![PEOPLE:
- Atsuko Asahi, age 39. Composer for The Wind Waker HD and Mario Kart 8. Music Lead for Mario Kart World.
QUOTE:
Asahi: [For Mario Kart 8] I'd been composing custom-made tracks for each course based on the weather and time of day. But now, with everything being connected [in Mario Kart World] and with the ability to drive anywhere, there are so many more things you need to consider.
We need lots of sounds to fill the gaps between courses, and because players take different routes and drive at different speeds, we have to assume that the timing of background music transitions will vary. I thought we'd never finish development if we approached sound creation the same way as before, and I was worried about whether we'd really be able to get it done.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2e7f2uvcguv4d5qxqnyjmk32/bafkreigvh5u33ts4bfesfxi3widsqfrah5xteqdzqeui5dzlb4ifojozqq)
PEOPLE: - Atsuko Asahi, age 39. Composer for The Wind Waker HD and Mario Kart 8. Music Lead for Mario Kart World. QUOTE: Asahi: [For Mario Kart 8] I'd been composing custom-made tracks for each course based on the weather and time of day. But now, with everything being connected [in Mario Kart World] and with the ability to drive anywhere, there are so many more things you need to consider. We need lots of sounds to fill the gaps between courses, and because players take different routes and drive at different speeds, we have to assume that the timing of background music transitions will vary. I thought we'd never finish development if we approached sound creation the same way as before, and I was worried about whether we'd really be able to get it done.
Asahi on how she had to find new ways to approach audio development for Mario Kart World, 2025.
Source: Ask the Developer
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www.hyruleinterviews.com/20b41fe961fd...
![PEOPLE:
- Atsuko Asahi, age 39. Music Lead for Mario Kart World. Composer for The Wind Waker HD.
QUOTE:
Asahi: For the Knockout Tour mode [in Mario Kart World], we started off by simply trying to connect the course themes. But … it ended up sounding weird because the tracks have different tempos and beats.
So, we decided to find a way to end each of the course themes. … As you get closer to the next course, the music transitions to the outro, so the theme ends nicely. We also created a new intro for each course theme which starts to play shortly before you reach the gate, building excitement. Then, as you actually pass through the gate, it changes to the theme of the course you've entered. By repeating this, it feels like a medley is playing along to you live.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2e7f2uvcguv4d5qxqnyjmk32/bafkreicw4ytythygveraomhtkowhu65obnxiqmzllj4ceolcgqpaz2ocd4)
![PEOPLE:
- Atsuko Asahi, age 39. Music Lead for Mario Kart World. Composer for The Wind Waker HD.
QUOTE:
Asahi: For Free Roam [in Mario Kart World], we prepared lots of music in addition to course themes and made it so the game would automatically select the right track depending on the situation. During development, we called this the “jukebox.” For this, we created lots of arrangements of music composed for past [Mario games].
Q: How many pieces did you end up with?
Asahi: Altogether, over 200 for the "jukebox." These are all brand-new arrangements, and we also did live recordings. We prepared pieces from quite a wide variety of musical genres. I believe those who are well-versed in video game music, as well as those who aren't, will enjoy listening to them.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2e7f2uvcguv4d5qxqnyjmk32/bafkreicy2rz5o7e4wgaxbje37zmu3vl373lsx2gaefeixqqzpv7kocgeoy)