Mario Kart 8

masofdas wrote:

Might be the opposite,  as amazon not sure if all countries or just USA but they've been emailing people saying that this is coming out mid April.

Actually, Amazon.com says that Mario Kart 8 was released on the 10th March 2014, which is quite clearly a mistake. The default "out of stock" status on that Amazon listing is "Usually ships within 2 to 4 weeks", which is why people are being given a mid-April estimate.

Somebody's else's The Hut pre-order has been brought forward to the 18th.  There may be something in it...

Amazon Customer Service have been contacted by some of the people whom got emails and they (Amazon) are certain it's coming 18th April same as The Hut it seems.

It would make sense for Nintendo as there's nothing coming out in April on anything, so they could be using the whole month to market the shit out of it.

And it would be out before the Wii Online is Shut Down, so they could market saying were really sorry that your no longer going to be able to play kart Wii but here's 8 & Wii U please buy it.

Plus I've also started looking and May and Nintendo seems to have a lot of games coming out then, okay most on the 3DS but I would reckon all Wii U owners have a 3DS. So releasing Kart 8 in April to avoid clashing with anything else could there thinking but I doubt it as the Big N always seem to do this here's everything, see you again in 4 month's.

Isn't The Hut a UK company?

Most shops will be closed on the 18th and there will be no post deliveries. It would be insanity to release a game on that date.

I've got this weird feeling something's been released on Good Friday before but can't remember what tough.

Easter promotion! Free Yoshi egg-themed box sleeve if you buy at launch!

masofdas wrote:

I've got this weird feeling something's been released on Good Friday before but can't remember what tough.

A quick search shows that Xenoblade Chronicles was released on Good Friday in Canada (it isn't a day off in the US).

Just been on GAMEs website the Limited Edition of this is now coming with steering wheel as well.

Just two months to go, then, and here's hoping the online isn't as much of a killjoy as Mario Kart 7's was. Seriously, they took out some of my favourite things about Mario Kart Wii online on that.

The online really needs to be better than anything Nintendo have done before. Especially when it comes for playing with friends (considering how much the love playing with local friends locally, they constantly mess up playing with friends online).

It needs private lobbies where the host can change the options (like which items are allowed) and voice chat, with a proper invite system (does the Wii U even have a invite notification system?).

I understand that Nintendo would never do voice chat against random people, and I'm fine with that, but they need to have it in private matches.

I don't see the point in voice chat in private lobbies really, Skype chat is so much more convenient and is much better quality.
I'd be perfectly happy with MKWii's online just a bit more customisable.

I second the notion that this needs to be a leading online game for Nintendo -- Mario Kart Wii certainly was for the Wii (I'd almost forgotten the companion channel app which was a pretty great way to stay connected with online happenings, mostly competitive), and Mario Kart 7 was to an extent the same for the 3DS (still one of few games that actually supports the ability to jump into a game from the friends list!).

I won't be too bothered if there's no voice chat, though, I always thought the predetermined messages served their purpose incredibly well in Mario Kart Wii, and were great from a humour perspective. I understand if that might just be me, though...

andyman949 wrote:

I don't see the point in voice chat in private lobbies really, Skype chat is so much more convenient and is much better quality.
I'd be perfectly happy with MKWii's online just a bit more customisable.

Eh, debatable.  But I'll definitely try and leap on a few of these with you lot.  As Baby Peach, natch.  Hoping they bring back The Quacker.

Still no sign of Funky Kong...

But Skype is available on every device under the sun, if you're using your phone you don't even need a proper headset!

andyman949 wrote:

But Skype is available on every device under the sun, if you're using your phone you don't even need a proper headset!

But the Wii U has a mic built right into the GamePad as well as support for standard headsets. I don't think it gets much more convenient than that.

The mic is bad quality though, my experience with it on Monster Hunter wasn't a good one. I don't think I've ever played a game on any console where in game chat is anywhere near the quality you need.

I've never had any problems with voice quality on the 360 or PS3.

Voice chat was fine with need for Speed on the U.

I'm with andy on this one any voice chat I've used in a online game has either sounded like you're speaking through a tin can or cuts out a lot or even both at the same time, so for voice chat Skype is the way to go.

Masofdas wrote:

Voice chat was fine with need for Speed on the U.

It was ok but no where near Skype & when I plugged a headset in I could hear folk but they couldn't hear me.

Has there been any mention of 5 player local play yet? I think that's a must when a rival game has already done it.

CVG's gone a little MK8-crazy this morning.  Here are some links to their features: those who don't want the game spoiled any more may want to keep out of the thread!

Trailer.
First 8 new tracks and retro tracks.
Preview.

Jaster'll be chuffed to bits, but who thought that Cheep Cheep Lagoon was a good inclusion? Ignore me: it's Beach, not Lagoon.  Thank goodness.  And Smurf, it looks like it's just four-player, disappointingly.

Oh, and here's the N64 Rainbow Road looking absolutely fan-bloody-tastic.  Hope it's shorter this time.

Can't F'ing wait for this, I think I might be more excited then some as I've not played a console Kart since Double Dash.

I dunno, Mas.  I'm... pretty excited myself.

less than two months less than two months less than two months less than two months PHWOAR look at the lighting on Metal Mario!

The tracks and items look nice.

Hopefully Nintendo will reveal the modes and online soon, so I can pre-order it.

Dayum, that's some sweet sweet eye candy there, this game should get a mention in the graphics appreciation thread for those alone!