The Mario Kart truck pitched its tent in Boston this week. Working Downtown, I was able to head down to Government Center, where the truck had opened its doors (and tent flap) to the general public.
Mario Kart Wii Promo Truck
It was immediately obvious that Nintendo knew what it was doing. There were plenty of promotional representatives there, each wearing either a Mario or Luigi jumpsuit and hat. They were creating custom driver's licenses for attendees, taking pictures, and helping everyone learn to play the game. If you have ever visited a theme park like Disney World, the reps were of the same sort: super-perky, chipper, friendly, and occasionally getting the crowd to cheer, "Mario Kart!" 
Inside the truck
The tents were clean an well-organized, with two fiberglass carts in the glass truck and a standalone station, eight stations in the tent and one more kart, and a slew of flat-screen televisions blaring a Mario Kart Wii trailer. Nintendo reps were everywhere, but in a good way. Imagine walking into a big-box retailer to try a game, and having everything work, clean, organized, and help immediately available. 
The staff and license issuance booth
I was able to score a seat without any wait alongside another gentleman who was also blowing off work. Being the middle of the afternoon on a cloudy Thursday, attendance was modest. Nonetheless, once you're at a terminal, it matters not whether there are ten or ten-thousand attendees, the game itself is the same. 
And they all worked!
Mario Kart is Double-Dash with more maps, more to unlock, and motion-sensitive controls. Otherwise, the experience was very similar. Great game, enjoyable power-ups, fast-paced action, and a fun crowd. It seems to me that regardless of the fanboy - PS3, XBox360, PC or Nintendo - everyone enjoys picking up a red shell or three in a game of Mario Kart. 
Playing Waluigi's Stadium
More pictures from the event are located here. The truck will be in New Jersey today and tomorrow.