What happens when youtake the creativity of a retro gaming fan, the charm of a backyard course, andthe chaos of Mario Kart—then invite a bunch of gaming legends and fans to tryit for real? You get one unforgettable VIP party Saturday night after the Utah Retro GamExpo! You can watch my party recap by clicking HERE.

I was honored to be aguest at this year’s convention, and the after-party was nothing short of epic.Hosted by the event’s owner at his own home, the backyard featured a fullyrealized real-life Mario Kart track—complete with sharp turns, tricky straightaways,and the potential for a little friendly mayhem. And yes, there was aspectacular crash during the night. Fortunately, the driver lived to tell thetale, adding a bit of real-world drama to the evening’s fun.

The party lineup wasstacked with talent and personalities from across the retro gaming and popculture scene: artist Paul Neimeyer (Mortal Kombat logo), game designer WarrenDavis (Q*bert), YouTubers Mr. Wright Way and GameDad, Gary from Roxolid Productions,Gini Holtzman (Peppermint Patty from Peanuts), and even the actor who portrayedJax in the original Mortal Kombat game! With such a guest list, theconversations were as entertaining as the activities—it was great getting toknow the convention host and catching up with Warren and talking about writing.

And speaking ofactivities—the Mario Kart course wasn’t the only attraction. A home arcade wasconnected to the backyard, loaded with retro arcade cabinets, Skee-Ball, andmore. It was the perfect place to recharge between races and enjoy a hit ofgaming nostalgia.

We were also treated tosome amazing BBQ, fueling us for the night’s adventures. The combination ofgreat food, great company, and the surreal experience of racing karts in aretro-themed backyard made this one of the most unique gaming parties I’ve everattended.

If you’ve ever wonderedwhat it’s like to step inside the chaotic fun of Mario Kart—and live to tellthe tale—this is the video for you!