Text chat confirmed for Mario Kart Wii

by Chris Greenhough { Feb 26th 2008 at 4:30PM }

With 12-player races, weekly challenges, uploadable/downloadable ghosts, tournaments, and even a dedicated Mario Kart channel, online play in Mario Kart Wii sounds impressively complete. Yet here's something you won't find when you first jump online: voice chat support. Rather, we'll all be communicating via text chat, with Nintendo's European arm confirming on its site: "You can create rooms for friends to join and even text chat while you're waiting for other racers."

This is hardly surprising. Time and again, Nintendo has refused to include voice chat in its games, often citing the personal security and wellbeing of players. But surely the ability to chat to registered friends isn't asking too much? Any of you happen to think Nintendo is being overly cautious?

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

[Via IGN]

Tags: communication, mario-kart, mario-kart-wii, online, racing, text-chat, voice-chat

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Feb 26th 2008 4:34PM

I don't want to be "that fanboy" but don't you think we should be grateful for chat at all? Its yards ahead of what Brawl is offering. Hell, i think its the first Wii online title to offer chat at all...

Jesse @ Feb 26th 2008 4:39PM

be thankful for something that's inferior to every other console? nope.

in a world where cell phones are biggest thing since malaria i think it's fair to say wii should have voice chat.

though oddly enough i personally really dont care about voice chat at all. i plan on not playing online that much, just with friends in person.

Unbreakable_idea @ Feb 26th 2008 4:42PM

I don't know, it's tough to get excited about a new feature like text chat that allows you to do what the Sega Dreamcast allowed you to do over 9 years ago on a dial up network. Up next for Wii games: 8 track cassette support! Just kidding, thank god I'm not into online gaming, or else I'd have probably bought a different system instead of the Wii and wouldn't have had all the fun I've had with my Wii.

Mr Khan @ Feb 26th 2008 6:13PM

That's why i added that prefix. I'm not implying we should love something that's leagues behind the competition, but I feel that the response to the first chat-capable Wii online game being "Fuck that, give us some voice chat already" is a bit cruel. There is no positive response to this step forward, just a collective "Where the hell is voice chat already?"

Not saying we should be content, but to damn them for progress...

Abscissa @ Feb 26th 2008 6:23PM

"like text chat that allows you to do what the Sega Dreamcast allowed you to do over 9 years ago"

I remember text chatting in old DOS games. Anyone remember Sierra's INN? That was awesome :)

Haohmaru @ Feb 26th 2008 6:51PM

I don't think text chat is quite "sooooo last century" as everyone is making it out to be. Considering that, you know, that's sort of what we're doing right now, even. Y'know?

Greg2k @ Feb 26th 2008 7:52PM

I have no (online) friends, so I couldn't give a shit

Tim @ Feb 26th 2008 4:42PM

Voice chat is a must! Especially if in the near future we will have to pay for online play. This is a huge step for NIN. but they need to stop stepping and start jumping.

mrtee073 @ Feb 26th 2008 4:47PM

Voice chat could be fun...

But it's a good thing that Nintendo wants to protect kids and others from abuse from anonymous strangers.

People do and say things online that they'd never say or do face to face. Anonymity does promote a certain amount of license. And it can get pretty ugly out there.

I guess I'm a "fanboy" too, but Nintendo is cautious in a world where reckless abandon is fashionable. I appreciate their careful approach.

Jonathan Tran @ Feb 26th 2008 5:07PM

The argument that there's no voicechat or talk with strangers to protect kids is ridiculous.

The Wii has parental controls. Why not make it so that you can set if text/voice chat can be used in-game? Problem solved.

Dopple Boppler @ Feb 26th 2008 5:53PM

Thank God someone actually has some sense in here.

If it wasn't for the fact that games like Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are more fun playing on the couch with friends than online I probably would be boycotting both of them. And at least Smash Bros. kept the online play aspect really low-key, so we all knew what to expect from it.

Don Day @ Feb 26th 2008 5:12PM

I ,for one, am thankful that Nintendo goes to such lengths to protect me from online predators. I know they usually go for younger guys, but at 27 I think I still need someone to protect me.

I gotta run. I have to help this nice guy in a van find his puppy. He also said he will give me some candy. BRB

Gerwurztraminer @ Feb 26th 2008 6:03PM

Don't do it! The puppy is a lie!

Joe Cart @ Feb 26th 2008 9:14PM

LMAO good point... but on a seriously note, i'm glad they they finally implemented text chat in a game, it definitly is a step forward, but seriously, lets get with the program. I'm 20 years old, I dont need any parental guidance and i'm aloud to look at boobies and i'm aloud to see violence. What the heck is the point in having parental controls if their going to limit me to things? I'm serious, they BETTER have voice chat for Madden 2009. I expect a lot of big things for that and future games.

David @ Feb 26th 2008 5:18PM

I already planned for it to not have voice so when playing with friends we will have our 360's hooked up to another tv and do video chat so we can talk trash and watch each other as we play.

GatorSax2010 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:20PM

I personally wouldn't use voice chat except with friends, but I know this is a feature that a lot of people want, and this seems ridiculous. As people have stated, there are parental controls for a reason. If they're so worried about controversy (and, more likely, potential lawsuits from people I will generously call "crazy"), they could start up an online gaming education campaign for concerned and clueless parents. Not only would they not have to gimp online, but it would be great publicity, as they would look like the "responsible" gaming company.

Nigeria @ Feb 26th 2008 5:23PM

Voice chat is overrated.

Yeah, when you're with your friends it's ok. But once you go outside your circle and clowns start to notice the slight difference in your accent to theirs, it really becomes insufferable. The abusive language isn't worth it.

Plus, on Xbox Live at least, apart from the loud mouth racists, nobody talks. Not when I had Live anyway. It would always be an apathetic "hay guys" or "hi guys". And then everybody did their own thing (Halo 2).

Sonic_13 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:25PM

I think that this is great. I personally don't care about voice chat, especially with strangers. Maybe it would be cool with friends, but in reality I have so many other ways of communicating with them that having in game voice chat just isn't necessary.

Sonic_13 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:30PM

Also, so many more people complain about not having a certain feature, like voice chat, than would actually use it (not to single out anyone personally, but see comments #2 and #3 as an example).

pacatak @ Feb 26th 2008 5:31PM

Its pretty obvious to me that the voice chat thing is part of the image that nintendo wants to portray. Sure they could have a head set really easy, and they could have a parental control. But moms that are worried about online play already would have their fears heightened by the existence of voice chat. If you told them that they could easily adjust the settings to fix it, they would zone you out; settings scare moms.

they way everyone complains about every game that doesn't have voice chat is kinda funny. I don't have an iPod hook up in my car, and I sure want one, but I don't complain about it every time I get in the car.

LeChuck @ Feb 26th 2008 5:58PM

This would've been FAR better suited in Smash Bros. There's a lot more to discuss about how you won or lost in Brawl. And vow revenge for your humilitating losses. Not to mention it'd be easier to collaborate on designing custom stages. So yeah, Nintendo does this slow and bass ackwards but it could be worse.

Deozaan @ Feb 26th 2008 5:59PM

How are you supposed to type when you're holding a steering wheel peripheral?

CJLopez @ Feb 27th 2008 1:38PM

Seems like you didn't read the hole thing. You'll be on a chat room waiting for the rest of the players to connect on a challenge, Sorta like when you entered to a room to play on WarCraft 3 while all the players entered and started the game. You won't be typing anything on the race

Deozaan @ Feb 27th 2008 3:05PM

Yeah but who actually has a keyboard attached to their Wii?

sn1per @ Feb 26th 2008 6:06PM

I couldn't care less about voice chat with strangers, because all I've ever heard coming from my roommate's ps3 when he's online is 13 year olds trash talking. But voice chat with friends would be awesome. My friends all go to different colleges, so we can't meet up to play videogames anymore. Voice chat would be awesome for us.

Sisyphus @ Feb 26th 2008 6:08PM

I agree that voice chat is highly overrated. Most of the time, its filled with nonsense and swearing, which is funny if you're 12, but, alas, I'm not. Besides, if I really wanted to talk to random strangers, I'll go to a bus station.

Feigr @ Feb 26th 2008 6:10PM

Nintendo is always overly cautious and it's really starting to get ridicoulus now.

I personally do not care about voice chat but it's such a rudimentary feature in online games these days that regardless of the image that Nintendo wants to portray it's just silly to not have it.

Jon Richards @ Feb 26th 2008 6:44PM

I don't understand! If parents don't want their kids to voice chat, then don't buy a headset, let the rest of us have voice chat!

AnonyMack @ Feb 26th 2008 8:04PM

to summarize what everyone is thinking...

DUUUUUHHHHH!

TheOverlord#2 @ Feb 26th 2008 8:09PM

Oh my god.
If there is text-chat between FRIENDS-ONLY...why can't we have voice-chat for FRIENDS-ONLY.

God forbid...if our friends hear us speak it'll be child kidnapping armageadon!!

That and theyd make money off me even if one game had voice-chat...and hopefully MoH H2 will get some text-chat DLC to swap out from the pre-made text...

Only thing that isn't right is that it is chat room based, something every computer has, and you need internet for that. Same for Wii...Except you can use voice-chat on Computers!

Perverted @ Feb 26th 2008 8:11PM

I wouldn't use text...but you know it's there...that's something....
I also want voice chat, after playing XBL I know what real online gaming is. Voice chat is awesome for team work and especially for pointing out where that bastard of a sniper is!
It's so easy aswell loads of people have mentioned the parental controls...But then Nintendo obviously forgot about them or all the 18+ gamers wouldn't need F*** codes either....bah...

Leeroy @ Feb 26th 2008 8:16PM

Great, so I won't be able to taunt my mates online after all, thanks Nintendo!

What if someone should write a swear word through text, heaven forbid!

Sonic_13 @ Feb 27th 2008 12:32AM

"What if someone should write a swear word through text, heaven forbid!"

Most likely it will be like Animal Crossing: Wild World and block swears.

Pointz @ Feb 26th 2008 9:26PM

It's weird coz I still do voice chat with my DS.

Pachinko @ Feb 26th 2008 10:28PM

This bothers me. Nintendo only really wants you to play with friends you know in RL and annonymous random users. So why can't they allow voice chat that I'm just gonna use to talk to people I already know anyway. Nintendo needs to cut the excuses, cut the bull****, and start doing something worthwile with the online play. They need to quit worrying about 8 year olds and rascists and kidnappers, when theoretically the stupid Friend Codes should prevent them from contacting you anyway! There's NO reason for them not to have it.

aceofspades033 @ Feb 26th 2008 11:45PM

Well, remember MEtroid Prime Hunters did have voicechat and that was first party.

Sonic_13 @ Feb 27th 2008 12:29AM

As did the following first party games:
Custom Robo Arena
Pokemon Diamond
Pokemon Pearl

Also, there were many third party programs that did as well.

Sonic_13 @ Feb 27th 2008 12:31AM

Forgot about Advance Wars: Days of Ruin! That has voice chat too.

dwain white @ Feb 27th 2008 7:10AM

I am sick of nintendo trying to be my mother! Wake up and get with the rest of the industry. If parents don't want their kids using these functions, then it is up to them to make sure it does not happen. We are too busy taking responsibility for everyone else to see that we don't take responsibility for ourselves any more. I will parent my kids and be damned if some mega corporation is going to do it for me!

Sean DL @ Feb 27th 2008 9:17PM

Then you might want to pay for Nintendo financial feeds when the thousands of lawsuits come towards them from "parents".

"Nintendo let my kid talk to a stranger!!!"

heyzeus @ Feb 27th 2008 11:21AM

Hey guys, everyones gettin so heated about this. If u wanna voice chat, use a mobile phone, can we get back to playing games?

Voice chat on xbox live is great for clans and such, but most of the time its just people listening, waiting for someone to say something vaguely silly, people singing awful songs really badly, and sweaty closet racists who like to let out their inner adolf anytime their online.

Im sure nintendo are looking at the cheapest way to implement online, and that means reducing the strain on the servers by leaving out voice chat. Until we start paying for the extra services like xbox customers, then quit complaining. Or use skype.

CJLopez @ Feb 27th 2008 1:51PM

So, every1 wants voice chat, but the idea of paying for playing online (pay & play) sound awfull???? You know this things cost money on them, don't ya???

Everybody is bitching cuz nintendo is not adding voice chat, when we know that is sorta useless on the side that you only get to hear nothing. I mean, i can resume all the voice chat to this

"BOOM, HEADSHOT"
"I PAWNED YOU ALL"
"YOU ARE ALL MY BEATCHES"
"EVERY1 LACK 1337 SKILLZ"

Or the sort, i just what I get to hear on every game I had played on line, more on the X-Box side. Truly, invest money to make people do this, I rather invest it on getting the game done

TheOverlord#2 @ Feb 27th 2008 4:20PM

Stop saying that voice-chat sucks because of XBox Live. You do forget that if Nintendo makes a game with voice-chat, not every 360 Jerk will start cussing on Wiis...and that a bunch of people with Wiis aren't hardcore gamers. Meaning either they won't deal with voice-chat in the first place or like/dislike it after using it.
You can't hate something before it actually happens cause you don't know the outcome yet.