Unused Text

This is a sub-page of Crash Nitro Kart (PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox).

All text in the game is located in a ldict.dct file, one for each of the game's languages, inside of the assets.gob archive. A huge amount of unused strings exist in these files. Most of these can also be found throughout various demos and prototypes of the game.

Virtual Lobby#

Welcome to the Virtual Lobby. Here you may practice your skills while you wait for the race to start.
When a player joins the game, an icon will appear on the left of the screen.
The game will begin once the host enters the Warp Vortex located in the center of the arena.
To begin a battle you must drive to the center of the arena and enter the warp vortex.
The vortex will take you and any players that have joined, to the level you selected.
To begin a race you must drive to the center of the arena and enter the warp vortex.
The vortex will take you and any players that have joined, to the level you selected.
Press the Start Button to change your level.
Press the Start Button to change your level and other game settings.
The color next to your character icon represents your team color.
To switch to a different team, drive over one of the four colored pads that represent each team color.

A vast portion of the game's text concerns a mode which wasn't even present in the final version, known as the "Virtual Lobby". Judging by the strings found in the game's code, it would've served as an online mode where players can race or battle each other in color-assigned teams. It would have also hosted the game's LAN party functionality. The surviving text is rather comprehensive, implying it went a long way in development prior to getting cut.

NETWORK SETUP
ENTER IP ADDRESS
ENTER NETMASK
ENTER GATEWAY
ENTER DNS
SELECT NETWORK
CHOOSE SERVER
USE PASSWORD
ENTER YOUR SERVER PASSWORD
ENTER PASSWORD FOR SERVER
CHOOSE TEAM
PRESS\nSTART BUTTON\nTO JOIN
NO PASSWORD
CHANGE SERVER NAME
CHANGE PASSWORD
SETUP RACE
SETUP BATTLE
SETUP OK net_players_list wrap
CHANGE SETUP
CONNECT
Initializing the network system.
Connecting to network \ninterface
Closing network interface.
Network interface failed to \ninitialize. Check your network \nsettings.
The network link is down. Make \nsure the network cable is \nconnected.
No Ethernet network hardware \nfound.
Detected unsupported network \nhardware
#Failed to initialize networking \nhardware.
LEAVE GAME
WAITING
RACING
CNK SERVER
Scanning for servers . . .
Connecting with server . . .
Failed to connect with server.
Network connection closed.
\nServer shutdown.
Failed to connect.
Server is full.
Network connection timed out \nand closed.
\nInternal buffer overflow.
\nIncorrect password.
JOIN RED TEAM
JOIN BLUE TEAM
JOIN GREEN TEAM
JOIN YELLOW TEAM
PREPARE TO RACE!
ENTERING RACE AS A SPECTATOR...
ENTERING LOBBY WORLD...
LEAVING GAME...
THE SERVER HAS SHUTDOWN.\\nRETURNING TO MAIN MENU.
NETWORK CONNECTION LOST.\\nRETURNING TO MAIN MENU.
CHOOSE REGION
RETURN TO LOBBY

A good chunk of the unused strings in the game's text file correspond to the Virtual Lobby.

LOCAL
NETWORK

These two options would appear upon selecting Multiplayer mode, in which "Network" would lead to the Virtual Lobby.

NETWORK GAME

CREATE GAME
JOIN GAME

These two options would appear after selecting "Network".

Menus & Game Modes#

<mode_desc>

A variable for game mode descriptions would be originally present in the menus. Text leftovers of this feature are still present in the demo versions.

CRYSTAL RACE

A scrapped game mode. It appears to match one of two game mode descriptions left over in the demos, saying that players would have to finish first with the crystal limit to win the race. There is another description with a similar objective, but given its placement, it most likely belongs to...

CRYSTAL COUNT

Another scrapped Crystal Race game mode. Given how the two Crystal Race-related game mode descriptions in the demo versions are located right after each other, just like the strings for the Crystal Race modes, it's likely that the description of a mode where players would have to end the race with the most crystals to win belongs to a game mode with this name.

The GBA version of Crash Nitro Kart has multiplayer modes for either finishing a race when someone reaches a lap with a certain amount of wumpa fruit or finishing three laps with the most wumpa.

Certain race tracks have data for crystal placements. The crystals, of course...

CRYSTAL ARENA

The game has duplicates of some text strings for specific parts of the game; "CRYSTAL ARENA" appears twice each alongside strings related to Aku Aku and Uka Uka hints. There is also a third "CRYSTAL ARENA" string. Given its placement alongside other game mode strings used in race intros, this is most likely unused text for a Crystal Arena race intro. In the final game, Crystal Arenas don't have intros.

rcrystal_count_list
wrap||10||15||20||25||30

A variable for a menu option in which you would be able to set the amount of crystals the track has in either of the two Crystal Race modes, being able to choose among 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 crystals for any track.

TIME TRIAL

Assumed to be either an early name for Race Time Trial, indicating that there were no other Time Trial modes, or a menu option that would lead to a standalone Time Trial option, where instead of selecting the Time Trial options inside the Single Player menu, you would have a unique menu for this mode containing the other Time Trial modes.

BOOSTATHON

Another scrapped game mode. This could have been a Time Trial mode in which you needed to keep up your boost count [citation needed].

TEAM RACING

Possibly an earlier name for the Team Race mode, which is a reference to the predecessor game.

VELO CUP

A scrapped 5th cup. Given the omission of this cup in the demo versions, which also do not feature Hyper Spaceway in their text files, it is possible that this cup was conceived in order to house Hyper Spaceway inside of the Cup Tournament mode. A racing cup with this name would later appear in Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, with the inclusion of Hyper Spaceway as one of its tracks.

PLAY AS A TEAM
FREE FOR ALL

Two leftover options of an older version of the Battle mode.

N. LIMITED

A pun on the "Unlimited" option in Battle mode.

LIMIT BATTLE
POINT LIMIT
TIME LIMIT

Outside of Limit Battle, the other two strings are not seen in the game. Given their position alongside other battle game modes and the suspicious arrangement of three of the game mode descriptions from the demo versions, it can be assumed that Point Limit and Time Limit were to be modes separate from Limit Battle.

DOMINATION

A scrapped battle game mode. One of the game mode descriptions from the demos states "PLAYERS MUST DOMINATE THE PADS".

KING OF THE REALM

Another scrapped battle game mode. One of the game mode descriptions from the demos states "BECOME KING OF THE REALM TO SCORE POINTS".

SINGLE FLAG MODE

Possibly an earlier name for Steal the Bacon mode.

TEST A TRACK

Presumably a debug option for testing purposes.

TEST TRACK RANK
TEST TRACK ALL

Test levels. Test Track All may refer to a scrapped test track present in the July 29th, 2003 build.

PHYSICS TEST 1
PHYSICS TEST 2
PHYSICS TEST 3

Test options, or test levels as well.

PLACE HOLDER

An obvious placeholder string with no clear purpose.

CONCEPT ART

This suggests that at one point, Crash Nitro Kart may have gone the way of Crash Twinsanity and included unlockable concept art as one played through the game.

MAKING OF (?)

Perhaps at one point there was to be a "behind the scenes" documentary of sorts showcasing the development of the game? Time may well have forced their abandonment and it appears not even the developers were sure about their inclusion at the time of when this was written.

OUT TAKES (?)

These were very likely intended to be a 100% bonus for finishing both Adventure modes, featuring comedic spins on the CGI cutscenes in the game's story. Again, not even the developers were sure about their inclusion.

CHOOSE A TRACK

Unused track select menu title.

CHOOSE AN ARENA

Unused arena select menu title.

CHOOSE A HUB WORLD

Another scrapped game mode in which, according to the leftover demo description, the player would be able to practice skills at the hub worlds.

CHOOSE YOUR OPPONENT

Unused menu title in which the player would be able to select an opponent.

CHOOSE CHARACTER

Unused character select menu title.

CHOOSE BATTLE TYPE
CHOOSE BATTLE TIME LIMIT
CHOOSE BATTLE POINT LIMIT
CHOOSE BATTLE LIFE LIMIT

Unused battle select menus titles.

RACE RESULTS

A leftover string of an older version of the results screen, which was present in the demo versions.

CHANGE CHARACTER
CHANGE LEVEL
CHANGE SETUP
CHANGE TEAMS

Scrapped pause menu options, possibly destined for Virtual Lobby.

CHARACTER - 

Assumed to be a scrapped menu option, which would presumably be followed by the character's name.

DELETE GAME
DELETE GAME DATA

An unused delete option. Possibly related to Sparky's prior functionality. In the final game, there is no way to delete a save file through the game.

LOAD GAME
LOAD GAME DATA

The player would presumably be able to load an Adventure profile while inside the Adventure mode. Possibly related to Sparky's prior functionality.

TURBO BOOST OFF
TURBO BOOST ON

An unused option to toggle the turbo boosts.

SAVE GAME DATA

A variant of the save game option from Adventure, where it possibly could save the entirety of the game's save data.

VALUE

Unknown purposes. Appears before character stat labels from choosing a driver in Adventure.

V. <version>

A development string that would display the build date of the game at that point.

INVINCIBILITY MASK
BOWLING BOMB
BOWLING BOMB x3
HOMING MISSILE
HOMING MISSILE X3
POWER SHIELD
N.TROPY CLOCK
TURBO BOOST
EXPLOSIVE CRATE
INVISIBILITY
SUPER ENGINE
FREEZE MINE
STATIC SHOCK
TORNADO
VOODOO DOLL

Weapon strings related to the weapon setup menu. These would've either served as labels for each of the icons in the menu, or were used instead of them.

PLACE ITEM
CHANGE ITEM
REQUIRED ITEMS:
RED TEAM FLAG
BLUE TEAM FLAG
FLAG
WUMPA CRATE
WEAPON CRATE
MULTIPLIER CRATE
TNT CRATE
NITRO CRATE
CRYSTAL
REMOVE ITEM

Option strings related to Arena Editor. These would've also either served as labels for each of the icons in the menu, or were used instead of them. There is a "Required items:", which would've presumably listed the objects required to save a custom arena.

TBD

A placeholder used for strings not yet translated into the other languages.

CHUCK
ROB
CHRIS

Presumably developer names.

Adventure Mode#

VELO'S CITADEL
TERRA
BARIN
FENOMENA
TEKNEE
GEM

Duplicate strings for each of the hub worlds in the game. In the demo versions, the string for "Lost Earth" is located here. There is a mention of "Gem", which, given its placement, could presumably be a placeholder name for Velo's Vault. It is unknown where these are used.

GEMCUP

Possibly used for Gem Cup Tournament race intros, before the game switched to featuring the proper name of the gem cup you raced in.

YOU WILL HAVE TO RACE IN ORDER TO WIN THE GALAXY CIRCUIT AND GO HOME.  TO COMPETE IN A RACE, DRIVE ONTO A WARP PAD WITH A VORTEX ON IT.  FINISH THE RACE IN FIRST PLACE TO WIN A TROPHY.  COLLECT TROPHIES TO CREATE ADDITIONAL VORTEXES TO MORE TRACKS.  GOOD LUCK AND DRIVE FAST!

YOU WILL HAVE TO RACE IN ORDER TO WIN THE GALAXY CIRCUIT AND SAVE EARTH FOR US TO CONQUER.  TO COMPETE IN A RACE, DRIVE ONTO A WARP PAD WITH A VORTEX ON IT.  FINISH THE RACE IN FIRST PLACE TO WIN A TROPHY.  COLLECT TROPHIES TO CREATE ADDITIONAL VORTEXES TO MORE TRACKS.  DRIVE FAST... AND DON'T FAIL ME!

YOU NEED ALL FOUR KEYS FROM EACH WORLD TO CHALLENGE THE GALACTIC CHAMPION.

YOU NEED ALL FOUR KEYS FROM EACH WORLD CHAMPION TO CHALLENGE THE GALACTIC CHAMPION.

YOU NEED A KEY TO ACTIVATE THIS WORLD GATE.  A KEY IS OBTAINED BY PLACING FIRST IN A RACE AGAINST A WORLD CHAMPION.  TO CHALLENGE A WORLD CHAMPION YOU MUST WIN A TROPHY FOR EACH TRACK ON THIS WORLD.

YOU NEED A KEY TO ACTIVATE THIS WORLD GATE.  A KEY IS OBTAINED BY PLACING FIRST IN A RACE AGAINST A WORLD CHAMPION.  TO CHALLENGE THE WORLD CHAMPION YOU MUST WIN A TROPHY FOR EACH TRACK ON THIS WORLD.

YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH KEYS TO ACTIVATE THIS WORLD GATE.  KEYS ARE EARNED BY PLACING FIRST IN A RACE AGAINST A WORLD CHAMPION.  TO CHALLENGE A WORLD CHAMPION YOU MUST WIN A TROPHY FOR EACH TRACK ON THIS WORLD.

YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH KEYS TO ACTIVATE THIS WORLD GATE.  KEYS ARE EARNED BY PLACING FIRST IN A RACE AGAINST A WORLD CHAMPION.  TO CHALLENGE THE WORLD CHAMPION YOU MUST WIN A TROPHY FOR EACH TRACK ON THIS WORLD.

CONGRATULATIONS!  YOU HAVE ACTIVATED THIS WORLD GATE.  ENTER THE GATE TO TRAVEL TO A NEW WORLD WHERE YOU WILL FIND ADDITIONAL TRACKS TO COMPETE IN.  GOOD LUCK!

EXCELLENT!  YOU HAVE ACTIVATED THIS WORLD GATE.  ENTER THE GATE TO TRAVEL TO A NEW WORLD WHERE YOU'LL FIND ADDITIONAL TRACKS TO COMPETE IN.  VICTORY WILL BE OURS!

TO CHALLENGE THIS WORLD CHAMPION, YOU MUST WIN FIRST PLACE IN ALL THE RACES ON THIS WORLD.

TO CHALLENGE THIS WORLD'S CHAMPION, YOU MUST WIN FIRST PLACE IN ALL THE RACES ON THIS WORLD.

TO COMPETE IN A GEM CUP YOU MUST HAVE ENOUGH TOKENS OF THE SAME COLOR.

YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RELICS TO RACE ON THIS TRACK.

YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TROPHIES TO COMPETE IN THESE EVENTS.

YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TROPHIES TO COMPETE IN THIS EVENT.

All mask hints in the game from both masks contain proper transcripts of their messages, even though these cannot be heard through the hints menu.

SPARKY WILL KEEP A RECORD OF ALL THE HINTS I HAVE GIVEN YOU.  YOU CAN CONTACT SPARKY BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON.

THIS IS SPARKY YOUR ROBOTIC ASSISTANT.  YOU WILL FIND ONE IN EACH WORLD.  SPARKY CAN SAVE YOUR PROGRESS, SWITCH YOUR DRIVER, AND DISPLAY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU ALONG IN THE GALAXY CIRCUIT.  TO CONTACT SPARKY JUST DRIVE ONTO THE PAD.  YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT  SPARKY BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON.

THIS IS SPARKY YOUR ROBOTIC SLAVE.  YOU WILL FIND ONE IN EACH WORLD.  SPARKY CAN SAVE YOUR PROGRESS, SWITCH YOUR DRIVER, AND DISPLAY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU ALONG IN THE GALAXY CIRCUIT.  TO CONTACT SPARKY JUST DRIVE ONTO THE PAD.  YOU CAN ALSO SUMMON SPARKY BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON.

ACCESSING A SPARKY TERMINAL
SPARKY CAN SWITCH YOUR DRIVER, DISPLAY HINTS, AND SAVE YOUR PROGRESS.  TO CONTACT SPARKY JUST DRIVE ONTO THE PAD LOCATED IN FRONT OF IT.  YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT SPARKY BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON.

Along with the unused Sparky hints, the Sparky introduction upon first entering the pause menu as Team Bandicoot contains a transcript that is not available in the hints menu. There is also a Sparky introduction script destined to Uka Uka where he would call it as a "robotic slave", which was removed in the final game, along with the audio itself - probably because of his choice of words. It can still be found in the July 29th, 2003 prototype.

Interestingly, some of these texts contain extra sentences that are not mentioned by the masks in the audio, which are related to a scrapped feature where Sparky would be physically present on each hub world, similarly to the green load/save monitors in Crash Team Racing.

CHOOSE YOUR DRIVER

WHEN YOU VORTEX, SPARKY WILL ASK WHICH MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM YOU WANT TO RACE WITH.  TO BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING, CHOOSE THE BEST DRIVER FOR THE TRACK .

Duplicate of the Choose Your Driver hint for Uka Uka, written as "When you vortex" instead of "When you enter a vortex".

SPARKY

Could presumably be used when approaching a Sparky terminal. Might have also been a menu option for accessing Sparky, implying that Sparky and the pause menu were separate in Adventure.

CONGRATULATIONS!  YOU WIN A TROPHY!
WELL DONE!  YOU'VE WON A KEY!
SUPER JOB!  YOU'VE WON A RELIC!
WONDERFUL!  YOU'VE WON A TOKEN
CONGRATULATIONS!  YOU'VE WON A GEM

EXCELLENT! YOU WIN A TROPHY!
PERFECT! YOU'VE WON A KEY!
AHHH YES! YOU'VE WON A RELIC!
EXCELLENT! YOU'VE WON A TOKEN
YES! YOU'VE WON A GEM

Unused text variants of the congratulatory messages for both masks.

Early Localization Strings#

The North American PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions already contain translation files for other languages. However, most of them weren't finished at that point, featuring track names that were erroneous or too long in length: