Mario Kart and the Doppler Effect 

Something interesting about Mario Kart is that it's really important for players to know what's happening off-screen. Sound design really helps with this, since you can HEAR a hazard (shell, star, bullet bill) before you SEE it. On top of that, the doppler effect gives you a really solid gauge of how quickly that hazard is approaching and when it'll catch up to you. It's a really clever implementation of sound design in games that seems to get overlooked a lot!

The music kicking up towards the end in the same way Mariokart Wii does when going through the menus was a lovely touch!

1:12 I always loved how exaggerated the Doppler effect was in Mario kart Wii because it made it feel like those items would actually physically come into contact with you because of how set in reality the audio was. It felt like, If you paid close enough attention, you could hear exactly where the person using the item was based on audio alone

I've just realised but Scruffy rarely actually uses in-game footage, they're all just drawings. That's honestly really cool and it's a testament to how well he can get his point across without even needing to actually show the game

Scruffy: *uses the doppler effect on the last trombone note like a car engine* Me: He did- HE DID THE THING!

I wanna applaud that while lots of RU-vidrs end up putting unnecessary visual effects that don't actually add anything and are mostly there to give the illusion of being professional, Scruffy used visually interesting effects that both aid what he's trying to convey and are fun to look at.

I really loved the visual take on this, your character look like the Jerries from Soul, idk if that's intentional but I like it!

0:22 That animation is just so dang adorable. Please do more of them!

Full body Scruffy showing up hit me like a ton of bricks

1:47 that transition from 2D to 3D made me really happy for some reason

The animation in this video is such a genuine treat. It reminds me of those old school Pixar animated shorts. Masterpiece. The explanation in theory, and the science of it all while applying the mathematics involving physics. I love these videos because you take the time to appreciate the genuine love and care that most consumers NEVER appreciate. As someone who aims to become a composer, this warms me heart. Thank you for acknowledging the love and care put into the nuances of games from Nintendo, and many other cult classics. Cheers! 🥂

This is beautiful

Can I just say I'm absolutely blown away with the entirety of this video? The clarity in explantion, the 3d and 2d animations, the sound, music, everything in this is absolutely incredible and I can see the huge amount of effort put into it. Fantastic job Scruffy!

i never really thought mario kart had such a deep sound engine

goddamn, he even had the pawn move a bit as he placed it down at 2:13

I love the ending credits mimicing mariokart wii's menu music. When the checkerboards moved at the top and bottom of the screen at 8:05 and the music began, I immediately knew what was going on.

Oh my god! You really stepped up the animation in this one!!! :0

For those of you not using headphones, Scruffy really put in the effort to have sounds move from one side to the other. It really *does* feel like a car is racing by!

pure awesomeness

This guy needs to make an animated series or something because he's got skillz

They should have taught the doppler effect like THIS in my physics class! It's miles more entertaining!

You should make a pocast about music cause youre voice is wierdly calming

"aaaaaAaaAAaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaAAaaaAaaaahhhh!" -what my friends hear when im playing 200c with the p wing on baby park

The blend of 2d and 3D animation was surreal as hell

Wow. The animation of these little "get-to-know" videos is really getting more and more detailed. Makes the visual learning presented even more intuitive! :D Always did love the Doppler-ing on powerups, especially. Was always very amusing to hear the intense tunes of a Super Star behind me and swerve out of the way, hearing it trail off as whomever continues their short-term power trip onwards.

Why does his "Hello, I'm Scruffy" line ALWAYS give me a Big Smile? :)

This is a really good explanation for the Doppler effect, schools could probably use this video to explain it better than any textbook could

Imagine being buddies with Scruffy and he just comes over to ur house and asks if you want to play Mario Kart so he can “test some things”. Would 1000% be a part of that

The quality of these videos is improving so fast it'll cause the doppler effect!

this is such a high quality episode omg animated scruffy is adorable and the way you explain things is very clear and concise (there used to be fast captions at 5:06 but they're gone now because they weren't supposed to be there, for reply context)

I’m at 1:59. Just want to say “Damn the production quality on this. Great!”

I thought I was the only one who appreciated the immersive sound of Mario kart wii

The Doppler effect is cool!

really love the cute little scruffy "ʰᵉˡˡᵒᵎ"

I literally just learned about the Doppler effect in physics today and I have to say this was a lot more informational and fun. Nice stuff

2:14--oh, the pawn jittering when you let go, that is FANTASTIC.

I was here when it said “FINAL” at the end of the title

I always love to see the dopppler effect simulated in games, not even racing ones just games in general, it's like a hidden gem that only a few notice and appreciate.

3:44 I REALLY love the edit here where the music you used exhibits the Doppler effect for more clarity. That’s really helped me understand the concept of frequency change. I appreciate that level of care and detail.

While I loved listening to your music arrangements these past few months I'm so excited for your return to more long form content! The effort and care put into this video has just absolutely blown me away. As always looking forward to more excellent content scruffy!

Absolutely phenomenal breakdown of these little game audio solutions! I love the focus on WHY many of these decisions are made, rather than just HOW... in practice, that process of problem solving is 90% of the job, and the actual technical stuff just fills in the gaps.

GOD I LOVE HOW YOU FOCUS ON SOUNDS IN VIDEO GAMES!! ITS AMAZING MY GUUUUUUUY!!!

The absolute production quality in these videos are amazing! Thanks for explaining these things to us

This was absolutely fantastic. The visual aids are so clean, all the little Mario Kart motifs in the ambient music (My ears picked up on the various references, no matter how small! That was so cool!) I always wanted to know a little more about how this system works, and this was the best way of explaining it!!

my favorite part of the use of this in the series.... it insinuates the music from a power-up is a 'real-life', tanglible, not-meta occurence 😭 like we assume video game music to not be part of the "material universe", but that doppler effect takes you out of that for a second in a way that's genuinely super funny.

the production quality is OFF THE CHARTS on this one! i noticed at the end with the What I Love part, you did a doppler effect pitch shift in the song itself as the car went off screen after leading the camera to the text. GENIUS

phenomenal editing and animation, I love it so much its everything I love from the older videos and just so much more! please keep it up cause it just looks and feel amazing

this is top notch and i appreciate you scruffy! started watching all the way back with your splatoon video and I've kinda lurked since. keep doing what you love!

I thought this was a music channel, but this is math, my brain can't comprehend this

I like the animated scruffy, he looks nice

Just watched your excellent Tanks! video and remembered having seen this and recommending it to friends. On this rewatch, I want to say your visual, audio and video essay style is wonderful and pushes this medium in a positive way.

I am completely blown away at how well made this video is. The visuals are engaging and understandable, the explanations are thorough yet not overwhelming, and the sound and music are next level awesome. 10/10 video, unbelievably good.

i love this scruffy avatar design

scruffy, this is so good. you’re breaking into “game dev tutorial” ground here with the part on how the doppler effect is made!

Bravo Scruffy! The production value in this video is top notched! Instant subscribed!

Wow, there is really nothing else on RU-vid like Scruffy... blown away by this video, the animation quality, the clearly well-researched topic, the concise clarity of complex concepts, and just the fun, interesting, nerdy-ness of it all! Can’t wait for more to come, keep up the good work, Sir Scruffy!!! 👏🏼 :)

Thank goodness I decided to stay up late tonight, Scruffy's posting a new video! :D Edit: HOLY, the quality of his videos went to a whole new level!? Wild!

Love when games use clever details like this in the audio design. But don't other racing games do the same? Saying this as a person who doesn't play most racing games

I'm always so blown away by the quality of these videos, keep it up dude!

What a fantastic video! Great effects and editing, nice little easter eggs that pertain the to the topic, and all the while entertaining! Thanks for the quality content, Scruffy!

The production value here! Insane!

This man made a whole ass educational 3D animation for this video

You’re one of the only channel which all videos I watch I finish. I don’t know what you do to make your videos so awesome

This whole video was a joy to watch thanks to the fun animation! I've always loved your interesting insight into so many cool things and this elevated the experience of watching so so much!

"hello, I'm scruffy." Yes. Yes you are

Now I want to see an entire racing game in this style

love the animations with this dude, really stepping up and it works greatly. keep it up!

the quality of this video!!! that's some amazing work, I learned a lot and it was very enjoyable

THE ANIMATION WAS SO AWESOME!

The Doppler Effect is probably one of my favorite bits of sound design. Not only is it useful, it can also be used to humorous effect. My favorite example always being when someone is falling, begins yelling, and passes a listener.

I love the visual aids and editing in this. completely exceptional work, scruffy!

Every single video Scruffy makes is always just so high quality. Fantastic as always.

The animation in this one reminds me of those children's shows from the early 2000's-2010's that only Aired at 3 in the morning

guys he's becoming stronger, he has entered the third dimension!

Love this! Doppler effect is one of the (many) little touches that I absolutely take for granted in games, and forget that it doesn't just "exist" in the game world until someone works it out.

This video is SO well-made, incredibly clear explanation and examples, plus great animation and script as well! 👏

Scruffy's character design is so cool!! I love the squiggly parentheses for hair, reminiscent of his channel's writing and logo. Scruffy is a lover of small details, and so am I.

Every time I see Scruffy upload I get so excited. His videos are such high quality and the aesthetic is really unique. They're calming, educational, and entertaining. As a music/sound effects, gaming, and animation nerd, I really appreciate all the effort he puts in these videos. It’s amazing how much more advqnced the animation has become but the content has stayed digestible and entertaining. Keep it up Scruffy!

This is my new favourite channel, i love the visual style and the easy to understand explanations, amazing !

phenomenal video!!! you got your points across and its insane how something so minimal can change the way we get immersed when playing.

Scruffy explaining the doppler effect: Me thinking his little avatar is the cutest thing in the world like seriously: Edit: And of course it's another wonderful video, this time with 2D and 3D mediums being used together seamlessly. I always love when you upload What I Love because they're always so well put together.

Oh my gosh Scruffy! Your content just keeps getting better. I absolutely love how you blended 2D and 3D animation so smoothly. I always love hearing you talk about sounds and music and I find your videos so engaging. Also, your animated sona is super cute. Keep at it! Love it all!

You are so underrated, and I’m genuinely infuriated. You have wonderful explanations and great animation. I really do hope that your channel takes off!

The animation in this one was phenomenal! I love seeing your caricature in motion. Excellent work, Scruffy!

im so glad someone finally talks about the doppler effect in mario kart, I always found it so cool whenever someone passed by with the star and it really felt like the music followed that guy, it felt so impactful and thrilling to be passed by someone with a bullet or just to hear their horn beep

The inclusion of this 3D animation just took your already incredible videos to another level. Absolutely fantastic Scruffy I'm in awe.

Holy cow I just found this channel, and the presentation is through the roof! Incredible video!

Thank you so much for this formula where you subtract the old and new distance! I'm coding a Doppler Effect Simulation and I didn't find the formula I needed, not even on Wikipedia and this helped me so much that I was able to finish the Simulation! Thanks :)

Love this! A detail that has been under my nose this whole time but I've never paid attention to, and now I know to look out for it and can appreciate racing games I love even more! Presentation and music in this video also excellent as always. Love to see you incorporating your avatar character and 3d elements more. Thanks for the work you do!

6:39 VERY sneaky coin sound!!!

I keep on coming back to this video as your explanation of this phenomenon is astounding! I truly appreciate your storytelling and teaching abilities. I can't thank you enough :)

Why is this so well done> No one asked for this to be this well done but you still did it. The whole video was amazing man I can tell you put work into this!

This is so good!! You've really been stepping it up in terms of visuals lately and I love it so much

Let alone the amazing step up in animation here, I am constantly just fangirling over how scruffy draws himself! I don't know if the design supposed to be based off of him or not, but it is just wonderful!

Wow the production value for this video is amazing! Great job :)

Oh my gawd the exponential rise in quality in this video is amazing! Great work Scruffy!!

Man, your presentation never fails to amaze me. Everything flows together so well!

Absolutely amazing presentation. You explained how the doppler effect *works* while also explaining how the effect can be applied in-game without overcomplicating the math involved. Subscribed, I can’t wait to see what else you have!

i love the animation you throw into your videos, there’s so much detail put into everything and makes your already great video essays on design in video games all the more entertaining to watch!

The production quality is amazing on this video and overall pacing and clarity is great. Amazing job