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Brain droppings from the TMK crew. Read, reply, repeat. If you've got something cool, interesting, funny, or weird about Mario, let us know and we might post it here! May 13th, 2008 Banjo Blows Up Mario 11:59:09 AM CT Rare and Microsoft have released a trailer for their upcoming game Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts for the Xbox 360. Near the end of the trailer, the bear and bird fly past a giant 8-bit Mario, and a few seconds later they blow the head off of it. Whether that's self-referential humor regarding the departure from Nintendo or a brazen bit of bravado, it is amusing.Go take a look for yourself... Source: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts Trailer, at GameVideos.com Update: The original video was edited to remove the portion where Mario is destroyed. Luckily, the guys over at The Rare Witch Project archived the original. May 8th, 2008 Graffiti Ruins Mario Art 01:56:56 PM CT ![]() What a shame. Look at that wall; it was a boring In all seriousness, I can't tell if the Mario art was meant to incorporate the ghetto-tag, but it still looks cool! Link: kotaku.com Thanks Louis! Mario Reference in Boom Blox (sort of) 01:40:53 PM CT Via the level editor in Boom Blox, WiiFolder has created a tribute to Mario by making a 1-Up sprite to smash up. I sure hope this is only the beginning of the Mario inspired Boom Blox levels!revver.com Edited: I sure hope no one saw my original title. It was mind-blowing May 3rd, 2008 They Say, You Say: Mario Kart Wii 02:03:16 PM CT ![]() So, a week later, what's everyone got to say about Mario Kart Wii? I've complied some excerpts from reviewers on websites, and more importantly I've taken some well written opinions posted right in TMK's Fungi Forums. I strongly suggest you take both into consideration, and if you want to share your thoughts, feel free to comment! What THEY Say Game Informer Online Ups: - The control is brilliant, the courses are tuned to perfection, and everything is polished to a high shine. - The light/medium/heavy choice is a strategic and stylistic decision rather than an opportunity to intentionally gimp yourself against inferior competition. - This looks good for a Wii game Downs - ...dont bother with the stupid wheel - ...the turbo change feels like a dumbing-down of the gameplay in the pursuit of a misguided desire to make it somehow easier for my grandma to pick up and play. Note to Nintendo: Stop. - ... the overhaul of the mini-turbo system takes a while to get used to. GameSpot.com Ups: - Huge number of courses, including some of the most imaginative yet - Deeply integrated online play - Fun and strategic trick system Downs - Nostalgia doesn't save most of the classic courses from being boring - Items are more unbalanced than ever, especially on new tracks - Battle modes are now exclusively team-based and timed. IGN.com Ups - For the first time ever on a Nintendo console, the online portion trumps the single-player offering. - Ghost racing is even more part of this Kart than any other out there - IR supported menus, great Mii integration to hook the casual crowd, strong use of Wii's functionality, and another entertaining mascot racer. One of the best console Karts in years. Downs - Kart's 150cc experience is most certainly beatable, but it'll take as much luck and needless replay as it will skill, and that's a shame. - The cars also feel like they're running at the 50cc speed class for online, and it's a bit too slow for our liking. - the lack of voice chat for an extremely social online game What YOU Say Vidgmchtr Ups - The Wii Wheel actually does work fine, I like it. - I thought the idea of karts AND bikes was pretty cool too. - Yoshi's new vocals, they make me laugh Downs - Still no cup featuring all Rainbow Roads - With the retro levels, I think they should've used the intros used in each MK game the track is from. Not important, but I think it'd be a nice touch. - The items that can give a huge advantage (Lightning bolt, Blue shells, POW blocks, etc.) are WAY too common. BirdPerson Ups - I love the textures on the Super NES tracks. To quote myself, it's like a 16-bit dream. - Some sweet new tracks. Koopa Cape is awesome. - I was worried, but I approve of Yoshi's new voice clips. Downs - No WarioWare Wario (c'mon, at least just for bikes?) - No individualized karts or bikes. I miss the Egg 1. - Not the best retro choices. NintendoExpert89 Ups - Playing as the Mii - Great tracks - Much, much shorter waiting time for Online Play Downs - Graphics seem recycled and unchanged since GameCube - Battle Mode is changed - Easy to be knocked off the track repeatedly Now this isn't all the opinions or posts we've had concerning Mario Kart Wii. For the full experience, you need to check out and participate in the Fungi Forums. I'd also suggest heading into our chatroom, since users in there always have interested things to say that you might find helpful! Link: Fungi Forums: MKWii's Ups and Downs Super Mario Kart - in a Motion Simulator! 03:49:21 AM CT Force Dynamics is a company that produces motion simulators for trade show events and the like. To demonstrate some of the capabilities of their equipment, they rigged up Super Mario Kart with their motion simulator. If you've ever wondered what Super Mario Kart would be like in a wiggling chair, go take a look. Sadly, they claim to have sold off the model they had programmed for SMK, so it appears that I might never get to try it out.Source: Force Dynamics Direct Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBVOnT36Qw4 May 2nd, 2008 Totally Rad Mario Skateboard 11:46:47 AM CT I don't skateboard, but the minute I saw this board, I wanted to take it up and become a pro. You can live my dream if you outbid me on the above ebay item, a Super Mario World inspired skateboard, officially from Nintendo circa 1994. I haven't bid yet, but like a tiger in the bushes, you'll never see me coming if I do. Start the bidding, at 20.00 right now, below! Link: ebay.com May 1st, 2008 Paper Mario Thousands Less 10:07:24 PM CT ![]() Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door may not be "thousands less", but it is cheaper now! Following a great deal on Super Paper Mario a while back, the GameCube predecessor is now also seeing a price drop to $11.99. At this price, anyone who hasn't picked up and played the game is getting a great deal. Purchase below! Link: amazon.com MTV Writes Nintendo Open-Letter About Mario Kart Wii 04:53:56 PM CT ![]() Jason Cipriano from MTV's gaming blog wrote an open letter to Nintendo concerning some of Mario Kart Wii's flaws. I'm sure some of us can related to at least one of his issues, but is it something that justifies an "open letter"? Click over and find out! Link: mtv.com (gaming blog) April 29th, 2008 Warning: Mario Pins Poisonous 06:04:26 PM CT ![]() Nintendo is recalling a series of lapel pins that were sold through Nintendo World Store and given away as promotional items to retailers, due to possible lead poisoning. The pins are pictured above (click to enlarge). I know I have just about all of these. Good thing I didn't let my son get a hold of them! Link: gamespot.com April 28th, 2008 Rumor: Dr. Mario WiiWare Sales Numbers 08:50:45 AM CT ![]() Website ruliweb released WiiWare download numbers for Japan, but doesn't cite their source for them. Dr. Mario WiiWare is listed as having 43,354 downloads so far. For the complete list, I've linked an easier to read neogaf.com forum post. Link: neogaf.com/forum Circuit City Price Cuts Mario Titles 08:45:55 AM CT ![]() A couple of Mario titles can be yours for prices lower than they were before. Mario Kart DS has been dropped to $27.99, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) is now at $29.99. For other Nintendo price drops, check out the website link. Link: nintendoeverything.com 1up.com Spreads the Hate on MKWii 08:39:31 AM CT ![]() How ironic: a site whose namesake could *possibly* be derived from the Super Mario franchise always seems to be the quickest to criticize said franchise. Most visitors know how much we bemoaned their choices in the past, and now they got a new article up to boil the blood of Mario fans. Jeremy Parish's blog lays out exactly why he disliked Mario Kart Wii, from stating Mario Kart: Double Dash!! was a better title to calling the new tricks option "the stupid, stupid tricks system." Read on to see if his complaints are merited, or if they're just "explosively awful." Link: 1up.com April 27th, 2008 Weekend Movie: UT2D-Super Mario 08:36:21 AM CT ![]() To further those sessions between gaming, TMKblog will be providing you with Weekend Movie. These posts will highlight Mario related videos from fans, readers, or the staff themselves. If you come across a video, or videos, feel free to submit it! This weekend's movie answers the question: Would Mario benefit from rocket launchers, unneeded violence, blood and gore? With help from Unreal Tournament 3, one player created a mod based on Super Mario Bros., keeping the look and feel true to the original game. This guy got the game down to the finest detail, so show him some appreciation by checking out this weekend's movie, "UT2D-SuperMario". Weekend Movie: UT2D-Super Mario Past Weekend Movies Momotaro & SMG DS Nintendo: Oldschool Revolution Summer 2007 Edition April 26th, 2008 TMK Presents: Mario Kart Wii Coloring Pages! 03:53:12 PM CT Last Week, I posted about James Elston's amazing Super Mario themed coloring pages. Well, since then I've been in contact with Mr. Elston, and we were able to give you visitors something special. He was gracious enough to create some Mario Kart Wii themed coloring pages to get you even more excited for the game's North American release. Print them out and color them any way you want! Check out the work he sent us and show him some appreciation by leaving comments and sharing these with your own friends or website community!Thanks again to James Elston, whose work can be found at: http://www.jameselston.com Click the images for their original size. SMB Remixed by RAC 03:25:56 PM CT ![]() RemixArtistCollective took some classic tracks from the Nintendo and Sega Genesis era and remixed them to create a fresh sound. They have a total of five tracks available for download, including one based on Super Mario Bros. I recommend taking a listen, if only to stroll down memory lane in a newschool bus. Yeah, I went there. Link: theremixcompany.co.uk |