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Mario Kart Wii Across America

So while Crecente, family, friends and I were at the Mario Kart Driving School we were lucky enough to talk to Eric Walter with Nintendo. He is one of the people that travels with the Mario Kart event that is touring across America. Personally, I was really impressed with the 24 foot trailer they had set outside along with the tent. It was a great way to give the city of Denver an insight to the game before it comes out. Plus, they gave us free food so how could I possibly complain? In terms of Mario Kart itself, trust me this game is fun. If you are a fan of the series then there is really no way you can be disappointed. Yes, the Wii Wheel is a bit hard to use, but once you get the hang of it you might want reconsider those GameCube controllers.

10:00 AM on Mon Apr 21 2008
By Adam Barenblat
2,566 views
33 comments

Comments

MURFEGGS at 10:15 AM on 04/21/08
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What a turnout, I see the whole city showed up.
$Image of Arnold Rimmer\'s Garden Strimmer$ Arnold Rimmer's Garden... at 10:19 AM on 04/21/08
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Ah more footage for my Crecente shrine.
SofaKingHI at 10:20 AM on 04/21/08
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Personally i have enjoyed every motions controlled game i have played (i have not played lair.)

I think people need to give it a chance. You may not be good at it at first but practice.. Even if it means sucking at the game while you learn the controls..
Striderhayasa -... at 10:20 AM on 04/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 134

Bought. Just recently got back into SSBB after having a great time playing online recently. Wii is starting to get some love. It's limited but some love is better than no love (looks at my RRoD prone 360)

Mario Kart Wii should continue the trend. Also Lords of Thunder on VC is hardcore as they come.
Archaotic at 10:20 AM on 04/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 187

While I definitely can't wait for this game, the more footage of it I see...it just makes the Wii Wheel look unwieldy and bizarre to use. I might try it once or twice, but I have four Cube controllers for a reason. ^^
Yin at 10:22 AM on 04/21/08
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The Wii Wheel is awesome. I love it. Seriously. I didn't think it was going to be any good, but now I can't imagine playing kart with a controller anymore, it just seems so dull in comparisson. Me and my brother played splitscreen online this weekend and it was the most fun I've had with a game in a while. Easily my favorite kart game to date ^_^
Arttemis at 10:23 AM on 04/21/08
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Wait a minute... that can't be Brian Crecente!

+ Watch video

Ah, that's better.

I'm still bummed at the lack of double-dash mechanics in this Mario Kart though.
Brian Crecente at 10:26 AM on 04/21/08
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@Arttemis: You know, they never sent me my garlic.
$Image of Arnold Rimmer\'s Garden Strimmer$ Arnold Rimmer's Garden... at 10:29 AM on 04/21/08
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@Brian Crecente: Did you star yourself? :D
Cchrist at 10:29 AM on 04/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 185

@Arnold Rimmer's Garden Strimmer: seriously every time is see you name i get that song stuck in my head.
Brian Crecente at 10:33 AM on 04/21/08
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@Arnold Rimmer's Garden Strimmer: Funny enough, someone else starred me. Not sure who.
$Image of Arnold Rimmer\'s Garden Strimmer$ Arnold Rimmer's Garden... at 10:34 AM on 04/21/08
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@Cchrist: So did I for the first month.
KuromanKuro Live and PSN at 10:34 AM on 04/21/08
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@Cchrist: "Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmerman..." That sequence was actually one of the more normal parts of that show.
y2julio at 10:42 AM on 04/21/08
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@Arttemis: LMFAOOOO never saw that till today.
Rexter at 10:45 AM on 04/21/08
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Ive had mario kart wii for about 14 days now, and im above average impressed if you even can call it that :p My expecations where low because it felt to me that they had rushed it, but thankfully that was not the case.

But on to the matter at hand: after 14 days of use i still cant get the hang of using the "wii-wheel" or basicly just using the wii-mote has a method of steering. And i find the wii-mote nunchuck far better than the other options of controlling.
Kazzahdrane at 10:48 AM on 04/21/08
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@KuromanKuro Live and PSN: Just "Rimmer", my good man ;)

After playing Mario Kart Wii, did you EAT POISON? Free food is free food!
Kaemon at 11:02 AM on 04/21/08
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Well, if its anything like excite truck, at all, then I'm ready for it. Seriously, people always whine about not having "Normal" controls. Sheesh people, you bought a Wii! If you want normal buy a 360 or PS3.... I love my Wii for its weird controls.... and brawl.... but also weird controls.
dead_red_eyes at 11:08 AM on 04/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 444

Must.Get.Mario.Kart.Now.
ChaosInTheSnow at 11:09 AM on 04/21/08
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I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Wii Wheel is fun to use and after a while you'll get pretty good with it, but it tricks you into thinking you're doing better than you actually are.

If you're playing against good players that are using pads you'll quickly notice the difference. Seriously, the pad will shave off a few seconds a lap and that makes all the difference in competitive play (though items will still kick your ass out of first every few races).

I'm open to the idea that maybe the wheel can be just as good as a pad, but I invested a lot of time into it and the difference in lap times is still night and day. Also, I should point out that the wheel isn't particularly more fun than playing with the pad, so as a MK player I don't see the attraction. I think it's great that it'll draw a lot of non-gamers to the series all the same (as long as they don't dumb the gameplay down for them in the future)
mva5580 at 11:13 AM on 04/21/08
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Count me in as being there for this game, and at midnight even this coming Saturday.

As for the Wii Wheel....hey. If I can use a wheel/pedals for Gran Turismo, I can sure as hell use the Wii version of it for Mario Kart. If anything I think the weird part of it will be using a wheel that isn't attached. All of the other Wii accessories like this, they're independant objects. But you're just used to a steering wheel being attached to a much larger object. So if anything that part will take getting used to, because I'll probably be veering my body left and right with the wheel like crazy.

Anyway, come on. It's Mario Kart. We all know it'll be fun.
Yin at 11:25 AM on 04/21/08
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I'd also like to mention my experiences with the online play...

At first we couldn't find anyone to play, but then we lowered the routers firewall and after that is was epic smooth. I only experienced lag once during the whole weekend, and that was only for like a second. And we mostly played Worldwide.
I also loved the little part where you see everyones Mii waving from their country when you first join a game, a nice detail I thought :D

The one thing I didn't like was that you couldn't play Grand Prix with two players anymore! That made unlocking things much more boring for us.
karl_hungus at 12:00 PM on 04/21/08
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@mva5580: i dont really think it will be long before someone mods the shell and attaches it to something, so it isnt free floating. i imagine it wouldnt be too hard to do....
M at 12:05 PM on 04/21/08
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For me, it's always been a choice between Wii Wheel or Wii Remote + Nunchuck. Unlike Brawl, GameCube controller support doesn't seem necessary for this game, but at least it keeps the purists happy.
Syxx at 12:31 PM on 04/21/08
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Wii Wheel works well enough and I don't mind using it when I have friends over due to a lack of Nunchucks. However Wiimote + Nunchuck is easily the best control scheme. Provides the pinpoint accuracy of the Gamecube controller plus you can still pull off stunts for speed boosts!

Anyone sticking to the Gamecube controller is seriously disadvantaging themselves.
kurokotetsu at 01:08 PM on 04/21/08
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@Brian Crecente: YOu killed me with that comment.

In topic I will try the game at a freinds house and after that I will see if it's worth buying,
ban_hammer at 02:16 PM on 04/21/08
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Wii controls for Zelda and Metroid were well placed. Mario Galaxy was too gimmicky, not bad, but it was kinda forced. And this seems about preference. Personally, I hate driving wheels, real or controllers, so I doubt the wii wheel is any different.
Blah8 at 02:54 PM on 04/21/08
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I'll see if I can go to this thing when it stops off in Philadelpha. Right now I'm pretty skeptical about the the game itself and whether or not it's worth it to buy, so it should be useful. Maybe I'll ask Eric Walter some questions myself...
kjcwashere at 04:14 PM on 04/21/08
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they have a truck loaded with custom tv in the shape of karts to play MK Wii.

why couldnt it come here!
npa190 at 04:52 PM on 04/21/08
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cut ur hair hippe
Stoli at 06:21 PM on 04/21/08
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I tried using the Wii Wheel, but it just didn't cut it. Thank you GameCube controller. :)
KM91 at 07:20 PM on 04/21/08
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@Arttemis: Nice.
ChaosInTheSnow at 03:27 AM on 04/22/08
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@Syxx: You can do stunts on the cube controller by simply pressing the d-pad. I press up but I think any direction works. So no disadvantage there.
bryus at 09:11 AM on 04/22/08
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I was there on Sunday morning and it wan't too busy before noon. My 11-year-old son had a great time and wants the game even more than before.