During the shuffle of E3, a lot of little tidbits can get lost, and it seems this interview might have been one of them (at least on here).

Hideki Konno (head of Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No. 1 and Mario Kart 8 Producer) and Kosuke Yabuki (Director of Mario Kart 8) were interviewed by French website Gamekult and shared some details on what players can expect from the game when it releases early next year. NeoGaf member DrWong was kind enough to break down the highlights from the interview:

* MK8 development began just more than a year ago.
* No other studio involved, 100% EAD Kyoto.
* About the GamePad use: "Our priority is to provide the remote display on the GamePad only. We have other ideas, but that's all we can tell you for now."
* Why no F-Zero instead? "H. Konno: It has always been a Mario Kart per console, so we wanted to get a new one to have more people interested by our new system. But I also hope that there will be an F-Zero."
* About track size: "In Mario Kart 8 tracks have also been narrowed compared to Mario Kart Wii and reflects more the size of the road."
* About kart customization: "Like Mario Kart 7 (but) with a little more choice"
* No track editor, even if they talk about it.
* About a Double Dash mode using the GamePad: "H. Konno: For Mario Kart Wii, 7 and 8, we decided not to use it. But this is a request that is often heard, so maybe we can meet this desire."

What do you think of the choices they've made for MK8? Would you have liked to see the gameplay style introduced in "Double-Dash" return?

Direct interview link (French)
Google Translate link

Also, fellow Fungi Forum member Glowsquid was awesome enough to give a comprehensible translation!