Recommended Games
NINTENDO GOES MAR-KARTING
To accompany Mario Kart Wii’s release, Nintendo is promising a huge PR and marketing campaign for the game:
TV: The TV campaign begins on April 4th, with ten-second teasers building excitement amongst existing Mario Kart fans. There will then be 20-30 second creatives running from launch. Along with the mainstream campaign there will also be a dedicated kids’ TV campaign.
Online: Web marketing will be central to the marketing push, with takeover campaigns across media channels such as IGN, Eurogamer, CVG and others.
In-store: A nationwide tournament will take place in 30 GAME stores across the country, with huge prizes. This is alongside boxes, stands and other POS.
| Release Date | April 11 2008 |
| Format | Wii |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Price | £39.99 |
| Distribution | Koch |
| Contact | 0870 0270 985 |
Mario Kart Wii
If you look back into your gaming past you’ll probably dig up a few killer moments. Such as the time you defeated Gannon in Ocarina of Time, or the first moment you visited Liberty City in GTA III.But we all know the most satisfying of glorious gaming memories is when you snatched first place from your mate following a well-placed green shell in Super Mario Kart.
Since that title tore up the SNES back in 1992, the series has become a permanent fixture on Nintendo consoles. Mario Kart is amongst Nintendo’s biggest franchises, and gets better and better with every release.
“Mario Kart is one of the most successful series of games we’ve ever had,” says Nintendo’s senior product manager Robert Lowe. “The top selling iteration is Mario Kart DS – even more than the SNES and N64 versions. Each generation of Mario Kart has received critical acclaim from both reviewers and gamers alike, and we hope Mario Kart Wii will be no exception.”
Mario Kart Wii boasts a host of new features never seen before in a Mario Kart game. Alongside the inclusion of motorcycles for the first time, the game also contains a full online mode using Nintendo’s Wi-Fi connection which works in both traditional races and battle mode.
Nintendo is also set to launch a special Mario Kart Wii channel, where players can download and compare data.
“The multiplayer on Wii is fantastic on both a local and online level,” adds Lowe. “It is definitely on a par with any other top online multiplayer games out there.”
Another unique feature to Mario Kart Wii is its control method. Gamers can use five different control types to play the game, including Wii Remote turned on the side, a Wii Remote and Nunchuck combination, GameCube controller, Classic controller as well as the special Wii Wheel.
“The Wii Wheel is a great peripheral because it brings driving games to casual and lapsed gamers,” continues Lowe. “It makes playing Mario Kart Wii simple, accessible yet responsive and fun, and there will be plenty of games further down the line that support it.”
With a free accessory, a huge gaming pedigree and large marketing campaign, the game is certain to sell well. There are a total of 32 tracks – 16 classics and 16 all-new levels, not to mention the much loved four player mode.
Mario Kart Wii has already received critical acclaim from the specialist press – Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 94 per cent, and Gamesmaster awarded it 91 per cent. This one is certain to steer its way into many, many consumer hands on April 11th.
