Beta

Here are some screenshots of the prototype version of Mario Kart DS.

If you look at the screenshot above, you’ll notice some differences between that version and the final version. The time and lap text is different on the touch screen. The lap in the final version is shown on the top screen in the top right hand corner. Also there is no speedometer in the bottom right of the top screen in the final version.

This is more like the final version. However in the final version the bottom screen’s background matches its corresponding cup. As an example if you played a track from the Mushroom Cup mushrooms would appear in the background. This track appears in the mushroom cup yet it has stars.
Another difference is the logo. The first image below was an image streaming around the web as the official Mario Kart DS logo.

However when the boxart was released it appeared that the second logo was the official. Many people didn’t like it, but some did, mainly because it is not like the other Mario Kart logos at all. It doesn’t seem like a usual Nintendo logo.

Videos

These are videos showing beta versions of Mario Kart DS, courtesy of mkdsbeta.

A battle course that wasn’t used in the end. Too bad, since the battle course looks sweet!

Here you see the beta version of Mario Circuit.

Another beta. This is a course known as Dokan Course, used to test how the karts handle.

The beta version of Waluigi Pinball.

The Nokonoko Course uses the music from Koopa Beach (N64). It’s hard to judge whether this track is just Cheep Cheep Beach.