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The Karting game.
The idea is devilishly simple - popular games characters racing around an assorted layout of colourful, inventive tracks, all aiming for first place with the help of a few well placed power ups (well, cheating really).
But why the popularity? Simple. Whilst the premise is exceedingly simple – its really just a race to first place – the execution is superb and the fun and overwhelming satisfaction you can get from pipping your mates to the post in Mario Kart is one of the finest videogaming experiences money can buy. But it’s not just Mario now. Mario Kart has spawned a host of imitators and competitors – in essence, it has created a genre, with the latest ones being Crash Team Racing, South Park Rally, Konami Krazy Racing, and Shrek Kart.
So I got thinking. What other successful game series could make the port over to the ‘Kart’ game? There is a rich wealth of potential just waiting to be used, and, taking it upon myself to be the innovator who does it (lol), I have come up with a variety of new Karting games that will have developers beating down my door to get to me (and not just my mum telling me to tidy my room!). So, I present to you my list of Karting games, starting with…
SONIC KART
I know it’s incredibly similar to Mario Kart, and I know that Sonic may be a playable character in Mario Kart GC, but I think he would be better suited to his own Karting game. Lets face it, there would be no shortages of characters – Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big the Cat, Dr. Robotnik (oops, sorry, Eggman), Dark Sonic, Chaos etc. That’s not all. As a certified Sega game you could have other characters from Sega classics like NiGHTS, Panzer Dragoon and Shenmue. In fitting with the Sonic style, this kart game would be more speed based. Tracks could be based on the Metropolis levels, and the usual grassy plains and two-toned orange blocks, and the traditional weapons would be best suited here, with the typical missiles and oil slicks. It’s something to think about…
METAL KART SOLID
Imagine the enjoyment of playing a kart version of this game! Just playing a comical version of, let’s face it, is a very serious game would be a sure fire bestseller! The world of MGS gives us a wealth of weapons to use – chaff grenades to stop other players karts, Stinger missiles to blow them up, and the sword to pierce their tyres! In various karts could be Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, Solidus Snakes, Revolver Ocelot, Olga Gurlukovich, Decoy Octopus, Raiden and Otacon. Secret characters could be the likes of Vulcan Raven and Gray Fox etc. Just one thing though – I wonder what Mr. Kojima would think of it all…
GRAN KARTISMO
I know this is already a driving game, but bear with me. One aspect of Karting games that hasn’t really been exploited is the ability to upgrade your kart and add new features to it, or build a stable of karts. But what about characters I hear you shout? Well, true, a lot of appeal does come from playing certain characters. As it’s a Sony game, why not have Sony characters in it? You could have Lara Croft, Jak and Daxter, Maximo, Dante etc. Quite a diverse mix, with the opportunity to modify you kart, would be some game, eh?
And last but certainly not least, my personal favourite…
BANJO KART-OOIE
I know we had Diddy Kong Racing but think of the potential in this game – characters would include Banjo, Kazooie, Gruntilda, Goggles, Jinjo, and everyone’s favourite shaman, Mumbo Jumbo. Courses could be hand picked from the various multi coloured, vivid worlds of Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie. My picks would be track like ‘Pterodactyl Land’, with dinosaurs running on the track a la Toads Turnpike, as well as tracks based on other worlds like Mumbo’s Mountain and Witchyworld, the possibilities really are endless.
With E3 on the horizon, new Karting games could be on the menu - maybe one of my picks will see the light of day?
You never know, you might just be surprised…
Thanks for reading,
Russell
:)
Kart games are always fun as long as they don't get tedious after a while, I used to thoroughly enjoy a good bashing at Mario Kart, but what put me off was Speed Phreaks now that game was a bore, but some great karting ideas there RM18, Im would have definatly bought both the MGS kart & GT Kart if they were ever developed, there's nothing better than racing around trying to win a race but what makes it even better is using strategies, weapons, stealth to defeat the enemy but
the only problem I can find with the MGS Kart idea is...
How Would You kill Fortune? :D
Ive done a little story in word but i dont know what i should do with it.
Should i keep it short and simple or what?
Its a story called......... "The Assassin"
Im going to post it soon when ive finished.
Its not a spoof but a story.
:)
P.S. Good idea!
I dont really like racing games myself but find those with the power up thingies and basically comical stuff a little better.
hhmmmm, maybe.
Liked the MGS karting idea, that would be funny. You cant forget about the colonel though....... and around every bend the thing would come up with him saying bizzare stuff.
"Turn the console off! Youve been doing hand brake turns for long enough now!"
:D
The Karting game.
The idea is devilishly simple - popular games characters racing around an assorted layout of colourful, inventive tracks, all aiming for first place with the help of a few well placed power ups (well, cheating really).
But why the popularity? Simple. Whilst the premise is exceedingly simple – its really just a race to first place – the execution is superb and the fun and overwhelming satisfaction you can get from pipping your mates to the post in Mario Kart is one of the finest videogaming experiences money can buy. But it’s not just Mario now. Mario Kart has spawned a host of imitators and competitors – in essence, it has created a genre, with the latest ones being Crash Team Racing, South Park Rally, Konami Krazy Racing, and Shrek Kart.
So I got thinking. What other successful game series could make the port over to the ‘Kart’ game? There is a rich wealth of potential just waiting to be used, and, taking it upon myself to be the innovator who does it (lol), I have come up with a variety of new Karting games that will have developers beating down my door to get to me (and not just my mum telling me to tidy my room!). So, I present to you my list of Karting games, starting with…
SONIC KART
I know it’s incredibly similar to Mario Kart, and I know that Sonic may be a playable character in Mario Kart GC, but I think he would be better suited to his own Karting game. Lets face it, there would be no shortages of characters – Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big the Cat, Dr. Robotnik (oops, sorry, Eggman), Dark Sonic, Chaos etc. That’s not all. As a certified Sega game you could have other characters from Sega classics like NiGHTS, Panzer Dragoon and Shenmue. In fitting with the Sonic style, this kart game would be more speed based. Tracks could be based on the Metropolis levels, and the usual grassy plains and two-toned orange blocks, and the traditional weapons would be best suited here, with the typical missiles and oil slicks. It’s something to think about…
METAL KART SOLID
Imagine the enjoyment of playing a kart version of this game! Just playing a comical version of, let’s face it, is a very serious game would be a sure fire bestseller! The world of MGS gives us a wealth of weapons to use – chaff grenades to stop other players karts, Stinger missiles to blow them up, and the sword to pierce their tyres! In various karts could be Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, Solidus Snakes, Revolver Ocelot, Olga Gurlukovich, Decoy Octopus, Raiden and Otacon. Secret characters could be the likes of Vulcan Raven and Gray Fox etc. Just one thing though – I wonder what Mr. Kojima would think of it all…
GRAN KARTISMO
I know this is already a driving game, but bear with me. One aspect of Karting games that hasn’t really been exploited is the ability to upgrade your kart and add new features to it, or build a stable of karts. But what about characters I hear you shout? Well, true, a lot of appeal does come from playing certain characters. As it’s a Sony game, why not have Sony characters in it? You could have Lara Croft, Jak and Daxter, Maximo, Dante etc. Quite a diverse mix, with the opportunity to modify you kart, would be some game, eh?
And last but certainly not least, my personal favourite…
BANJO KART-OOIE
I know we had Diddy Kong Racing but think of the potential in this game – characters would include Banjo, Kazooie, Gruntilda, Goggles, Jinjo, and everyone’s favourite shaman, Mumbo Jumbo. Courses could be hand picked from the various multi coloured, vivid worlds of Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie. My picks would be track like ‘Pterodactyl Land’, with dinosaurs running on the track a la Toads Turnpike, as well as tracks based on other worlds like Mumbo’s Mountain and Witchyworld, the possibilities really are endless.
With E3 on the horizon, new Karting games could be on the menu - maybe one of my picks will see the light of day?
You never know, you might just be surprised…
Thanks for reading,
Russell