Village Gamer

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, start your engines! Nintendo of Canada will celebrate the launch of the Mario Kart 8 game by giving Canadian fans the chance to play the game at Best Buy stores across Canada on Saturday, May 24 before it’s officially released on May 30. The celebration will continue with special karting events in Toronto and Montreal on Saturday, May 31.

“Mario Kart 8 will drive players wild with fun, challenging tracks, new playable characters and its anti-gravity feature which will flip kart racing on its head,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “Nintendo of Canada is sharing in the excitement of Mario Kart 8 by giving fans a chance to play the game before it launches at select Best Buy stores and at Mario’s Canadian Karting Day events hosted in Toronto and Montreal on launch weekend.”

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Play Mario Kart 8 before launch at Best Buy: To give fans a sneak peek at the game’s highly anticipated on-track action, select Best Buy locations across Canada will allow fans to be some of the first to play Mario Kart 8 in-store. On Saturday, May 24, these locations will kick Mario Kart 8 into high gear with hands-on demonstrations from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (local time), during which the first 50 players will receive a voucher to a local karting track for a free race. Additional giveaways will be available for the duration of the retail events, while supplies last.

Alberta

• 350 Stewart Green SW, Calgary
• 8180 11th Ste SE, Calgary
• 9931 19th Ave NW, Edmonton
• 13924 137th Ave NW, Edmonton

British Columbia

• 2220 Cambie St, Vancouver
• 10025 King George Blvd, Surrey
• 20202 66th Ave, Langley

Manitoba

• 1580 Regent Ave W, Winnipeg

Nova Scotia

• 11 Washmill Lake Crt, Halifax

Ontario

• 745 Kanata Ave, Ottawa
• 770 Gardiners Rd, Kingston
• 80 Concert Way, Barrie

Quebec

• 5401 Blvd des Galeries, Chateau-Richer

Saskatchewan 

• 3310 8th St E, Saskatoon

Mario’s Canadian Karting Day: For Mario Kart fans in Toronto and Montreal, Nintendo of Canada will host Mario’s Canadian Karting Day on Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (local time). The first 500 fans ages 5 and older will be able to test their go-karting skills in real life while competing for Spiny Shell trophies. Everyone will have a chance to win Mario Kart 8 prizes throughout the day (while supplies last) and participation is free. Additionally, attendees will get to turn their world upside down and take their picture at the Mario Kart 8 Anti-Gravity Photo Booth. Toronto fans will also get the chance to meet 15 year-old Eastern Canadian ROTAX Kart Champion Jeff Kingsley.

The events will be held at go-karting tracks in Toronto and Montreal:

• Toronto: 401 Mini-Indy Go Karts (37 Stoffel Drive), 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Montreal: Action 500 Montreal (5592 Rue Hochelaga), 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Wii U Deluxe Set Bundle: Mario Kart 8 introduces original track designs that highlight the game’s new anti-gravity feature, which allows players to race upside down or up vertical surfaces, all in HD. Racers will also enjoy a variety of series-favourite features, including the return of 12-player online competitive play, four-player local multiplayer, hang gliders, underwater racing and motorbikes. With Mario Kart TV, players can watch their highlight racing reels, rewind them, play them in slow motion or upload them to Miiverse or their YouTube channels. Mario Kart 8 launches for Wii U on May 30 in stores and the Nintendo eShop at a suggested retail price of $64.99. Nintendo is also releasing the Mario Kart 8 Wii U Deluxe Set bundle that includes a Wii U Deluxe Set system, a Mario Kart 8 game, a red Mario Wii Wheel accessory and a red Mario Wii Remote Plus controller, all at a suggested retail price of just $349.99. Those who register their copy of Mario Kart 8 with Club Nintendo between May 30, 2014 and July 31, 2014 will receive a free download code for New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, or Wii Party U.