The real-life Mario Kart craze that’s coming to Melbourne
It’s a mix of electric karts and video gaming and is fast becoming a big hit in Europe — and now Melbourne is revving up for the wild new BattleKart craze.
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It’s been described as real-life Mario Kart. And it’s coming to Melbourne.
BattleKart is a mix of electric karts and video gaming and is growing in popularity in parts of Europe.
The attraction is now set to make its Australian debut in West Footscray next February.
The venue has a 2000sq m track for up to 12 drivers at a time.
BattleKart promises participants a dose of augmented reality declaring: “You don’t play the game; you play IN the game!”
Kart drivers race each other but also take part in a video game which is projected on to the track.
The track has no markings on the surface but instead the course is created by more than 40 projectors on the ceiling.
Sensors in the karts also help avoid crashes
BattleKart’s Melbourne franchisee Basem Yousry said unlike traditional karting, this experience was “safe and fun and interactive”.
“It’s more a gaming experience and you are guaranteed not to injure yourself,’’ he said.
Mr Yousry was a founder of the Smash Splash venue in Oakleigh but he hopes his physiotherapy background can eventually enable people in wheelchairs to take part in BattleKart.
Games incorporated into the track action include the soccer-based BattleFoot and BattleSnake which is created from the old Nokia phone game.
The creators say that reality meets the virtual and is the future of gaming.
BattleKart has 23 centres across Europe including France, Germany and Belgium as well as new sites in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
The median age of European participants is 33 years old but the game is targeted at all ages even though a height limit of 1.45m does apply.
A 15-minute session with the choice of three game modes will cost $59 or $110 for 30 minutes.
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