Topic: Mario Kart 8 - OT

Like seriously.... Nintendo should make the first batch of DLC FREE cuz everyone would be happy and no one would complain.

If they are REALLY smart.... Nintendo should announce DLC for this game at E3 and say its free and that it can be downloaded for free right after the Digital Event is over.

I would buy it, because I'd feel like I'm missing out on the full experience without it, but I'd rather get another small eShop game with that money instead.
If it was just a one off, cheap package for Mario Kart 8 then it's not such an issue, but when there's multiple packages available then it becomes a bit pricier, especially when it's happening with multiple games I plan on buying.

Actually I do, haha.
I try to avoid spending money on expensive junk food, unless I'm starving hungry and there's no other options.
When I'm go out for several hours I'll usually try to have a sustaining meal before I leave and then another when I get home, and I'll avoid buying any meals while I'm out.

That's how I manage to pay for my games as it is, skipping on the junk and saving up that money that I would have spent.

You dont need to feel obligated to buy DLC though. You already paid for the full experience, and shouldn't feel like you're missing out. In fact, it just occured to me that you probably wouldn't be able to play DLC tracks online, since the new course selection screen randomly selects 4 courses for you to pick from, so it can't pick courses you own but others don't. It's nice to have the option of extending your game's life if you desire, especially since Mario Karts only come once a console. I don't like the idea of nobody getting to enjoy DLC just because it irks you to buy it. Having said that, I'd gladly welcome free DLC.

It probably goes without saying that this is just my personal opinion.
I'm not going to go as far as to say that DLC shouldn't exist and it's wrong of Nintendo to make any or anything like that, and I'm not going to go complaining if they do annouce DLC, I'd just personally prefer it if the game just remains how it is with no option of paid DLC.
If others feel differently, then that's fine too.

That's just how it feels.
If it's something significant like tracks, then not having it when everyone else does just feels like I'm not getting the full experience.
I'm aware that the game will be exactly the same whether optional DLC does or doesn't exist, but its existence just makes it feel like my copy of the game isn't complete, and I won't be able to stop that from bugging me, so the only real option is to purchase the DLC if I want to fully enjoy my time with the game.

If this was the case, then I wouldn't care less if DLC tracks existed or not.
At least 95% of my time with the game will be online multiplayer, so even if I really wanted the tracks offered as DLC, it wouldn't seem worth it if it was only used for local multiplayer.
I'd expect them to incorporate the DLC into the online multiplayer though, I'm just not exactly sure how it's done.

They would probably just group players who have the DLC and those who don't seperately online.

That's exactly what l thought

Then you run the risk of the community spliting and matches being hard to find.

I think DLC courses should only be 1 of the 3 choices you have and if you don't have the DLC then you spectate the race. People would then be able to experience DLC courses without having to buy them (which could lead to them wanting to get to race on the course and buying DLC) and fragmenting the community for each DLC that comes out.

I don't think matches would be too hard to find due to how many people are likely to be playing the game online, but I definitely do agree that splitting the community into groups who have the DLC and groups who don't have the DLC would definitely not be a good thing.

If you ask me this option is even worse.
Sure, it'd probably end up with more people purchasing the DLC, but only due to the online experience being broken without it.
Being forced to watch the race each time a DLC map is chosen is really exclusive to those who have not purchased it, I'm sure they didn't buy the game just so they can watch.
Nice idea, but I don't see it really working.

I don't really like the idea of DLC tracks unless they're made freely available. Paid DLC characters would work better, IMO.

Agreed.
I'm having trouble seeing how paid DLC tracks could work out well for everyone, but I'm all for paid DLC characters.

Matching being had to find ha! I don't see any problems there.

I don't see how you can go wrong with arenas as dlc though. People who like battle mode will buy it nonetheless and people who don't care for it won't be playing it anyway.

The problem with DLC characters is they aren't usable by everyone. Once I know my character (Yoshi most likely, as it has been Yoshi since the 1st) I will not be switching to other characters

If there are 3 DLC packs then tge community is split into many different groups
Game + No DLC
Game + 1st DLC
Game + 2nd DLC
Game + 3rd DLC
Game + 1st + 2nd DLC
Game + 1st + 3rd DLC
Game + 2nd + 3rd DLC
Game + 1st + 2nd + 3rd DLC

Then you can see how fragmented the community can become

I guess that'd just be bad for the people who like the new battle mode, on tracks rather than arenas.
But at the moment, that seems to be pretty much nobody.
I haven't played the game so I can't judge for myself, but I actually quite like it in theory, but the execution seems really off unfortunately, making it a pretty much broken mode.

Still don't see a problem. We are going o be talking about a million people playing this game. Most online. I can see if they release the first pack say in a month after release free or not that same day thousands will be online with the new packs as well as thousands with only the original content. I can see hundreds of thousands on at one time and they will most likely be split into different servers anyways.

Sorry to jump in the middle of a conversation, but just wanted to give my quick thoughts.
I got to play the demo myself this past Saturday, and managed to play all 8 tracks the demo had thanks to there being no one else in the store, and I have to say I am really impressed. I've played and own every Mario Kart since the start but I really think I can say this one has potential to be something special. Controls felt great to me, characters were good for me (Yoshi all time favorite, and I'm liking Ludwig), kart customization seems a little more interesting for whatever reason, and the game looks beautiful. Every level I played had something a little special as well. All the new items were fun, and I think my favorite was the boomerang. I am looking forward to this one.

As more DLC packs come out the community becomes more fragmented and then harder to find matches. It may not seem like a problem especially when the game is released but what about in a few months? After Smash comes out and much of the community moves on? Having non-DLC players spectate then the community doesn't split and DLC gets advertised to non-DLC owners in a unique way. Similar to how MK7 has you spectate while people are finishing a race when you join.

Quick question for the no on extra tracks DLC crowd. How do the numerous other games on the Playstation's and Xbox's deal with additional DLC maps for games like shooters? This type of DLC consisting of additional optional maps/tracks(?) has existed and will continue to exist and Nintendo would be wise to follow.