Storyline

It is the year 2062. You strap on the VR headset and start the game. You lie awake, taking in the immersive neon atmosphere until at last you see a smiling figure in front of you. "Welcome, new player, I'm SKAI! I'm probably the most important member of the Spar Kart team, because I get to watch over this digital world & help Racers become great! Okay, maybe not as great as me, but pretty close!" You noticed a mischievous twinkle in her eye—as if daring you to challenge her—as she spoke that last line. Regardless, SKAI continues. "Anything is possible in the world of Spar Kart. Your avatar is made to look just like you, your special abilities are only limited by your imagination, and your "kart" can be anything from a typical racing machine to a hoverboard!" With a wave of her hand, SKAI creates a timeline interface, showing the game's major developments over the past two years. 2060: Starting Line Spar Kart launches worldwide, with millions of players joining within the first week. 2061: First World Championship The First World Championship sees more than 500 million Racers compete for unprecedented prize money & worldwide fame, cementing itself as a literal game changer in the professional Esports industry. 2062: Expansion In-game Hub Capitals become bustling social spaces, new career paths emerge in Spar Kart, and the differences between virtual & physical realities become less certain. After a few moments, the timeline interface disappears, and SKAI continues… "Welp, that's enough of that boooooring history lesson. Let's talk about the good stuff: Racing & Fighting!" "In our primary game mode, Stock Race, you race around a track…obviously…but you also get to beat up your fellow Racers! You can use your attacks & special abilities to knock other Racers off the track, winning when you cross the finish line first or when you're the last Racer standing." "If you duke it out in the ranked queue—or better yet, in the monthly online majors—you can improve your spot on the World Rankings. After the annual World Championship, the Top 100 Global list is updated for the next year, hopefully with your name on it! There's a lot of street cred to be had from being the best of the best." The twinkle in her eye makes a comeback. "So what do you say, you think you're good enough even to beat me on the tracks? I'm always up for a challenge…if you can give me one…" Without waiting for an answer, your vague neon surroundings suddenly start to shift again, like you're going through a strange tunnel, until an iridescent city materialises in front of you. SKAI shows off the city by making a sweeping gesture with her arm. "This big colourful city is your closest Hub Capital. There's a "Hub" just like this for every major city in the world, but you can travel to any of them instantly or take a short drive between them on your kart if you're feeling like going the scenic route. These Hubs are where you can meet up with friends, find a team to join, or even create your own hang-out spot!" With a fluid hand motion, SKAI brings you both into a building near the centre of the Hub Capital. There's a sign above the door that says, "Avatar Customisation." SKAI looks at you expectantly. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's set up your avatar and get you started on your first race!" You walk into the building, finally taking the first few steps of your Spar Kart journey. Welcome home, Racer.