In this analysis I will be looking at Mario Kart 8 in terms of genre, narrative, production process, characterisation, gameplay, target audience and platform. I will be commenting about their use to create the overall game experience.
Mario Kart 8 is a 3-dimensional karting game - the genre is racing. This genre can sometimes have realistic graphics and art or more cartoony, depending on the target audience. Mario Kart 8 shows the conventions of a karting game which is fantasy and not trying to be realistic. Its graphics, while very good-looking, are not realistic as it is supposed to be a fun game for all the family. In comparison to other fantasy racing titles, it is usually regarded as the king. It has been around for years and it is usually seen as more fun and being very imaginative. Contenders include Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed.
Mario Kart 8 is a 3-dimensional karting game - the genre is racing. This genre can sometimes have realistic graphics and art or more cartoony, depending on the target audience. Mario Kart 8 shows the conventions of a karting game which is fantasy and not trying to be realistic. Its graphics, while very good-looking, are not realistic as it is supposed to be a fun game for all the family. In comparison to other fantasy racing titles, it is usually regarded as the king. It has been around for years and it is usually seen as more fun and being very imaginative. Contenders include Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed.
The “story” of the game is just that you have to race and try to win. There are many different courses for you to race on and enjoy. An objective would be to try and get the gold trophy on all the cups. The objective informs the gameplay in the way that you have to try and win the race. You simply pick the characters based on who you want to race as and the properties you want your overall kart to have (some characters are lighter, some heavier). The interaction with them is racing them in the cups and online. The target audience is people of all ages who want to have fun alone, with family or with friends. It appeals to such a wide target audience because everyone likes a competitive and enjoyable racing game! It doesn’t need a complicated story.
The game was developed and published by Nintendo. Elements of production which enhance gameplay are the ability to tilt the Wii U GamePad to steer, which makes the game feel more immersive. Also, the glider sections and underwater sections add a new dimension to the gameplay which makes it even more entertaining. Physics are generally realistic in the game, for example, you are heavier and slower underwater, and the glider on your kart helps you float in the mid-air sections. Being a cartoon game, it can’t be too life-like, but the physics aren’t wildly different.
The characters are relevant to the target audience in the way that they are family-friendly and colourful. There are 30 characters in total, differing in size and form, and this adds to the replay value of the game. The characters appeal to the target audience of families and friends because they are fun and have their own personalities when driving, such as their own range sayings depending on what is happening in the race. The characterisation matches the conventions of a fantasy racing game as their appearances and dialogue is appropriate for all audiences and the characters make the game more fun, especially since there are a variety from staple Nintendo games. In terms of physical strength, some characters are heavier and so don’t get knocked around as easily during a race. In terms of a story for each character, there aren’t any because it is simply a racing game, but if the player has played any of Nintendo’s other games that the characters are from, they would know their backgrounds.
The challenge present in the game is winning races and winning trophies on the four different speeds: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc and 200cc, each increasing in difficulty. An additional challenge is to get a three-star ranking on each grand prix, meaning you win all four races within a grand prix. The type of challenge engages the player whether he/she be casual or hardcore, as the casual gamer can win races on 50cc, while the hardcore gamer can try to 3-star all of the cups on 200cc, so there is something for everyone. The “levels”, or courses in this case, engage the player because they are imaginative and each one is different. The HD graphics also make them look incredible. Key to the gameplay’s success are the smooth and tight controls, interesting level design and the classic hectic Mario Kart item fun with family and friends. The gameplay engages with the narrative that you have to win races by giving you the controls and ability to win races! It also keeps the player’s attention in the way that the courses are short and sweet, and the positions are always changing during a race due to the item system, which can wreak havoc in seconds.
The challenge present in the game is winning races and winning trophies on the four different speeds: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc and 200cc, each increasing in difficulty. An additional challenge is to get a three-star ranking on each grand prix, meaning you win all four races within a grand prix. The type of challenge engages the player whether he/she be casual or hardcore, as the casual gamer can win races on 50cc, while the hardcore gamer can try to 3-star all of the cups on 200cc, so there is something for everyone. The “levels”, or courses in this case, engage the player because they are imaginative and each one is different. The HD graphics also make them look incredible. Key to the gameplay’s success are the smooth and tight controls, interesting level design and the classic hectic Mario Kart item fun with family and friends. The gameplay engages with the narrative that you have to win races by giving you the controls and ability to win races! It also keeps the player’s attention in the way that the courses are short and sweet, and the positions are always changing during a race due to the item system, which can wreak havoc in seconds.
The target audience for Mario Kart 8 is primarily families and groups of friends looking for multiplayer fun and laughs. The indicators that the game is produced for this audience are the range of items (red shell, bullet bill, Starman etc.) which can devastate a player’s chances of winning in seconds, causing good-natured arguments and creating entertainment for all. The game appeals to the target audience because they have probably known the Mario Kart formula for years and they would buy it because they know it will be worth it. The colour and imaginative courses would also appeal to those who maybe haven't tried a Mario Kart game before. Other games targeting the same audience, such as Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, might try to contend with it but generally seem to fall short according to reviewers. It seems as if Mario Kart is the king of its category.
The game is available on Wii U only - therefore it has been made perfectly suited to this platform. The game is suited to the Wii U in the way that you can tilt the controller to steer karts. The screen on the GamePad is also useful in viewing the locations of the other players on a map. Viewing it as the TV screen can be done if someone else wants to watch TV. The touch screen can additionally be pressed to honk your horn, as a comical touch.
Mario Kart 8 was developed using one of Nintendo's own in-house engines. It doesn't have its own name and there isn't any specific information available about it, which is typical of Nintendo - they use different engines for different games in order to fully optimise them, and want to keep their ideas under wraps.
Mario Kart 8 was developed using one of Nintendo's own in-house engines. It doesn't have its own name and there isn't any specific information available about it, which is typical of Nintendo - they use different engines for different games in order to fully optimise them, and want to keep their ideas under wraps.
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