The Namco-Nintendo collaborative effort is scheduled to ship to US arcades come this October.

A Nintendo press release issued today confirmed that their latest joint arcade effort with Namco, Mario Kart Arcade GP, will be hitting US (and presumably Japanese) arcades in October. The cabinet will sport seats for two racers with the option of linking to another cabinet for a total of four simultaneous participants. At least 11 characters will be selectable from the start (including beloved big-eater Pac-Man). Interestingly, player identification will be taken to another level with the "Namcam 2", a device that takes an image of the player and morphs it to a likeness of their chosen in-game character.

Here is the official press release:

MARIO AND PEACH MEET PAC-MAN AND BLINKY

There's A Party In The Mushroom Kingdom And You're Invited

SAN JOSE, CA - September 26, 2005 Namco and Nintendo have teamed up again, offering for the first time, a proven consumer franchise for the arcade!

Word about this acclaimed title has been on the streets for over 8 months. Namco is happy to announce that MARIO KART� ARCADE GP� will be shipping in October. Due to limited production, this soon to be chart-topping game is available in limited quantities so act fast.

MARIO KART� ARCADE GP� offers classic Mario Kart action with 11 characters. Familiar Mario Kart � characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach and Wario tear up the track with characters available only in the arcade model�. Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Blinky. Each character has unique driving abilities so you'll have to try them all. The Player Continuation feature makes that possible!

MARIO KART� ARCADE GP� is a 2-player dedicated game. It's an impressive attraction piece when two cabinets are linked for 4-player thrills and spills. Six worlds offer a variety of racecourses, 24 in all, to challenge both hard-core Mario Kart� fans and casual players alike. Add in the variations of time and environment and you get 68 diverse courses! Plus, there are hilarious challenge stages available to those who wins the Grand Prix Mode tracks.

This dedicated model features a NamCam 2 to add to the excitement of the game play. You insert your face in the character image of your choice and BAM�.an image of your marvelous mug appears on screen where your rivals can see you as you leave them in the dust.

The game play is fast, furious and FUN! You race around the course and collect crazy items to toss at your adversaries. There are 57 objects available, over 40 developed just for the arcade model! Some items can be thrown forward at the competitors racing in front of you on the course and others can be used to disrupt those who are hot on your tail. There are items that lock on your target and some that provide you with shields to reflect the rival's attack, there's even one that allows you to become invisible! While you're trying to whip around the track and stump your friends you've got to dodge the stuff your buddies are tossing your way! The sophisticated feedback steering will have you wishing you never got hit by that blasted Needle Bomb, Thunder Cloud or Tornado. Gathering coins along the way increases your speed and helps you win the race. Advanced players will be thrilled when they discover the hidden moves and use them to their advantage.

MARIO KART� ARCADE GP� is suitable for players of all ages. For pricing and delivery information contact your local distributor or the Namco America Inc. Sales Office at 877 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, IL 60106 (630) 238-2248, fax (630) 238-9333. For additional product information visit our website at www.namcoarcade.com.

This autumn is making out to be an unprecedented time for Mario Kart fans... first this Arcade GP with all the bells and whistles (oooo, steering wheel) of an arcade cabinet and of course the November release of the online-enabled Mario Kart DS, the game that will debut Nintendo's Wifi Connection service. To the starting line!