Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
I really can't see the cars being suspended from a track above; that would necessitate giant poles (or something similar) sticking out of the karts to connect to the track, and the track itself would block the view ahead. A suspended system works fine on Peter Pan where the idea is you're flying and the action happens below, but Mario Kart is a very ground experience.
Plus, if we add in the 2nd patent with the cars being connected, that only increases the problem of overhead track, with either individual poles coming down to the karts blocking the view whenever one's out in front, or single pole on that apparatus in the middle that all the karts orbit around. Plus the patent refers to that apparatus thing as a "bogie" which is used to refer to undercarriages, suggesting that it would actually be located beneath the floor and you wouldn't be able to tell that the carts are even connected from above.
Plus, if we add in the 2nd patent with the cars being connected, that only increases the problem of overhead track, with either individual poles coming down to the karts blocking the view whenever one's out in front, or single pole on that apparatus in the middle that all the karts orbit around. Plus the patent refers to that apparatus thing as a "bogie" which is used to refer to undercarriages, suggesting that it would actually be located beneath the floor and you wouldn't be able to tell that the carts are even connected from above.
I still don't think there will be a true track, except in the most limited of circumstances, perhaps allowing some local forward and back movement.