A THE KART OF WAR
We check out Dubai’s new kart-gaming crossover
recent survey conducted by
looked at a significant sample set of videogames across various genres and found that the Mario Kart franchise was, by some lap-winning distance, the series that elevated the pulses of players the most.
But it’s not just a workout for your circulatory system. It, dear friends, is a teacher. It’s Sun Tzu for the joypad generation. Your first lesson takes place at the character selection screen. Size is only ever part of the equation – whether you’re a giant mutant monarchic turtle, or a diminutive toadstool, you have to race to your strengths. Second, if you live your life in 50CC, you’ll never realise your full potential, get out of your comfort zone. Don’t compare yourself with others, run your own race, as the memory of the finish line fades, that’s all that matters. And finally, never rest in complacency – sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind – just know that you’re only ever one blue shell away from a complete reversal of fortune.
These experiences can become actionable learnings and transferrable skills, and occasionally in a very real and ‘ hands-on’ sense. Chaos Karts, opened last month in an old warehouse opposite Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, and is an on-track racing concept that looks and feels very much like Mario Kart IRL.
It features industry-leading projection technology to fuse the worlds of go-karting and augmented reality, creating a reallife videogame that goes beyond 4D and
4K. It allows you to race across virtualthemed trackscapes, collecting gems and hilariously inconveniencing your friends with precision-timed virtual power-up projectiles – then driving past them to secure victory and a temporarily ruined friendship. All the best parts of Mario Kart.
THE EXPERIENCE
With no physical obstacles on the track and anti-collision technology, drivers won’t need to wear helmets or driving suits, but there is a minimum age limit of nine years old, and a minimum height requirement of 1.3m and up. Ticket prices start at around Dhs179, for a 20-minute session.
Off track, you’ll find a café and a rather ominous-sounding contraption (particularly if you watched the film of the same name), The Cube. This immersive experiential zone once again pits you against your buddies in a series of competitive games (priced from Dhs60 for two games) titled Photon Labyrinth, Eagle Eye Challenge, Flash Strike Football, Wall Quest, Lazer Glide Adventure, and Bullseye Blitz.
Al Quoz, next to Alserkal Avenue, Mon to Wed and Sun 10am to 10pm, Fri to Sat
10am to 12am, from Dhs179. chaoskarts.ae