-digit ID that will give you access to the group.

Unlockable custom parts
Some machine parts are unlockable in single player, but there are some you can get by beating a StreetPassed ghost. Each ghost will hold a machine part that can be earned by beating it.

[Ceric]

Alright, Now we need to name the NWR Group.

Nintendo World Racing Federation
Dem Guys W/ a Cat
Pyramid Heads Favorites
Tanner Family Supporters
Daisy's Rambunctious Revelers

[famicomplicated]

If James Jones has his way, either "Mario 3D Kart Group" or "The No Lindy's Gang"

[Razorkid]

This is wonderful news! This is the first 1st party game that I've seen taking huge advantage of the 3DS' online capabilities. I hope this trend continues.

[UncleBob]

It's funny to me that the word filter got the title of this post.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

Locked at 60 f.p.s., you say? During 8-player online races, you say? Maybe even in full 3D mode? Well, it's no surprise - I've read behind-the-scenes articles which explain that Hideki Konno was a principal designer on the 3DS. If anybody knows their way around that hardware, it's him. Still, that's great news.

The Staff Ghost stuff also sounds very fully featured. I like the idea of multiple tiers of ghosts to race against on each track.

[Mop it up]

Mario Kart Wii did 60FPS with 12 players, so this is kind of a step back. The increase in measures against cheaters is a good sign, though.

[Caterkiller]

Man this is going to be a blast! I'm so excited. I never even got to fully enjoy MKwii. Man it's been a long generation.