User blog:Soldierscuzzy/Mario Kart 7 Online News Just Announced

IGN reports that Nintendo announced today at their Nintendo Direct press event that the Mario Kart 7 online functionality will feature some of the most ambitious plans the company has had for online play. Races will feature anywhere from 2 players to 8 players, and will run at 60 frames per second, and you will be able to race against friends, random opponents, or "rivals" (players you have already raced against). While racing, you will also be able to trash talk with several pre-programmed phrases.

Another new feature being introduced is Communities. Communities are specialized racing groups that players can join, with Communities based on what power-ups there will be, what types of karts, and even what tracks that the community plays on. For example, there could be a 150cc bikes-only Community that restricts all but speed-boost power ups.

When Communities are created, they get assigned a 14-digit code. That code will allow other people to join in. The Mario Kart Channel will feature the 100 most active Communities, so players can find ones that interest them.

Street Pass is also going to be taking part in Mario Kart 7's plans. When you get a Street Pass from somebody with the game, you can include options to share which Communities you are in, thus allowing easy sharing with your friends. Street Pass goes further, allowing you to swap ghosts and Miis as well, so when you see an unfamiliar Mii that you are racing against, it could be the person who was next to you on the bus that morning. When you beat these Miis in races, you get the items of their kart, like the body or wheels, added to your collection.

Time Trial mode is also getting a boost. Spot Pass functionality will allow you to download up to 20 new ghosts every day. These ghosts will be paired with your skill level, and instead of only 1 on 1 races, you will be able to face off against up to 7 ghosts at once.

More Mario Kart news is expected in the next few weeks. The full IGN article can be found here. Does this news excite you? Is it good to see Nintendo finally trying to integrate online play into their games? Let us know in the comments.