| Cult of Mac

This retro racer is as close as we got to Mario Kart on the original Mac — and you can play it

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Emora Kart Mario Kart clone for Macintosh
Gaming has come a long way since 1994. (Thank goodness.)
GIF: Matt Sephton

Even back in the early ’90s, Mario Kart was one of the hottest games you could get to scratch that crazy kart-racing itch. Super Mario Kart became an instant success after it debuted in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. So, naturally, other game developers tried to replicate it on other platforms.

Emora Kart, launched in 1994, is the closest we got on Macintosh.

Later distributed with a 2002 copy of MacLife magazine in Japan, Emora Kart looked pretty fun — even in black and white — and it’s obvious where it got its inspiration. You can play this retro racer now in your browser (or download an original copy for free).

Mario Kart Tour a disappointment to early beta testers

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Mario Kart Tour screenshots
Here's your first look at Mario Kart Tour for mobile.
Photo: Resetera

Mario Kart Tour’s first beta test kicked off this week. Nintendo asked testers to refrain from posting images and videos online, but that was never going to happen. And that’s great for those of us who didn’t get beta invites.

Screenshots and clips of the game have now started popping up all over the place. There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Mario Kart fan, but it’s not all good news.

Nintendo kicks off first Mario Kart Tour beta test

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Mario Kart Tour has the second best debut month ever on mobile
Mario Kart Tour has the second best debut month ever on mobile
Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo has finally kicked off its first Mario Kart Tour beta test.

A lucky few have received invites to play the game early ahead of its public release this summer. Nintendo hopes the test will help “improve the quality of the game” before every Mario Kart fan gets their hands on it.

Nintendo delays its very first Mario Kart game for mobile

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Mario Kart
It won’t be here until the summer.
Photo: Nintendo

You’ll have to wait longer to get your hands on the very first Mario Kart game for Android and iOS.

Nintendo has confirmed that the launch of Mario Kart Tour has been pushed back to this summer. The much-anticipated title was originally scheduled to arrive by the end of March, but Nintendo says it needs more time to “improve quality of the application.”

It is Nintendo’s second big delay in just one week.

Fortnite’s new Playground mode spawns amazing Mario Kart clone

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Fortnite Mario Kart clone
Race around the Tilted Towers track with shopping karts.
Photo: JoshB_C

Fortnite’s exciting new Playground mode finally relaunched this week, giving new players the chance to learn the game outside of Battle Royale matches. But you don’t have to use it for practice.

The beauty of Playground mode is that you can do almost anything you like in it — including making your own Mario Kart clone. Check out this amazing track built in Tilted Towers.

Mario Kart Tour will be ‘free-to-start’ on mobile

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Mario Kart Tour has the second best debut month ever on mobile
Mario Kart Tour has the second best debut month ever on mobile
Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo’s upcoming Mario Kart Tour game will be “free-to-start” on mobile, developer DeNA has confirmed.

Much like Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem Heroes, you’ll be able to enjoy the game without coughing up any cash, though optional in-app purchases will provide some advantage.

Apple’s big plans for iOS 12, this week on The CultCast

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CultCast 321
iOS 12 is up for some big changes.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s got big plans for iOS 12, and we’ll tell you all about them this week on The CultCast. Plus: New details tell us more about 2018’s iPhone X Plus; Nintendo says a new Mario Kart is coming to iOS; Apple works to bring iPad apps to Mac; and don’t miss our review of the Elgato Stream Deck, a must-have accessory for you Twitch, Mixer and YouTube streamers.

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