In 1990, the Nintendo World Championships kicked off in Dallas. In 2015, they returned to the city for their 25th anniversary. This year, the video game competition will be back once again.
Nintendo announced Tuesday that the Nintendo World Championships 2017 will kick off later this month with qualifying rounds in eight cities. Dallas is one of those eight, with qualifiers happening Sept. 2 and 3 at the Best Buy at 9378 N. Central Expressway.
Anybody is welcome to participate in the qualifier round for free ("on a first-come, first-served" basis, Nintendo says), though they will be split into one of two age brackets: 12 and younger or 13 and older. Players ages 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian present to participate.
One winner from each age bracket at each location will qualify to attend the final event, which will take place on Oct. 7 in New York at Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom. There, players will "battle their way through a variety of games where they will be eliminated or will advance their way through the tournament based on their performance." The 2015 Nintendo World Championship event included matches from Splatoon and a race through a custom level in Super Mario Maker.
So what game do you need to master to qualify? Mario Kart 7 on the Nintendo 3DS.
If you want to practice beforehand, here is what you need to know:
Players in the 12 and younger bracket will compete for the best time racing as Mario on the "Luigi's Mansion" course using the Standard Kart, Standard Wheels and Super Glider.
Players in the 13 and older bracket will be competing as Bowser on the "Bowser Castle 1" course using the Standard Kart, Standard Wheels and Super Glider.
Not interested in the tournament? You can still swing by the Best Buy in question that day to try two highly-anticipated upcoming Nintendo games: Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch and Metroid: Samus Returns for the 3DS.
