PREPARE FOR GRAVITY-DEFYING FUN IN MARIO KART 8, LAUNCHING TOMORROW EXCLUSIVELY ON Wii U

Mario Kart TV web service enables racers to check out karting action on the go!

30^th May 2014 – Tomorrow, 31^st May, the highly-acclaimed Mario Kart 8releases exclusively on Wii U, bringing family and friends together once more for some high-octane kart racing, whether taking place in the confines of a living room or online with other racers from across the globe. With crisp HD graphics, a live orchestrated soundtrack, and a new antigravity course mechanic that allows competitors to race up walls and along ceilings, Mario Kart newcomers and veterans alike are set for a challenge! Reviews have been pouring in for Mario Kart 8, with critics unanimous in their praise for the eighth instalment in the series:

IGN, 9 out of 10 – “Mario Kart 8 is the best kart racing game Nintendo has made in a long time.”

Sunday Herald Sun, 4 out of 5 – “A must have for all Wii U owners and a great incentive to get a Wii U.”

MMGN, 9 out of 10 – “The best racing game in its decorated history. You don’t want to miss this.”

Vooks, 5 out of 5 – “Mario Kart 8 is a super slick kart racing experience that looks great in high definition, sounds amazing and will give you months of pleasure and mileage.”

In Mario Kart 8, get ready to rev your engine and take on racers from across the globe, with up to 12 players able to race or battle online, as long as everyone has the game and a broadband Internet connection. Players also can create public or private tournaments for which they specify the day of the week, the time and the rules. Per tradition, players will be able to race against ghost data from friends or even the top 10 worldwide racers. With the new Mario Kart TV feature, players can even watch their Highlight Reels, rewind them, play them in slow motion or share it with other players. Players with Google accounts can also upload their reels directly to their YouTube channels to show off their slick racing moves.

In preparation for the game’s much-anticipated release tomorrow, a new Mario Kart TV web service optimised for smart devices – mariokart.tv – has launched, offering fans the chance to check out Mario Kart TV Highlight Reels and global Time Trial data on the go. While the service can be accessed by anyone, those with a registered Nintendo Network ID (NNID) will be able to log in and use mariokart.tv to watch Highlight Reels created by friends as well as videos of tournaments they’re participating in. Users with a registered NNID can also access their personal Time Trial data to see how they fare on each course in comparison to their friends, as well as looking at the best course times from across the globe to aim towards being the fastest racer in the Mushroom Kingdom! For more details on this new service, please visit the following link via a PC or mobile device browser: https://mariokart.tv/ As a reminder, the Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack Wii U hardware bundle (SRP AU$429.95) will accompany the launch of the game on 31^st May, complete with a black Wii U Premium console with 32GB* of storage packaged alongside a black Wii U GamePad controller, Sensor Bar, and the all-important Mario Kart 8 game disc.

On top of that, anyone who registers the PIN code for Mario Kart 8 in Club Nintendo between 31^st May 2014 (00:01 AEST) and 31^st July 2014 (23:59 AEST), can claim a free download code for one of a selection of great Wii U games in the Mario Kart 8 Bonus Game Promotion! For the full lowdown on Mario Kart 8, coming tomorrow exclusively for Wii U, the game’s full website can be checked out at http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/mario-kart-8/

Additional Links:

Mario Kart 8 website http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/mario-kart-8/

Nintendo Australia Website: http://www.nintendo.com.au NintendoAustralia Twitter:https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZNintendo Australia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NintendoAUNZNintendo AU on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/nintendoau

Nintendo Australia Image Libraryhttp://images.nintendo.com.au

* 32 GB total system storage, part of which is reserved for system data