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[SoraanTribal]

I really do think Mount Wario might be my favorite track in the game from what I've seen. I love snow areas so that's already a huge plus for it, but just the general design looks SO fun.

 

[Baleoce]

This?


That's still a tournament with a specific time. I'm really afraid there are no communities anymore :x

But think about it. That's a timed tournament within a community surely? Who is going to put in an ever changing 12 digit code every time they wish to participate in a new tournament?

 

[Akibastman]

You are doing yourself a huge disservice as a gamer if you don't. There is a bunch of absolute gems already released.

I may come off as a fanboy, but my thoughts are is the Wii u and Nintendo is our last hope in having a video game console that we grew up and know. No online fee, no mandatory installs, focus on local multiplayer, games are focused on being games, and not movies. So yeah, please support Nintendo. There's plenty of gems out on the Wii U. It's more than safe.

Well, just look at the games and see if there are enough that appeal to you.
I bought it a month ago with Wind Waker HD which I still aven't beat.
Beside that, I have Deus EX, W101 and Zombi U on retail I have yet to play.
And I downloaded a bunch of VC software, including Metroid fusion and especially Earthbound which I am so happy to finally try. And, yes, just bought Child of Light and considering stick it to the man.
At the end of the month, I will enjoy MK8 as well as Pikmin 3 which I will be able to download thanks to the promotion.

So, and that is just my opinion, the WiiU as a piece of hardawre might be severely flawed (I personnaly do not see the real benefit of the gamepad except perhaps for ZombiU), but with all that and some incoming things like Bayonetta 2 or X, they could discontinue it next year, I already have enough to justify the purchase.

Again, just my personnal feeling and it can very depending on the person tastes. But try not to listen to the general choir about this console. OK the OS is a little bit clunky, but nevermind, I do not play with an OS. It does not have the big third party support, and it will never have. It has no achievements or trophies. But It plays games, and there are a lot of great ones on it.

Thank you for all the answers. Maybe I wasn't precise enough. I am definetely buying a Wii U. I really love Nintendo, I was just waiting for Mario Kart to come out. I was asking about buying it with the MK8 bundle now or wait for the E3 with all the rumours about new hardware ?

But I'm probably gonna buy it. I hope I'm not going to regret it later :/

 

[Herb Alpert]

But think about it. That's a timed tournament within a community surely? Who is going to put in an ever changing 12 digit code every time they wish to participate in a new tournament?

the argument "it seems so dumb it can't work like that" must be used carefully concerning Nintendo.
Beside that, I thought communities had been mentionned in the direct?!?

 

[PotionBleue]

But think about it. That's a timed tournament within a community surely? Who is going to put in an ever changing 12 digit code every time they wish to participate in a new tournament?

That's what people did with MK7 communities every time they wished to participate in a new community.

I'm just saying MK8 may have turned communities into time-dependent communities.

the argument "it seems so dumb it can't work like that" must be used carefully concerning Nintendo.
Beside that, I thought communities had been mentionned in the direct?!?

Gonna watch it again but I'm pretty sure they always mention “tournament” and never “community”

 

[Jaded Alyx]

The Code doesn't have to change. I'm kind of thinking it might be a replacement for Communities now. Other than there being a specific time, what does it really change? I'm assuming a Tournament isn't limited to just 12 players, but can accommodate several tournaments at the same time (in other words, if 24 people show up, there would be 2 'tournaments' within the Tournament (a.k.a. Community). I think this might be a good thing. Whenever I went into the GAF Community in MK7, it was empty. I understand now that some people here play every Thursday(?) so that's why I wasn't seeing anybody online. How is it different?

 

[Oidisco]

But think about it. That's a timed tournament within a community surely? Who is going to put in an ever changing 12 digit code every time they wish to participate in a new tournament?

The 12 Digit Code is for private tournaments. Public Tournaments don't need the code, though it still gives you the code if you want to share it in a forum or wherever.

 

[Baleoce]

That's what people did with MK7 communities every time they wished to participate in a new community.

Yep, but as you said, the community had a static ID. It would be a step back for no real reason.

I'm just saying MK8 may have turned communities into time-dependent communities.

Yeah, I also hope that isn't the case. It would be baffling. But like someone else mentioned, sometimes they take the scenic route with their logic.

 

[Jucksalbe]

After playing Time Trial in MK7 again yesterday, I can only hope MK8 has local leaderboards (or console-wide leaderboards) again (in addition to the online leaderboards, of course). I don't think there's even a way to see your fastest lap in MK7.

 

[PotionBleue]

The Code doesn't have to change. I'm kind of thinking it might be a replacement for Communities now. Other than there being a specific time, what does it really change? I'm assuming a Tournament isn't limited to just 12 players, but can accommodate several tournaments at the same time (in other words, if 24 people show up, there would be 2 'tournaments' within the Tournament (a.k.a. Community). I think this might be a good thing. Whenever I went into the GAF Community in MK7, it was empty. I understand now that some people here play every Thursday(?) so that's why I wasn't seeing anybody online. How is it different?

It is different if it doesn't allow you to join the lobby outside of the time frame. For example it was good in MK7 to have a Bob-omb Balloon battle open 24/7 so that you could do Bob-omb Balloon battles anytime; same thing with Mushroom-only 150cc racing community that people made to grind coins.

You never know, it's Nintendo. Just raising concerns, hopefully someone who has the game will be able to try out later.

Yep, but as you said, the community had a static ID. It would be a step back for no real reason.

Tournaments also have a static ID. They're set as daily/weekly/(monthly??)/(whatever) and you don't have to re-input the tournament code every day/week/etc. obviously.


edit: watched the online-related part of the Direct again: they NEVER mention “Community”.

 

[Captain Europe]

Thank you for all the answers. Maybe I wasn't precise enough. I am definetely buying a Wii U. I really love Nintendo, I was just waiting for Mario Kart to come out. I was asking about buying it with the MK8 bundle now or wait for the E3 with all the rumours about new hardware ?

But I'm probably gonna buy it. I hope I'm not going to regret it later :/

It would be insane of them to release new hardware what with MK8 and Smash around the corner, but if you're that unsure just wait out the 10 days till E3. IIRC E3 is on the 10th of June.

 

[Baleoce]

edit: watched the online-related part of the Direct again: they NEVER mention “Community”.

hmm odd. not to say you're wrong, but if we approach this from launch day mentality. i want to go online and play a casual race. there surely has to be a way of doing that without joining a tournament and having to wait for a specific time?

 

[PotionBleue]

hmm odd. not to say you're wrong, but if we approach this from launch day mentality. i want to go online and play a casual race. there surely has to be a way of doing that without joining a tournament and having to wait for a specific time?

That's what the Worldwide/Regional mode is for. I'm only talking about MK7 Communities / MK8 “Tournaments”.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

hmm odd. not to say you're wrong, but if we approach this from launch day mentality. i want to go online and play a casual race. there surely has to be a way of doing that without joining a tournament and having to wait for a specific time?

Choose Worldwide, Regional, of Friends.

Maybe the Tournaments can be scheduled on a Daily basis.

 

[Blues1990]

For me, it's long-over due for the Koopalings to appear in an installment in the Mario Kart series, and I'm happy that they're finally included as playable characters. At least they're all distinct, both visually & personality-wise, much so than Bowser's mimi-me clone.

And as much as I love Mr. Miyamoto, I still consider the Koopalings to be part of Bowser's offspring, and I just see Bowser Jr. as the youngest sibling that get's a lot of special treatment. Besides, Nintendo of Japan doesn't seem to care about changing the existing material that has already been made to state the characters role in the old games to match-up to their current portrayal, & Miyamoto has always been against having any sort of cohesive narrative in the Mario series. But I honestly don't know why, as Rosalina's backstory was a charming addition to the Mario series (which is why I will always prefer SMG to it's sequel), and I still love the cast of characters in the first two Paper Mario games.

 

[Baleoce]

That's what the Worldwide/Regional mode is for. I'm only talking about MK7 Communities / MK8 “Tournaments”.

Choose Worldwide, Regional, of Friends.

Maybe the Tournaments can be scheduled on a Daily basis.

Ahh okay that makes sense then. I still like having a static community though, so I hope that isn't omitted.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

In fact, as we can see, Tournaments can span more than one day, so who knows how long they can be? And again, we might be able to schedule them to open every day, all day.

 

[Nicktals]

Choose Worldwide, Regional, of Friends.

Maybe the Tournaments can be scheduled on a Daily basis.

I'm hoping at the least we can do a gaf daily, and gaf weekly tournament, and then just 'start a new tournament' or something at the end of the timeframe with all the same members/ability to add new members..

I dunno...Communities seem like a dumb thing to get rid of...could a solution be worked up through miiverse? Are private communities allowed? Haven't been on there in a looong time.

 

[Revven]

As far as I'm concerned, Tournaments = Communities. It's going to be the same thing, the only reason they renamed it was probably because of the scheduling aspect you can do now.

The fact that you can make Tournaments public or private tells me it's just Community with a different name.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

As far as I'm concerned, Tournaments = Communities. It's going to be the same thing, the only reason they renamed it was probably because of the scheduling aspect you can do now.

The fact that you can make Tournaments public or private tells me it's just Community with a different name.

Pretty much how I see it.

 

[RagnarokX]

For me, it's long-over due for the Koopalings to appear in an installment in the Mario Kart series, and I'm happy that they're finally included as playable characters. At least they're all distinct, both visually & personality-wise, much so than Bowser's mimi-me clone.

Actually, Bowser Jr has really come into his own in the past few games. He was easily among the best boss fights in NSMBWii and NSMBU.

 

[Jucksalbe]

Took some quick screenshots from the Direct:

This menu is pretty much the same as in MK7 (I think "regional" is new, though) with "Community" replaced by "Tournament". So yeah, seems like there won't be any communities anymore. Not sure if they are really necessary, though.

This is the options menu for tournaments. So you can set the frequency.

 

[SoraanTribal]

I just noticed something. Do you start with 5 coins automatically at the beginning of the race? He seemed to have 5 coins as soon as the race started here. Wonder why. Maybe 12 racers and not enough coins on the track, so they give you 5 to start with?

 

[RagnarokX]

Took some quick screenshots from the Direct:



This menu is pretty much the same as in MK7 (I think "regional" is new, though) with "Community" replaced by "Tournament". So yeah, seems like there won't be any communities anymore. Not sure if they are really necessary, though.



This is the options menu for tournaments. So you can set the frequency.

Just make a tournament that occurs daily from 12:00AM to 11:59PM. Bam, community.

 

[Berordn]

Actually, Bowser Jr has really come into his own in the past few games. He was easily among the best boss fights in NSMBWii and NSMBU.

Visually he's still indistinguishable from Baby Bowser besides the marking on the handkerchief. He's a fun character to face in boss battles now, but in a game without his mechs and with all of the Koopalings playable he doesn't add much.

 

[mf luder]

I don't know if anyone can say yet but in vs mode do you still have to play the tracks in the order they are in gp mode? Or can you create a cup taking one track from star cup and one from mushroom cup etc?

 

[PotionBleue]

I just noticed something. Do you start with 5 coins automatically at the beginning of the race? He seemed to have 5 coins as soon as the race started here. Wonder why. Maybe 12 racers and not enough coins on the track, so they give you 5 to start with?

It's probably like MK7; the lower your position is, the more coins you get at the beginning of the race. Not new.

 

[SoraanTribal]

It's probably like MK7; the lower your position is, the more coins you get at the beginning of the race. Not new.

Hmm, I don't recall that happening. At least not on the first race of a cup when you start in last place. And I was usually in 1st after the first race, so I always got 0 coins. I assume that's why.

 

[AdanVC]

It would be amazing if the game had a feature to pause the game anytime during the race or between replays of each match and being able to move the camera around to do close ups and take photos like those on MK8's website to share them on Miiverse/Online.

Spoiler

Or it has it?

 

[Davey Cakes]

I don't know if anyone can say yet but in vs mode do you still have to play the tracks in the order they are in gp mode? Or can you create a cup taking one track from star cup and one from mushroom cup etc?

That's how VS worked in MK Wii.

That game didn't even have multiplayer GP. It appears MK8 does. And in that case you have to play by cup. So MK8 seems to do it both ways?

 

[NateDrake]

Hmm, I don't recall that happening. At least not on the first race of a cup when you start in last place. And I was usually in 1st after the first race, so I always got 0 coins. I assume that's why.

It is like MK7. Coins are based on starting position. I got 5 on the first race but 0 when I started in first.

Will be uploading some more footage this afternoon.

 

[Exile20]

It is like MK7. Coins are based on starting position. I got 5 on the first race but 0 when I started in first.

Will be uploading some more footage this afternoon.

You are the best. Can't wait to play.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

It would be amazing if the game had a feature to pause the game anytime during the race or between replays of each match and being able to move the camera around to do close ups and take photos like those on MK8's website to share them on Miiverse/Online.

Spoiler

Or it has it?

Pretty sure you can move the camera in MKTV. Many of the photo's that the press are uploading to Miiverse look like those on the website in terms of angles, though they could just be from the dynamic replay camera.

 

[MetalGearOnlineK]

Anyone else disappointed that Rainbow Road 64 is now only one track? I understand that it's a long track, but I don't think it's so long that they need to cut it down so much. If anything now it seems too short of a race.

 

[mf luder]

That's how VS worked in MK Wii.

That game didn't even have multiplayer GP. It appears MK8 does. And in that case you have to play by cup. So MK8 seems to do it both ways?

I not sure but I thought in vs mode on the wii version you could only choose 1 track at a time not a custom gp so it wouldn't carry over your points from race to race, you would just start from scratch after every race. I just checked mk7 and I forgot you can't even access vs mode in single player to check how it worked.

 

[NateDrake]

You are the best. Can't wait to play.

No problem. I'll do some 150cc footage so people can get a good idea of the speed the game offers.

 

[beanman25]

Anyone have any idea what those stars mean post race in the top left? It says to hit + and then 0/6 stars. I didn't play 7, so I'm not sure if that's something that was carried over

 

[Berordn]

Anyone else disappointed that Rainbow Road 64 is now only one track? I understand that it's a long track, but I don't think it's so long that they need to cut it down so much. If anything now it seems too short of a race.

When a lap on Rainbow Road is over twice as long as any of the other laps in the cup, they probably couldn't have kept it a multiple lap course without cutting down on the size of the track immensely - and that was the one thing it really had going for it in MK64.

I not sure but I thought in vs mode on the wii version you could only choose 1 track at a time not a custom gp so it wouldn't carry over your points from race to race, you would just start from scratch after every race. I just checked mk7 and I forgot you can't even access vs mode in single player to check how it worked.

MKWii's VS mode allowed you to change how many races you did per session. Friends and I have done our own hackish version of All-Cup Tours.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I not sure but I thought in vs mode on the wii version you could only choose 1 track at a time not a custom gp so it wouldn't carry over your points from race to race, you would just start from scratch after every race. I just checked mk7 and I forgot you can't even access vs mode in single player to check how it worked.

No, not at all. Whenever I play multi-player in MKWii, we play all 32 tracks one after the other in one long GP. (The tracks are in random order)

 

[mf luder]

Pretty sure you can move the camera in MKTV. Many of the photo's that the press are uploading to Miiverse look like those on the website in terms of angles, though they could just be from the dynamic replay camera.

I think you can only pause/fast forward/rewind.

 

[mf luder]

No, not at all. Whenever I play multi-player in MKWii, we play all 32 tracks one after the other in one long GP. (The tracks are in random order)

But could you create you own gp choosing whatever tracks you wanted from any cup? I remember having to either play the cups as they are in gp mode, a single track or all tracks in a row. If I'm wrong maybe thats the way it was in DD?

 

[PotionBleue]

But could you create you own gp choosing whatever tracks you wanted from any cup? I remember having to either play the cups as they are in gp mode, a single track or all tracks in a row. If I'm wrong maybe thats the way it was in DD?

There were three options:
- Tracks played in order (Luigi Circuit → Moo Moo Meadows → Mushroom Gorge … → N64 Bowser's Castle)
- Tracks picked randomly by the game
- Tracks picked by you after each race (can repeat tracks)

 

[Smashman45]

Anyone have any idea what those stars mean post race in the top left? It says to hit + and then 0/6 stars. I didn't play 7, so I'm not sure if that's something that was carried over

Yeah, I'm still curious about this as well. Seeing as we have the 3-star counter again for Grand Prix, I assume this has nothing to do with that.

 

[Marlowe89]

And as much as I love Mr. Miyamoto, I still consider the Koopalings to be part of Bowser's offspring, and I just see Bowser Jr. as the youngest sibling that get's a lot of special treatment.

I still have no idea why they thought it was necessary to retcon their status as Bowser's offspring. Like, what does that even accomplish? Why does Bowser Jr. have to be the only child?

 

[TreIII]

For me, it's long-over due for the Koopalings to appear in an installment in the Mario Kart series, and I'm happy that they're finally included as playable characters. At least they're all distinct, both visually & personality-wise, much so than Bowser's mimi-me clone.

And as much as I love Mr. Miyamoto, I still consider the Koopalings to be part of Bowser's offspring, and I just see Bowser Jr. as the youngest sibling that get's a lot of special treatment. Besides, Nintendo of Japan doesn't seem to care about changing the existing material that has already been made to state the characters role in the old games to match-up to their current portrayal, & Miyamoto has always been against having any sort of cohesive narrative in the Mario series. But I honestly don't know why, as Rosalina's backstory was a charming addition to the Mario series (which is why I will always prefer SMG to it's sequel), and I still love the cast of characters in the first two Paper Mario games.

Pretty much how I choose to see it, as well, though Jr. has grown on me a bit in recent years. Even if the Koopalings are not his kids "by blood", it's clear that they still get preferential treatment from Bowser that others in his army don't get. Personalized Airships with their faces on it, being able to drive Bowser's Klown Kar and what little interaction that they have together with Bowser (and Junior) in the NSMB series endings since NSMBW would do a lot to suggest they still act the part of a "family unit".

Besides, until they actually do anything to address why the "change" was necessary, just randomly dropping something that SMB3 established over 20 years ago doesn't make a lot of sense. It's not as if this series is home to wealth of a characterization and backstory development, as it is. Kamek's still the only (adoptive) "Father figure" we've known Bowser to have, and I sincerely doubt we'll ever get the issue addressed of who Junior's mother is...especially when "Stork deliveries" exist and is the only hand-wave necessary! :lol

 

[clav]

i don't even think you can do the short cut anymore i wanted to see 12 people try to jump it online, would have been glorious and hilarious

smh

oh man that would be hilarious.

damn it Nintendo

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

So how does this tournament thing work? Is someone creating a private GAF tournament that runs 24/7 all week or something? I didn't play MK7 so I don't know how communities work in comparison.

 

[SoraanTribal]

Watching all the preview videos of the cups for MK8 really makes me want a 3D Mario in those graphics. I mean, yes, Super Mario 3D World looks nice, but it's not even close to the same level as MK8 imo (at least based on all the preview footage I've seen). I'd want a 3D Mario more in the vein of Mario 64/Sunshine than 3D World/Land, anyways.

 

[PotionBleue]

^It is not clear yet.

NateDrake, could you make a short video where you simply scroll through all the values of each setting in the Tournament mode? That would be awesome. Maybe also the Options menu of the game.

No problem. I'll do some 150cc footage so people can get a good idea of the speed the game offers.

 

[mf luder]

There were three options:
- Tracks played in order (Luigi Circuit → Moo Moo Meadows → Mushroom Gorge … → N64 Bowser's Castle)
- Tracks picked randomly by the game
- Tracks picked by you after each race (can repeat tracks)

Thanks! I think several games have mixed into each other in my memory.