So the latest Nintendo Power has an interesting interview with Hideki Konno, one of the developers of the Mario Kart series of games. Among other things, he discussed the controversial "snaking" (drifting down straights) technique that dominates Mario Kart DS online, but was entirely removed for Mario Kart Wii.
Are your familiar with the Mario Kart DS technique that fans refer to as "snaking"? Some players consider it a highly skilled way to race, while others view it as cheating - what is your opinion?
We did not expect such a huge difference in skill in regards to the straightaway drifts in Mario Kart DS. Of course, considering it a technique is bad for the overall game balance because it would cause a huge rift between those who can do it and those who can't. For Mario Kart Wii, we incorporated the Wii Wheel along with the mini-turbo technique. Making games with great gameplay is a high priority for us, and we want to keep challenging many different ideas. We want to provide games with great gameplay that all users can enjoy. The feedback we receive will certainly be reflected in the next title.
