290°

Mario Kart 8 runs at 30fps in 3 & 4-player mode

Mario Kart 8 runs at 60fps in single-player and 2-player, but at only 30fps during 3 and 4-player modes, Nintendo has told VideoGamer.com.

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videogamer.com
Geobros4040d ago

I dont understand why 30 FPS for 3-4 players....

mhunterjr4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

Because instead of 2 scenes needing to be rendered, there are 4... Which is 2x more taxing on your processors.

So in the interest of stability, they chose to lock the framerate at 30. It's not uncommon to see some graphics degradation in split screen MP games.

Neonridr4040d ago

I wonder if we will see no degradation in terms of graphics since they are lowering the framerate for 3 - 4 player split screen.

mhunterjr4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

@Neonridr

Well, technically, the drop to 30fps IS a degradation in graphics, as your visuals are refreshing half as often. This is a pretty intereresting choice. I think most games downgrade the textures and geometry for split screen, not frame rate. I would think a racing game would do the same... but it IS an Arcade Racer and I don't think that audience is as picky over these things... Any anyone who is content to see their screen split 4 ways is probably much more focused on the fun aspect than visual performance.

Army_of_Darkness4040d ago

My nephew would love this game with a wiiu bundle for Christmas! He loves Mario kart games.

ChickeyCantor4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

"Well, technically, the drop to 30fps IS a degradation in graphics"

There is a difference between visual fidelity and refresh rate.

When your monitor can only handle 60frames per second it wouldn't make sense to say 70 frames per second improves the visuals. However polygon count and shader quality do make a difference.

mhunterjr4040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

@chickeycantor

I get what your saying, but typically, folks consider frame rate to be a product of visual performance. We aren't talking about running above 70, when the monitor can only handle 60, we're talking about running at 30 when the monitor can handle 60.

I think we can all agree that this game will be more pleasing to the eyes at 60fps than at 30, even if the geometry and shaders are exactly the same at both rates.

Visual fidelity isn't the only measure of graphical performance. Still, I think Nintendo made the right decision for their game. If this was GT or Forza, I'd say otherwise.

Whymii4039d ago (Edited 4039d ago )

GT and Forza? Interesting choice for examples when we're talking 4 players split screen. Better choice would be Sonic Allstars, but frame rates are definitely lower than 30. Still it does support 5 player.

I can't think of a single game on a console that doesn't drop frames in 4 player mode. Anyone know of one?

mhunterjr4039d ago (Edited 4039d ago )

@whymii

I chose GT and Forza to emphasize my opinion that when it comes to making compromises for split screen, different subgenres should prioritize things differently. I would expect Forza and GT to put more emphasis on maintaining framerate because precision controls is most important in a competitive sim racer. I would expect sonic to focus on maintaining frame rate because sense of speed is the defining characteristic of that game.

For Mario, It makes sense that they would sacrifice framerate because sense of speed and precision controls are not the key elements the audience gravitates to. The art, and cartoon mischief, and chaos onscreen is what makes MK fun. And it will probably be just as fun at 30fps... Especially with 3 buddies next to you.

Chrischi19884039d ago

Just a way for haters, to make something totally normal, look like it is bad.

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randomass1714040d ago

Look at it this way: When you play a video game, the world and characters are being rendered once. In 3 - 4 player mode, it's now rendering it four different times in real time. That's more taxing on hardware, so graphical fidelity must be lost to accommodate the gameplay. Seems Nintendo chose to cut the framerate in this case. If you want another example, Mario Kart 64 had four player racing, but when it was three or more, there was no music.

colonel1794040d ago

Really? I swear that after all these years I've never noticed that there was no music! LOL

OtakuDJK1NG-Rory4040d ago

actually there is music just need to press L

randomass1714040d ago (Edited 4040d ago )

You mean there was music all this time and all I had to do was press L??? MIND BLOWN. I'll have to try this out on my buddy's 64 lol. Herp derp.

edit: But yeah, the default had no music. All this time I perceived it as a hardware limitation.

Shnazzyone4039d ago

Honestly, I think people are making dumb things to make stories about. Is this not the first time you have ever seen a story about reduction in game quality on local multiplayer before?

It's the same graphical quality redered 4 times at a locked 30fps. Do you realize how much insanity happens at once in a mario kart game? Have you seen those tracks? Now imagine those beautiful things with any manner of turtleshell, fireballs, super attacks, bullet bills flying around it at any time. 30fps aint bad with 4 pelople doing that at the same time.

Anyone ever write a story about how COD 4 player split screen makes the graphics fidelity and fps drop? No. Who cares? Is the game still fun? Yes. Who cares?

The fact that people are nitpicking this hard... think it's making the nintendoomed article writers nervous. Mario Kart 8 is really the proving ground for Wii U. I guess there's too many "THIS GAME IS AWESOME!" previews. So this is what's gotta get the clicks on N4g.

Chrischi19884039d ago

It is like, they really search hard for something negative or try to make it seem bad, that the gamepad has no real use in a racing game^^ I mean, I get it, there have to be games that use the gamepad, but not every game. There are games, where some touchscreen stuff would only hurt the gameplay, I mean, what should you do with it in a racing game? Back mirror maybe, thats it. But then, in an RPG game you can do so much with it. In an RTS game, too. Not every game has to use every feature, what is so hard to understand about that?

DC7774039d ago

Because they needed something negative to say about wii u, as if anyone would notice.

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Metallox4040d ago

Ahhh... Not a real bad issue, though.

Vegamyster4040d ago

At least it's 60 fps with 2 players.

GUTZnPAPERCUTZ4040d ago

That is acceptable I think! The game really looks good and good ol fun!

Ck1x4040d ago

Seems this will be the first game that Nintendo pushes the online play on...

hkgamer4040d ago

seems reasonable enough.

What FPS were the older ones running at?

TWB4039d ago

I dont have too much experience with the older nintendo racers/games but I believe Mario Kart double dash (gamecube one ?) ran at smoothnes similar to 60 FPS in single player but Im not sure about splitscreen. I remember it being pretty smooth too.

Games in general have always ran at lower framerates when playing in Splitscreen. Hell Starwars Battlefront II on PS2 ran always sub 30 FPS and in Splitscreen it was borderline playable 10-20 FPS but it was fun as hell and could be considered a classic at this point regardless of the poor performance.

How much does it matter ?

hkgamer4039d ago

@TWB

I guess as technology has moved on, we as gamers are expecting more.

If lowering the FPS doesn't impact the gameplay too much then its ok.

If it does, then I rather have them lower resolution, textures, effects, etc...

with all that said. I don't think I would get a chance to play any 4 player games. So I giuess it wouldn't impact me at all.

I think games should provide us option similar to PC.

crusf4040d ago

It runs 30 fps uh ok. Who cares... Honestly the game will still be awesome regardless

hkgamer4039d ago

agree. hardly ever get to play 4 player games anymore. But wouldn't the better option to be lower the res/textures/effects?

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80°

Looking Ahead: The Lingering Questions About the Next Mario Kart

VGChartz's Mark Nielsen: "10 years. It’s been almost 10 years since the last mainline release in the Mario Kart series. Mario Kart 8 came out for the Wii U in 2014 and became the best-selling game for the system by a sizeable margin, and later pulled the same magic trick on the Nintendo Switch under the stage name Deluxe. All in all, it's sold nearly 70 million copies over the last decade and is still selling like hot cakes to this day, so it’s no wonder Nintendo has been in no rush to replace it. However, with rumors of a new system being just around the corner, and reports a few years back that a new Mario Kart is indeed under way, it seems the era of 8 might very well be drawing to a close. It’s an exciting prospect to be sure, but after two Nintendo systems with Mario Kart 8 at their heart, a lot of questions remain about how Nintendo will choose to follow it up."

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vgchartz.com
Yi-Long378d ago

I hope they just keep building on Mario Kart 8; Add a track-creation tool, and probably open it up to more Nintendo IPs with new tracks and characters, so Metroid, Punch Out, Starfox, Animal Crossing, etc etc.

gold_drake378d ago

there wont be a new one until the switch 2 comes out.

nintendo needs their bangers early on

80°

Wii U Versions of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon's Online Play is Back

Nintendo has recently restored Wii U Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon online after five months of being offline.

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sirusgaming.com
100°

The Next Mario Kart Desperately Needs A Good Gimmick

Mario Kart 8 has been out for nine years now if you include the Wii U version. Despite the Switch port continuing to sell insane numbers since it came out in 2017, many people believed that a new installment was way past due. When the Booster Course Pass was announced instead, it was a bit controversial, with one side of people stating that it was time for a new game, and the other side believing that this was the best course of action and that there's nothing else Nintendo can do to innovate the franchise.

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dualshockers.com
ZycoFox676d ago

There's nothing wrong with the games, but after most of them being very samey, I got a bit bored. I liked MKDS because it added a mission mode, yeah it didn't have maybe as many as I'd like but it was decent for variety.

I really prefer the new Mario Party for the different types of games in it.

Mario Kart doesn't really feel fresh because you know what to expect for every new game pretty much. The single player mode of DKR was far more in depth a game vs Mario Kart IMO, MK is probably better for multiplayer though.

-Foxtrot676d ago

It needs a campaign mode like Crash Team Racing with open hubs, driving around the Mushroom Kingdom, selecting your races and the like. Have a system like the CTR tokens within the races that then unlock secret racing cups later on or the time relics to unlock other things.

There's nothing wrong with the games but when you've had the same set up for so many games it just gets a bit samey after a while.

They could even have something like a track creator like Modnation Racers or something.

Neonridr676d ago

I always enjoyed the single player aspect of Diddy Kong Racing myself.

Knushwood Butt676d ago

After starting with the first game on SNES, I think the last one I bought was on the DS.

Phlacky675d ago (Edited 675d ago )

I think the next gimmick should be interactive tracks with obstacles and traps such as maybe throwing a shell ahead to make something fall on another player Also have water and mud parts that effect handling more also fire parts that can cause you to over heat if you stay in it to long etc...

Yi-Long675d ago (Edited 675d ago )

I don’t think it needs ‘a gimmick’ so much, because gameplay is pretty much perfect right now, but I would like the next Mario Kart to do either a ‘track-builder’ thing, so you just get access to the tools and make your own tracks (think Modnation Racers or LBP Karting), and/or expand upon ‘Mario’ Kart and open it up to the rest of Nintendo IPs, and just do a ‘Nintendo Kart’, so we’d see more of Zelda, but also Starfox, Kirby, Metroid, Valkyria Chronicles*, etc.

* I know, technically not ‘Nintendo’.

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