In an Iwata Asks column released today for Super Mario All-Stars, it was explained that the “Slider” and Bob-omb Battlefield songs from Super Mario 64 actually contain the same melodies. To be honest, it’s a bit difficult to detect, but the last few seconds of the video below should help you see the similarity. I wasn’t aware of this, so perhaps I’m somewhat oblivious!

Mahito Yokota: I’m a real game music fanatic. I love Mario music, and I think fans will like this selection, too.
Satoru Iwata: Can you give me a specific example?
Yokota: For example, “Slider” from Mario 64.
Iwata: Oh, that song! It certainly is catchy!
Yokota: I really like that song. I didn’t work for Nintendo when the N64 came out, but it’s a dear song to me. I had my wife listen to it saying, “This is a great song!” I didn’t notice at first, but it’s an arrangement of the aboveground background music for Super Mario 64. Iwata: Which did you make first, Kondo-san?
Koji Kondo: The aboveground BGM (background music).
Yokota: Oh, really? When I listened closely, the melodies were the same for “Slider” and the aboveground BGM. As a gamer playing the N64, I was impressed at how big a change an arrangement could make.

Also, although it wasn’t mentioned in the Iwata Asks article, the Snow Mountain song is the same as well. You can check out the full interview here.

“Come, All Ye Playful” to Nintendo’s Holiday Mall Experience

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, General Nintendo, News, Wii | 0 comments

Hands-On Wii and Nintendo DSi Sampling Stations to Open at Malls Across the U.S.
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo is about to put a playful twist on the fun of bumping into old friends at your local shopping mall. Mario™, Donkey Kong™ and Pikachu™ are just a few of the familiar faces consumers will encounter as Nintendo’s Holiday Mall Experience touches down at shopping centers throughout the United States. From Nov. 22 through Dec. 19, whether they’re looking for terrific entertainment value or an imaginative break from the usual holiday hustle and bustle, shoppers can drop in and play the latest games for Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems at interactive demo stations. Kids and teens, parents and grandparents, casual gamers and hard-core fans alike – the Holiday Mall Experience invites everyone under the sun to discover the beloved characters, inclusive game play, deep variety and innovative hardware available from Nintendo.
From wild multiplayer action for the living room to rich puzzles and adventures that can be enjoyed on the go, many of the year’s hottest games will be free to sample at participating mall locations from coast to coast. Visitors can get reacquainted with Donkey Kong in the new Donkey Kong Country™ Returns, grab a friend (or several friends) and check out the instant social fun of Wii Party™, take on puzzle challenges in Mario vs. Donkey Kong™: Mini-Land Mayhem! or create customized heroes in the epic DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. More than 20 games will be featured at 23 Holiday Mall Experience locations.

The Mario Drawing song

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments

Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw Mario? Well, fortunately for you, Nintendo created an official video using Flipnote Studio to demonstrate how to do so. The footage is great, and the song isn’t too bad either! You can check it out below.

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Happy birthday, Miyamoto

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 9 Comments

Did you know that today is Shigeru Miyamoto’s birthday? Yep, the famous Nintendo developer turned 58 today! As we all know, age is nothing but a number. Miyamoto will be with Nintendo forever… Right?! Anyway, happy birthday, Miyamoto!

First VGA 2010 reveals coming tomorrow

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments

This information comes from Geoff Keighley’s Twitter…

“VGA rumors…We’ll share two world premiere announcements on Wednesday with many more to come.”

It’s almost a guarantee that one of the reveals won’t be Nintendo related. EA’s Patrick Buechner tweeted that BioWare fans should pay attention… And we know that the company has made only one DS title in the past. We’ll let you know, though, if either of the reveals happen to be tied into a Nintendo system.

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Japanese Dragon Quest fans choose their favorite game, monster, character

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments

Favorite Dragon Quest Titles (including spin-off and remake titles):

01. Dragon Quest IX (DS)
02. Dragon Quest VIII (PS2)
03. Dragon Quest III (FAM)
04. Dragon Quest V (SFC)
05. Dragon Quest V (DS)**
06. Dragon Quest VI (DS)**
07. Dragon Quest VII (PSX)
08. Dragon Quest IV (DS)**
09. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 (DS)*
10. Dragon Quest VI (SFC)

11. Dragon Quest V (PS2)**
12. Dragon Quest IV (FAM)
13. Super Famicom Dragon Quest III (SFC)**
14. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker (DS)*
15. Dragon Quest II (FAM)
16. Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road Victory (Wii)*
17. Dragon Quest (FAM)
18. Dragon Quest IV (PSX)**
19. Dragon Quest I&II (SFC)**
20. Dragon Quest Monsters (Gameboy)*

21. Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road II/Legend (Arcade)*
22. Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road (Arcade)*
23. Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 2 (DS)*
24. Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest (DS)*
25. Torneko’s Great Adventure: Mysterious Dungeon (SFC)*
26. Gameboy Dragon Quest III (Gameboy)**
27. Dragon Quest Monsters 2 (Gameboy)*
28. Dragon Quest Sword (Wii)*
29. “Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon (PS2)*
30. Gameboy Dragon Quest I&II (Gameboy)**

Notes:

* Spin-off title
** Remake of original title

Favorite Monsters:

* 1. Slime
* 2. Hagure Metal
* 3. Slime Knight
* 4. Zoma
* 5. Dark Dream
* 6. Metal King
* 7. Killer Machine
* 8. Ryuou
* 9. Hoimi Slime
* 10. Metal Slime

Note: some of the names are the Japanese names, not the localized names used in the English version.

Favorite Characters:

# 1. “Hero” (Dragon Quest III)
# 2. Bianca (Dragon Quest V)
# 3. Alena (Dragon Quest IV)
# 3. Terry (Dragon Quest VI)
# 5. “Main Character” (Dragon Quest VIII)
# 6. “Main Character” (Dragon Quest V)
# 7. Yangus (Dragon Quest VIII)
# 8. Torneko (Dragon Quest IV)
# 8. Papas (Dragon Quest V)
# 10. Barbara/Ashlynn (Dragon Quest VI)

Thanks to Thomas N for the tip!

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Game Informer’s “Top 30 Characters Who Defined A Decade”

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 24 Comments

Last year, Game Informer chose the top 200 video games of all time. This time around, the magazine published another list featuring the “Top 30 Characters Who Defined a Decade.” Nintendo fans will notice a few familiar characters such as Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright. You can check out the full list below, as well as cover art for the different editions of the magazine.

Glados (Portal)
John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
Master Chief (Halo)
Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto 4)
Alyx Vance (Half Life 2)
Kratos (God of War)
Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
Loghain Mac Tir (Dragon Age Origins)
Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed 2)
Ethan Mars (Heavy Rain)
Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)
Captain Price (Call of Duty)
Jimmy Hopkins (Bully)
HK-47 (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)
Elena Fisher (Uncharted)
Illusive Man (Mass Effect 2)
Tommy Vercetti (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3)
Tim (Braid)
Auron (Final Fantasy X)
Razputin Aquato (Psychonauts)
Kaim Argonar (Lost Odyssey)
Jade (Beyond Good and Evil)
KOS-MOS (Xenosaga)
Professor Layton (Professor Layton)
Phoenix Wright (Phoenix Wright)
Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)
Bonnie MacFarlane (Red Dead Redemption)
King of All Cosmos (Katamari)

Thanks to Christian S for the tip!

Game Informer teasing new Tomb Raider title

Posted on 14 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 1 Comment

The image above comes directly from the latest issue of Game Informer. By the look of things, the magazine will be unveiling a brand new Tomb Raider title. There have actually been a few rumblings about the project over the past severals months, but we’ll be getting a proper blowout next month.

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