An Arcade Game Based On Mario Kart

An Arcade Game Based On Mario Kart

Nintendo has joined forces with Namco yet again, but it’s not to make a Game Cube game, nor is it to make a DS or Game Boy game. They’re joining forces to make a game for the Arcades! At the AOU Arcade Show in Japan this week, Nintendo and Namco have announced an arcade game based on Mario Kart!

“Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix” isn’t just another Mario Kart game. It has some gimmicks as well. While you do drive a car suited for just one player, you can use a camera (called the “Namcam”) to place yourself in the game! The game is supposed to have a whopping 24 courses, as well as some bonuses that aren’t in the console Mario Kart games, such as a playable Pac Man.

If there’s one handheld game destined to be right at the top of gamers’ Most Wanted lists this year, it’s the DS version of Mario Kart. And right on cue at the European launch for the DS, Nintendo treated the assembled audience to a live eight-player wireless multiplayer session comprised of senior Nintendo execs and hand-picked members of the press.

Showing off the slick ease of the wireless multiplayer facilities of the game, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata lead an impressive demonstration which highlighted the graphical capabilities of the machine as well as the all-important lag-free connectivity which is certain to be such an irresistible draw for the millions of fans of the popular karting series. Damn you Nintendo! While we were desperately trying to get all the DS launch info from a darkened auditorium in Paris to our office in London, on to the stage troops eight lucky punters – including Iwata himself – to play Mario Kart DS.