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 On 05/29/2014 at 03:32 AM by Vice's Assistant See More From This User » |
So I know what your thinking. That title sound too odd to be real. But know I click on Kotaku and I find this. Mario selling the GLA Mercedes Benz... and he's kind of ripped.
And if you think that is weird, then the next piece of news might be even weirder or scarier depending on your viewpoint. As pointed out in the comment section in the article, there is a GLA body DLC in Mario Kart 8. Yes, MK 8 has DLC.
Yes, MK 8 has DLC. Now before you get really crossed or go crazy with ideas. While my Japanese isn't great, a quick scan of the page shows no price for this, meaning this might just be for promotional purposes. Meaning that this might be the only DLC for MK 8. We don't know right now. What I can tell you is that I think this DLC will drop on June 8th or at least more info about it will be released on that day. Again, my Japanese is quite rusty. If you think you have a better shot at translating it, here's the link. But yeah, this leaves me quite confused. I mean would I like more MK 8? Sure! But I'm worried that we will have a repeat of Mario Golf 3DS again: a great game with a quarter of its content partioned off for DLC/Season pass. Again to earily to tell but still kind of awesome. Though I do know one thing for sure, someday when I get into good shape, I will cosplay as beefy Mercedes Benz Mario.
Edit: According to a horrible Google translate, so take this with a gain salt of, this DLC will be "GLA cart plans free delivery is made ??from Nintendo than this summer, that the scheduled tournament of Mario Kart with the cart still will be held this fall." So it is free and possibly a reward for winning an online cup.
It's kind of weird seeing product placement in a Mario Kart, but I guess they have to do what they have to do. Still, it's like if the main character in Pixar's Cars was specifically a whatever-year Chevy Corvette. It just feels kinda wrong. Granted, Cars isn't as beloved as Mario Kart, but it was the only Disney or Pixar example involving cars I could think of off the top of my head.
I don't want Bowser's hideout to be renamed Coca-Cola Castle.
The things with adding real brands though is that helps establish new markets, can help establish a setting better, and even make the game memorable. Sega's arcade games, especially the ones in the 90s are a testament to that. It gave the brands a foothold in new and emerging markets while the games could relate better. I think of Crazy Taxi where I had to take a person to The Levi's store and another to the Tower Records store. Conversely, there's a negative side to that which is years later, it makes the games nearly impossible to get back if copyrights and licenses are not available for the for game. Outrun is an great example of that, as Sega has frequently gained, lost, gained again, and now currently lost the rights to Ferrari. I don't think Nintendo is going to go that crazy with this but given their current financial binds, time will tell.
I agree it works in Crazy Taxi, but that's a silly arcade game; which I'm a fan of, don't get me wrong; but Mario Kart to me is different. I'm not even the biggest Mario Kart fan, but I use the Disney/Pixar comparison because I believe these are companies that make their name on timelessness and modern branding techniques feel a bit off when done in their efforts in particular.
Having said that, if all they want to do is have some DLC of a small car to get some extra money or add a billboard here and there to one or two tracks where it fits (NOT Rainbow Road or Bowser's Castle, etc., but maybe like a throwback to that city area in 64 would be fine), that's fairly harmless.
It's just, I dunno, for me it's like "what are these advertisements doing in my childhood?" but then again, I'm 24 and don't own or plan to own a Wii U, so it's not my childhood anymore anyway. It just feels off is all.
While it does seem kind of weird to have an ad like that in a Mario Kart game, it doesn't really bother me that much for some reason. Even though ads are everywhere, I can just tune them out or ignore them, so it doesn't really affect me much. I find that Mario Kart thing more funny than anything. The DLC in Mario Golf, on the other hand, didn't feel quite right to me, though.
In MK 8, I think one the best parts about the game are the very inventive ads for the fake brands in the game. Heck, they even get their own spot in the games real credits. Maybe its just me, I love them and I wish I had like a shirt or like a poster of all of them. They are really cool.
Because I reserved Mario Kart 8 at GameStop, they gave me a poster that has the ad logos on it.
HAHAHAHA That's crazy! I could have seen winning a kart or even character for the tournament but a real life car. So disappointed. They needed something silly not realistic. The only way I can see it working is if ONLY ONE person can have it. Then everyone will know that is the online tournament winner.
There is actually a realistic sport coupe body that you can unlock in the game. It really is a bit jarring considering it looks very realistic. 
The new Mario enters! He's big, he's angry, and he's ready to stomp a goomba. "he he, what a mess." It's Mario Nukem!
Mario Nukem coming in 2014 2015 2022 3014 whenever.
I laughed my ass off at that commercial! That is some craziness right there!
Yes! But that's some crazyness I can dig!
What a strange way to market something, but at least it grabbed my attention.
Indeed. I just wish Nintendo had ad that were just as clever as that for their own games.
That ad... lol.
Having it in Mario Kart is a bit weird. I'm not really a fan of Mario Kart, but it just kinda seems to clash with that game...
It actually kind of makes sense when you stop and think about how much of MK 8 is actually framed in a modern landscape. At least one of the tracks in each cup (or more) is set in a urban/city lanscape and Nintendo put a lot effort in make those stages feel really alive. In that sesne, its not surprisng to see something like that, though I am worried that Nintendo is coping out a little.
Thanks for the follow too, Blake!
Oh, that's a bit different. Truth be told, I haven't been interested in Mario Kart since the N64. I played Crash Team Racing and was like eff that noise lol.
Also you're welcome. I actually thought I was already following you!
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