It all seems like the Pipe Tour all over again already.
What I mean by that is it seems Mario Kart Tour has given us another possible hint that Pauline may possibly be coming over to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass.
We already discussed about how the Pipe Tour, starring the previous new track: Pirahna Plant Pipeline, featured Pauline in a Cowgirl Outfit that possibly hints that Nintendo is practicing with Pauline's character model in possible preparation for her to wear a motorsports outfit (or possibly her mayoral outfit) for Bikes and ATVs in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
But with our latest and current Tour - the Summer Tour, starring Madrid Drive, it seems we got another possible hint of Pauline possibly making it to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via the Booster Course Pass' Sixth and possiblt final wave.
We all know that adverts are scattered in all over the tracks in all Mario Kart games, particularly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart Tour at this time.
But in the case Madrid Drive, we got our first and so far only reference to Pauline in any Mario Kart game ever.
In one of the adverts in Madrid Drive, it advertises "Mushroom Kingdom Musical".
Many Mario characters are listed in the advert, but one in particular that would catch the interest of many Mario Kart fans & Mario fans in gernal is none other than...
The 1up Girl herself...
Pauline
You can see such in the image above, as well as the video from the link below, courtesty of GameXplain.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?&v=wJQHJTlghkA
YouTube Shorts Version: https://youtube.com/shorts/wJQHJTlghkA
But anyways, seeing Pauline shown in any advert in of any Mario Kart game for the first time, even if it's only her name, has once again led Mario Karters, such as GameXplain & myself, to theorize that this could be another possible hint that Pauline may indeed make it into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via Booster Course Pass Wave 6.
Will it actually happen? Well, as with any other circumstance like this, we ultimately can only wait and see qhat happens.
Then again, we have see adverts for SNES Vanilla Lake & GCN Dino Dino Jungle in tracks like Wii Coconut Mall & Squeaky Clean Sprint, and yet that doesn't at all confirm that the former 2 tracks are coming (especially with SNES Bowser Castle 3 having a HUGE update when it was added into Mario Kart Tour).
Still, with us having now TWO possible hints of Pauline's possible inclusion as a playable racer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via being updated within Booster Course Pass Wave 6, I'm pretty optimistic of her chances, but will try not to set my hopes too high.
Lastly, on another topic, I want to take the time to give off a SPECIAL OMNIVERSE-SIZED SHOUTOUT to a man, a myth, & a legend of all things revolving around Mario-franchise & Nintendo as a whole.
I'm talking, of course, about Mr. Charles Martinet - the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, & other Mario characters.
Mr. Martinet has been the voice of our favorite plumbers, the Super Mario Bros., and other characters since either 1991 to 1992.
From his first roles as Mario in computer games like Mario Teaches Typing (1, 2, or both) and Mario's Game Gallery / Mario's Fun-Damentals, as well as a Super Mario Bros.-themed Pinball Machine by Gottlieb...
...to his latest Mario-related voice rolls in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the Mario Bros.' father & Gisuppe (the Jump Man arcade game fanatic & approver of the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing Company commercial & its use of Italian accents)...
Mr. Charles Martinet has been a staple voice actor for the Mario Franchise for Over 30 years, the same current number of years as the Mario Kart series itself before it turns 31 in August 27th of 2023.
As sad as it is to know that Mr. Martinet will be retiring from his Mario-franchise voice roles, to the point where it is confirmed that new voices will be taking over Mr. Martinet's Mario character voice roles as of both Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Warioware: Move It!, it is nice to know that he & Nintendo remain on good terms.
As per Nintendo of America's announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Mr. Charles Martinet's own quote post...
https://twitter.com/CharlesMartinet/status/1693627139310895453 / https://x.com/CharlesMartinet/status/1693627139310895453
...while Mr. Martinet will no longer be voicing Mario, Luigi, Wario, Walugi, & other Mario characters anymore (minus some games featuring reused voice clips by Mr. Martinet, in the case of remasters / remakes like the upcoming Switch Version of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon / Luigi's Mansion 2 coming in 2024)...
...Mr. Charles Martinet will still remain a part of Nintendo, sporting the new role as "Mario Ambassador"; and it is further announced that there will an upcoming video by Charles Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto regarding Mr. Martinet's departure from Mario voice roles & his integration into his new role as "Mario Ambassador".
On top of that, I'm sure Mr. Martinet, in addition to his "Mario Ambassador" role, will be happy to also have more time being with his friends and family.
But nevertheless, while there will come those who will take his place within his Mario voice roles (with possible assistance from Charles himself), Mr. Charles Martinet will always be the "Numba 1" in our hearts as Mario & Luigi - the Super Mario Bros., along with Wario, Waluigi, and others.
Mr. Charles Martinet...
...KEEP JUMPING UP, SUPERSTAR!
Anyway, keep on racing Mario Karters, may Charles Martinet's legacy live on, may Mr. Martinet live a happy life with his friends and family, may Mr. Martinet enjoy his new Nintendo role as "Mario Ambassador", and here's to hoping that Mario Kart Tour's possible two hints mean Pauline's possible inclusion as a playable racer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.