Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
2020 video game
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Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a 2020 mixed reality kart racing game developed by Velan Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Players control toy radio-controlled cars which race around the player's home, streaming video from the onboard camera in the karts into the video game.[1] It received favorable reviews and sold 1.73 million units worldwide as of December 31, 2022[update].
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer | Velan Studios |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Director | Dan Doptis |
| Producers | Yosuke Tamori Hiroshi Matsunaga Toyokazu Nonaka |
| Programmer | Jan-Erik Steel |
| Composer | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Series | Mario Kart |
| Engine | Viper |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Release |
|
| Genres | Kart racing, augmented reality |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
Players build racing playsets around the house. The radio controlled cars are equipped with video cameras,[2] controlled via the Nintendo Switch.[3] The track has many traditional Mario Kart items.[4] The game supports up to 4 players,[5] either human or AI.[6] The Grand Prix mode has the player race against Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings,[7] and unlocks new customization options and costumes for the playable characters.[8] The level creation in Home Circuit is performed by placing guidance arrows along four gates to make checkpoints which advance the player through the five-lap race.[9]
Development
Velan Studios developed the mixed reality prototype for Home Circuit, and demonstrated it to Nintendo staff, who were "thrilled" with "its potential".[10] The game was primarily developed by Velan Studios, in collaboration with Nintendo EPD's Production Group No. 4, Nintendo European Research & Development and Nintendo PTD.[11]
Home Circuit was revealed in a Nintendo Direct on September 3, 2020, to celebrate the Super Mario franchise's 35th anniversary,[12] where it was scheduled for release on October 16, 2020.[13][14] A toy set featuring Mario and another set featuring Luigi, including their respective drivers, four gates, arrow signs, and a charging cable,[15] were also announced shortly after the Direct,[16] and pre-orders became available shortly after.[17]
Velan Studios stated that the controls were designed to be easy to understand, while remaining faithful to the Mario Kart series.[18][19]
In October 2020 Surrogate.tv created an unofficial remote play version using fifteen Nintendo Switches and three sets of four karts, with the game physically located at a custom track in Finland.[20][21]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 75/100[22] |
| OpenCritic | 44% recommended[23] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| 4Players | 77/100[24] |
| Game Informer | 7.5/10[25] |
| GameSpot | 7/10[26] |
| IGN | 7/10[27] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 16/20[28] |
| Nintendo Life | 8/10[29] |
| Polygon | Recommends[30] |
The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[22] 44% of critics recommended the game, with a top critic average of 74/100, according to OpenCritic.[23] Within its first week of release in Japan, 73,918 copies were sold, making it the best-selling retail game of the week in the country.[31] It was nominated for the category of Best Family at The Game Awards 2020.[32] During the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Mario Kart Live with "Racing Game of the Year", along with nominations for "Immersive Reality Technical Achievement" and "Outstanding Technical Achievement".[33]
As of December 2022, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit has sold 1.73 million units.[34]