Although Nintendo usually announce a time and broadcast their Nintendo Direct presentations live, they seem to have taken a different approach with this one, instead just uploading 35 minutes of new Mario Kart 8 information and footage to YouTube. You can see that below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flpfRzP2ONU
The video contains lots of new details about the game, including that it will have 12 player online multiplayer, with the ability to voice chat and even race against friends’ ghosts. This comes alongside Mario Kart TV, which will allow players to record highlight reels and upload them to Miiverse, or even YouTube. It seems that Nintendo are jumping on the sharing bandwagon too.
There are new items, including the Super Horn, which blows all racers and items ahead of it away. Beyond that, many items return, but there’s also the new Crazy Eight – similar to the seven items in Mario Kart 7 – which lets you fire a barrage of eight items in succession.
Finally, and this is quite an enticing prospect, Nintendo are offering a free Wii U game if you purchase and register Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before 31st of July 2014. Games included are Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Wii Party U, The Wonderful 101 and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.
That’s pretty much the entire collection of Wii U exclusives minus the recent Super Mario 3D World and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, then. Definitely a good deal, though, and the offer includes the version bundled in with the Wii U system.
Source: YouTube / Press release
Pixel_nme
That’s a nice bonus right there :) looking forward to this.
Tuffcub
please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console please buy our console. Please.
Jumping Monks
Some fairly aggressive promotions Nintendo have had since coming out with the WiiU. It’s a shame so few people own one, it’s a great console. II just put my pre-order in for the collectors edition this morning, what a great bonus this is. Now to choose what game!
Spence1115
Great deal, except for for those of us who’ve already bought anything good on the Wii U!
Nintendo Land
Game & Wario
Sonic Lost World
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Wii Party U
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
These are the 6 I don’t already own, and I have Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS so unsure if I’d wanna get it again. But then its either that or a raft of mini games…
Eldaveo
Nintendo Land is great fun when played with friends. I really enjoyed Game and Wario too, despite it not reviewing well.
DividSmythe
Nice. I’ll get Zelda for free. See if I don’t play that as well.
arrybags
New Super Mario Bros U
Pikmin 3
Or Monster Hunter.
This is a nice dilemma for once.
Sad Panda
Mario and Sonic is pretty much the only one I’ve not had at some point. Great offer for those just picking up the most underrated console around. I love my PS4 – WiiU combo. Super Luigi U is right up there with the Most Fun games I have ever played.
Kennykazey
Don’t think you need to register it with Club Nintendo here in Europe (that’s for the US, I believe). I understood it to be connected to your Nintendo ID, so when you’ve bought it digitally you’re eligible to pick one. Perhaps it’s for retail copies.
The reason behind this being that not all countries have Club Nintendo.
Kennykazey
No, I was wrong. Club Nintendo is required. Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffidllesticks!
BTW, the US direct is way less serious and reminds me of a ingame GTA show. Seriously, it’s almost offensive.
Now to find a way around the club nintendo nonsense…