Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS
Developer: Nintendo EAD Publisher: Nintendo Platform: Nintendo DS Released in JP: December 8, 2005 Released in US: November 14, 2005 Released in EU: November 25, 2005 Released in AU: November 17, 2005 Released in KR: April 5, 2007 This game has unused areas. This game has unused code. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused models. This game has unused music. This game has unused sounds. This game has regional differences. This game has a prototype article This game has a prerelease article This game has a notes page This game has a bugs page

This game/console's online features are no longer supported. While this game/console's online features were once accessible, they are (as of May 20, 2014) no longer officially supported and online-exclusive features may be documented as now-unseen content.

Mario Kart DS is one of the most popular games on the DS as well as one of the best selling Mario Kart games of all time and the first game to utilize the now-defunct Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. It's the Mario Kart game that introduced the Retro Grand Prix, which has since become a series staple. Also, R.O.B.

There is some additional information relating to this game's development on the Mario Kart Wii page.

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

To do: A number of unused and early objects. More unused graphics. Add documentation for the unused Ice collision type. KartModelMain.carc, and how it's the only file in the final game with a mention of E. Gadd

Sub-Pages

Prototype Info

Prerelease Info

Notes

Bugs

Resources

Unused Courses Long-forgotten circuits never to be driven on again.

Early Models Early versions of various models.

Unused Graphics An artist's work is never done.

Oddities Not all maps can be geographically accurate.

Version Differences

Post-Final Demo Version Mario vs. 7 Shy Guys!

Regional Differences R.O.B. in all his red-and-white glory.

Unused Menu Music

There is an unused sequence for a menu in the sound data of the game, called SSEQ_0005. It is one track away from the records screen, so it might have been used there. It has a resemblance to the Wi-Fi menu theme, and the settings theme too.

It has similar tracks/channels to the Options theme, so there is a possible case that this might also be an earlier version of the said theme.

To hear this sequence on the title screen, use Action Replay code 121DB4A4 000001B0 (US).

Unused Paths and Early Camera Leftovers

To do: There may be more. Also, get videos of this and put them in a subpage.

Some of the courses have unused routes (PATH and POIT), most of which are leftovers from earlier replay cameras for the tracks they're in.

Yoshi Falls

CAME 8 and 12 have leftover route speed settings (82 and 30), but have no leftover paths. Also the case in Kiosk Demo's track, suggesting they used paths in an earlier version of the track.

Cheep-Cheep Beach

CAME 16 has a leftover route speed setting (20) despite not using a path.

Mission 2-5 (mr11_tool.nkm) also has a unused path with two points, placed on where the second boost pad is. Purpose unknown.

Luigi's Mansion

Path 2 with two points is unused. It's located on the first S curve before the mansion. Probably meant for CAME 7 as that and the AREA 4 (where it's assigned to) is located on where it is. The said camera also has a leftover route speed setting (27) in the Kiosk Demo, making this a possible case. It's reset to 0 in the final, through.

Desert Hills

CAME 9 and 17 have leftover route speed settings (35 and 45) despite not using paths (maybe removed).

Delfino Square

Path 1 is unused. It begins from the starting line and goes towards the Pianta statue, probably used by CAME 7, as it's the only camera between the ones using Path 0 and 2, and it even has a leftover route speed setting (55) in the Kiosk Demo version, which is reset to 0 in final. CAME 9 and 19 also have leftover route speed settings (30 and 25), suggests they once used a path also (they don't have a leftover path however, unlike CAME 7)

Waluigi Pinball

Path 7 with five points is unused. It's placed right before the starting line and moves towards it. It might have been meant for CAME 1 as that and AREA 4 (which uses it) are placed on where it is, and has a leftover route speed setting (20). CAME 16 and 17 also have leftover route speed settings (65, 35) despite not using paths (might be removed).

Shroom Ridge

CAME 9, 11 and 12 have leftover route speed settings (50, 20, 30) despite not using paths (maybe removed).

DK Pass

Among the 13 paths set on this course's NKM, PATH 6 is unused. It begins from the entrance to the snow area and goes to a bit further of the track, likely meant to be a camera path.

CAME 2, 5 and 9 have route speed set despite not using a PATH; judging by the order of PATH ID settings in the CAME, this unused path might be meant for CAME 9, since it's between the ones using PATH 5 and 7.

Tick-Tock Clock

CAME 2, 6 and 10 have leftover route speed settings (50, 35, 50) despite not using paths (maybe removed).

Mario Circuit

CAME 9, 11 and 14 have leftover route speed settings (65, 40, 65) despite not using paths.

Airship Fortress

CAME 7, 8, 9 and 12 have leftover route speed settings (50, 45, 70, 60), but no leftover paths exist for them. Also the case in Kiosk Demo's track, they probably used paths in an earlier version.

Wario Stadium

CAME 7 has a leftover route speed setting (55) from wario_course (earlier version of the track) where this camera used a path. This was changed to a fixed view camera in both Kiosk Demo and the final's used track.

SNES Mario Circuit 1

CAME 8 has a leftover route speed setting (65) despite not using a path (probably removed).

N64 Moo Moo Farm

CAME 11 and 15 have leftover route speed settings (105, 115) despite not using paths.

GBA Peach Circuit

Path 3 with one point is unused. It's placed after the second left turn, and close to where Path 2 (used by CAME 7 which is a replay camera) is. It might be an earlier path for CAME 7, or something for testing. And CAME 6 in Kiosk Demo's track has a leftover route speed setting (85), probably meant for that also.

CAME 12 also has a leftover route speed setting (110) despite not using a path.

GCN Luigi Circuit

Path 7 with ten points is leftover from the removed Luigi blimp that appears in the Kiosk Demo version of the track.

CAME 11 has a leftover route speed setting (40) despite not using a path.

N64 Frappe Snowland

Path 1, with nine points, is unused. It's located on the curve after the third turn and goes further. It might've been used by CAME 4, which is located nearby (as is AREA 5, where it's assigned to), and has a leftover route speed setting (150) in the Kiosk Demo version.

GBA Bowser Castle 2

CAME 16 has a leftover route speed setting (85) despite not using a path.

N64 Choco Mountain

Path 4 with two points is unused. It's placed before the tunnel and goes towards it. It might've been used by CAME 10 as that (and AREA 7 which it is assigned to) is placed on where it is, and has a leftover speed setting (20) in the Kiosk Demo, where it is also unused.

GBA Luigi Circuit

CAME 2 and 3 (second camera in the GP intro) have leftover route speed settings (20), suggesting they once used paths.

N64 Banshee Boardwalk

CAME 16 and 19 have leftover route speed settings (20, 30) despite not using paths.

old_mario_gc / GCN Mario Circuit

Paths 0, 1 and 2 have two points each, placed on the Goombas' area and meant for their movement. However, none are placed, rendering them unused.

MR_stage4 / Early GCN Mushroom Bridge

CAME 8, 11 and 17 have leftover route speed settings (55, 45 and 50), suggests they once used paths, but no leftover paths exist for them. This is also the case in the Kiosk Demo version, but all are set to 0 in the final, track.

Award

Path 6 with two points is unused. It seems an earlier version of Path 4 (the camera before the least one in the award ceremony) due to similar placement, but its first point is placed under the track.

Unused Camera Sequences

To do: There could be more.

Luigi's Mansion

There is an alternative version of the first camera sequence from Luigi's Mansion: a view from the moon and the front side of the mansion, replaced by a view through the door.

DK Pass

The second sequence has an alternative version which is similar to the original sequence, but has a different angle. It was replaced by a more interesting view.

Removed Missions

The file mission.mr is a table containing configurations for missions. However, there are 28 entries never used by the game. Note that MR stands for Mission Run.

Mission Name	Mission Task	Driver	Course	Time Limit	Notes
mr01	Drive Through Gates	Yoshi	GCN Yoshi Circuit	00:25:00	This is a scrapped mission from the Kiosk Demo.
mr05	Collect 50 Coins	Luigi	SNES Mario Circuit 1	01:00:00	Another scrapped mission from the Kiosk Demo. Interestingly, Luigi uses the Poltergust 4000; in the final version, drivers only use their Standard Kart in missions.
mr16	Collect 30 Coins	Peach	Peach Gardens	00:55:00	Seems to be a scrapped replacement for Mission 6-3 (mr15) (which has the same mission task, but takes place in SNES Choco Island 2).
mr18	Drive 1 Lap	Mario	Rainbow Road	01:00:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 7-1 (mr60).
mr19	Destroy 5 (moving) Item Boxes	Luigi	Figure 8 Circuit	01:00:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 2-4 (mr20) (which has the same mission task, but takes place in Luigi's Mansion).
mr22	Collect 20 Coins	Bowser	SNES Koopa Beach 2	01:00:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 5-3 (mr48).
mr23	Defeat 10 Goombas	Toad	Mario Circuit	01:00:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 7-4 (mr72).
mr24	Boss Battle	Donkey Kong	MR_stage1 (Big Bully Arena)	05:00:00	Uses an unused setting where the camera is slightly zoomed out.
mr30	Drive 2 Laps	Wario	N64 Banshee Boardwalk	01:10:00	Scrapped as the course is too long to finish two laps in the given time limit; the mission would time out at the Swoopers' area in the second lap.
mr31	Do 8 Power Slides	Peach	GBA Peach Circuit	00:40:00
mr32	Collect 15 Coins	Donkey Kong	Delfino Square	00:15:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 3-2 (mr47).
mr36	Defeat 5 crabs	Wario	Cheep Cheep Beach	00:55:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 1-4 (mr82).
mr42	Drive Through 10 Gates	Luigi	GBA Luigi Circuit	01:00:00
mr45	Drive 1 Lap	Donkey Kong	Figure 8 Circuit	01:30:00
mr46	Drive 3 Laps	Mario	SNES Mario Circuit 1	01:00:00	Uses an unused setting where the track is in Mirror Mode.
mr52	Collect 1 Coin	Luigi	MR_stage4	05:00:00	Collect 1 Coin with Luigi. This might have been a test for the coin collecting missions. Coins also have an unused feature where they can follow specified paths, possibly intended for this mission.
mr56	Destroy 8 (moving) Item Boxes	Bowser	N64 Choco Mountain	01:00:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 4-6 (mr83).
mr57	Drive Through 10 Gates	Donkey Kong	Yoshi Falls	00:50:00	Seems to be a scrapped replacement for Mission 1-3 (mr12).
mr58	Destroy 15 Item Boxes	Toad	Bowser's Castle	01:00:00
mr59	Collect 12 Coins	Yoshi	GCN Mushroom Bridge	01:00:00
mr63	Destroy 10 Item Boxes	Wario	Wario Stadium	01:10:00	Seems to be an early version of Mission 7-5 (mr84).
mr65	Do 10 Power Slides	Mario	Mario Circuit	01:05:00
mr67	Destroy 4 rolling Snowballs	Peach	DK Pass	01:20:00
mr68	Reach the finish before Luigi	Yoshi	Luigi's Mansion
mr71	Destroy 20 Crates	Yoshi	Airship Fortress	01:10:00
mr73	Destroy 10 moving Item Boxes	Donkey Kong	Tick Tock Clock	01:00:00
mr74	Defeat 15 snowmen	Peach	N64 Frappe Snowland	01:00:00	The Snowman object has an unused setting where it won't respawn after breaking it. It seems to have been intended for this mission.
mr87	Destroy 10 Item Boxes	Luigi	Delfino Square	02:00:00	Seems to be a scrapped replacement for Mission 2-1 (mr26).

Unused Code

Unused Objects

While all tree objects that have collision also have a Nocol variant (without collision), the DeTree1Nocol (MOBJ ID 327, Desert Hills tree without collision) is unused. All trees placed in the said course are of the collision variant (DeTree1, MOBJ ID 328).

Unused Object Settings

The Mission Coin object is able to follow a specified path, with its Setting 1 specifying the speed. However, no mission uses this feature.

Unused Blur Effect

An unused display capture effect to blur the screen when boosting was found in the code. The final game tries to enable this effect whenever you get a speed boost, but since the blur doesn't get initialized, it is ignored.

It uses the VRAM used by the ARM7 co-processor in multiplayer modes, so it's likely that it would have only worked in singe-player modes. This and the fact that it can be both disorienting and distracting likely contributed to it getting scrapped.

It can be enabled through an AR code made by Gericom for the EU version of the game.

Enable Blur (Single Player Only) (EU):

121548DC 00000000
121548DE 00000008
2203AE78 00000002
0205612C 00000000
02056130 00000000
02056134 00000000

(discovery: Gericom)

Unused Data

Unused Map Object Group Configuration File

Various attributes of map objs are controlled by the file grpconf.tbl in /MainRace.carc/MapObj/ the attributes defined by this file are the following; has3dmodel, nearclip, farclip, collision type, width, height, and depth. However, there's an unused earlier version of the file in the unused /Main/MapObj.carc archive that has fewer entries and different settings compared to the used file.

Replacing the used file with the unused file will result in multiple tracks crashing on real hardware, due to it missing entries for some of the objects.

Unused HUD Palette

In the palette files for the global maps of unused courses (which are copies of an early GCN Yoshi Circuit minimap), there are unused palette rows used in the E3 2004 prototype.

• Palette row 0: Empty.
• Palette row 1: Used by the actual map.
• Palette row 2: E3 2004 leftover. Contains the palette for the "TIME" and "LAP" labels.
• Palette row 3: E3 2004 leftover. Has four identical sets of blue shades.
• Palette row 4: E3 2004 leftover. Has four more identical sets of blue shades, and a set of yellow colors used on the rank list.
• Palette row 5: E3 2004 leftover, dating back to when the global map BG was baked into the same file as the global map itself. This is no longer the case in the final game, so this palette goes unused.

There being eight sets of the same shades of blue in palette rows 3 and 4 may suggest that each player was going to have their own color on the rank list.

Build Date

There is a file named BUILDDATE in the //data/boot/ folder, which contains the date and time the game was compiled:

Version	Build Date
Europe (Multiplayer Kiosk Demo)	Build: 2005 4/28(Thu) 9:57:13
USA (Kiosk Demo)	Build: 2005 5/30(Mon) 18:20:47
Europe	Build: 2005 10/8(Sat) 23:05:54
US	Build: 2005 10/8(Sat) 23:09:34
Japan	Build: 2005 10/17(Mon) 20:12:19
Japan (Kiosk Demo)	Build: 2005 11/15(Tue) 11:11:10
Korea	Build: 2007 2/21(Wed) 19:59:37

Development Text

NitroKart Ghost Data Test 01

Located in the ARM9 binary is text regarding a Ghost Data test, which suggests the internal project name of the game was "NitroKart".

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Hidden Contest Code

If you press Up, Down, L, R, Y, A in the Time Trials records, a 16 character code with information on your ghost will appear. This was used for an official contest held by Nintendo's Japanese website, like in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

A fan-made decoder is available online.