Nintendo’s Japanese website says Mario isn’t a plumber any longer
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Random | 34 Comments
On its Japanese website, Nintendo has character profiles for various characters in the Mario franchise. One change in particular is earning a great deal of attention.
This is Nintendo’s character description for Mario:
More: Mario
Harvey Atkin, the voice of King Koopa in the Super Mario Bros. cartoons, has passed away
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 16 Comments
Harvey Atkin passed away this week after losing a battle to cancer. He was 74.
Some of you may be unaware of this, but Atkin played a big role in the Super Mario Bros. cartoons way back in the day. Atkin voiced King Koopa in three different animated shows in the 80’s and 90’s. Interestingly, he was the only one to play the same role in each series. Atkin was involved with The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, and The New Super Mario World series.
Rest in peace, Harvey Atkin.
Thanks to Clyde_BlueSnake for the tip.
More: Mario
Hasbro reveals “Monopoly Gamer” – new take on Monopoly with Mario
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 8 Comments
Hasbro has revealed “Monopoly Gamer,” a new rendition of Monopoly featuring Super Mario. The board game has characters from Nintendo’s series, and also has coins instead of Monopoly money as well as special abilities.
Here’s the full rundown on Monopoly Gamer:
It’s the Monopoly game with a Nintendo twist as it joins forces with beloved Nintendo video game characters. Instead of standard Monopoly tokens, the game features Super Mario characters, each with their own special powers within gameplay. Play as Mario, Princess Peach, Yoshi, or Donkey Kong. Finish the game by defeating Bowser at the end! It’s not just about money in this game; players earn points by buying Properties, collecting Coins, and beating Bosses. The player with the highest score wins the game.
Features Nintendo’s Super Mario characters
Coins replace Monopoly money
Power-up die activates special abilities
Battle legendary BossesIncludes gameboard, 4 Nintendo Character tokens (Mario, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong), 4 Character cards, 4 Reminder cards, 8 Boss cards, 16 Title Deed cards, 1 Numbered die, 1 Power -up die, 90 coins, and game guide.
Monopoly Gamer will cost $25. Hasbro will also be selling Monopoly Gamer Figure Packs for $4 a pop that contain a Character token, Character card, and Character sticker. Wario, Luigi, Toad, Boo, Rosalina, Diddy Kong, Fire Mario, and Tanooki Mario will be sold in packs.
Miyamoto on Mario – letting other devs work with the IP, New Donk City worries, not interested in remakes, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 27 Comments
IGN has a lengthy new piece with Shigeru Miyamoto all about Mario. Miyamoto talked about letting other developers handle the IP, his initial worries with how players would react to New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey, and not wanting to remake older games.
We’ve picked out some notable quotes below. The full article with more comments from IGN is located here.
More: interview, Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, top
Nintendo partners with LeSportsac for new travel collection
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 5 Comments
Nintendo has announced a new partnership with LeSportsac that will see the Mario brand featured with a special collection of totes, backpacks and accessories.
Below are the full details of the collaboration:
“Holding a treasured place in the hearts of millions, Mario’s adventures have brought him to many strange places, including the far corners of the Mushroom Kingdom and galaxies beyond. Working with Nintendo, LeSportsac took Mario’s passion for exploration and translated it into the brand’s best-selling, on-the-go styles. These include crossbodies, totes, backpacks and weekenders, as well as small cosmetics and accessories that even the Mushroom Kingdom’s most celebrated hero can run away with on his many adventures.
The collaboration features two unique designs created exclusively for the LeSportsac X Nintendo collection. Power-Up Burst is a colorful homage to Mario’s iconic power-up items and classic foes, including Fire Flowers, Super Mushrooms, 1-Up Mushrooms, Super Stars, coins, Goombas and Koopas. The Mario Travel print portrays playful Mushroom Kingdom-inspired travel memorabilia, such as luggage tags, passport stamps and postcards on a bright red background.
Complementing the collection are five additional items, including an authentic pouch shaped like the Game Boy system, a round Piranha Plant pouch, and a Super Mario Bros. cosmetic. All styles will showcase a custom Super Mario coin zipper pull – because it is all about collecting those coins!”
The LeSportsac X Nintendo collection launches in Japan on July 19. Other countries, including the United States, will follow this fall.
Source: Nintendo PR
More: Mario
Rumor: Ubisoft had internal concept of Mario and Rabbids adventure game during the Wii era
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Rumors, Wii | 2 Comments
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle should finally be announced at E3 this week. Before that game existed though, Ubisoft apparently had interest in mashing the two franchises together during the Wii era.
It seems that a formal pitch was never actually made to Nintendo, and it ended up as nothing more than an internal concept at Ubisoft. Nintendo may have shut things down before talks ever progressed in the slightest.
Liam Robertson has the full report on the concept below.
Hallmark planning Super Mario ornaments
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 15 Comments
Hallmark is preparing some special Super Mario ornaments. One picture shows Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi.
Mario and Yoshi are both up on Hallmark’s website here. Mario should be available starting July 15, while Yoshi is coming later on October 7. Luigi will apparently be sold in October as well, but it’s not on Hallmark’s site just yet.
Below are a few pictures:
More: Mario
Amazon UK cancelling Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia pre-orders
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Rumors | 14 Comments
Some concerns are being raised regarding the overseas release of the Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia. Amazon UK is cancelling pre-orders that had been previously been placed. In an email to customers, the retailer states: “Our supplier has informed us that this item is no longer available.”
Over on Amazon US, the listing for Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia has been pulled. However, it’s still up on Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, and Amazon France.
The Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia is supposedly planned for June 15 outside of Japan. We should be finding out pretty soon if that date is still on track.
Thanks to Stuart S for the tip.
More: Mario
McDonald’s Happy Meals distributing Mario toys starting today in the U.S.
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 5 Comments
We had heard that the latest Mario toys would soon be included in McDonald’s Happy Meals across the United States. In a new announcement from Nintendo, it’s confirmed that this is beginning today. Those who purchase a Happy Meal at participating McDonald’s restaurants will receive one of eight fun toys based on Super Mario characters.
McDonald’s is also hosting a special sweepstakes to celebrate the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The details on that are as follows:
“In addition to the toys, families can take their fun to the next level by entering a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 100 Nintendo Switch Prize Packs inclusive of a Nintendo Switch system and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game. Eligible customers that scan and purchase a meal at McDonald’s using the McDonald’s mobile app between now and May 22 will be entered. Customers get one entry for redeeming any deal in the app and two entries when they purchase a Happy Meal. No purchase is necessary to enter. The sweepstakes is open only to residents of the United States who are 13 and older. Official rules for the sweepstakes, including details about how to enter without making a purchase, can be found at online and http://www.PlayatMcD.com and at participating McDonald’s restaurants.”
Read up on today’s full announcement below.
Super Mario Level Up! board game releasing soon
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
A new Mario board game is coming from USAopoly, titled Super Mario Level Up!. You and a group of friends will “Join Mario and his pals as you advance them up the Mushroom Kingdom while challenging other players to gather the most coins and reach the castle at the top.” A 3D game board, 13 Character Movers, Power Up cards, and ? Block Chips are all included.
No word yet on a release date, but it’s “coming soon” in North America. It’ll set you back just $20.
