Post by: Bloodworth on October 05, 2005, 06:28:37 AM
MARIO KART RACES BACK INTO POLE POSITION IN NINTENDO'S FIRST EVER WI-FI GAME
- MARIO KART DS LAUNCHES 25TH NOVEMBER 2005 -
5th October 2005 – Mario Kart fans rejoice as the hugely popular racing game comes to the Nintendo DS on 25th November 2005. Mario Kart DS will drive players new and old to distraction as they race their way around a selection of tracks, including all-new extravaganzas and time-honoured classics from previous versions of the games. What's more Mario Kart DS will be the first Nintendo DS title to offer gamers online play allowing you to race anyone, anywhere, anytime for free.
Want to show off your skills? Then get excited as Mario Kart DS features both online and wireless multiplayer modes. By using the Wireless DS Single-Card Download Play feature, up to 8 players can link up with just one game card. Alternatively you can battle it out online with three other players either in the comfort of your own home using your existing Wi-Fi broadband; or in the High Street either at Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Access Points in store or at Nintendo Wi-Fi connection enabled public Wi-Fi hotspots. Never before has it been so easy to pick up a games console and challenge friends from all over the world for free!
Nintendo's unique new Friend Roster enables players to play online with their friends, all you need to do is set up a Friend Code by swapping a number with your friend, they will then be added to your Friend Roster and you can select to play with them online anytime, anywhere. Alternatively you can play with someone of a similar skill level. This is done seamlessly via Nintendo's servers through the use of a skill mapping system to ensure the environment is open to users of all ages and skill levels.
The Nintendo DS's double screens are put to perfect use in Mario Kart DS, moving certain features, such as the map onto the bottom screen, clearing the top solely for the fast paced action. Mario Kart DS also allows players to see what weapons their opponents have, thanks to a small symbol next to their faces on the lower screen. For the first time ever you will know what item to hang onto and what tricks your opponents have up their sleeves.
Following in the Mario Kart tradition, players must pick up items along the track such as power-ups which they can use to boost their own powers, mushrooms for a speed boost, a star to become invulnerable or shells, bombs and bananas to attack their opponents. Players can use these items to knock their opponents off the track and out of their way. These power ups can dramatically change the outcome of a race, so mastering these can give you the vital edge over your opponents.
Mario Kart DS provides excitement and challenges to keep players, both young and old, entertained and in the driving seat. This highly addictive, fun and fast paced racing game launches on the Nintendo DS in the UK on 25th November 2005, at the estimated retail price of around £30. Also launching on the same date is the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector which will enable players who have Broadband at home to join in the Wi-Fi fun. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will be priced at around £30.
Further details on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Access Points and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection public WiFi hotspots will be announced soon.
Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.
Post by: PaLaDiN on October 05, 2005, 06:39:26 AM
Post by: Renny on October 05, 2005, 06:56:14 AM
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 06:57:22 AM
. Here the price is almost $200, so I dont want to even imagine how expensive the adaptor is going to be. Why Nintendo is stupid enough to price it that high in a third world country and yet hopes it gets sold is beyond me. Every time I go to buy the DS hoping for a price cut I end up buying old N64 games since I cant afford it. My latest purchase: Mario 64, Pilot Wings and Mischief Makers, for roughly $30 dollars
Post by: Artimus on October 05, 2005, 07:16:06 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2005, 07:54:50 AM
Connectivity failed because of one reason above all else. Even if every friend you knew had a GBA the blasted CORD cost extra so no one had one. The DS can use hotspots so that improves things somewhat but hotspots isn't a great strategy for North America. The United State population isn't as tightly packed together as Japan is and Canada has a way smaller population in a much larger landbase. Relying on people to go to a hotspot just isn't going to fly even with a portable. And if we have to buy this thing for the Rev then they're screwed. The Rev online features will be niche at best including the download service.
Nintendo lower the price of this thing and pack it in with EVERY copy of Mario Kart DS. Then start to include it with EVERY DS and when the Rev launches include it with EVERY one of those. You're never going to get even close to this incredibly optimistic percentage if you don't.
I'm hoping the price is the usual "Nintendo of any region but Japan and North America is a complete dipsh!t" routine and isn't respective of Nintendo's global strategy.
Post by: Artimus on October 05, 2005, 08:05:05 AM
Duh?
Post by: KDR_11k on October 05, 2005, 08:07:01 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2005, 08:13:08 AM
Do you mean a wireless router? If so no I don't have one and I shouldn't have to buy ANYTHING. I can see with the DS because of it's size. But for the Rev I should just be able to plug my internet cable into the back of the Rev and presto.
Post by: KDR_11k on October 05, 2005, 09:15:10 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2005, 10:01:20 AM
But I don't want or need a wireless router anyway. There's a big difference between having an internet connection and having a very specific hardware setup for that internet connection. Wireless isn't that widespread yet so I think it make sense to have a jack on the thing. If you have some form of broadband internet they should be it. You shouldn't have to buy anything else.
Post by: PaLaDiN on October 05, 2005, 10:04:27 AM
I don't see people complaining about Xbox Live...
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2005, 10:23:40 AM
Xbox Live doesn't have 90% of the userbase using it like Nintendo is aiming for. Nintendo wants this to be really widely used. So I'm saying if they want it to be that popular then they better not charge for an extra piece of hardware which they don't have to if they aren't so insistent on everything being wireless.
Post by: RABicle on October 05, 2005, 10:39:03 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2005, 10:44:36 AM
I live in the country. I don't have any of these things nearby. And even if it worked out okay for me Canada has a whole lot of "middle of nowhere" places and so does the US. I'm looking at this as a potential problem with Nintendo's 90% usage plan overall. Even if it works out for me it's not going to work out for everyone.
Post by: vudu on October 05, 2005, 11:09:43 AM
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 11:18:42 AM
Post by: wandering on October 05, 2005, 11:43:36 AM
Quote
Seems to me that this is going to be Nintendo Wifi's "entry fee" for some people.
....except that, once you pay the fee, you don't have to pay again. Also, a lot of people won't even need to pay for the thing in the first place.
Why are people making such a big deal out of this?
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 11:51:09 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on October 05, 2005, 12:15:14 PM
Post by: Artimus on October 05, 2005, 12:23:17 PM
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 12:42:09 PM
Im so bitchy right now because I was hoping Nintendo was going to give me a cheaper solution than having to buy a router, In fact Ill just wont get a DS after all, I really wanted to, but the cumulative prices of games+system+ now router just arent worth it when I can spend that money on the whole lot of GC games I want but dont have. Having a cheap USB adaptor wouldve probably changed that.
I know, its just not important in the grand scheme of things for Nintendo but let me rant
Post by: ShyGuy on October 05, 2005, 12:53:16 PM
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2003/20030825l.gif
Post by: PaLaDiN on October 05, 2005, 01:01:56 PM
If I didn't already have a Wifi router and I cared about online at all, I might care about this decision, but I do and I don't so I don't.
mantidor, the only reason you were planning on buying a DS was to play online games? Talk about missing the point.
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 05, 2005, 01:07:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ShyGuy
Same ol, same ol....
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2003/20030825l.gif
Couldn't have a better visual representation of this bitchfest...If you so desire you can go out and purchase a wireless router for like 20 bucks...But seriously, an easy "plug in and play" adapter I can take wherever I desire for a one-time price and play free games for as much as I want? You guys are being hilariously bratty...
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 01:13:10 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: PaLaDiN
mantidor, the only reason you were planning on buying a DS was to play online games? Talk about missing the point.
nah, not really, I kind of "unconciously" decided to not get it just because its too expensive for me even before this was announced, but I still had a little hope, this recent news have forced me to come up on terms with that decision (hence the bitching).
Post by: Dynamitega on October 05, 2005, 01:13:35 PM
Post by: Kairon on October 05, 2005, 01:38:42 PM
Watch it be 30 bucks here in the US.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Artimus on October 05, 2005, 01:44:26 PM
Post by: Caliban on October 05, 2005, 02:16:27 PM
Post by: Artimus on October 05, 2005, 03:44:25 PM
IT'S FREE GAMING!
Post by: KnowsNothing on October 05, 2005, 03:51:03 PM
But that's just me.
Post by: mantidor on October 05, 2005, 06:20:37 PM
So Ive been searching, and wireless routers are actually around $100 O_o, at least here, so I searched wrong or what? because that makes the wifi adpator deal pretty nice...
.
.
.
.
who am I kidding a $200 DS is just out of my reach
thats basically my salary, and this is just in time when the protable decides to get a whole lot of awesome games...
Post by: Mario on October 05, 2005, 06:54:14 PM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on October 05, 2005, 08:08:02 PM
Post by: Mario on October 05, 2005, 08:50:42 PM
Maybe they could do a Mario Kart + Red DS + USB Dongle bundle? That'd go flying off the shelves! We'll see what happens.
Post by: KDR_11k on October 05, 2005, 10:49:26 PM
Post by: Plugabugz on October 06, 2005, 10:11:53 AM
The thing better be made of gold and have an extendable tray to iron your trousers on, else I won't be too happy.
Post by: mantidor on October 06, 2005, 10:18:39 AM
Post by: Plugabugz on October 06, 2005, 10:26:52 AM
Post by: Pale on October 06, 2005, 10:52:49 AM
How do you make something like that free?
what th...
Post by: KDR_11k on October 06, 2005, 08:27:39 PM
