Mario Kart for Wii Gets Spring 08 Release Date

Ars Technica notes, from Nintendo's Fall conference earlier this week, the news that Mario Kart for the Wii is slated for Spring of next year. The game is said to involve bikes for the first time: "It is unclear whether the bikes will be mostly an aesthetic effect or if the control mechanics will differ between karts and bikes. Mario Kart: Double Dash featured a collection of different carts with different statistics, but control was more or less the same across the board ... Despite accusations that Nintendo had nothing to offer the hardcore gamer in terms of announcements at the show, the latest incarnation of the classic kart-racing series was looking sharp in its debut."

Re:So...

[AuMatar]

Hi- I'm, a hard core gamer. I play video games 4 hours a day or more on average. I'm looking forward to Mario Kart, and I think the steering wheel is a great idea. So yes, it appeals to us hardcore gamers.

Re:Please make battle mode not suck

[Mattintosh]

Nothing beats the original, no matter how many newbs think MK64 is better. (Note: not n00bs, just newbs. You're not lame if you like MK64, just inexperienced.)

The one thing I loved more about the original than any of the others was the lack of that annoying power slide crap. You could jump and slide, but there was no speed boost from "wiggling your stick". All that got you was some funny looks from the people around you. You jumped, slid, released the turn, and jumped again to stop your sideways momentum (a slight physics glitch that was really helpful). No boosts. No color-changing smoke. No blue sparks. (Jesus brings them, you know. [penny-arcade.com]) Just a good racing game. With Mario-themed weaponry.

Oh, and the simple-yet-fun battle mode... that ruled. Bring that gameplay up to 4 (or more!) players and I'm in. No timers, bombs, or blowing up your own balloons (I never thought I'd be winded playing video games, but Nintendo has proved me wrong), just head-to-head kart carnage like old times.