Latest news with #MarioKart-style
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
BattleKart: Global tech-karting sensation coming to Perth
Perth's northern suburbs will soon be home to a high-tech, interactive go-karting venue, with global tech-karting sensation BattleKart set to open its first WA location in Malaga later this year. Likened to a real-life Mario Kart-style experience, BattleKart uses around 50 overhead projectors and sensors to transform the floor into an interactive racetrack with a variety of different game modes. The projected track interacts with the karts, triggering real-time responses like slowing down when hitting virtual obstacles, or being affected by rockets, oil spills, and other in-game hazards created by opponents. From Dubai and Paris to the UK, there are currently 57 BattleKart centres across 10 countries worldwide, mostly concentrated in Western Europe. The Malaga centre is set to become just the fourth in Australia. Belinda Balbissi, who owns BattleKart Melbourne, is behind the franchise expansion into Perth. She said BattleKart offers a unique combination of technology and entertainment and is excited to bring the experience to WA. 'We're really excited to bring this patented technology to Perth; there's nothing else like it in the world, other than at BattleKart,' Ms Balbissi said. 'We can't wait to open and really think the community will embrace it — it's going to be so much fun for everyone.' The karts have anti-collision technology, meaning helmets are not required. Credit: Supplied Multiple game modes, including BattleSnake, BattleVirus, and BattleColour, will be played on the same track area at the click of a button, thanks to the projection system, meaning there's no need to set up or change the physical space between games. Given the karts are single-seaters only and feature anti-collision technology, helmets are also not required. While there will be no minimum age requirement, riders must be at least 145cm tall to operate the karts, which are electric and run on batteries. Each game session will last 15 minutes, with up to 10 riders on the track at any one time. Ms Balbissi said the tech-karting concept is designed to appeal to all ages, and if the Perth launch — expected before the end of the year — is successful, more locations may follow. 'People compare us to traditional karting, but it's unfair on them and unfair on us, we're offering something completely different with all the tech and interactive gameplay,' she said. 'Depending on how well Perth goes, the long-term plan is hopefully to open other centres across the state, but for now, we're focusing on getting this one up and running.'
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Future of Monaco Grand Prix sealed after Sunday's terrible F1 race
The future of the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1 is clear after an awful race in Monte Carlo on Sunday, which was won by Lando Norris from pole with zero overtakes completed on track by anyone Monaco is still "a mega venue" for Formula 1 despite the lack of entertainment on track. That's the view of Toto Wolff as the Mercedes chief rushed to the defence of the sport's 'Crown Jewel' event after another dire Sunday devoid of action. Lando Norris won from pole but, because the streets of Monte Carlo are so tight, he didn't have to break a sweat to hold off Charles Leclerc behind him. The top four finished in the same places they started and Lewis Hamilton only rose two places to fifth because of a quicker pit stop than Isack Hadjar and through an engine failure for Fernando Alonso. But there was still plenty of entertainment to be found earlier in the weekend with Saturday delivering another fantastic and fraught qualifying session. And Monaco isn't going anywhere soon, having late last year agreed a deal to continue hosting F1 races until at least 2031. But Mercedes boss Wolff believes the Monaco Grand Prix is a rare exception in elite sport where the size of the event outweighs the sporting spectacle itself. He said: "The perspective I look at is that most of the relevant sporting event is on Saturday and it always has been. "What Formula 1 has created here is unbelievable. Grandstands, full terraces, full boats like I've never seen before. We have spectacular races on the Saturday. Even if this was a zero stop race, it's still a mega venue and then it's the Saturday shootout that matters." Mercedes driver George Russell said racing in Monaco with today's wide and heavy F1 cars is "pretty silly" but agreed with his boss that "95 percent of people don't come to watch the race". The Brit joked that a sprinkler system could be installed to wet the track, and suggested replacing the race with a second qualifying shootout. Max Verstappen quipped that throwing bananas Mario Kart-style might be the only way to improve the Monaco action. F1 bosses made all drivers stop twice for new tyres on Sunday in a bid to liven up the action, but it did little to help. Christian Horner felt the change added "more jeopardy" but concurred with rival Wolff that Monaco should stay and proposed a layout change instead. The Red Bull boss said: "I would say it was an improvement, it was strategically more interesting, there was more jeopardy to it. The fundamental problem is you cannot overtake here. That's circuit specific, it's been on the calendar for 52 years. "I think it [changing the circuit layout] is the only way to really encourage any form of overtaking. Trying to create a bit more braking, you know, area either on the exit of the tunnel or turn one, if there was any way of creating a longer braking zone somewhere we should really investigate it." Race organisers the Royal Automobile Club of Monaco had to make several concessions in order to get F1 to agree to extend the event's contract. One of those was for the Monaco GP to move from its long-held slot on the final weekend of May, where it clashes with the Indy 500, to the first weekend of June from next year. But in truth F1 bosses remain keen to keep Monaco around as much as most of the drivers and team bosses are. And while that appetite remains, those who would be glad to see the back of F1's dullest race are set to be disappointed for many years to come.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Mario Kart-style' driver arrested for driving recklessly at 90 mph, Modesto police say
( — A man was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving recklessly at more than 90 miles per hour through Modesto. The California Highway Patrol described the suspect as a 'Mario Kart-style' driver. Mario Kart is a popular racing video game for Nintendo that revolves around go-kart racers, including Super Mario. In the game, drivers weave in and out of lanes, swerve, and violate a variety of traffic laws. Large wildfire off Highway 99 in San Joaquin County prompts emergency response Police referred to the suspect as the alias, 'Mario,' and said he was observed making making several unsafe lane changes and tailgating other motorists. CHP said, a specially marked vehicle, which is a more discreet police car, was used to catch him. 'Game Over,' CHP said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Thief's California crime spree ends in Vallejo, police say
( — A man accused of several thefts throughout California, including Placer County, was arrested in Vallejo on May 22. • Video Above: Most commonly reported crimes in the U.S. The Vallejo Police Department was alerted by multiple local retail businesses about a distinctive white Toyota Tacoma. The vehicle was tied to a wanted suspect in connection with a series of thefts throughout the Bay Area, according to VPD. One of the business managers reportedly provided officers with surveillance footage showing the driver stealing from their store and leaving in the Toyota. 'Mario Kart-style' driver arrested for driving recklessly at 90 mph, Modesto police say Officers said they located the suspect and his Toyota parked in a business parking lot on the 300 block of Fairgrounds Drive and arrested him. A records check revealed that the suspect had 15 active warrants issued by multiple agencies across California. The warrants were for various charges, including grand theft, burglary, vandalism, organized retail theft, and petty theft. Law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, Placer County, Colma, Berkeley, Union City, Milpitas, Petaluma, and San Jose issued warrants for his arrest. Police said the total bail associated with all of these warrants was $390,000. When officers searched the suspect, they said they discovered suspected methamphetamine and glass pipes commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. They also recovered a stolen portable air conditioner, valued at $749, from the bed of his truck. The item was confirmed stolen from a hardware store in Fairfield, according to VPD. He was booked into the Solano County Jail for alleged grand theft, possession of stolen property, narcotics violations, and his outstanding warrants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lando Norris makes strange admission about winning controversial Monaco GP
The Monaco Grand Prix was won by Lando Norris but there was controversy further back as some drivers slowed others down on purpose, using the tight Monte Carlo streets to their advantage Lando Norris partied in Monte Carlo last night as a proud Monaco Grand Prix winner – but admitted taking pole position on Saturday had meant more to him. The Brit locked up his tyres at the first corner but fended off Charles Leclerc and barely broke a sweat from there to win another processional Monaco race. "It feels amazing. It's a long, gruelling race, but good fun," he smiled. "[Qualifying] was a big part of winning the race – it was a big moment for me, it was a big achievement to be on pole in Monaco and it obviously set me up for the race today. "It was a well-controlled race. There were many opportunities for things to happen, but the team and I handled things well and we won in Monaco! It's been a long time, and my mum and dad are here. It was special. It's been a big weekend for myself personally, but a big one for us as a team." Norris is now three points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri in the standings, having lost ground to the Aussie in recent weeks. His racecraft has not been under question but the Brit has left a lot on the table in qualifying, which is what made his Monaco pole so satisfying. Norris added: "[Saturday] was a big day for me and I was probably more emotional yesterday getting pole than I am today winning the race. That's how much more yesterday meant, in a way. But both are great, good for me, my confidence and our motivation and momentum as a team." Norris held off Charles Leclerc who was denied back-to-back victories in his homeland. "At the end of the day, we lost the race yesterday and we should have done a better job," the rueful Ferrari driver said. "Lando did a better job this weekend and he deserves to win. I realised my childhood dream last year. "This year... I thought that being in the top 10 would be a challenge, but in the end we are second and very close to P1. It's been a good weekend overall, but I wish I won." Forcing all cars to make two stops did nothing to make the race any more interesting. It just allowed some drivers to deliberately slow others to help team-mates. That hampered others like George Russell who was punished for cutting a chicane in anger at being held up by Alex Albon. He finished pointless and said wetting the track might be the only way to spice up a "pretty silly" race. Max Verstappen, who finished fourth, joked that fitting cars with Mario Kart-style banana shooters would make it more fun. Lewis Hamilton was one of the few drivers to make up places but said: "I was kind of in the middle of nowhere. With the penalty I started seventh, was behind two cars for some time and when I managed to clear them, I was in no man's land after that. "The gap was relatively big and I was really not racing anyone. I needed a safety car or something to come into play, but it didn't happen. I didn't know what I was fighting for. But when I look at the actual data I wasn't anywhere near any of the guys up front. At least we went forward."
