Does Playing Mario Kart Drunk Help Your Performance?

[Sirjinx]

Following on from the GTA DUI controversy, Drunk-driving in gaming rears its ugly, pie-eyed head again. This time, though, the bottle is in the other hand. Or the beer is in the other dashboard cup holder. Or something.

Over at the delightfully named (site name censored), some gamers decided to see just how much a little booze would affect their Mario Kart skills. Perhaps surprisingly, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 (an arrestable amount in the US and UK) actually made their times a few seconds faster.

Obviously, there is a world of difference between driving in real life -- where you can physically die and cause the deaths of others -- and driving a pretend dinosaur around a virtual track in a non-existent Go-Kart -- where the most you can lose is a couple of seconds while the game reloads. Still, If you are gaming and want to get 'in the zone' (and are of legal drinking age, natch) this vital scientific study may come in handy.

Before anyone starts -- DUI is stupid & if you do it in real life you are an idiot. This post is for informational purposes only, Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up mortgage repayments. etc. etc.



Now obviously anyone who is not of the legal age to drink will not be able to partake in this experiment but I can tell you from MUCH experience, this is 100% true. When I am intoxicated my driving skill in MKW is greatly increased. Inhibitions down...driving skill up. Makes no sense. Any other of you 21+ year old's who can vouch for this experiment???

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[MasterChief]

man I wish I was older so I can test this out

[Spiderman]

yea me too..... well in another 8 years i can....

[Steve]

LOL @ Jinx!

I have tested this out on several occasions after returning from drinking establishments at various unsociable hours (I'm obviously referring to drunken MKW playing only here). My experience has not been a positive one. When I've been a little "worse for wear", whilst I have felt otherwise at the time, I've been a little below my usual standard. The two instances that spring to mind have both resulted in my VR going down 300 & 600 points respectively. If I remember correctly the 600 points of damage was achieved in less than 20 minutes, which is an indication of quite how bad I was.

I'm interested in yours and others experiences......

Best wishes,

Steve.

[paulalan501]

It would help if i could get drunk!LOL which i cant anymore even after an all day piss up. What i sometimes have done though when ive been in and on mario kart in the evenings ive had a couple of beers and i find it more relaxing playing.

[Julie]

My friend who lives in germany raced drunk only once and he did better.lol. So I'm not sure about myself because I don't drink.lol

[TheeFuzz]

3 more years I can test that out(Canada's drinking age is like 18 or 19). Hopefully I will still be able to remember this test!

[SuperSonic]

I too can 100% confirm that it does. (Erm ... I found out during a holiday in Germany... Or somthing... )

I think it's because otherwise, I start getting real annoyed at it when I get robbed by Blue Shells ect. and I eventually just build up a massive headache, and it hurts my skillz. >_<

When a bit tipsy, I'm more relaxed, and I couldn't care less, so said events don't remotely phase me, and I drive better.

[Stephen]

My bachelor party.

There were four of us playing MKW and we consistently got 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th in the grand prix. So, I am going to go with, no.

However, I am absolutely certain that we obliterated the .08 BAC mark (me in particular) as the entire intention for the night was to be drunk and be beyond drunk (we succeeded at both).

So, not so much on the improvement. Nowhere close.

[Ninman]

I think SuperSonic is on to something. Do to the relaxed nature coursed by drinking you become less stressed when you lose, or get hit by several items.

I suppose this doesn't apply if you're a mean drunk xD

[ShadowX (KOH)]

I didnt try but I have been a little buzzed but I didnt do it intiantially anyway when ur like that ur reaction time is better but your more sloppy and might not be able to focus very well.

[lord_cagen]

im actually hammered most times i race and its fantastic!!almost like cruise control(especially when you've been on the red wine), so yeah, i totally agree, im so much better after a few-cases.lol