An interview posted by Nintendo takes a look at the development of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, showing off a prototype RC car while discussing challenges the team faced during its creation.
The team confronting these challenges is Velan Studios, created just four years ago in 2016. The first thing it had to figure out was how to get an RC car to control like a traditional Mario Kart game. Without that core element, the team was afraid the title would fall short of expectations. Much of the early development was spent working on this, and Dan Dopkis, Game Director at Velan Studios, said that finding that sweet spot was a “big breakthrough moment” for the team.
But no matter how smooth the driving is, not many people will pick up a $99 kart if it isn’t pretty to look at. And, to be frank, the early prototype shown off by Velan was a Frankenstein of a machine. Exposed wires hang off the side of the kart, chipsets are exposed near the rear spoiler, and you can even see globs of glue holding the camera in place. However, this is par for the course – prototypes are notoriously spartan, and its not uncommon to see hilarious design choices in order to properly test out your product.
Fast-forward to today, and you wouldn’t even recognize it as the same RC car. Sporting a sleek new design that is “essentially a mini console on wheels,” Jan-Erik Steel said that the team at Nintendo was instrumental in not only helping finalize the car’s look, but also improving its battery life. Racing at 200cc was taxing on the small kart, quickly draining its juice and forcing you to recharge frequently. Nintendo engineers were able to jump in and improve its performance, but the video doesn’t reveal how long we can race before needing to plug in.
The nearly five-minute video goes over plenty of other subjects – mixed reality, staying true to the franchise, and how classic and new items combine to create a true Mario Kart experience.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit will be available on October 16 for $99.99.
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