Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

So, a few news from this stream (and other PAX streams as well, in the case of the first point):
  • there is indeed a level 3 Mini-Turbo, denoted by purple sparks
  • the stats are different, now Mario + Standard Kart + Standard Tires + Super Glider has 3.5 in all menu stats except speed, where he has 3.75
  • there is also an "Auto-accelerate" function for beginners
  • there are "Skilled Items" as possible Items choice in the various menus
 
800px-MK8DX_Character_Roster.png


Thank the Stars! Gold Mario must be an alt costume, then.
 
Mister Wu said:
So, a few news from this stream (and other PAX streams as well, in the case of the first point):
  • the stats are different, now Mario + Standard Kart + Standard Tires + Super Glider has 3.5 in all menu stats except speed, where he has 3.75
Click to expand...

Good, they changed stats of characters. I hope it will make lightweights viable and nerf heavyweights. And if they could fix the accelerations tiers as well, that would be great.
 
Wow they actually changed character stats? And possibly balanced items by letting you hold two at a time?

Looks like this game might be worth getting, unbalance was the one thing about Mario Kart 8 that I didn't like and this game might fix it. The new actually-pretty-decent-looking battle modes are just icing on the cake.
 
Mister Wu said:
So, a few news from this stream (and other PAX streams as well, in the case of the first point):
  • there is indeed a level 3 Mini-Turbo, denoted by purple sparks
  • the stats are different, now Mario + Standard Kart + Standard Tires + Super Glider has 3.5 in all menu stats except speed, where he has 3.75
  • there is also an "Auto-accelerate" function for beginners
  • there are "Skilled Items" as possible Items choice in the various menus
Click to expand...

This does ask the question on how the stats will change between weight classes though. And this also means that the vehicle parts will see a stat makeover as well.

Now, since the in-game stat total adds up to 17.75 this time, I tried to theorize on how the stats could be spread between weight classes.

Feather (Category 1) - Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Rosalina, Lemmy, Small Mii
Body Frame: Small
Speed: 3/6
Acceleration: 4.25/6
Weight: 2/6
Handling: 4.25/6
Traction: 4.25/6

Feather (Category 2) - Baby Luigi, Baby Daisy, Dry Bones, Isabelle
Body Frame: Small
Speed: 3.25/6
Acceleration: 4.25/6
Weight: 2/6
Handling: 4/6
Traction: 4.25/6

Light (Category 1) - Toad, Koopa Troopa, Toadette, Larry
Body Frame: Small
Speed: 3.25/6
Acceleration: 4/6
Weight: 2.5/6
Handling: 4/6
Traction: 4/6

Light (Category 2) - Shy Guy, Lakitu, Bowser Jr., Wendy
Body Frame: Small
Speed: 3.5/6
Acceleration: 4/6
Weight: 2.5/6
Handling: 3.75/6
Traction: 4/6

Mid-Light (Category 1) - Peach, Cat Peach, Yoshi, Villager Girl
Body Frame: Medium
Speed: 3.5/6
Acceleration: 3.75/6
Weight: 3/6
Handling: 3.75/6
Traction: 3.75/6

Mid-Light (Category 2) - Daisy, Iggy, Inkling Girl, Villager Boy
Body Frame: Medium
Speed: 3.75/6
Acceleration: 3.75/6
Weight: 3/6
Handling: 3.5/6
Traction: 3.75/6

Medium - Mario, Luigi, Tanooki Mario, Ludwig, Inkling Boy, Medium Mii
Body Frame: Medium
Speed: 3.75/6
Acceleration: 3.5/6
Weight: 3.5/6
Handling: 3.5/6
Traction: 3.5/6

Cruiser - Rosalina, Waluigi
Body Frame: Large
Speed: 4/6
Acceleration: 3.5/6
Weight: 3.5/6
Handling: 3.25/6
Traction: 3.5/6

Mid-Heavy - King Boo, Donkey Kong, Roy, Link
Body Frame: Large
Speed: 4/6
Acceleration: 3.25/6
Weight: 4/6
Handling: 3.25/6
Traction: 3.25/6

Metal - Metal Mario, Pink Gold Peach
Body Frame: Medium
Speed: 4/6
Acceleration: 3/6
Weight: 4.5/6
Handling: 3.25/6
Traction: 3/6

Heavy - Wario, Bowser, Dry Bowser, Morton, Large Mii
Body Frame: Large
Speed: 4.25/6
Acceleration: 3/6
Weight: 4.5/6
Handling: 3/6
Traction: 3/6

Excluding the Miis, most of the weight classes would have four characters representing them. The only exceptions are Medium, Cruiser, and Metal, with Medium having 5 characters, while Cruiser and Metal have 2 characters each.

Again this is just speculation on my part, but it's pretty much the most balanced way to set up the stats between weight classes.
 
J-Yoshi64 said:
800px-MK8DX_Character_Roster.png


Thank the Stars! Gold Mario must be an alt costume, then.
Click to expand...

I thought this was beyond obvious.

With miis being obviously the ones taking the last slot , it was no wonder that ''Gold Metal Mario'' was just a recolor of Metal Mario.

Besides , if he was his own ''character'' , that would mean another character row because all the other spots are taken so it's not so bad.
 
I heard from somewhere that Arms is from the Mario Kart team. If this is true, then they didn't have time for a MK9.
 
GmanSir said:
I heard from somewhere that Arms is from the Mario Kart team. If this is true, then they didn't have time for a MK9.
Click to expand...
That was the Famitsu interview of MK8 director, he directed both games (MK8DX and Arms) at the same time. It must be said that, considering how much time is needed to create new characters and locations with the quality seen in MK8, it was clear that a new Mario Kart in 3 years was difficult to make. Unless they went the handheld route again, basing in the future the next home console Mario Kart on the new handheld installment, just like MK8 was heavily based on MK7.
Judging by the changes in MK8DX (especially the stats rebalancing) I think that even the handheld route is quite unlikely now.

Talking about stats, unless they used the principles of MK64 (lower weight = better handling, acceleration and max speed), lightweights are even more in danger, since the Middleweights gained 4 points in acceleration (and likely in Mini-Turbo as well) and 1 point in Handling, only to lose one point in Weight.
 
Actually is the other way around.

Handheld games are based on the home console games.

MK64 = MKSC

MKDD = MKDS

MKWii = MK7
 
Mister Wu said:
Talking about stats, unless they used the principles of MK64 (lower weight = better handling, acceleration and max speed), lightweights are even more in danger, since the Middleweights gained 4 points in acceleration (and likely in Mini-Turbo as well) and 1 point in Handling, only to lose one point in Weight.
Click to expand...
my guess is that they did it to make middleweights more.. well, in the middle, in terms of stats. they'll probably make the penalties on acceleration and handling greater for heavyweights, and likewise make the bonuses in those stats for lightweights a lot better.