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Does anyone else think MK8 is gathering some real "hype"?

Why are you giving USA sales when replying to someone clearly talking about worldwide sales?

The "anomaly" is that Mario Kart in the 7th generation sold significantly more than 3D Mario in the 7th generation.

Usually the two are pretty equal (6th gen, 5th gen).

I'm stating USA sales because they can be projected to worldwide sales in these cases and I can be more precise.

For example:

USA:
Super Mario 64 - 6.87 million
Mario Kart 64 - 5.50 million

Worldwide:
Super Mario 64 - 11 million
Mario Kart 64 - 9 million
 
I love Mario Kart and this is the first time I feel it's reached a fever pitch. Gaming press is certainly treating it as a "Game to Really Consider" and not just another Mario Kart.

But besides the gaming press and other gaming-related areas like GAF which is gaining a lot of traction, no. Outside of few trending topic days seen on Facebook and Twitter, it's still too early to tell if the majority of casual buyers have seen anything about MK8.

And who knows how cheap and short-term NoA's marketing will be for this game.
 
Didn't MKDS outsell NSMB (DS) worldwide? Or was that not the case? I'm pretty sure MK7 > 3D Land and Wii >> Galaxy (comparing 3D Mario games).

3D Land - 8.29 million (as of March 31st, 2013)
Mario Kart 7 - 8.08 million (as of March 31st, 2013)


We have an update for Mario Kart 7 that's more recent, but not 3D Land.

3D Land - ??? million
Mario Kart 7 - 9.35 million (as of December 31st, 2013)


And here are the 7th-gen handheld results:

NSMB DS - 30.38 million (as of March 31st, 2013)
Mario Kart DS - 23.34 million (as of March 31st, 2013)
Super Mario 64 DS - 10.83 million (as of March 31st, 2013)
 
Honestly other than something like GTA5 that everyone and their mom knows about It's been a while since ive seen average people "hyped" for a specific videogame in the real world. That said I do think Mario Kart 8 is definitely turning some heads online.
 
Other than some message boards, I have seen no hype. It'll boost sales for a time but it won't be the savior.

Where's that damn chalk board?

This was my immediate response too. No one game changes a console's fortunes, especially not an obvious sequel like MK8. Even as someone who recently dropped cash on a refurb Wii U it's pretty obvious the console is going nowhere. May as well just enjoy the first party Nintendo stuff and forget about anything else.
 
I have seen no hype outside of Gaf and some other internet areas, I do not blame the game it just is what it is. I see pre-order cards for Smash but not Kart.
The hype for MK7 was much stronger, which is say since 8 by all right will be a staggeringly greater experience.
Nintendo really needs to start hitting the masses with this.
 
A 3DS turn around just isn't happening. That was a combination of very aggressive price-cut and 3 heavy hitters all within the second half of the first year to change its trajectory. Nintendo have been unwilling to take the losses to try that with Wii U, and perception of the system (as well as support) is set now.

GameCube figures are probably the best it can expect now, with the boost from MK and others.

They've been willing.

3DS was introduced at $250 and then they dropped the price to $170.

Wii U was introduced at $350 and they dropped the price to $300 and bundled it with $80 worth of software. They were already taking a loss at $350.
 
It's the first Wii U title I've seen that has been advertised months ahead of time at retail. So there's that. Walk up to most GameStops and the first thing you'll see is a Mario Kart 8 poster prominently displayed in the front window. All this for a game that is more than a month away! So it's not just GAF or IGN or internet hype; they're trying to hype it as a mainstream crossover game by targeting foot traffic. The internet hype is coming from trailers and web coverage (IGN, Wired, et al...). TV advertisements would be the last step.

I'm sure the hype will drive sales for a month or two. Perhaps even to respectable levels somewhere near the competition. In the end, though, even a great game in a classic series can't sell a commercially unappealing console. The system is just too expensive for what's under the hood and releases are too slow. If they dropped the price to $250 along with MK8 and announced steady release dates for their other key titles, then maybe the MK8 hype might help the console. Or not, it's probably too late.
 
It all depends on how well it does as a MP game, and how good Nintendo's online is. Yes, it'll definitely spike charts at release, but its real power lies in its potential ability to generate good word of mouth as a competitive game. It's already being touted as more of a precision, balanced racer than the party/casual-oriented Mario Kart Wii was, plus there's Miiverse replays and such to bolster community participation, so we may have a solid, durable, exclusive MP game on our hands, which is just the kind of thing Wii U needs.
 
If New Super Mario Bros and 3D Mario didn't attract the masses I don't see why another Mario game would.

Wii U is done. 10-15 million lifetime sales is what we can expect at this point.

Seriously..? Only another 4-9m sales during the next 3 and a half years..? Seems overly pessimistic imo, in a big way. :o/
 
The "anomaly" is that Mario Kart in the 7th generation sold significantly more than 3D Mario in the 7th generation.

Usually the two are pretty equal (6th gen, 5th gen).

I'm stating USA sales because they can be projected to worldwide sales in these cases and I can be more precise.

For example:

USA:
Super Mario 64 - 6.87 million
Mario Kart 64 - 5.50 million

Worldwide:
Super Mario 64 - 11 million
Mario Kart 64 - 9 million

You can even use 3DS to show this. It'll still hold valid even on a worldwide basis.
 
If MK8 and Smash release in relatively short periods of time between each other, with games such as X, Bayonetta, Zelda U, and others sprinkled in between and after to give the console extra appeal along with 3D World and Tropical Freeze, I can see MK8 being a big "push" game for those who didn't want a Wii U in the first place. It won't make the Wii U a massive success, but I have heard people talking about it at my school and at home, so it's clearly desired. Many are just waiting on more games.
 
If MK8 and Smash release in relatively short periods of time between each other, with games such as X, Bayonetta, Zelda U, and others sprinkled in between and after to give the console extra appeal along with 3D World and Tropical Freeze, I can see MK8 being a big "push" game for those who didn't want a Wii U in the first place. It won't make the Wii U a massive success, but I have heard people talking about it at my school and at home, so it's clearly desired. Many are just waiting on more games.

Agreed. Nintendo should have gotten over their HD learning curve by now and I think we're going to have a steady stream of first and second party games as well as more collaborations with third party independent developers such as Platinum Games, Crytek etc going into next year and beyond.

I think it's probably safe to say that we'll see Bayonetta 2, X, SSBU and Miyamoto's new IP all being released before the end of the year and I'm pretty sure we're going to see several more classic GameCube games given the Wind Waker HD treatment being released too.
 
It's grabbed a bit of my attention, and I'm generally "Yeah, whatever. NEXT" when it comes to anything WiiU. So yeah, it's definitely making waves. Don't think it'll prompt me into getting a WiiU though - just not enough hours in the day to justify it.
 
Definitely more hype for this game than any other Wii U game.


Graphics=hype no matter how good or shitty the game.

It's not going to make the big difference that gets things going for the system but what it will do is give Iwata and company deceiving hope and we'll get more Wii U games.

That's all that matters.
 
A turn around for wiiU? I doubt it. The videos ive seen look amazing though. Would love to play it so im considering a wiiU purchase but ill probably wait for Zelda instead. WiiU may get a price cut by then
 
The hype will really start rolling when the inevitable marketing blitz starts. At the moment, it's banners on game websites and the occasional youtube advert before a video, but in the three weeks running up to the launch, we'll see a big blitz. It's way too soon for it at the moment.
 
I mean I just can't get into it its the same games for every system I just got Mario kart 7 on 3DS not too long ago so
 
I mean I just can't get into it its the same games for every system I just got Mario kart 7 on 3DS not too long ago so

It really isn't the same game for every system. Anyone who has played more than one Mario Kart game can attest to that.

Even though they do play similar, what is wrong with an iterative update, once per console? Why complain at this and not at the scores of sequels of other titles on other formats?
 
The hype will really start rolling when the inevitable marketing blitz starts. At the moment, it's banners on game websites and the occasional youtube advert before a video, but in the three weeks running up to the launch, we'll see a big blitz. It's way too soon for it at the moment.

I really wouldn't say it was inevitable. Mario Kart 7 had a pretty lukewarm amount spent on marketing compared to Mario Kart Wii. I'm not convinced Nintendo will market it nearly as much as people may hope...their predicted Wii U sales for the year points to a pretty small push IMO.
 
The hype will really start rolling when the inevitable marketing blitz starts. At the moment, it's banners on game websites and the occasional youtube advert before a video, but in the three weeks running up to the launch, we'll see a big blitz. It's way too soon for it at the moment.

They're prepping bundles apparently (for Europe RUMOUR), someone posted a link on Reddit. So, they're getting ready to push it, as they SHOULD be. It's literally the only big game for the 1st half of 2014.
 
A big promo and a price cut with the pack could do something maybe.. Something agressive, like a 200$ WiiU+MK8 and a giant campaign with it. Nintendo has to know if they want to save that thing or not..
 
I hope so. They now have just over a month to really kick things into gear regarding the title as well. I am wondering if we will get a Mario Kart 8 themed direct coming up...
 
A big promo and a price cut with the pack could do something maybe.. Something agressive, like a 200$ WiiU+MK8 and a giant campaign with it. Nintendo has to know if they want to save that thing or not..

A $100 price cut would essentially mean an extra $100,000,000 loss per million units sold.

That may be the crazy Sony/Microsoft way to get an install base..but it's the surest way for a gaming only manufacturer to go bankrupt. If Iwata sanctioned that he'd essentially be putting a gun to his head.
 
A $100 price cut would essentially mean an extra $100,000,000 loss per million units sold.
Not a problem:
http://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-doomed-not-likely-just-take-look-how-much-money-its-got-bank/
Buried in reams of financial data is the revelation that Nintendo have 812.8 billion Yen (£6.7/$10.5 billion) in the bank - enough for it to take a 20 billion Yen loss (£163/$257 million) every year until 2052. Then there's almost 469 billion Yen (£3.8/$6.0 billion) held in premises, equipment and investments. When that runs out - we're in the year 2075 by this point - they've got some of the most valuable intellectual property in gaming to sell off before the company goes out of business.
 
I dont know why people think this will save the wii u, or even give it a nice boost.

It will sell the same amount if not less than the mk's prior to mk wii. No1 is talking about this game and no1 is talking about the wii u. Please remind me, how well is the other nintendo games selling on the wii u? Didn't wii fit u bomb?
 
I dont know why people think this will save the wii u, or even give it a nice boost.

It will sell the same amount if not less than the mk's prior to mk wii. No1 is talking about this game and no1 is talking about the wii u. Please remind me, how well is the other nintendo games selling on the wii u? Didn't wii fit u bomb?

As of December 31st 2013:

New Super Mario Bros U. - 3.98m
NintendoLand - 2.6m
Super Mario 3D World - 1.94m (That's in less than 2 months)
New Super Luigi U - 1.51m
Wii Party U - 1.24m
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD - 1.15m

This is on a console with an installbase of less than 6m. These are also numbers that third parties aim for on formats with over 10 times the install base

Also note, the 3DS was at 6m in September 2011. Mario Kart 7 came out in December 2011. By March 2012, 3DS sold 17m and Mario Kart 7 was the best selling title at over 5m. Yes, this was further aided by Super Mario 3D Land and, in Japan, Monster Hunter, but it has an overall effect.

Mario Kart 8 will boost things. This will happen, especially if that bundle is legit. Will it save the Wii U? Who knows, but even if it doesn't, that doesn't mean it will not get some form of boost.


I'd much rather Nintendo continue to use that money to expand rather than to just take a huge hit that will never recover. That's what happened with the PS3. It was sold at a huge loss so lost all of Sony's stockpiled Playstation money accrued from the PS1 & PS2.
 
From my little slice of the world, I can report a few things. I'm personally more hyped for it than I ever have been for a Mario Kart game, excluding maybe Mario Kart 64 because that shit was in 3D. In my personal group of folks, which includes PlayStation fans, Xbox fans and Nintendo fans, it's certainly anticipated. In the media and on GAF, it appears to be one of the more universally positive things I've seen associated with the oft-pissed-on Wii U.

From this, I can conclude two things: 1) Men, women and children love Mario Kart. 2) I will get drunk and play the ever-loving hell out of Mario Kart 8 with my friends, and this will happen a lot.
 
I was excited about MK7 on the 3DS because the 3DS games were lackluster at that point.
Mario Kart 7 was a big disappointment, MarioKart DS 1 upped it in every way.

I haven't enjoyed a mario kart as much as the N64 version, the one on the wii was just poor and I don't have high hopes for this one either. Adding those stupid gliders (which were pretty boring on the 3ds) is not reason enough for me to even consider buying this game or a wii U at all. Also, adding the bikes is stupid, did anyone actually like them?

I'm probably in the minority when I say, I don't really like 3D land either, the game was short the levels were short and I did pretty much everything in under 10 hours. Compared to mario 64 DS it lacked a lot of hours of playing and content.

What's happened to Nintendo over the years? am I the only one that can see all the cut content and less for your money?
 
I was excited about MK7 on the 3DS because the 3DS games were lackluster at that point.
Mario Kart 7 was a big disappointment, MarioKart DS 1 upped it in every way.

I haven't enjoyed a mario kart as much as the N64 version, the one on the wii was just poor and I don't have high hopes for this one either. Adding those stupid gliders (which were pretty boring on the 3ds) is not reason enough for me to even consider buying this game or a wii U at all. Also, adding the bikes is stupid, did anyone actually like them?

I'm probably in the minority when I say, I don't really like 3D land either, the game was short the levels were short and I did pretty much everything in under 10 hours. Compared to mario 64 DS it lacked a lot of hours of playing and content.

What's happened to Nintendo over the years? am I the only one that can see all the cut content and less for your money?

You do know that's like the worst one, right?
 
I was excited about MK7 on the 3DS because the 3DS games were lackluster at that point.
Mario Kart 7 was a big disappointment, MarioKart DS 1 upped it in every way.

I haven't enjoyed a mario kart as much as the N64 version, the one on the wii was just poor and I don't have high hopes for this one either. Adding those stupid gliders (which were pretty boring on the 3ds) is not reason enough for me to even consider buying this game or a wii U at all. Also, adding the bikes is stupid, did anyone actually like them?

I'm probably in the minority when I say, I don't really like 3D land either, the game was short the levels were short and I did pretty much everything in under 10 hours. Compared to mario 64 DS it lacked a lot of hours of playing and content.

What's happened to Nintendo over the years? am I the only one that can see all the cut content and less for your money?

Sounds like the last time you've liked the company's output was the N64.

You're also confusing content with game design and focus, because both the Mario Kart and Mario Brothers series have gobs MORE content than their predecessors. The later had its focus changed to more closely mimic how the series used to be, but in 3D. Its not a sandbox like Mario 64.

The more I think about it, the more I realize what you say makes absolutely no sense. Probably best you qualify "Nintendo cutting content for the same money" assertion with some solid examples.
 
Sounds like the last time you've liked the company's output was the N64.

You're also confusing content with game design and focus, because both the Mario Kart and Mario Brothers series have gobs MORE content than their predecessors. The later had its focus changed to more closely mimic how the series used to be, but in 3D. Its not a sandbox like Mario 64.

The more I think about it, the more I realize what you say makes absolutely no sense. Probably best you qualify "Nintendo cutting content for the same money" assertion with some solid examples.

I actually loved the Gamecube, And I loved the DS aswell.

I just feel what I've been getting with my 3DS and Wii has not been of the same quality as the previous gens.


What I mean is, 3D land was short. I don't think playing through the same levels with subtle changes is "gobs more content".
Sure Mario64 was a port, but it had hours more gameplay, aswell as 20+ minigames etc. I just wonder why the previous 3D mario on the previous generation of handheld impressed me more.

It wasn't just that, did you play pilotwings? That was so damn lacking it was unbelievable. I think the first game to actually feel like a full length game was Kid Icarus. But I remember my DS having loads of longer games with more content, and being more fun.
 
It's taken a bit of time for the Wii U to build up a big enough library that I care about, but MK8 is huge for the console and a must buy for every current and future Wii U owner.

When I do eventually buy a Wii U in 1-2 years I'll be in for great collection of exclusives.
 
I actually loved the Gamecube, And I loved the DS aswell.

I just feel what I've been getting with my 3DS and Wii has not been of the same quality as the previous gens.


What I mean is, 3D land was short. I don't think playing through the same levels with subtle changes is "gobs more content".
Sure Mario64 was a port, but it had hours more gameplay, aswell as 20+ minigames etc. I just wonder why the previous 3D mario on the previous generation of handheld impressed me more.

It wasn't just that, did you play pilotwings? That was so damn lacking it was unbelievable. I think the first game to actually feel like a full length game was Kid Icarus. But I remember my DS having loads of longer games with more content, and being more fun.
So 96 levels, slightly less than half of which are remixes of other stages, is not enough content, but 15 levels you have to run through 6-7 times in a mix of good to shitty missions and some boss levels is great?
 
So 96 levels, slightly less than half of which are remixes of other stages, is not enough content, but 15 levels you have to run through 6-7 times in a mix of good to shitty missions and some boss levels is great?


There are 40 levels EXCLUDING toads huts. Each level is around 1 minute to 2 in completion time. Double that and you have the crappy "remixed levels" or same levels with slight changes. Then you have the other secret bits.

Either way, that to me, is not enough content for a full priced game. I did it all with all stars in such a short time. pretty pathetic.
 
I have been a nintendo fanboy my whole life. I have played every mario kart installment for countless hours, I love the franchise.
I dont have a wiiU and dont intend to buy one for MK8, I might play MK8 at a friends house, though, it does look great.
 
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