Sam's Club is throwing a little midnight launch event to mark the landing of Mario Kart (Wii), and to draw in the crowds they're promising that 15 consoles will be available for purchase at each store during the launch.
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CVG writes: "Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has given Mario Kart Wii an impressive score of 10/9/9/9 in its review, according to German website GameFront.de.

For those not up to scratch with their maths, the scores tot up to 37/40, which is slightly more generous than some reviewers have so far awarded it."
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The latest fact sheet handed to Kotaku from Nintendo contains some notes on the game's four control schemes. Here's what it says for the Classic and GameCube controls:

¿ Classic Controller: Mario Kart veterans can let their thumbs do the driving with the Classic Controller. However, players cannot perform certain moves with this control scheme.

¿ Nintendo GameCube Controller: Experienced Mario Kart fans may also enjoy this familiar scheme, although some manoeuvres cannot be performed.

More after the jump...
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Nintendo has released the official fact sheet for their upcoming title, Mario Kart Wii.

The fact sheet features information and details on the Wii Wheel, playable characters, gameplay, online play, storyline, controllers and more.
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Cheap Xboxes, plus the launch of Mario Kart and GTA IV

The games industry could be about to enjoy its most lucrative mid-year sales period of all time. The launch of two of the most highly anticipated games in the history of the industry is expected to spark a domino effect that will lead to lots of new consoles being bought.

On 27 April the long-awaited Mario Kart Wii will finally be launched in North America for Nintendo's Wii console. The game will have already come out by then in Europe and Japan. And 29 April will see the worldwide launch of perhaps the hottest title of 2008: Grand Theft Auto IV.

GTA IV will come out for both the Xbox 360 and PS3, and that means all three consoles are getting a hot new game in time to kick off the spring.

PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii set for sales boom

This is no ordinary launch period, either. Both the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 have been plagued by a perceived lack of quality titles over the last year. Gamers all over the world have been constantly complaining that there are not enough decent games to play on their new consoles.

So that magic week at the end of April will finally give Wii and PS3 gamers the boost they are looking for. Which means that a generous number of PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 gamers will be going out and buying one of the two games.
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It's fair to say that April 2008 is going to go down in the annals as a vintage month for gaming, with Mario Kart Wii and GTA IV both at the top of our current wish-list.

And by way of celebration, Nintendo is giving away the VW Beetle Convertible you can see right here, sporting a bespoke Mario Kart paintjob.

"To celebrate the launch of Mario Kart Wii, Nintendo and GAME are challenging the nation to take part in the Mario Kart Grand Wii, a tournament set to find the country's best Mario Kart driver. Keen drivers will be first off the grid, trialling the new game before it goes on sale anywhere in the world and could win themselves their own Mario Kart VW Beetle Convertible," said Nintendo.
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Nintendo and Game is to celebrate the launch of Mario Kart Wii on April 11th with a nation wide tournament.

The tournament is set to take place in thirty GAME stores across the country, with prizes including a Mario Kart VW Beetle Convertible and £250 of 'Experience Vouchers' for activities including Karting, Paintballing and Quad Biking.
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Nintendo of America has confirmed that Mario Kart Wii will be arriving on American shelves on April 27.Last month, Nintendo let us know that European gamers would be receiving Mario Kart on April 11, so American citizens and US console owners only have to wait 16 days until they too can join the inevitable internet debate as to if it's any good.Previously Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime cited the reason for a staggered ... » Read More

DailyGame.net reports that Mario Kart Wii will get its own unique Channel on the Wii Menu for online gaming when the game ships on April 27.
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Nintendo today announced that Mario Kart Wii will launch April 27, a few weeks after Europe's April 11 release. The game ships with 16 new courses, 16 old ones and the ability to go online with eleven other players. Also included is the Wii Wheel shell, which holds the Wii Remote.
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After the deluge of great games that were released in 2007, you might think that this year's crop of titles are destined to underwhelm when compared to the likes of Bioshock, Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Super Mario Galaxy, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. However, a number of high profile games scheduled for release over the coming months should have gamers everywhere doing the pee-pee dance in anticipation, giving 2007 a run for it's money as the best year of video games ever.
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Gaming Target examines why Nintendo of America seems so reluctant to reveal the release date of Mario Kart Wii and when we can expect to learn it.
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Nintendo has posted new information about the online portion of Mario Kart Wii. Check out these screens. Players will initially be given three options - race with your friends, random players from the world, or strangers from your home area. You'll then be assigned into an existing room or one will be created for you. If you join a group when matches are taking ... » Read More

Konami has today revealed the first images of its upcoming software for the Nintendo DS, Diary Girl. Squarely aimed at the younger female audience, it turns the handheld into a journal/PDA ¿ real-time voice chat included. A Nintendo DS non-game outdoing for one Nintendo's flagship Wii titles - not good.
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Nintendo UK has updated its website with a walkthrough of Mario Kart Wii's online multiplayer options.

One or two players can connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection from a single console, and then select from Worldwide, Continental or Friend pools of players.

"Then you will be placed in a new group of people looking for a match, or you will join an existing group," says the website.

"When the latter happens you will become a spectator of that group's race currently in progress, as you wait for your turn to hit the track."
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According to an article posted on the Nintendo European website, players will be able to chat online using "dozens" of text messages. Even though communication options still seem rather limited, fans will be happy to know that many text choices will be available. The article also states that the Mario Kart Wii channel will be installed on the Wii system. Previously, reports have claimed that the channel would be accessed through the disc itself.
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Although a firm date has not been released by Nintendo, the GameFly website has posted a believable release date for Mario Kart Wii - April 27th. This date falls in line with Nintendo's typical Sunday release dates for a majority of their games. Additionally, Mario Kart Wii would be coming out in North America after Europe, which was confirmed to be the case by Reggie Fils-Aime.
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Twelve players might be a nice round number for straight-out races, but we've still been waiting patiently to see how many online opponents Nintendo will allow us in Mario Kart Wii's version of the classic battle modes.
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Destructoid writes: "Alright, so remember how I said that Mario Kart for the Wii will support text chatting? Well I was completely wrong. Or rather, Nintendo has no idea what the hell texting means."
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If you want an additional Nintendo-branded Mario Kart Wii steering wheels, you won't have to buy another copy of Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo plans on selling extra steering wheels on April 11, the same day Mario Kart Wii debuts in Japan. Each extra steering wheel runs for 1200 yen ($11). Of course, Nintendo's Wii Wheel isn't required to play Mario Kart Wii. Ubisoft's wheel should work fine and so should a standalone controller.

Original source: Famitsu - Japanese
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