Well, the online gaming is free so you can't expect to many frills.

It might not really be possible to do much like that on a portable with no built in memory as well. Guess it could just be saved on the game memory.

There is a friends list, but it's limited.

BTW, those were some great games. I got an error at the end of the last match, so I couldn't join in for next one. See you next time.

It wasn't an error, I had to quit since I've got a test to study for. It'd be nice if I could at least send a gotta go message or something. (Don't ask me why I'm posting on a message board if I've got a test to study for, I know )

The friends list is unique for each wifi enabled game, too. We're going to have to exchange different friend codes when Animal Crossing and any other games come out.

Nice logo, btw

Thanks, I like your logo as well. I'm betting that it's a pic of you.

yup, i used the converter that somebody posted on the first page of this thread.

I've been able to play regionally, but not with people on my friends list. I'm not sure what the problem is yet

My friend code:

292117
258245

I added everyone who already posted. I probably won't be on much until this weekend, though.

Friend code is

472505
899175

if you happen to find me, please dont quit mid race. That's been happening to me since launch day its beginning to piss me off! I look forward to racing some of you!

Tell me about it. I'm going to spend some time today putting in all the friend codes here and looking only for DVD Talkers to race. I have yet to complete even 10% of the races I have been a part of. 9 times out of 10 some one will get ahead and one of the people will drop ending the race. I don't know if it gives the dropping person a loss, but it doesn't count the drops separately so you have no way of knowing ahead of time. It certainly doesn't give you the win when you are ahead which really sucks. The fact you have to play 4 races just increases the drops because once people come in 3rd or 4th in the first race they don't want to do the other races.

To say the least the Mario Kart online experience is probably the worst of any I have tried. By not punishing the droppers Nintendo has made racing random people completely pointless.

hmmm all this bad talk about the online part of the game has dropped my DS buy level to must buy to wait to see what the next color bundle will be first.

What about the lan play? If I have my info right you can play other people with just one game, is this correct? What is the max distance you can be in order for this work?

Correct, up to 4 people can play with only 1 MK cart. You use the DS Download play option when you first start the DS. I believe that the max distance is around 25' but I would have to check to be sure.

I am bummed that there is no battle mode via WiFi. Battle mode was the best part of multiplayer MK.

But remember. If I am not mistaken all of the software is on the game itself. So with future games they may be able to add different features to the Wifi.

Nevertheless with your experiences, I'm not sure if I will let anyone into my Animal Crossing town.

Guess I won't even bother with this game then, as the online gaming was my main interest.

I've always hated online gaming for things like the fucking quitters, but hoped it would be better this time with the DS. But I guess it was foolish to expect it given probably at least 50% of DS owners are probably under 15.

Racing with friends is fun, but it's such a pain to find them and connect since you don't know who's online. No voice chat sucks either.

The single player is still fun, lots of replay value.

I honestly don't have much interest in the single player mode anymore, after playing the previous 4 incarnations to death.

I recommend that you not purchase the game then.

I already crossed it off my list after reading darksides complaints.

Too many fresh games like Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright that I could pick up instead of playing a game I've essentially played 4 times already.

One thing to note: I think the further you get in the single player mode and the more stuff you unlock the better the online competition will be. I'm spending some time now trying to clear a lot of the single player mode stuff so hopefully I can connect to some of the better players and not the little kids that drop as soon as they fall behind.

This is really a good game and people dropping was something I dealt with playing basketball online as well. At least with the console online they tracked the players drops and you could avoid the people with a ton of drops on their record.

I hate to bash the game for some of the online players being aholes, because that is a fact of life with all online gaming. This is a great little racing game overall.

I guess I've just been pretty lucky so far. I'd say that I've got to finish (win or lose)about 80% of my online games. BTW, playing with DVDtalkers is definately the way to go, it's true for xbox live, and and the same for Nintendo online.

Is there a website, that shows how to unlock new characters, yet?

They are all unlockable by beating the Grand Prix. I unlocked two by beating everything on the 50cc Cup and now I'm working on the 100cc.

I have 2 rain checks for Fry's $24.99 price. The IGN review said that single cart multiplayer is limited in tracks and characters, is that true? Should I go ahead and get both games to get the full multiplayer experience?

Single Cart multi-player is limited to 8 tracks, and everyone plays as shy guy.

I'm just getting my wireless network set up, but here's my friend code:

476800
910983

Well after hours of trial and error and nearly giving up several times, I finally got WFC to work through my PCI WiFi card. If anyone here bought a RAlink WiFi card just so they could play some of the E3 demos, you CAN use it for DS WiFi, I'm living proof.

Anyhow, my friend code:

098843
839444

Looking forward to racing you all online. I'm already sick of racing random people because they all quit mid-race...very annoying. I'd expect DVDTalkers are a little more civilized.

I actually finished a race today. I lost, but three of us stayed in. One person dropped out on the second track but it let us finish.

My one big problem with this version compared to the N64 version I was really good at is the power slides. I could pull them off effortlessly all over the place with the analog, but I'm really struggling with the digital pad. Some of the guys out there slide the entire race and are impossible to beat. I'm going to keep working on it. I'm working on the 100cc tracks right now on single player mode and have gotten much better.

Solid game overall and even if you bypass the online its still a great single player game. I'm hoping to link up with some people directly to play the battle modes.