How to make sure your Switch is running optimally before you buy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Gamers, fasten your seat belts and rev up your engines — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is officially on sale for the Nintendo Switch! Mario Kart 8 originally debuted on the Wii U three years ago, selling more than eight million copies and receiving rave reviews. Today’s new-and-improved racing game features all of the original content, as well as some extra features. Mushroom-collecting beginners can cruise to victory thanks to a new “Smart Steering” function — a glowing yellow antenna will pop up behind your kart if you’re about to veer off the track. You’ll also have 48 courses and 42 characters to choose from, including six that are brand new — exciting right? Dazzle your green-shell-throwing opponents by selecting Gold Mario or Bowser Jr., or leave them trembling on the track with the likes of Dry Bones or King Boo.
But before you and your fellow gamers start fighting over who gets to ride with Yoshi, you’ll want to make sure that everything is properly set up, and that your Switch is running optimally. Below, we’ve outlined a couple common problems and easy ways to troubleshoot them.
1) I can’t get my hands on a Nintendo Switch
With lines of people down the block and pre-orders oversubscribed, casual and hardcore gamers alike have been left out in the cold in their quest to find the Nintendo Switch. However, the console is starting to pop up for sale in local marketplaces, so if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you can grab it before retailers restock. With OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace for local buying and selling, you can track down a Nintendo Switch right in your neighborhood, and you might even be able to save some money in the process.
2) I’ve run out of storage on my Nintendo Switch
Nintendo only offers 32GB of internal storage on the Switch, and 6GB of them are already taken up by the operating system. There’s even a game on the market that takes up more space than the available memory of the entire console. The good news is that there’s an easy fix — you can easily expand the system’s internal memory by using a microSD card. Simply stick it in the slot underneath the kickstand, and you should be good to go. If you don’t have a microSD card handy, you can find a couple options here to be sure you get the best bang for your buck.
3) My Nintendo Switch WiFi isn’t reliable
Picture this: you’re in the fast lane, seconds from sideswiping your archnemesis Wario off the track, and your WiFi cuts out. It’s impossible to impress your competition with your Mario Kart maneuvers when your WiFi connection is unreliable. Nothing’s more annoying than incessant buffering during a video game marathon, especially because the Nintendo Switch depends on great WiFi to work since there’s no ethernet cable connection. What many people also don’t realize is that the main cause of slow WiFi is called congestion, which happens when many people connect to the internet at the same time (ex: in an apartment building) and your neighbors’ WiFi ends up interfering with yours.
Avoid this issue and the wrath of Princess Peach by getting a Portal smart WiFi router. It uses additional frequency to improve router speeds and provide a seamless, uninterrupted gaming session. And, to help you get that perfect WiFi connection and a definite advantage against your competitors, we’ve discounted Portal for a limited time — it’s currently marked down from $199 to $148.02 through May 11.
Hours of crashing into your buddies and collecting coins can work up an appetite, so don’t forget to take some snack and drink breaks. PB&J star sandwiches or mushroom-shaped muffins are guaranteed to be an instant hit at your Mario-themed party. Then, wash down your thirst for victory with an “It’s a Me, Amario” or “King Koopa Cup” cocktail. We hope that these tips will help you slide into the finish line in no time!
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By David Sorensen, Ignition Design Labs
