History Trivia / Mariokart

** A fifth cup, called the Reverse Cup, [[https://tcrf.net/Proto:Mario_Kart:_Double_Dash!!#Reverse_Cup was planned]] for ''Double Dash!!'' which makes racers race the track the other way around. Interestingly, a fan-made mod, several official Tournaments for ''Wii'' and some of the courses in ''Tour'' revisit this unused concept of backwards tracks.

** The game mechanic of getting a speed boost by hopping off of a ramp actually originated in ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'', and that game and ''VideoGame/PacManWorldRally'' used it before before ''Mario Kart'' did. Similarly, ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'' had antigravity courses before ''Mario Kart 8'' began to use them.

** Luigi's infamous "death stare" didn't actually make its debut in ''8''. It originally appeared in one of Luigi's animations (Particularly when the soccer ball is scored against him) in ''[[VideoGame/MarioStrikers Mario Strikers Charged]]''.

** In the Japanese version of ''Mario Kart 64'' and ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' Luigi is voiced by French localizer Julien Bardakoff and Wario is voiced by German localizer Thomas Spindler. The English version of ''Mario Kart 64'' and the rest of the games from ''Double Dash!!" onwards have them voiced by Charles Martinet.
** Peach is voiced by Asako Kozuki in the Japanese version of ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'' (a portrayal which would be repurposed for all versions of ''Mario Kart Super Circuit''), and Leslie Swan in the international versions. In ''Double Dash!!'' and ''DS'' she is voiced by Jen Taylor and from ''Wii'' onwards she is voiced by Samantha Kelly.
** Toad is voiced by Isaac Marshall in the International version of ''Mario Kart 64'', whereas the Japanese version and ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' have him voiced by Tomoko Maruno. Same as Peach avobe, ''Double Dash!!'' and ''DS'' have him voiced by Jen Taylor, and from ''Wii'' onwards he is voiced by Samantha Kelly (Same applies to Toadette).

** In later games, Toad is voiced by the same actress as Peach (Creator/JenTaylor up to ''DS'', Samantha Kelly from ''Wii'' onwards).

* CashCowFranchise: Got even bigger with ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'', the latter actually selling better than ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'', which would have been unthinkable the previous generation. And ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' managed to be the-best second selling game the weekend of its release (selling 1.2 million units) behind ''VideoGame/WatchDogs''. For comparison, ''Watch Dogs'' is a MultiPlatform game available to all consoles, while ''Mario Kart 8'' is exclusive to the worst selling console of [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the eighth generation]] and it itself managed to increase sales of just the UsefulNotes/WiiU by ''666%'', with 82% of all copies being in bundles, making it very much the Wii U's first proper KillerApp. Between the Wii U original and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch UpdatedRerelease, ''Mario Kart 8'' is the highest selling game in the whole franchise.

* InternationalCoProduction: ''7'' was developed jointly by Kyoto-based Nintendo EAD and Texas-based Creator/RetroStudios. The built-in staff ghosts include a mix of records of both divisions of Nintendo.

* FanNickname:
** The infamous Spiny Shell is usually known as the Blue Shell... or as a [[ClusterFBomb long string of profanity]]. The most common name for the Spiny Shell in Sweden is instead ''Ledarskalet'', translating into "the leader shell", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin because it targets the leading racer.]]
** The Thunder Cloud from ''Mario Kart Wii'' is also known as the "Herpes Cloud". Because you give it to other players by contact.
** ''Mario Kart Wii'' gets called ''Mario Bike Wii'', ''Funky Bike Wii'', or ''Daisy Bike Wii'' due to rampant use of bikes with certain speed-boosting characters.
** ''Mario Kart 8'' has a long list of nicknames of its own.
*** It sometimes gets called ''Mario Kart Zero'', due to the anti-gravity being like that of ''VideoGame/FZero''.
*** Some people called it ''[[VideoGame/SonicRiders Mario Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' when it was revealed, due to the gravity gimmicks, though they're hardly the same.
*** ''Bowser Kart 8'' also became popular due to the seven Koopalings and Bowser being playable, exactly making eight high-ranking members of the Koopa Troop. ''Koopa Kart 8'' is also used when including the Koopalings and Bowser plus Dry Bowser, Koopa, and Lakitu, as well as Bowser Jr. and Dry Bones in ''Deluxe''.
*** ''Nintendo Kart'' and ''Super Smash Kart'' cropped up due to the DLC including [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing the Villager, Isabelle]] and [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] as playable drivers, alongside associated stages (with Bells and Rupees replacing coins and, on Hyrule Circuit, Deku Babas and Keese replacing Piranha Plants and Swoops), as well as the inclusion of [[VideoGame/FZero Mute City and Grand Blue]] tracks. They especially gained popularity after [[VideoGame/{{Splatoon}} the Inklings]] were also introduced for ''Deluxe''.
** Metal Mario is sometimes called "silver Mario", mainly by those who view him as just a re-skinned Mario.
** The Rainbow Road from ''Mario Kart 8'' has been nicknamed by Creator/GeorgeTakei as the "Gay Space Station".

** Luigi's infamous "death stare" didn't actually make its debut in ''8''. It originally appeared in one of Luigi's losing animations in ''[[VideoGame/MarioStrikers Mario Strikers Charged]]''.

* InMemoriam: ''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX'' is dedicated to the memory of Shin-ichi Odake, the producer of the previous ''GP'' titles.

** Nintendo's Digital Event video during [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3]] 2014 had a clip of Luigi giving his memetic death stare while pulling out a green Koopa shell when Reggie Fils-Amie mentioned ''Mario Kart 8'' at one point. Particularly impressive, given that the meme was less than a week ld at the time that Nintendo referenced it.

** Nintendo's Digital Event video during [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3]] 2014 had a clip of Luigi giving his memetic death stare while pulling out a green Koopa shell when Reggie Fils-Amie mentioned ''Mario Kart 8'' at one point.

** The death stare returns in Luigi's video at various amiibo kiosks.

* ScheduleSlip: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] with the second DLC Pack for ''8''. It was originally scheduled for May 2015, but got pushed to April 23rd.

*** ''Nintendo Kart'' and ''Super Smash Kart'' cropped up due to the DLC including [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing the Villager, Isabelle]] and [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]], and especially gained popularity after [[VideoGame/{{Splatoon}} the Inklings]] were introduced for ''Deluxe''.

** The infamous Spiny Shell is known to its fans and haters alike as the Blue Shell. That, or a [[ClusterFBomb long string of profanity]].
** The most common name for the Spiny Shell in Sweden is ''Ledarskalet'', translating into "the leader shell", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin because it targets the leading racer.]]

** ''Mario Kart 8'' sometimes gets called ''Mario Kart Zero'', due to the anti-gravity being like that of ''VideoGame/FZero''.
** Some people were also calling it ''[[VideoGame/SonicRiders Mario Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' when it was revealed, due to the gravity gimmicks, though they're hardly the same.
** ''Bowser Kart 8'' because of the seven Koopalings and Bowser, exactly making 8 high-ranking members of the Koopa Troop.
** Alternatively to the above, ''Koopa Kart 8'' when including the Koopalings and Bowser plus Dry Bowser, Koopa, and Lakitu, as well as Bowser Jr. and Dry Bones in ''Deluxe''.
** Don't forget ''Nintendo Kart'', after [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing the]] [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda DLC]] was revealed, and especially after [[VideoGame/{{Splatoon}} the Inklings]] were revealed for ''Deluxe''.

* CashCowFranchise: Got even bigger with ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'', the latter actually selling better than ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'', which would have been unthinkable the previous generation. And ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' managed to be the-best second selling game the weekend of its release (selling 1.2 million units) behind ''VideoGame/WatchDogs''. For comparison, ''Watch Dogs'' is a MultiPlatform game available to all consoles, while ''Mario Kart 8'' is exclusive to the worst selling console of [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the current generation]] and it itself managed to increase sales of just the UsefulNotes/WiiU by ''[[NumberOfTheBeast 666%]]'', with 82% of all copies being in bundles, making it very much the Wii U's first proper KillerApp. Between the Wii U original and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch UpdatedRerelease, ''Mario Kart 8'' is the highest selling game in the whole franchise.

* KillerApp: The entire ''Mario Kart'' series is one for every console it's been on. ''64'' and ''Wii'' particularly stand out, but every game from ''Double Dash!!'' onward counts as well.

* CashCowFranchise: Got even bigger with ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'', the latter actually selling better than ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'', which would have been unthinkable the previous generation. And ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' managed to be the-best second selling game the weekend of its release (selling 1.2 million units) behind ''VideoGame/WatchDogs''. For comparison, ''Watch Dogs'' is a MultiPlatform game available to all consoles, while ''Mario Kart 8'' is exclusive to the worst selling console of [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the current generation]] and it itself managed to increase sales of just the UsefulNotes/WiiU by ''[[NumberOfTheBeast 666%]]'', with 82% of all copies being in bundles, making it very much the Wii U's first proper KillerApp.

** In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'', Huey tells Luigi to "use that creepy stare" at one point.
* OlderThanTheyThink: The game mechanic of getting a speed boost by hopping off of a ramp actually originated in ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'', and that game and ''VideoGame/PacManWorldRally'' used it before before ''Mario Kart'' did. Similarly, ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'' had antigravity courses before ''Mario Kart 8'' began to use them.

** To the surprise of no one, Cat Peach was confirmed to headline ''Tour'''s Cat Tour event, due to the tweet announcement talking about cats and its preview picture having pink-colored drivers.

** A fifth cup, called the Reverse Cup, [[https://tcrf.net/Proto:Mario_Kart:_Double_Dash!!#Reverse_Cup was planned]] for ''Double Dash!!'' which makes racers race the track the other way around. Interestingly, a fan-made mod and several official Tournaments for ''Wii'' revisit this unused concept of backwards tracks.

** During early development, ''Mario Kart Wii'' was called ''Mario Kart X''. However, the name was changed probably so consumers in Japan wouldn't get confused over the Japanese name of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', which is known as ''Smash Bros. X'' there.

** Some people were also calling it [[VideoGame/SonicRiders Mario Riders Zero Gravity]] when it was revealed, due to the gravity gimmicks, though they're hardly the same.

** Don't forget ''Nintendo Kart'', after [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing the]] [[VideoGame/LegendOfZelda DLC]] was revealed, and especially after [[VideoGame/{{Splatoon}} the Inklings]] were revealed for ''Deluxe''.