US20260007964 seems to be an NST patent for F-Zero 99. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that the following feature has been implemented in the game:
It describes a dynamic ghost driver that are actually on the track, and can deviate from the recorded data to react in real-time. E.g., ghost 140 is about to collide with player 110 (img 1); it performs a boost or spin (img 2) to avoid collision and move ahead (img 3)—even though this wasn’t in the ghost data (img 4). Since the ghost is now ahead, the game interpolates its subsequent positions until it’s back to the recorded path.
The simulation is handled by each client locally for efficiency, and then communicated to the server. If a deviation from ghost data is inconsequential (e.g., small bumps), it isn’t sent to the server or shown on other players’ screens.
[Originally posted on 2026-02-22 Pacific Time]
