Nexon opens NA KartRider beta

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted Oct 2, 2007 6:35 pm PT

With its free-to-play, microtransaction-supported business model, South Korea-based Nexon excels at attracting massive numbers of players to its online games. Since releasing the online multiplayer racing game KartRider in its home country in 2004, the publisher claims the game has been played by...

With its free-to-play, microtransaction-supported business model, South Korea-based Nexon excels at attracting massive numbers of players to its online games. Since releasing the online multiplayer racing game KartRider in its home country in 2004, the publisher claims the game has been played by more than 30 percent of South Korea's population and aggregated more than 150,000,000 users worldwide.

Now, KartRider is set to zip onto North American PCs. The publisher announced today that the game's open beta has officially begun. Taking its cues from Nintendo's brand of go-karting featuring its mustachioed mascot, KartRider lets up to eight players race online in a range of exotic environments and a variety of karts. When the game officially launches, players can purchase customizations and upgrades for their online personality and their chosen kart using real-world money. Interested participants can sign up for the beta on Nexon's KartRider Web site.

16 Comments

  • Chernnunos

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 9:25 pm PT

    I played this several times before when it was called Super Mario Kart and when it was a better game than this.

  • Strike_Zer0

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 10:38 am PT

    Cool. Should be worth a look at least.

  • brilhasti

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 9:14 am PT

    I own a top-of-the-line video card, the 8800 GTX ,and after playing this game for an hour the card started screwing up. It could be coincidence, I suppose, but I'm going to throw the warning out there. I haven't been able to test if it has any permanent damage yet. I'm hoping it's nothing a reboot won't fix.

    Update: I was able to play Kart for ~45min at lunch today. I'm hoping I can keep playing this without any problems. Other more taxing games were also playing just fine so it appears there's no long term damage for now.

  • teirdome

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 8:26 am PT

    Those numbers seem grossly inflated to me, but dang.

  • Konchosensei

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 6:52 am PT

    PC Bang!

  • Konchosensei

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 6:48 am PT

    Wow. I was bored of this game two years ago...

    OLD!

  • ROTO_DQ

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 4:23 am PT

    Don't you think it just a fake of mario kart? though it's interesting i won't play it.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 12:40 am PT

    This game actually gets played competitively in Korea.

    It's not bad.

  • Wezker619

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 10:47 pm PT

    Didnt like it it was lame!

  • Meleeboy

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 10:09 pm PT

    I haven't tried this one yet, but most of Nexon's games are pretty decent, with Maple Story being my favorite free MMORPG. I'll try this one out soon.

  • Canitbe

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 9:04 pm PT

    Looks like yet another, weird ass entry from yet another, South Korean developer.

  • lancerex6

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 8:50 pm PT

    wow...NA version is a bit late, I've already played TW version and got bored of this game.

  • Cry0Tek

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 8:02 pm PT

    I'll give it a try. Or at least DL it for now.

  • pikachu01

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 7:49 pm PT

    Played this beta a few months ago...its actually pretty good for being free.

  • EPaul

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 7:23 pm PT

    I played the EU Beta a few months back it is pretty fun not as good as Mario Kart though. Kart Racing fans should give it a try

  • slick_gio

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 7:18 pm PT

    I think I'll give it a shot if its anything like Mario Kart.

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