Mario Kart Wii
Encyclopedia
is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
and published by Nintendo
for the Wii
video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series
and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
. The game was released worldwide throughout April 2008, but one year later in South Korea. Every copy of the game is packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory, which is designed to house the Wii Remote
to allow more intuitive and conventional steering.
Changes from its predecessor, Mario Kart DS
, include bikes and support for up to twelve racers online. Like other games in the Mario Kart series, it involves various characters from several Mario games racing each other on tracks themed from locations in the Mario
series. Support for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows racing against other players from around the world, and online competitions and results are available by installing the Mario Kart Channel to the Wii Menu.
Mario Kart Wii was first shown at E3 2007
. It has been positively received by critics; while not revolutionary, the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts have been praised. The game had a commercially successful launch in every region, and sold over a million copies in both Japan and the United States in less than a month. Overall, it is the second best-selling game for Wii at 28 million copies sold, after Wii Sports
. As of May 15, 2011 the game is bundled
with newer Wii consoles.
, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
and Mario Kart DS
, and two each from Super Mario Kart
and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and up to twelve characters can participate in a race. Game modes include "Grand Prix", in which the player races against 11 computer-controlled players on 4 pre-determined tracks, "Time Trials", in which the player races alone or against a "ghost" (which can be either Nintendo's pre-recorded staff ghosts, ghosts from other players on the same Wii console, the player's own ghost data, or ghosts downloaded from other players on the Mario Kart Channel) in order to finish in the fastest possible time, "VS", which is similar to Grand Prix in that the player races against 11 CPU players, but they are allowed to choose any course they have unlocked and can customize extra options for the race, and "Battle", which consists of 2 different modes, Balloon Battle or Coin Runners. In Battles, the objective is to obtain items that are scattered across the stage and hit the opposing team with them. Battle mode contains 10 stages (5 new stages, and 5 stages from previous Mario Kart games) which are separate from the 32 standard racing tracks, and are more open-ended than the race tracks. In addition to the single-player modes, the game allows 2-4 players to play offline in VS or Battle mode, either with or without the CPU players. Players obtain items by driving through item boxes placed at certain intervals throughout the courses, which can be used for either defense, offense, or for benefiting themselves, such as getting a speed boost from using a Mushroom. The game utilizes new items from Mario platform games not found in past Mario Kart games, including the "Mega Mushroom" from New Super Mario Bros.
, which allows the character to grow enormous in size and flatten opposing characters, and the "POW Block" from Mario Bros.
, which allows the character to send a shockwave
to all the characters in front of them, spinning them out of control and causing them to drop any items they may be carrying (there is no effect, however, on those who are airborne). One additional item new to the series is the "Lightning Cloud", which raises the user's top speed briefly, but shrinks the user if it is not passed on to an opponent by colliding with their vehicle.
Mario Kart Wii features 24 selectable Nintendo characters, more than any of its predecessors. In addition, there are 12 variants (3 weight classes, 2 genders, 2 outfits) of a Mii
, a digital avatar
created by the player.
The game is packaged with a Wii Wheel, a peripheral
that acts as the primary control scheme. Because the Wii Wheel only provides a simulation of a steering wheel and offers no additional functionality, players can forgo the accessory while using only the Remote in a similar manner. There are also methods that can be used without the Wii Wheel, such as the Wii Remote
with Nunchuk, the Classic Controller, or the Nintendo GameCube controller
. The ability to "snake" in previous Mario Kart games, which creates speed boosts by repeatedly drifting, has been greatly reduced in favor of a new speed boost system based on how long the player actually drifts and the angle at which they drift. While bikes can perform wheelie
s for a speed boost, they have a limited turning ability for the duration of a wheelie. Karts cannot do wheelies, but can get longer boosts on drifting
. Also featured is the ability to "slipstream." Additionally, a new feature called "Tricks" or "Stunts" are now a part of gameplay. Flicking the Wii Wheel or Wii Remote or pressing up on the D-pad (when using the Classic Controller or GameCube Controller) while on take-off will cause the character to perform stunts in mid-air, allowing the player to obtain a small speed boost upon landing.
, which features online racing and battle modes, supporting up to twelve simultaneous competitors. One or two players per Wii console can connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. There are 3 options that allow players to choose who they would like to play with: "Worldwide", "Regional" (called "Continental" in European versions), and "Friends". It features a rating system in which players will gain or lose VR (VS rating) or BR (Battle rating) based on how well they perform in matches. The game also includes the "Mario Kart Channel" (its features can be installed to the Wii Menu and requires, depending on region and content, between 74 and 86 blocks), which presents the current regional and worldwide rankings for Time Trials, and the option of sending or downloading Time Trial ghost data using WiiConnect24
. Mario Kart Channel also offers worldwide tournaments from Nintendo, which are modified courses that will sometimes have special objectives, such as destroying all the Goomba
s on a course as fast as possible. There are 2 tournaments hosted every month. The channel enables users to check if any members of their Friend roster are currently online, and to participate in a race or battle with them.
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has been criticized by players for a number of reasons. In order for someone to add players to their friend roster, they must exchange a 12-digit "friend code" with the person they would like to add. This feature is present in all Nintendo Wi-Fi games for Wii. It is not possible to add players seen in a Worldwide or Regional match, as there is no text or voice chat in these modes. There are also players who have hacked the Wii console using the Homebrew Channel
, and play the game online using cheat codes. These players are typically able to get an infinite amount of any item they wish, and they usually aim to unfairly win every race and/or constantly bombard all the other players with many powerful items. These kinds of hackers are typically frowned upon by most players, although there are other hackers who may give players various boosts and allow everyone to gain large amounts of VR. Nintendo has taken measures to ban hackers from Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, by blacklisting them and causing them to receive error code 20102 upon trying to connect. However, hackers quickly found ways to circumvent the error code and continue playing online. A number of glitches have also arisen on a couple of the courses, most notably the Grumble Volcano glitch, in which a player can jump onto a secret area on the course Grumble Volcano to finish the race very quickly. Most players choose to only use the glitch in Time Trials, although some players will attempt it in online play.
was removed. Additional details of the game were later released in conjunction with the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference held in October 2007, where it was revealed that it would include bikes and the Wii Wheel. New gameplay footage from the game was also shown, and the release date was revealed to be set for spring 2008.
Producer Hideki Konno
wanted to include online features for Mario Kart DS
, but they were left out due to time constraints. These features would, however, be implemented in Mario Kart Wii. The developers wanted to avoid races becoming more deserted as they progressed, thus altering the online matchmaking to allow players to join a race once it is finished for participation in the next one. Konno had been proposing ideas involving BMX
since Double Dash!!, but they were rejected. In Mario Kart Wii, the developers were able to incorporate bikes. The game was called "Mario Kart X" internally for a while, before deciding on "Mario Kart Wii." General producer and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto
's inputs were limited to new aspects of play such as the Wii Wheel and battles over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The designers tested roughly 30 different prototypes with different shapes, colors and weights (based on real-life go-karts), before deciding on the final Wii Wheel design.
, performing as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, Sam Kelly, performing as Peach, Toad, and Toadette, Deanna Mustard, performing as Daisy, Kenny James, as Bowser, Caety Sagoian, as Bowser Jr., Mercedes Rose, as Rosalina, Takashi Nagasako
, as Donkey Kong, Katsumi Suzuki
, as Diddy Kong, Toshihide Tsuchiya, as Funky Kong and Kazumi Totaka
, as Yoshi, with additional voices being provided by Ayumi Nagao, Fumihiro Okabayashi, Hitomi Hirose, Kōki Harasawa (as "Katsuhiro Harasawa"), Takuya Sato
, Tomo Adachi, Tomoyuki Higuchi and Yūko Kaida
.
/ELSPA. The game dwarfed all other five Mario Wii games released up until then for the Wii combined when comparing first week sales. In the United States, Mario Kart Wii was the second best-selling video game in April 2008, selling 1.12 million copies, according to the NPD Group
; putting it behind the Xbox 360
version of Grand Theft Auto IV
and ahead of the PlayStation 3
version, both released in the same week. It ranked the fourth best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States, selling in excess of 979,000 copies. According to the NPD Group, GfK
Chart-Track, and Enterbrain
, the game has sold 2.409 million copies in the United States, 687,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.601 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 4.697 million copies sold by August 1, 2008. As of March 2009, Nintendo has sold 15.4 million copies of Mario Kart Wii worldwide. As of January 4, 2009, it has sold 2,133,000 copies in Japan. It is also the fourth best-selling game of Japan in 2008. According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 856,000 copies in the United States, 394,000 in the United Kingdom, and 218,000 in Japan, respectively, for a total of 1.468 million copies sold in the third quarter of 2008 (July–September). It is the second best-selling game of 2008 in the United States
, selling in excess of 5 million copies.
With 28 million copies sold as of April 2011, it is the best-selling Mario game for the Wii console as well as ranking second on the best-selling Wii games list. It is also among the best-selling stand-alone games of all time.
producer Lark Anderson complimented that the game is easy to jump into for players of any skill level and that motorcycles provide a great alternative to go-karts, and IGN
commented that "Nintendo has delivered one of the best console Karts in years." Plugged In
stated that the racing is easy to do and that "the Grand Prix Cup events and several team battle modes keep things interesting" while Classic Game Room
praised the game for its high production value and great replay value. They also liked that the online play was a major strength of the game.
, however, claimed that the tracks are too big for local multiplayer matches. Also, IGN
criticized the rubber band AI in the 150cc races of the Grand Prix and NGamer UK
was disappointed that Battle mode can now only be played in teams; no free-for-all option is offered which removes the 'last man standing' element of previous Mario Kart Battle modes. Reviewers such as GameTrailers
and IGN also commented that it is easy to fall from first place to last by being continuously attacked by several weapons, many of which are unavoidable, leading to a certain amount of luck in racing. This makes it more accessible for beginners, but can be extremely discouraging for skilled players. GameSpot
also noted that "nostalgia doesn't save most of the classic courses from being boring."
The game was ranked ninth in Nintendo Power
s "Best of the Decade." It also won the award for "Favorite Video Game" at the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards
.
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
, commonly abbreviated as EAD, is the largest division inside Nintendo. It was preceded by the , a team of designers with an art background responsible for many different tasks, which Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka originally belonged to...
and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series
Mario Kart
is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed by Nintendo as a series of spin-offs from its trademark Mario series of platformer adventure-style video games...
and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
. The game was released worldwide throughout April 2008, but one year later in South Korea. Every copy of the game is packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory, which is designed to house the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
to allow more intuitive and conventional steering.
Changes from its predecessor, Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to...
, include bikes and support for up to twelve racers online. Like other games in the Mario Kart series, it involves various characters from several Mario games racing each other on tracks themed from locations in the Mario
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
series. Support for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows racing against other players from around the world, and online competitions and results are available by installing the Mario Kart Channel to the Wii Menu.
Mario Kart Wii was first shown at E3 2007
History of E3
The history of the E3 began with its creation in 1995 and has continued through the latest expo in 2011 The conference was known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo from 1995 to 2006. In 2007 and 2008, the conference was known as the E3 Media and Business Summit...
. It has been positively received by critics; while not revolutionary, the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts have been praised. The game had a commercially successful launch in every region, and sold over a million copies in both Japan and the United States in less than a month. Overall, it is the second best-selling game for Wii at 28 million copies sold, after Wii Sports
Wii Sports
is a sports game developed and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Wii video game console , and part of the Touch! Generations. The game was first released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and was released in Japan, Australia, and Europe the following month...
. As of May 15, 2011 the game is bundled
Pack-in game
- Characteristics :Pack-in games are intended to be system-selling games that make good use of the positive features of a given system. Sometimes a pack-in game will be changed to a more popular game, or another game will be added, along with the original pack-in, if it is perceived that a newer...
with newer Wii consoles.
Gameplay
Mario Kart Wii is a racing video game where the player races in each of the 32 different tracks, including 16 new tracks, and 16 "retro" tracks from previous Mario Kart games; 4 each from Mario Kart 64Mario Kart 64
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the second installment in the Mario Kart series. It was released in 1996 in Japan and in 1997 in North America and Europe. In January 2007, Mario Kart 64 was released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii...
, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003. The game is the fourth installment in the Mario Kart series, following Mario Kart: Super Circuit from 2001...
and Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to...
, and two each from Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart
is a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and up to twelve characters can participate in a race. Game modes include "Grand Prix", in which the player races against 11 computer-controlled players on 4 pre-determined tracks, "Time Trials", in which the player races alone or against a "ghost" (which can be either Nintendo's pre-recorded staff ghosts, ghosts from other players on the same Wii console, the player's own ghost data, or ghosts downloaded from other players on the Mario Kart Channel) in order to finish in the fastest possible time, "VS", which is similar to Grand Prix in that the player races against 11 CPU players, but they are allowed to choose any course they have unlocked and can customize extra options for the race, and "Battle", which consists of 2 different modes, Balloon Battle or Coin Runners. In Battles, the objective is to obtain items that are scattered across the stage and hit the opposing team with them. Battle mode contains 10 stages (5 new stages, and 5 stages from previous Mario Kart games) which are separate from the 32 standard racing tracks, and are more open-ended than the race tracks. In addition to the single-player modes, the game allows 2-4 players to play offline in VS or Battle mode, either with or without the CPU players. Players obtain items by driving through item boxes placed at certain intervals throughout the courses, which can be used for either defense, offense, or for benefiting themselves, such as getting a speed boost from using a Mushroom. The game utilizes new items from Mario platform games not found in past Mario Kart games, including the "Mega Mushroom" from New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros.
is a side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. The game was released in North America and Japan in May 2006 and in Australia and Europe in June 2006...
, which allows the character to grow enormous in size and flatten opposing characters, and the "POW Block" from Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
, which allows the character to send a shockwave
Shock wave
A shock wave is a type of propagating disturbance. Like an ordinary wave, it carries energy and can propagate through a medium or in some cases in the absence of a material medium, through a field such as the electromagnetic field...
to all the characters in front of them, spinning them out of control and causing them to drop any items they may be carrying (there is no effect, however, on those who are airborne). One additional item new to the series is the "Lightning Cloud", which raises the user's top speed briefly, but shrinks the user if it is not passed on to an opponent by colliding with their vehicle.
Mario Kart Wii features 24 selectable Nintendo characters, more than any of its predecessors. In addition, there are 12 variants (3 weight classes, 2 genders, 2 outfits) of a Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
, a digital avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
created by the player.
Control schemes
Peripheral
A peripheral is a device attached to a host computer, but not part of it, and is more or less dependent on the host. It expands the host's capabilities, but does not form part of the core computer architecture....
that acts as the primary control scheme. Because the Wii Wheel only provides a simulation of a steering wheel and offers no additional functionality, players can forgo the accessory while using only the Remote in a similar manner. There are also methods that can be used without the Wii Wheel, such as the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
with Nunchuk, the Classic Controller, or the Nintendo GameCube controller
Nintendo GameCube controller
The Nintendo GameCube controller is the standard controller for the Nintendo GameCube video game console.-Overview:Released alongside the Nintendo GameCube console, the standard GameCube controller has a wing grip design. This controller was bundled with all new GameCube systems throughout the...
. The ability to "snake" in previous Mario Kart games, which creates speed boosts by repeatedly drifting, has been greatly reduced in favor of a new speed boost system based on how long the player actually drifts and the angle at which they drift. While bikes can perform wheelie
Wheelie
In vehicle acrobatics, a wheelie is a vehicle maneuver in which the front wheel or wheels come off the ground due to extreme torque being applied to the rear wheel or wheels. Wheelies are usually associated with bicycles and motorcycles, but can be done with other vehicles such as cars, especially...
s for a speed boost, they have a limited turning ability for the duration of a wheelie. Karts cannot do wheelies, but can get longer boosts on drifting
Drifting (motorsport)
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed...
. Also featured is the ability to "slipstream." Additionally, a new feature called "Tricks" or "Stunts" are now a part of gameplay. Flicking the Wii Wheel or Wii Remote or pressing up on the D-pad (when using the Classic Controller or GameCube Controller) while on take-off will cause the character to perform stunts in mid-air, allowing the player to obtain a small speed boost upon landing.
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Mario Kart Wii allows players to race against each other through the Nintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionNintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
, which features online racing and battle modes, supporting up to twelve simultaneous competitors. One or two players per Wii console can connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. There are 3 options that allow players to choose who they would like to play with: "Worldwide", "Regional" (called "Continental" in European versions), and "Friends". It features a rating system in which players will gain or lose VR (VS rating) or BR (Battle rating) based on how well they perform in matches. The game also includes the "Mario Kart Channel" (its features can be installed to the Wii Menu and requires, depending on region and content, between 74 and 86 blocks), which presents the current regional and worldwide rankings for Time Trials, and the option of sending or downloading Time Trial ghost data using WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24 is a feature of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for the Wii console. It was first announced at E3 2006 by Nintendo. It enables the user to remain connected to the Internet while the console is on standby...
. Mario Kart Channel also offers worldwide tournaments from Nintendo, which are modified courses that will sometimes have special objectives, such as destroying all the Goomba
Goomba
Goombas, known in Japan as , are fictional species from Nintendo's series of Mario video games. They first appeared in the NES video game Super Mario Bros. as the first enemy players encounter. They have appeared outside of video games, including in film, television, and other media...
s on a course as fast as possible. There are 2 tournaments hosted every month. The channel enables users to check if any members of their Friend roster are currently online, and to participate in a race or battle with them.
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has been criticized by players for a number of reasons. In order for someone to add players to their friend roster, they must exchange a 12-digit "friend code" with the person they would like to add. This feature is present in all Nintendo Wi-Fi games for Wii. It is not possible to add players seen in a Worldwide or Regional match, as there is no text or voice chat in these modes. There are also players who have hacked the Wii console using the Homebrew Channel
Homebrew Channel
The Homebrew Channel is a freeware homebrew application loader that was developed to provide a way of easily running unofficial software on the Wii console. Once installed, it appears as a standard Wii Channel on the Wii Menu. When launched, it displays a list of applications found on an SD card or...
, and play the game online using cheat codes. These players are typically able to get an infinite amount of any item they wish, and they usually aim to unfairly win every race and/or constantly bombard all the other players with many powerful items. These kinds of hackers are typically frowned upon by most players, although there are other hackers who may give players various boosts and allow everyone to gain large amounts of VR. Nintendo has taken measures to ban hackers from Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, by blacklisting them and causing them to receive error code 20102 upon trying to connect. However, hackers quickly found ways to circumvent the error code and continue playing online. A number of glitches have also arisen on a couple of the courses, most notably the Grumble Volcano glitch, in which a player can jump onto a secret area on the course Grumble Volcano to finish the race very quickly. Most players choose to only use the glitch in Time Trials, although some players will attempt it in online play.
Development
Mario Kart Wii was officially announced at the 2007 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3); the online features and the first footage of the game was shown. During Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation, he unveiled the game via a trailer that showed some of the new characters and tracks. The trailer also displayed that the game would include up to twelve simultaneous racers, and that the dual-character component featured in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003. The game is the fourth installment in the Mario Kart series, following Mario Kart: Super Circuit from 2001...
was removed. Additional details of the game were later released in conjunction with the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference held in October 2007, where it was revealed that it would include bikes and the Wii Wheel. New gameplay footage from the game was also shown, and the release date was revealed to be set for spring 2008.
Producer Hideki Konno
Hideki Konno
was born May 13, 1965 in Chiba, Japan and graduated from the Electronic Data ProcessingDepartment of Japan Electronics College. Konno joined Nintendo in 1986, realizing his dream after a long adoration of playing Famicom games. Konno began working as a graphic designer on a variety of Nintendo...
wanted to include online features for Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to...
, but they were left out due to time constraints. These features would, however, be implemented in Mario Kart Wii. The developers wanted to avoid races becoming more deserted as they progressed, thus altering the online matchmaking to allow players to join a race once it is finished for participation in the next one. Konno had been proposing ideas involving BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
since Double Dash!!, but they were rejected. In Mario Kart Wii, the developers were able to incorporate bikes. The game was called "Mario Kart X" internally for a while, before deciding on "Mario Kart Wii." General producer and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
's inputs were limited to new aspects of play such as the Wii Wheel and battles over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The designers tested roughly 30 different prototypes with different shapes, colors and weights (based on real-life go-karts), before deciding on the final Wii Wheel design.
Audio
The music was composed by Asuka Ota and Ryo Nagamatsu, who used new interpretations of the familiar melodies from earlier games and also new material. The game's soundtrack will be released sometime this December. The speaker on the Wii Remote is frequently used during gameplay, as sound effects like crashes and warning signals are emitting from it. It was during the extensive testings of the different Wii Wheel prototypes the developers decided that it would be good to have the voice actors playing the game during recording sessions. The main voice cast of the game consists of Charles MartinetCharles Martinet
Charles Martinet is an American actor and voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Mario, the titular character in Nintendo's flagship video game franchise. He has held this role since 1994, longer than any other actor. He also voices Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, and a select few...
, performing as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, Sam Kelly, performing as Peach, Toad, and Toadette, Deanna Mustard, performing as Daisy, Kenny James, as Bowser, Caety Sagoian, as Bowser Jr., Mercedes Rose, as Rosalina, Takashi Nagasako
Takashi Nagasako
is a Japanese voice actor from Wakayama Prefecture who works at Arts Vision.- Anime :* Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy , Mayer* Fencer of Minerva , Teo* New Cutey Honey , Caeser , Leader...
, as Donkey Kong, Katsumi Suzuki
Katsumi Suzuki
is a Japanese voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Kagome's grandfather in InuYasha after Ginzo Matsuo's death. He currently works at Arts Vision.-Television animation:*Kagome's grandfather in InuYasha*Ben Robbins in Kaleido Star...
, as Diddy Kong, Toshihide Tsuchiya, as Funky Kong and Kazumi Totaka
Kazumi Totaka
is a Japanese video game composer and voice actor who composed many major Nintendo games, including Mario Paint and Animal Crossing. He occasionally also does voice acting for Nintendo games, including Yoshi from the Mario and Yoshi series. He is also one of the various composers who worked on the...
, as Yoshi, with additional voices being provided by Ayumi Nagao, Fumihiro Okabayashi, Hitomi Hirose, Kōki Harasawa (as "Katsuhiro Harasawa"), Takuya Sato
Takuya Sato
' is a Japanese script writer and director of anime.-Works:*Street Fighter II V Assistant Director*Harimogu Harry Storyboard, Episode Director*NieA 7 Director, Script*Princess Tutu eps. 6,11 Script...
, Tomo Adachi, Tomoyuki Higuchi and Yūko Kaida
Yuko Kaida
is a Japanese voice actress and theater actress from Kanagawa. She works at Ken Production. Kaida's most known roles include Neela Rasgotra in the Japanese dub of ER, Shimei Ryomo in Ikkitousen, Kyō Takamimori in Potemayo, Amane Ootori in Strawberry Panic!, Minako Tsukiyama in Maria-sama ga Miteru...
.
Reception
Mario Kart Wii had a successful launch and sold 300,000 copies on the launch day in Japan alone, compared to Mario Kart DS which sold 160,000 copies on its first day and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! which sold 180,000 on its first day. In the week ending May 4, 2008, Mario Kart Wii had sold over a million copies in Japan alone, less than a month since its release in the region. In the UK, Mario Kart Wii was the best-selling video game in the week ending April 12, 2008, having "the eighth biggest opening sales week in UK software history," according to Chart-TrackChart-Track
Chart-Track is a market research company that monitors music, videos and software sales in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark and was formed in 1996. In July 2008 GfK took a majority stake in the company....
/ELSPA. The game dwarfed all other five Mario Wii games released up until then for the Wii combined when comparing first week sales. In the United States, Mario Kart Wii was the second best-selling video game in April 2008, selling 1.12 million copies, according to the NPD Group
NPD Group
The NPD Group, Inc. is a leading North American market research company. The NPD Group consistently ranks among the top 25 market research companies in the independent Honomichl Top 50 report, which the media and the research industry acknowledge as a credible source of information on the market...
; putting it behind the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version of Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
and ahead of the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version, both released in the same week. It ranked the fourth best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States, selling in excess of 979,000 copies. According to the NPD Group, GfK
GfK
The GfK Group, established in 1934 as Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung is Germany's largest market research institute, and the fourth largest market research organisation in the world, after Nielsen Company, Kantar Group, and IMS Health...
Chart-Track, and Enterbrain
Enterbrain
is a Japanese magazine publisher established on April 1, 2000. Enterbrain magazines are generally focused on video games and computer entertainment as well as video game and strategy guides. In addition, the company publishes a small selection of anime artbooks. Enterbrain is based in Tokyo, Japan...
, the game has sold 2.409 million copies in the United States, 687,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.601 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 4.697 million copies sold by August 1, 2008. As of March 2009, Nintendo has sold 15.4 million copies of Mario Kart Wii worldwide. As of January 4, 2009, it has sold 2,133,000 copies in Japan. It is also the fourth best-selling game of Japan in 2008. According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 856,000 copies in the United States, 394,000 in the United Kingdom, and 218,000 in Japan, respectively, for a total of 1.468 million copies sold in the third quarter of 2008 (July–September). It is the second best-selling game of 2008 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, selling in excess of 5 million copies.
With 28 million copies sold as of April 2011, it is the best-selling Mario game for the Wii console as well as ranking second on the best-selling Wii games list. It is also among the best-selling stand-alone games of all time.
Critical response
Mario Kart Wii has been received by critics positively, especially praising the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts. Joe Sinicki of Blast Magazine comments: "While it still does suffer from some of the problems of the older games, Mario Kart Wii takes the simple and accessible formula set by its predecessors and tweaks it enough to make it feel fresh and fun, creating one of the most entertaining and rewarding gaming experiences in quite some time." Official Nintendo Magazine UK commented that the Wii Wheel worked very effectively and loved the different multiplayer modes. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
producer Lark Anderson complimented that the game is easy to jump into for players of any skill level and that motorcycles provide a great alternative to go-karts, and IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
commented that "Nintendo has delivered one of the best console Karts in years." Plugged In
Plugged In
Plugged In was a monthly magazine published by Focus on the Family. Its print version was discontinued and now it survives as a web site, Plugged In Online....
stated that the racing is easy to do and that "the Grand Prix Cup events and several team battle modes keep things interesting" while Classic Game Room
Classic Game Room
Classic Game Room is a video game review show produced, directed, edited and hosted by Mark L. Bussler of Inecom, LLC. The show reviews both retro and modern video games and broadcasts its reviews via video-sharing website YouTube, under the screen name 'InecomCompany', named after Inecom, LLC...
praised the game for its high production value and great replay value. They also liked that the online play was a major strength of the game.
Criticism
NGamerNGamer
NGamer is a British magazine which mainly covers Nintendo video game consoles and software, and also to a much lesser extent, Sony and Microsoft consoles. The first issue was released on 13 July 2006...
, however, claimed that the tracks are too big for local multiplayer matches. Also, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
criticized the rubber band AI in the 150cc races of the Grand Prix and NGamer UK
NGamer
NGamer is a British magazine which mainly covers Nintendo video game consoles and software, and also to a much lesser extent, Sony and Microsoft consoles. The first issue was released on 13 July 2006...
was disappointed that Battle mode can now only be played in teams; no free-for-all option is offered which removes the 'last man standing' element of previous Mario Kart Battle modes. Reviewers such as GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
and IGN also commented that it is easy to fall from first place to last by being continuously attacked by several weapons, many of which are unavoidable, leading to a certain amount of luck in racing. This makes it more accessible for beginners, but can be extremely discouraging for skilled players. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also noted that "nostalgia doesn't save most of the classic courses from being boring."
Awards
The game won multiple Wii-specific awards from IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best Racing Game and Best Online Multiplayer Game. IGN also nominated it for Best Family Game for the Wii.The game was ranked ninth in Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
s "Best of the Decade." It also won the award for "Favorite Video Game" at the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards
2010 Kids' Choice Awards
Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards were held on March 27, 2010 on the Nell and John Wooden Court of Pauley Pavilion, on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California...
.