Mario Kart 8: Animal Crossing DLC April 23rd, with 200cc coming for free!

Sonork

Frantic mode broke my MK8 cd, i get error code 150-1031 when trying to load tracks now. Which means the disc cannot be read (no visible scratches) but still won't load any tracks. Thanks a lot frantic mode. XD But seriously WTF, looking online anyone who has gotten this error has had to return their game. And i ordered this from amazon. doh.

physi_marc

I got home early and will join in now!

Kasyn

Tim is on the Internet wrote: »

I feel like if you're sad about "all the dumb things about Mario Kart," Mario Kart is not the game for you.

I think an optional, completely non-standard setting that breaks many of the balance conventions in the game makes it much worse, therefore I shouldn't play? That's pretty goosey of you.

Kupi

Miscellaneous assorted thoughts:

1) I like Frantic mode because Conn only wins 15 out of his 16 races.
2) I knocking around various kart part combinations for optimal speed, handling, and acceleration, because weight and traction are sort of unimportant. Half of my races were parades of getting knocked away from item boxes or off the course and sliding into the rough.
3) The lobby really needs a "Siiiiiiigh." emote.
4) I observe that more often than not, the fact that your position disappears during the last few seconds of the race serves as a way to keep you from noticing that you slipped a place at the last second.

Big Dookie

Were we split into different lobbies or something? I didn't see a bunch of you guys.

Regardless, some fun races tonight! I personally like frantic mode, but I agree it would be nice to go back to normal items for a couple of weeks too, so that's what I'll be voting for this week.

I'd love to see how a no-items tournament would shake down.

McFlynn

I was so late to join. Fun though.

The Reverend Dr Galactus

Sometimes I hate Mario Kart, but sometimes I almost pull off a three-mushroom shortcut at the very end of Twisted Mansion and steer straight into a wall, hating no one quite so intensely as myself.

Halos Nach Tariff

I actually managed to sneak into this tourney.
Unfortunately as I suspected it is rather late in local time and my concentration was slipping as a result.
I suppose at the very least my mistakes were generally covered by being bombarded with items every few seconds.
I think a couple of CPUs might even have claimed first place in a few of those races, which is pretty embarrasing let me tell you.

skeldare

McFlynn wrote: »

I was so late to join. Fun though.

Sorry to just leave like that, seemed to have some major lag going on.

Mblackwell

Normal items sucks because after the first lap or so the person in first place will either win by a large margin or get horribly screwed and finish in the back. People saying that frantic caused them to be stuck in places to the back, it's really the opposite effect generally. With frantic items you tend to just have to run a really good race and the items will generally be actually useful in getting you ahead.

Except one race in new Rainbow Road where all I got was boost items. Fuck that race.

Also the race in Royal Raceway where I was in second pulling up on/ahead of whoever was in first at the finish line and then got bombarded with items and finished in the back half.

Toxic Toys

I just want to say rainbow road can go to hell and die. I go bounced between a Chome and the road like three times.

skeldare

Toxic Toys wrote: »

I just want to say rainbow road can go to hell and die. I go bounced between a Chome and the road like three times.

It only sucks for me when I get nothing but mushrooms. It's at least not as bad as Grumble Volcano.

Tim is on the Internet

Kasyn wrote: »

Tim is on the Internet wrote: »

I feel like if you're sad about "all the dumb things about Mario Kart," Mario Kart is not the game for you.

I think an optional, completely non-standard setting that breaks many of the balance conventions in the game makes it much worse, therefore I shouldn't play? That's pretty goosey of you.

I apologize.

I am curious, though: were you in today's tournament?

physi_marc

OMG, that Electrodome race! That was great! (Even though I finished last of us four.)

Kasyn

Tim is on the Internet wrote: »

Kasyn wrote: »

Tim is on the Internet wrote: »

I feel like if you're sad about "all the dumb things about Mario Kart," Mario Kart is not the game for you.

I think an optional, completely non-standard setting that breaks many of the balance conventions in the game makes it much worse, therefore I shouldn't play? That's pretty goosey of you.

I apologize.

I am curious, though: were you in today's tournament?

Yup.

Tim is on the Internet

Even though you didn't enjoy yourself?

I get the feeling people are going to vote Normal for next week.

physi_marc

The problem with normal items is that the 2nd does not get enough good items to attack the 1st, which leads to Conn winning every single race, unchallenged.

Camui

Normal: screws 1st and 2nd
Frantic: Screws everyone

Which is better?

skeldare

physi_marc wrote: »

The problem with normal items is that the 2nd does not get enough good items to attack the 1st, which leads to Conn winning every single race, unchallenged.

So, basically no different.

Didgeridoo

Ha, nice racing everyone! I'm just happy I did slightly better than last week. Even frantic mode items felt like a cakewalk compared to that all-shells tourney. I even managed to eke out a first place one time, which is nice.

Switched from Rosalina to Pink-Gold Peach about halfway through to avoid too many character repeats. Didn't know Rosalina was so popular!

Conn

Ahaha well done @physi_marc (regarding Rainbow Road).

Kasyn

Tim is on the Internet wrote: »

Even though you didn't enjoy yourself?

I get the feeling people are going to vote Normal for next week.

I enjoyed myself! I said as much earlier. Playing in large groups of friendlies is usually the best experience when it comes to Nintendo games.

Just my enjoyment was greatly diminished because most of the results were incredibly volatile and arbitrary.

physi_marc

Conn wrote: »

Ahaha well done @physi_marc (regarding Rainbow Road).

I think I'll save that replay in my favorites.

Conn

The issue with Frantic Mode wasn't the parity, or the results of the races. It was the back-to-back bullet bills, dozens of red shells, overabundance of stars, the complete lack of a defensive game, the inability to get significant forward movement from the middle of the pack without a star or bullet bill, and who knows how many other varieties of fuckery.

I'm glad for most measures that result in narrower victories, closer competition, and being inclusive across different ranges of skill, but frantic mode was unplayable at several times during the tournament, for prolonged periods of those races.

The normal balance of items (what's it called, "All Items?") is perfectly adequate, and allows plenty of the forward driving that I value in the racing genre, while blue shells, lightning bolts, bullet bills, starmen, and other powerful items are all still available to those who fall behind and want to catch up to the pack and feel included.

McFlynn

skeldare wrote: »

McFlynn wrote: »

I was so late to join. Fun though.

Sorry to just leave like that, seemed to have some major lag going on.

It's cool, I understand.

---

Communism: Last place gets a blue shell.

Capitalism: First place gets the super horn.

Dictatorship: Conn plays with us.:)

physi_marc

While I love the chaos of frantic mode, I'm up to going back to normal for the sake of including more people in the tournament. I just want to race with a lot of Penny Arcadians, so whatever setting gets us a larger participation is the one I want.

Conn

I wonder how bananas only would play out?

I mean, without the need for defense, racers could freely lay them in clever trap locations.

AbsoluteZero

Penny-Arcade G&T Sunday Drivers Week 9 Results










You can find some more granular information at this link.

No time to upload highlights this week -- But feel free to share your own!


Thanks to all who participated in today's races. See you again next SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY.

skeldare

Ouch. Bottom of the pack this week.

TimFiji

Different statistical population, @skeldare. Don't fret!

Big Dookie

Ah man, so close to cracking the top 5. I blame holding a crying baby in my lap for half the tournament.

I'll have to look and see if there were any good highlights. If there's anyone I raced against who wants the complete race uploaded from your perspective, let me know and I'll fire up the capture card.

Sonork

Well I have to re-buy the game due to that new disc error. 100% blame is on frantic mode! n_n

Ah well at least I'll get a refund. Amazon is good like that.

Conn

skeldare wrote: »

Ouch. Bottom of the pack this week.

Only the top 20 are listed in the standings screen. There were 24 participants last I checked.

Sonork wrote: »

Well I have to re-buy the game due to that new disc error. 100% blame is on frantic mode! n_n

Ah well at least I'll get a refund. Amazon is good like that.

Too bad about this. You looked like you were doing real well from my perspective.

Kupi

I blame any of my own failures on the fact that my roommate's cat was eating my hair.

skeldare

Conn wrote: »

skeldare wrote: »

Ouch. Bottom of the pack this week.

Only the top 20 are listed in the standings screen. There were 24 participants last I checked.

Ok, cclose to the bottom.

Kupi wrote: »

I blame any of my own failures on the fact that my roommate's cat was eating my hair.

Is your hair the source of your strength?

McFlynn

Hopefully next time I'll get more than 4 races in.

Sonork

Conn wrote: »

Sonork wrote: »

Well I have to re-buy the game due to that new disc error. 100% blame is on frantic mode! n_n

Ah well at least I'll get a refund. Amazon is good like that.

Too bad about this. You looked like you were doing real well from my perspective.

Thanks I wish I could have finished the races, but I got the disc error on race 10 or 11. After racing with you a couple times and watching you dominate I decided to call any race a victory in which you didn't place 1st. XD

Also now I know if you join early and do races for fun, you will actually miss the first race of the tourney set due to being in a practise game in the tourney lobby.
Me and the Hulkster missed out >_<

Rehab

Sonork wrote: »

Frantic mode broke my MK8 cd, i get error code 150-1031 when trying to load tracks now. Which means the disc cannot be read (no visible scratches) but still won't load any tracks. Thanks a lot frantic mode. XD But seriously WTF, looking online anyone who has gotten this error has had to return their game. And i ordered this from amazon. doh.

Yikes! Hopefully this isn't a repeat of the Mario Kart Wii issues.

At least you get to keep all your saved data too.

skeldare

Rehab wrote: »

Sonork wrote: »

Frantic mode broke my MK8 cd, i get error code 150-1031 when trying to load tracks now. Which means the disc cannot be read (no visible scratches) but still won't load any tracks. Thanks a lot frantic mode. XD But seriously WTF, looking online anyone who has gotten this error has had to return their game. And i ordered this from amazon. doh.

Yikes! Hopefully this isn't a repeat of the Mario Kart Wii issues.

At least you get to keep all your saved data too.

Yeah, that really sucks but at least it wasn't your Wii U that died.

Rehab

Two new faces and they both rank in the top three? Interesting.

I'm getting a vague sense from the comments that some people didn't care for Frantic Mode. :P