Wikipedia

Mii

For other uses, seeMII.
"Miis" redirects here. For other uses, seeMiis (disambiguation).

AMii(/miː/ⓘMEE) is a customizableavatarused on severalNintendovideo game consolesandmobile apps.The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players. Miis were first introduced on theWiiconsole in 2006 and later appeared on theDS,3DS,theWii U,theSwitch,and variousapps for smart devicessuch asMiitomo.Miis can be created using different body, facial and clothing features, and can then be used as characters within games on the consoles, either as an avatar of a specific player (such as in theWiiseries) or in some games (such asTomodachi LifeandMiitopia) portrayed as characters with their own personalities. Miis can be shared and transferred between consoles, either manually or automatically with other users over the internet and local wireless communications.

Mii
Nintendocharacter
The male and female default Miis on theWii
First appearance

On the 3DS and Wii U, user accounts are associated with a Mii as their avatar and used as the basis of the systems' social networking features, most prominently the now-defunctMiiverse.On the Nintendo Switch, a Mii can still be used as an account avatar, but avatars depicting various Nintendo characters are also available. Miis are also used as profile pictures forNintendo Accountsand can be used in Nintendo smart device games such asSuper Mario Run,Mario Kart Tourand the now-defunctMiitomo.

Games such asWii Sports,Wii Sports Resort,Wii Sports Club,Nintendo Switch Sports,Mario Kart Wii,Mario Kart 8,Go Vacation,Super Mario Maker 2,Super Smash Bros. UltimateandNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxeuse Miis as playable characters.

History

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Nintendo's idea of a free-form personal avatar software was discussed at theGame Developers Conferencein 2007, a year after theWiiwas released. There,Shigeru Miyamotosaid that the personal avatar concept had originally been intended as a demo for theFamily Computer Disk System,where a user could draw a face onto an avatar. Miyamoto commented that the concept could not be turned into a game and was discarded.

In late 1999, during theNintendo 64era, the64DD(a disk drive peripheral for the N64) was launched in Japan.Mario Artist: Talent Studiofeatured an avatar maker, which includes clothes and a built-in movie editor. The player can optionally utilize the Game Boy Camera and the 64DD's Capture Cassette to put their own face upon the avatar. Nintendo had produced a short film using the game's avatar maker to demonstrate its capabilities.Talent Studiowas one of Nintendo's first public debut of avatar creation.

The next avatar implementation was for theNintendo e-ReaderandGameCube.Along with theGame Boy Camera,it can build an avatar maker. Miyamoto showed another short film they made with this software, which was shown at E3 2002 with the nameStage Debut.This software, renamed toManebito,was discontinued prior to release.[1]

During a Financial Results Briefing Q&A with investors in 2008, Iwata mentioned that the licensed use of the Mii trademark is as valuable to Miyamoto as that of the Mario brand, implying that the company would only narrowly consider any offers from game developers to implement Miis in their games.[2]

Nintendo designer Yamashita Takayuki attributes his work onTalent Studioas having been foundational to his eventual work on the Mii, which was necessitated by the development of the gameWii Sports.[1]: 2 

Mii creation

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TheMii Channel,the first application used to create and view Mii characters on theWii

Mii characters are created and stored in theMii Channelor the Mii Maker, which are pre-installed on theWiiand theNintendo 3DS/Wii U/Nintendo Switchconsoles respectively. While the user can assign a gender, name,birthday,favorite color,and mingle preference to a Mii, the majority of the interface used for Mii creation focuses on the appearance of itsfaceandhead:the user is given a variety of differenthairstyles,eye,nose,andmouthshapes, and other features such asfacial hairorwrinkles,to select from. Most of the facial features can be further adjusted, including their size, position, color, and alignment. Accessories such ashatsandglassesare also available to add, and the Mii'sheightandbuildcan also be adjusted. The Mii Maker installed on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U can usefacial recognitionto generate a Mii, which selects facial features based on a photograph of a person's face taken with the system's andGamePad's cameras respectively. The features can then be fine-tuned by the user.[3]These versions also have more options than their Wii counterpart. Because the selection of facial features is considered by some to be limited,[citation needed]users are encouraged to developcaricaturesof real people instead of accurate depictions.

Special Miis

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Nintendo periodically released special Miis, usually during E3 or to commemorate game and franchise anniversaries. For a limited time between March 13 and 30, 2007, Wii owners in Japan were sent Mii versions of comedianSanma AkashiyaandtennisplayerShuzo Matsuoka.The duo had been featured in Japanese promotions for the Wii, highlighting Miis themselves.[4]Miis ofSatoru IwataandReggie Fils-Aimé(the presidents of Nintendo and Nintendo of America, respectively) were released on the 3DS for the 1st anniversary of the handheld console. During 2013, Nintendo released special Miis ofShigeru MiyamotoandKensuke Tanabe,and duringE3 2013,also released special Miis forTakashi Tezuka,Koichi Hayashida,Eiji Aonuma,andHideki Konno.Their Miis feature gold pants, as opposed to a gray pair, and cannot be edited or copied. If owners transfer them to another Wii or Wii Remote, they will be removed from their original location, instead of traditionally making another copy.

In late 2011, Nintendo releasedSwapnote/Nintendo Letter Boxfor the Nintendo 3DS, which features an original female Mii character called Nikki (ニッキー). Nikki gained a relatively small fan base of her own right, especially in Japan. After Nikki's debut, Nintendo featured the character in a few other games and apps, such asNikki no tabi suru kuizu(ニッキー の lữ するクイズ,Nikki's Travel Quiz),a Nintendo 3DS travel guide app that was exclusively distributed via the now-defunctClub Nintendoin Japan.

Wii

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Mii Channel

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Main article:Wii Menu § Mii Channel

TheMii Channelis the app that allows Mii creation on the Wii menu. It can store up to 100+ Miis, andWii Remotesare also able to store and transfer up to ten Miis to other consoles. It is also possible to see other Miis from TV shows and games.

Uses in games

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Wii

Miis are intended to be an extension of the player, and in keeping with this spirit, the user can use them in several Nintendo titles for the Wii.Wii Sportsis perhaps the best-known example of this,[citation needed]and it adds a further personal touch to Miis by saving game statistics and records for individual Miis. Miis will make cameo appearances as computer-controlled opponents, teammates, or within the audience. Miis have been used to serve as game file icons (profiles) within several games. Often appearing as just a head for identification, this Mii has no impact on the actual gameplay other than to identify a player in another way besides the name, or representation based on looks.

Miis are primarily used in games such asWii Sports,Wii Play,Wii Fit,Wii Party,Wii Fit Plus,Wii MusicandWii Sports Resort.Players can also use their Miis, however, in otherfirst-party games,most noticeably withinWarioWare: Smooth Moves,Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games,Mario Party 8,Mario Kart Wii,Mario Super Sluggers,Animal Crossing: City Folk(using their Mii's head as a mask) and inGo Vacation.The Japan-onlySegagamePachinko: Sammy's Collectionis the firstthird-partygame to incorporate Miis, while the Wii version ofFIFA Soccer 08is the first third-party game released in North America, Europe and Australia to use theMii Channel.Many other games, likeWe Ski,andGuitar Hero World TourandSonic Colorsalso use Miis.

While a Mii's head always remains the same, its body varies between games. For example, inWii Sports,the Mii's body is stylized, with spherical floating hands and bearing no arms, and Mii audiences orCPUsfloating with spherical bottoms with no legs instead, but inWii Fitits body is designed to look more natural, and its weight will be determined by the weightWii Fitfound of the player inWii Fittests. Sometimes Miis will wear outfits in context with the game. InSuper Mario Galaxyandits sequel,the Miis can be optionally used for the planet's icon that represents the save file, the other option being to useMariocharacters for the planets. Only the Mii's head is shown and it's shown in a sphere shaped like the planet. InMario Kart Wii,Mii racers can be dressed injumpsuits,or Mario style overalls for males and a Peach style dress for females, inDr. Mario Online Rx,Miis appear in medical clothing, and inMetroid Prime 3: Corruption,where they appear asbobblehead dolls,they will be dressed up in bounty hunterSamus Aran'sPower Suit.InMLB Power Pros,Miis are designed to look like regular Power Pro-Kun avatar, with legs detached from the main body. InDance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 2,the Mii's body is formed more like a regular human. This design was, however, criticized byIGN's Lucas M. Thomas, who sarcastically commented that "[it] doesn't look disturbing at all."[5]

While Miis are not playable inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl,the creator of the series,Masahiro Sakurai,explained that Miis were originally considered to be playable in the game, but the idea was decided against due to fears ofbullying.[6]They would eventually debut inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Everybody Votes Channel

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Main article:Everybody Votes Channel

Miis were incorporated in the downloadableEverybody Votes Channel,where Miis represented the voter. Up to six different Miis could be registered within the channel to use in voting. The channel was discontinued along with the Check Mii Out channel by Nintendo on June 28, 2013, as they moved on to other next-generation projects.

Check Mii Out Channel

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Main article:Check Mii Out Channel

Another Mii-centric channel, theCheck Mii Out Channel,also known as the Mii Contest Channel(Miiコンテストチャンネル,Mī Kontesuto Channeru)inJapan,Europe,andOceania,was released on November 11, 2007. Perhaps an evolution of an idea shared byShigeru Miyamotoat theGame Developers Conferencein 2007, this channel allowed players to upload their Mii characters and share them with other users. There were also popularity contests, in which players would design a Mii that would personify a specific idea or character and then vote on the Mii that would best fit the suggestion.[7]The channel was available for free download on theWii Shop Channelfrom November 12, 2007, until June 27, 2013, when Nintendo discontinued the channel along with the Everybody Votes channel.

Nintendo DS

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Although the platform lacks native support for Mii creation, a few games on theNintendo DSconsole do support Mii functionality, and will work in conjunction with the Wii'sMii Channel.

Uses in games

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Nintendo DS

Miis can be transferred from a user's Wii to supported Nintendo DS games via the Mii Channel. A code must be entered by the user to unlock the feature on theMii Channel.

The Nintendo DS gamePersonal Trainer: Walkinguses Miis to allow players to track their progress in the game. Players are also able to create Miis in-game.[8]The Nintendo DS version ofFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Timealso uses Miis.[9]

The life-simulation gameTomodachi Collection,only released in Japan for the Nintendo DS, also uses Miis and has a built-in Mii editor. Miis from the user's Wii's Mii Channel can be transferred to the game, and vice versa.

Nintendo 3DS

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Mii Maker

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TheMii Maker(Miiスタジオ,Mī Sutajio,lit. "Mii Studio" )is the app that allows Mii creation on theNintendo 3DS.It can store up to 100 Mii characters, much like the Wii, and includes more facial features than the latter console. The Mii Maker installed on the Nintendo 3DS can usefacial recognitionto generate a Mii, which selects facial features based on a photograph of a person's face taken with the system's cameras.

Uses in games

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Nintendo 3DS

Unlike the Nintendo DS, which features limited support of Mii characters, its successor the Nintendo 3DS features Miis as a standard. Similar to the Wii'sMii Channel,the Nintendo 3DS features its own Mii-creating application calledMii Maker,which is more advanced than theMii Channel.[10]

Mii characters can be created manually withMii Makeras on the Wii'sMii Channel,but they can also be created automatically through the use of the Nintendo 3DS's cameras. The system captures an image of a subject's face, and the application converts the image into a Mii likeness using integrated recognition software. Automated Mii character designs can be manually adjusted. Mii characters can also be imported from the Wii to the 3DS or from the 3DS to the Wii U, however, Miis cannot be sent from the 3DS to the Wii, asMii Makerfeatures an expanded selection of design parts that are not available onMii Channel.[11]

The Nintendo 3DS can generate and readQR codesthat represent Mii characters. QR codes and pictures of Mii characters can also be transferred to anSD cardin any picture format, and be used in various ways, such as posting them on a web page. Miis on the Nintendo 3DS can also be used in conjunction with the device's built-inaugmented realitysoftware – the software includes a mini-app named 'Mii Pics' which allows the user to take a photo of their Mii within a regular photo, using an augmented reality card included with the system.

The first Nintendo 3DS game to include support for Mii characters isPilotwings Resort.Miis obtained through StreetPass appear asnon-player charactersinNintendogs + Cats.Mii characters also appear inPokémon Rumble Blast,Mario Kart 7,and inmany more games.

Currently, the most notable game to feature Miis in their entirety isTomodachi Life,the sequel to the Japan-onlyTomodachi Collectionfor the Nintendo DS. This is also the first game to give Miis complete lines of dialogue as well as the first game to allow players to choose what Miis say.Miitopiais another Mii-centric game title for the Nintendo 3DS.

StreetPass Mii Plaza

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Main article:StreetPass Mii Plaza

A feature on the Nintendo 3DS, theStreetPass Mii Plaza(すれちがいMii quảng tràng,Surechigai Mī Hiroba)makes use of the handheld's StreetPass feature, which data can be transferred between nearby Nintendo 3DS consoles in standby mode. As Miis are gathered in the plaza, they can be used in numerous minigames, with the initial two being Puzzle Swap and Find Mii (known as StreetPass Quest in PAL regions). In Puzzle Swap, players can exchange pieces of several jigsaw puzzle panels based on Nintendo games, in which there were initially seven, but this number increased with occasional updates. Find Mii is an RPG minigame in which players use the Miis they gathered to fight through dungeons, earning accessories for their Mii. Each Mii possesses a different type of magic depending on their color, and become more powerful if the player meets them more than once. These games can be optionally played with Play Coins, though the results are more random than with Streetpass Miis. On December 6, 2011, the feature was updated to include SpotPass functionality, as well as new puzzle panels, a sequel to Find Mii, a map showing where players met other Miis, Accomplishments and a music player.[12]

Special Miis released by Nintendo and obtained through SpotPass can also be used inStreetPass Mii Plaza.They have access to all Puzzle Swap pieces and provide a level 5 player for Find Mii.

Wii U

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Mii Maker

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Screenshot of theMii Maker's creation tool on Wii U

TheMii Maker(Miiスタジオ,Mī Sutajio,lit. "Mii Studio" )is the app that allows Mii creation on theWii U.It can store up to 3,000 Miis and includes the same facial features used on the Nintendo 3DS. TheMii Makerinstalled on the Wii U can usefacial recognitionto generate a Mii, which selects the features based on a photo of a face taken with theWii U GamePadcamera.[13]

Uses in games

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Wii U

Mii characters evolve further for the Wii's successor, Wii U. In addition to previous uses on the Wii, Mii characters are wholly integrated into the Wii U's social online networkMiiverse,the WaraWara Plaza community where clusters of Mii characters crowd around the hottest games, and being depicted as personal avatars for individual Wii U players,[14]who have the ability for twelve separate Nintendo Network ID User accounts that can be used on a single console at a time. User accounts with Mii representatives are used for both games and apps such asNintendo TVii.Mii characters can be transferred from the Wii and/or the Nintendo 3DS to the Wii U, in which in the latter's case transfers between consoles can occur as many times as possible.[15]Mii characters also return as in-game characters for certain Wii U games, which in addition to Nintendo-published launch titles such asWii Sports Club,Super Smash Bros. for Wii U,Mario Kart 8,New Super Mario Bros. UandNintendo Land,they are also included in third-party titles such asSonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.InMario Kart 8,there are 19+amiibosuits when you tap an amiibo on the left side of the Wii U Gamepad based on the customizable characters.[16]

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wilduses an evolved form of Mii,UMii,to render non-essentialNPCs.[17][18][19]

Nintendo Switch

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Mii creation

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Screenshot of the Mii creation software on Nintendo Switch

Unlike previous Nintendo consoles and handhelds, TheNintendo Switch's Mii creation software is located within the console's system settings menu instead of it being a separate app. It includes the same facial features used on theNintendo 3DSandWii U,while also providing unnatural hair and eye colors. The Switch's Mii creator can hold up to 100+ Miis, much like the Wii and 3DS. Miis can be used on the Switch to represent accounts; users may optionally use a Nintendo character such asMarioas their avatar instead.

Miis can be transferred between Switch consoles and imported from a 3DS or Wii U using anamiibofigure. Miis can also be imported from a Nintendo Account.[20]

Uses in games

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Nintendo Switch

Miis can still be integrated into games as a playable character such asMario Kart 8 Deluxe,Go Vacation,Nintendo Switch Sports,Super Smash Bros. UltimateandNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.InMario Kart 8 Deluxe,there are 20+ amiibos registered after when you tap an amiibo on the NFC reader on the rightJoy-Conor on the top of theNintendo Switch Pro Controller,similar to what can be achieved withMario Kart 8for the Wii U.Nintendo Switch Sportsintroduced new avatars known as "Sportsmates", however Miis can still be selected as an option.[21]

Currently, the only game on the Switch to feature Miis in their entirety isMiitopia,[22]which is a remaster of the 2017role-playing video gameof the same name for the 3DS.

Other platforms

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See also:List of video games featuring Miis § Mobile

When the freemium mobile appMiitomolaunched oniOSandAndroiddevices in 2016, it was possible for the first time to officially create Mii characters without the need for a Nintendo console. Mii characters created on the app initially resembled their Wii U counterparts, and use the same attributes. A later update introduced the Nintendo Switch's standards and attributes for Mii characters.Nintendo Accountholders can opt to use the app to create Mii avatars without the need to link their accounts to any Nintendo console, with the option also available.Miitomowas also used to support Mii avatars on other Nintendo apps for smart devices. For example, an update released forSuper Mario Runon April 25, 2017, introduced player Mii icon customization options with the support ofMiitomo,and its in-game costumes, via the same Nintendo Account.[23]Miitomowas only available in 60 of the 165 countries/territories recognized by Nintendo Accounts when it was discontinued on May 9, 2018.

On May 24, 2018, Nintendo introduced a browser-based Mii editor called Mii Studio.[24]The editor is integrated into all Nintendo Accounts for users in all regions, including regions that did not originally have official support forMiitomo.Mii Studio supports all Mii attributes and standards introduced for the Nintendo Switch. Up to six Mii avatars can be created at a time, including any Mii imported from a linked Nintendo Network ID (also known as NNID).

Other appearances

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InMario Kart: Bowser's Challengeat theSuper Nintendo Worldamusement areas inUniversal Studios JapanandUniversal Studios Hollywood,Mii characters (CPU Miis fromWii Sports ClubandWii Party U) appear on several screens in the pre-show rooms to showcase ride mechanics and safety precautions.[25]

An icon for a male default Mii appears on Luigi's smartphone inThe Super Mario Bros. Moviewhen he receives an incoming call.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abEguchi, Katsuya; Ota, Keizo; Yamashita, Yoshikazu; Shimamura, Takayuki."Wii Sports"(Interview). Interviewed by Satoru Iwata. Nintendo.RetrievedSeptember 5,2014.
  2. ^https:// nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/events/080425qa/05.html
  3. ^Plunkett, Luke (October 1, 2010)."Using Magic, The 3DS Can Make A Mii Using A Photo".Kotaku.
  4. ^"Nintendo Japan Offering Celebrity Miis".March 13, 2007.RetrievedJune 16,2007.
  5. ^Thomas, Lucas M. (July 17, 2008)."E3 2008: Feet-on Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2".IGN.RetrievedAugust 2,2008.
  6. ^Nakamura, Toshi (June 19, 2014)."Mii Fighters Were Almost Part of Smash Bros. Brawl".Kotaku.
  7. ^"Nintendo Says 'Check Mii Out' With Creative New Channel for Wii".November 8, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon November 6, 2008.RetrievedDecember 15,2009.
  8. ^Personal Trainer: Walking Brings Mii Making To The DS
  9. ^Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for the Wii & DSA new Nintendo DS game, Friend Connection will have Mii support.
  10. ^"September 29, 2010 Nintendo Conference 2010".September 29, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 3,2011.
  11. ^Import Miis from Wii to 3DS one-way only - News - Aussie-Nintendo
  12. ^Crecente, Brian (December 6, 2011)."Record 3D Movies on Your 3DS Starting Now".Kotaku.RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  13. ^"Check out Nintendo's new #WiiU console & its games".Nintendo of Europe GmbH.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  14. ^"Miiverse Home Screen Dubbed WaraWara Plaza - News".Nintendo World Report.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  15. ^"Transferring your Mii to the Wii U".Nintendo Life.November 26, 2012.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  16. ^McWhertor, Michael (November 4, 2014)."Mario Kart 8 amiibo support unlocks new costumes for your Mii racers".Polygon.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  17. ^Clark, Mitchell (January 4, 2021)."Nintendo's Breath of the Wild basically uses fancy Miis as NPCs".The Verge.RetrievedJanuary 5,2021.
  18. ^Gach, Ethan (January 4, 2021)."Breath of the Wild NPCs Appear To Be Based On 'Advanced' Miis".Kotaku.RetrievedJanuary 5,2021.
  19. ^"Breath of the Wild's minor characters are likely advanced Miis".Engadget.January 4, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 5,2021.
  20. ^Schreier, Jason (January 19, 2017)."Nintendo Answers (And Avoids) Our Switch Questions".Kotaku.RetrievedJanuary 19,2017.
  21. ^Vincent, Brittany (March 3, 2022)."Nintendo Switch Sports datamine suggests more minigames are on the way".GamesRadar.RetrievedMarch 29,2022.
  22. ^Lee, Juilia (February 17, 2021)."Miitopia coming to switch".Polygon.RetrievedMarch 23,2021.
  23. ^Vogel, Mitch (April 25, 2017)."Super Mario Run Version 2.1.0 Is Now Live".Nintendo Life.RetrievedApril 28,2017.
  24. ^Calvert, Darren (May 24, 2018)."Mii Studio Provides An Easier Way To Create Miis".Nintendo Life.RetrievedMay 24,2018.
  25. ^Stella, Alicia (February 4, 2021)."How the Mario Kart Ride Works at Super Nintendo World".RetrievedFebruary 4,2021.
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