Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii

[Capndrake]

http://uk.wii.com/software/interview...ol1/index.html

-Discussion about the original design of Super Mario Kart
-The way Super Mario 64/Mario Kart 64's graphics work
-MKDS was originally going to have leaderboards/downloadable ghosts
-MKWii has measures against people disconnecting so that the amount of people doesn't decrease
-Wii Wheel had about 30 prototypes
-You can see what controller somebody is using online, if you use a Wii Wheel long enough the icon becomes gold
-Motorbikes were added because Hideki Konno likes BMX and because he wanted to make Mario more "extreme"
-Can view your friends' status at any time without even booting up the game and just checking the Mario Kart Channel, can select Join from it as well
-Ghost Battles mode
-No tea table upended
-(laughs)

[sprsk]

Great, thank you for posting this before reading it.


P.S. GAF is not a race. You don't win anything for posting things first.

[Dechaios]

Great, thank you for posting this before reading it. P.S. GAF is not a race. You don't win anything for posting things first.

But you do gain massive popularity amirite

[JSnake]

Great, thank you for posting this before reading it. P.S. GAF is not a race. You don't win anything for posting things first.

Miyamoto: (laughs)
Iwata: (laughs)
Crushed: (laughs)

[The-Switcher]

But you do gain massive popularity amirite

I guess.

[later]

Right, I’m Ashida from the Product Development Department of the Integrated Research and Development Division. I was the project leader for the Wii Wheel™.

WOW project leader of the wii wheel!!!!!

[Xrenity]

Miyamoto: Um...my name isn’t on the credits for this one, but is it all right if I join in?

...

[slaughterking]

...

Attention whore. D:

[Threi]

my god so much laughing

Iwata: So there was talk of making a steering wheel. How did you get started? All: (laugh)

Man Iwata is a regular comedian (laughs)

*edit*

(laughs)

[EternalDarko]

I don't have time to read this right now, will have to do it later on.
Do they mention which team/developer made MK Wii? I remember people mentioning that EAD is not behind it, even though I see that Konno was the producer.

[catfish]

Great, thank you for posting this before reading it. P.S. GAF is not a race. You don't win anything for posting things first.

Fairpoint, but come on, these 'Iwata asks' things are always solid gold and should probably always be posted immediately.

[AniHawk]

Really? Mario Kart? I mean, I can see Zelda, Mario, and SSBB, but Mario Kart? Still, these are always great reads.

[avatar299]

So Miyamoto knew online gaming would be popular....and he just ignored it?

[TheExodu5]

I'm not clicking for fear of dragon penises. I've learned my lesson.

[Haunted]

Miyamoto: Um...my name isn’t on the credits for this one, but is it all right if I join in? All: (laugh)

.

[Dark Octave]

"Necessity is the mother of invention."
-Miyamoto

[Haunted]

Miyamoto is totally setting up Konno as his successor.

[8bit]

(laughs)

[later]

Iwata: But people who are used to conventional controllers will try to use the GameCube Controller or the Classic Controller in order to win matches or score good lap times, wonuldn’t they? Konno: Yes, so we came up with a way of addressing that. We provided an incentive for using the Wii Wheel. When you battle someone you don’t know, and in the rankings as well, a Wii Wheel icon appears to the right of your nickname on the screen. Miyamoto: When someone using the GameCube controller gets passed by someone with the Wii Wheel icon, they’re really chagrined. But just like with the Mii Contest Channel for contests, where the number of parts for faces are limited, it’s more fun when there are restraints. When you can get a great time using the wheel, you’ve got a lot of bragging rights. Iwata: I bet there will be players who become Wii Wheel masters. Konno: We spent long hours testing the game. Some of the staff members only use the Wii Wheel while they’re playing, and those people have climbed rather high in the rankings. And when you continue to use the wheel, you get a little treat... The wheel icon is white at first, but it changes to gold. We call it the Golden Wheel. Iwata: (laughs) Miyamoto: And if you cheat on the Wii Wheel by using a different controller, the icon will revert to white. Now, although the Wii Wheel is the main attraction, the motorbikes are also the main attraction.

Interesting.

[AniHawk]

Interesting.

...So, they acknowledge the wheel is inferior, and reward players for sticking with their inferior controller.

[Totakeke]

Konno:
Then people get serious and ask me what turning the tables when Miyamoto-san upends the tea table is like. The secret is to start crying and plead for help right before Miyamoto-san does it.

Miyamoto:
Tears won’t work on me. (laughs)

[AniHawk]

Konno: Then people get serious and ask me what turning the tables when Miyamoto-san upends the tea table is like. The secret is to start crying and plead for help right before Miyamoto-san does it. Miyamoto: Tears won’t work on me. (laughs)

I had to check to see if it was actually in there.

[catfish]

well now I'm just concerned the game will be shit because BORING control is allowed and will be technically superior. Hope thats not the case as I refuse to use a GC controller to play online.

FUCK nintendo, you should have left out classic control. Level playing field rocks.

[Dark Octave]

well now I'm just concerned the game will be shit because BORING control is allowed and will be technically superior. Hope thats not the case as I refuse to use a GC controller to play online. FUCK nintendo, you should have left out classic control. Level playing field rocks.

Is this dude serious?

If you feel the wiimote is superior, then why do you care if someone uses the GC controller or not? You're gonna pwn em cause you have the better controls right? My experience with the thing is that it's too unwiisponsive to be the one and only input device. I'd prefer the "regular" way to play, which is to use a normal controller, and I'm glad Nintendo gave me that option.

[levious]

well now I'm just concerned the game will be shit because BORING control is allowed and will be technically superior. Hope thats not the case as I refuse to use a GC controller to play online. FUCK nintendo, you should have left out classic control. Level playing field rocks.

we'll be rocking the blue sparks and the gold wheel, fuck everyone else

[tim1138]

I would like people to get together and have a lot of fun with this game. There are so many ways you can play, including features utilising the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. We would be very happy if people could play it with their family and friends, and also with people from around the world. By the way, a new character has joined in from Super Mario Galaxy, so I hope you look forward to it…

So Rosalina confirmed as a secret character?

[Capndrake]

So Rosalina confirmed as a secret character?

Yup, apparently that was confirmed in some Spanish Nintendo magazine (with pictures) as well.

[BlueSummers]

I hope they release that Gold and Black wii wheels.

[Anasui Kishibe]

well now I'm just concerned the game will be shit because BORING control is allowed and will be technically superior. Hope thats not the case as I refuse to use a GC controller to play online. FUCK nintendo, you should have left out classic control. Level playing field rocks.

so Nintendo gives you more options to suit your needs and you can't help but fucking complain?

[tim1138]

Yup, apparently that was confirmed in some Spanish Nintendo magazine (with pictures) as well.

I missed that. So there's what, 3 unlockables that haven't been announced yet? IIRC Nintendo Power said there were 4 unlockable characters and 12 available at the start.

[[Nintex]]

Konno didn't do Mario Kart Double Dash, maybe that is why it's so different.

Iwata: After Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit came out as the first Mario Kart for a handheld system. Then Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, with karts that could carry two riders, was released for the GameCube. Konno-san, you didn’t work on these two games. Why was that? Konno: There isn’t any one particular reason. Around that time I was doing a lot of work with second party developers, and was involved with the development of Luigi’s Mansion.

[Capndrake]

I missed that. So there's what, 3 unlockables that haven't been announced yet? IIRC Nintendo Power said there were 4 unlockable characters and 12 available at the start.

Apparently the unlockables are:

Baby Luigi
Daisy
Diddy Kong
Boo
Toadette
Rosalina

Oh well, at least no Petey Piranha.

[Aeris130]

-You can see what controller somebody is using online, if you use a Wii Wheel long enough the icon becomes gold

Every time you play a game with the classical controller, Iwata chokes a kitty.

[tim1138]

Apparently the unlockables are: Baby Luigi Daisy Diddy Kong Boo Toadette Rosalina Oh well, at least no Petey Piranha.

I've some rumors floating around about Wiggler being in it, which would be hilarious. The missus is gonna be pissed if Birdo doesn't make the cut again.

[plagiarize]

wait... so i can tell which of my friends are playing the game, and join them, without first loading up the game?

what kind of voodoo is this?

NINTENDO HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY POD PEOPLE!

[Parl]

Is "Potted Plant" in this? I love taking him out in DD.

[Toy Soldier]

...So, they acknowledge the wheel is inferior, and reward players for sticking with their inferior controller.

I don't think that's the best interpretation of what they said.

They specifically mention how much fun it is to use, and past Wii racers prove they're right about tilt racing being a blast. They also mention that it's a control method that can be mastered and effectively utilized.

But obviously it comes with its disadvantages: a) it lacks the long-time familiarity of traditional controls, and b) it's obviously not going to be quite as exact and precise.

Do those things make it inferior? Probably for some people, who play more for the end result - zooming through the cups, topping the leaderboards, etc...who need a bit more precision and familiarity to succeed. On the other hand, for people who are either turned off by analog racers or people who are ready to master a control method that will undoubtedly be a more fun and satisfying overall gaming experience, I'd wager the Wheel will be superior.

[Toy Soldier]

By the way, talk about an excellent idea for rankings. Being shown just how many people are at your level is actually pretty encouraging, rather than the discouraging "you rank 138,200th" message that hangs over the head of the many, many gamers who will never have top-class rankings worldwide.

I hadn't heard about this before, but I like it a lot.

[dkeane]

By the way, talk about an excellent idea for rankings. Being shown just how many people are at your level is actually pretty encouraging, rather than the discouraging "you rank 138,200th" message that hangs over the head of the many, many gamers who will never have top-class rankings worldwide. I hadn't heard about this before, but I like it a lot.

Yeah in most games I get the feeling of "oh fuck it" no matter how much I play it won't make a difference. It's good to see someone look at rankings from a different perspective.

[DangerStepp]

Great, thank you for posting this before reading it. P.S. GAF is not a race. You don't win anything for posting things first.

I'm a little confused. Did he initially post a link without the summary and later edited to add one?

[Avrum]

Miyamoto: And if you cheat on the Wii Wheel by using a different controller, the icon will revert to white. Now, although the Wii Wheel is the main attraction, the motorbikes are also the main attraction.

Haha, no one night stands with the Wavebird here. :P

[Fuu]

I'm a little confused. Did he initially post a link without the summary and later edited to add one?

Yes, stating he didn't read it yet.

Now the summary is there though, so all's ok.

[Spectral]

Every time you play a game with the classical controller, Iwata chokes a kitty.

[radcliff]

Didn't IGN say this game was outsourced? Looks like they were wrong.

[CreatureX3]

The gold and black Wii Wheels look cool. I hope Nintendo announces new Wiimote/nunchuck colors at E3.

[Avrum]

Didn't IGN say this game was outsourced? Looks like they were wrong.

The same IGN that said Sonic Unleashed wouldn't come to Wii cause "it looked too good?"

You don't say? :P

[Visualante]

-Wii Wheel had about 30 different colours

Fixed. Seriously 30 wheels? This must be the best round piece of plastic ever.

-Motorbikes were added because Hideki Konno likes BMX and because he wanted to make Mario more "extreme"

Mission accomplished I guess...

[DangerStepp]

Did anyone else laugh at this excerpt like I did?

Iwata:I don’t know about “for a change.” We’d just released Wii Fit! (laughs) (Wii Fit was released in Japan on December 2007. European release is scheduled for April 25 2008) Everyone:(laughs)

[Gigglepoo]

Now, although the Wii Wheel is the main attraction, the motorbikes are also the main attraction.

"Especially Lisa. But, especially Bart."

[Nintaiyo]

Konno: Then people get serious and ask me what turning the tables when Miyamoto-san upends the tea table is like. The secret is to start crying and plead for help right before Miyamoto-san does it. Miyamoto: Tears won’t work on me. (laughs)