The Two Most Famous Video Game Icons Return For Another Olympic Competition
TOKYO (February 12, 2009) – SEGA® Corporation and Nintendo Co., Ltd today announced that two of the biggest video game heroes, Mario™ and Sonic™, will be coming together again, this time taking their rivalry to the snow and ice in another officially licensed Olympic-themed smash hit Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™. Heading to stores late in 2009 on the Wii™ home video game system and Nintendo DS?, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to Vancouver, Canada, host city of the official 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This gaming experience invites players of all ages and skill sets to face-off in some of the most intense winter competitions available for the Nintendo platforms.
Developed by SEGA of Japan, under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to lifelike Olympic venues where they can choose from a legendary cast of playable characters, including new faces to the series to be revealed later this year. Following the phenomenal worldwide popularity of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, this fresh gaming experience will feature completely new Olympic Winter Games events from the official competition schedule including Alpine Skiing and Speed Skating with more events announced throughout the year.
Tailored to the specific system controls, Nintendo DS and Wii gamers will enjoy completely unique experiences thanks to each platform having its own specific gameplay features and modes. Players of all skill levels will enjoy the intuitive controls of both the Wii and Nintendo DS systems, in both single and multiplayer gaming modes. The Wii game will offer an even richer multiplayer experience offering co-op and competitive gameplay where the Nintendo DS brings an intense competitive element using the Nintendo DS wireless capabilities. Additionally, one of the new features to be found in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the inclusion of the Wii Balance Board™ which can be used in some events featured in the Wii version, allowing for a more interactive and realistic gaming experience.
Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is again licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“We are extremely happy to again team up with Nintendo and ISM on what promises to be another global success.” says Naoya Tsurumi, CEO, SEGA of America and SEGA Europe. “Sonic will partner with Mario once more beneath the spotlight of the legendary Olympic Games. Together they will face new athletic challenges that will provide gamers with more of the exciting experiences unique to this series.”
”SEGA has been a valued publishing partner of Nintendo for many years and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the ultimate representation of that relationship,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO, Nintendo of America. “We look for this game to continue the tradition its predecessor started by bringing new events, new characters, and new gameplay experiences to fans worldwide.”
“To once again have Mario and Sonic and friends compete in Olympic sports and events in a winter setting is tremendously exciting for the Olympic Movement and the millions of gamers worldwide who enjoyed the characters’ previous match up”, says Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman & CEO of ISM.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will be in stores late 2009. For more information about the game, please visit www.sega.com or www.olympicvideogames.com. For any assets, please visit the SEGA FTP site at http://segapr.segaamerica.com.
01. [PSP] Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 (Namco Bandai) 45,000 / 258,000
02. [PS3] Demon’s Souls (SCE) 40,000 / NEW
03. [PSP] Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami) 38,000 / 147,000
04. [PS2] Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami) 37,000 / 145,000
05. [NDS] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Square Enix) 34,000 / 136,000
06. [NDS] Detective Conan & Kindachi (Namco Bandai) 20,000 / NEW
07. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 18,000 / 398,000
08. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai) 16,000 / 355,000
09. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) 15,500 / 1,650,000
10. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 15,000 / 323,000
“A small minority [of published Activision games] consist of a select few wholly-owned and internally-developed new IP for which we have planned conservatively. If successful, [these] will prove [to have] a high rate of return on investment for the near and long-term. …rigorous, measured approach to launching new IP… the introduction of new IP is one of our industry’s most difficult challenges. [We will] conservatively manage our portfolio risk profile by generating our majority of revenue… from more predictable and stable franchises that have served us well over long periods of time.” – Activision CEO, Bobby Kotick
According to the company’s conference call from earlier today, that just isn’t happening. Activision has announced that Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits is on the way. This game will feature full-band versions of tracks that appeared in previous Guitar Hero games. That title is set to come out this Summer.
Activision revealed in a conference call last night that Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits is in development. Songs from previous Guitar Hero titles will be in the game. Though, Greatest Hits isn’t the biggest news. Activision is also creating another title for the Guitar Hero series. The next “true” title will see a “major re-stage” of the franchise as we know it with “new differentiated Guitar Hero products.” The game should be on the way before the year ends.
Rumored track list after the break.
Innovation is not dead; it’s just awaiting its reawakening this June
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 11, 2009 – Atlus U.S.A. today announced that it has secured the North American publishing rights for Knights in the Nightmare™, a groundbreaking new gaming experience for Nintendo DS™. Certain to be one of the most innovative titles of 2009, Knights in the Nightmare is wholly unique. Not easily placed in any one genre, the game requires players to throw out everything they know about roleplaying and strategy games and embrace something altogether new and fresh. Frantic, energetic action mixes with thought-provoking tactical gameplay, all within a beautifully-rendered fantasy setting and presented through a captivating, emotional narrative. Dripping with style and originality, Knights in the Nightmare delivers an unforgettable experience.
Knights in the Nightmare is scheduled for release on June 2, 2009 with an MSRP of $34.99.
“Out of the current generation of game consoles, Wii has the greatest user base. It’s only natural that we would want to provide content for the most numerous hardware. Also, Wii’s unique interface can be a good match for action games depending on how it’s used. When it comes to providing action games that are easy to play, Wii can be considered extremely good hardware. Lastly, the mix of content offered for this platform is unbalanced. We sensed there was an opportunity to offer an adult-oriented title with strong impact.” – Tatsuya Minami
