You think you're too cool for South By Southwest, the annual tech and music conference that takes over Austin, Texas for two weeks? Then I have four words for you: Real Life Mario Kart. Nothing could possibly be better than that.
Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted nothing more than to blast around a go-karting track while I acquire power-ups that let me crush my friends and win races even though I have no real driving skills to speak of. This event at SXSW may put me as close as I'm ever going to get.
Austin360 reports that Pennzoil and Nintendo are sponsoring a four-lap real-life version of Mario Kart for you and three friends, and it may speed away as this year's biggest hit at the conference.
You go around the track and power up by picking up various icons sourced from the Mario Kart games that change the way the karts work — they'll speed up or slow down depending on what you get. They even have some new features from the upcoming new Mario Kart 8, like antigravity that puts your kart upside-down.
On video, anyway. GoPro camers are set up on each kart that capture video of the race, and a team of editors splices in the effects from the games, Austin360 says. Okay, so you won't be firing actual shells at each other. It still sounds like a blast.
Austin360 says it's worth a try, although you should expect the line to be even longer than the one at Franklin Barbecue. You also have to pass a breathalyzer test to prove you're not intoxicated, which may exclude about 90 percent of SXSW attendees.
Whatever. Real Life Mario Kart. I need this in my life.
They Have Real-Life Mario Kart In Austin For SXSW And It Looks Amazing