Live Mario Kart DS matches make a Korean TV show

By Spencer . January 24, 2008 . 1:02pm

Live Mario Kart DS matches make a Korean TV show

The televised Guitar Hero match was just a glimpse into the diversity of video game shows I'm watching in Korea. (Yes, there are more than the Starcraft league.) Champ, a station that usually broadcasts cartoons like YuYu Hakusho, has a program called Run & Run Mario Kart DS. The half an hour long show interviews six young contestants and then shows them racing wirelessly. This is the first I’ve heard about a competitive Mario Kart league in Korea, but it’s clear some players are taking Mario Kart DS very seriously.

 

Run & Run Mario Kart DS is also an indicator of how popular the Nintendo DS is in Korea. The system has been around for barely a year and Mario Kart DS came out on April 5, 2007. In this relatively short amount of time the DS blossomed enough for a production company to green light a television show centered competitive Mario Kart racing.

 

Live Mario Kart DS matches make a Korean TV show

 

These three players are on the same team. Notice how they are wearing Mario Kart DS jerseys. All six competitors have them.

 

Live Mario Kart DS matches make a Korean TV show

 

This is a really blurry shot of one of the races. All of racing footage is shown full screen with the two announcers making comments about the players performance.


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  • Aoshi00

    Dang, I’ve always known that Korea is into online games and competitive gaming, but this is pretty serious.

  • Aoshi00

    Dang, I’ve always known that Korea is into online games and competitive gaming, but this is pretty serious.

  • TacoBeaver

    six ppl at the same time?

  • TacoBeaver

    six ppl at the same time?

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    @tacobeaver – No. Each match was one on one and there were four matches. Three races with each player on a team and a final with the top three times.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    @tacobeaver – No. Each match was one on one and there were four matches. Three races with each player on a team and a final with the top three times.

  • ChrisUlt

    DS FOR THE WIN!

    Is this like a game show?

  • ChrisUlt

    DS FOR THE WIN!

    Is this like a game show?

  • ChrisUlt

    DS FOR THE WIN!

    Is this like a game show?

  • http://www.xboxottawa.ca machinima

    MarioKart might be newish in Korea, but they’ve been playing KartRider for years

  • http://www.xboxottawa.ca machinima

    MarioKart might be newish in Korea, but they’ve been playing KartRider for years

  • http://www.omigoproject.blogspot.com Irving_Rivas

    It’s a pretty good idea, y’know… it sure calls upon a market of people hoping to catch tips… I’d say it’s better than many american TV game shows..

  • http://www.omigoproject.blogspot.com Irving_Rivas

    It’s a pretty good idea, y’know… it sure calls upon a market of people hoping to catch tips… I’d say it’s better than many american TV game shows..

  • http://www.omigoproject.blogspot.com Irving_Rivas

    It’s a pretty good idea, y’know… it sure calls upon a market of people hoping to catch tips… I’d say it’s better than many american TV game shows..

  • philco

    LOL anyone know where I could watch this … I’d like to see just how good those Koreans are

  • philco

    LOL anyone know where I could watch this … I’d like to see just how good those Koreans are

  • WIILUIGIDS

    FINALLY! Someone does something right by producing a kind of MLG show based on Mario Kart DS on TV. The show looks NICE! and all, but I wonder if you can play against the contestants online from around the World?

  • WIILUIGIDS

    FINALLY! Someone does something right by producing a kind of MLG show based on Mario Kart DS on TV. The show looks NICE! and all, but I wonder if you can play against the contestants online from around the World?

  • WIILUIGIDS

    FINALLY! Someone does something right by producing a kind of MLG show based on Mario Kart DS on TV. The show looks NICE! and all, but I wonder if you can play against the contestants online from around the World?

  • http://www.mmud.info MMoi

    Too bad, this show was displayed last year in August… only few times.

    Mario Kart is not much developped here in Korea….

  • http://www.mmud.info MMoi

    Too bad, this show was displayed last year in August… only few times.

    Mario Kart is not much developped here in Korea….

  • http://n-xg.com Monie

    I wish America had that, I’d be beasting on a lot of people.

  • http://n-xg.com Monie

    I wish America had that, I’d be beasting on a lot of people.

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