Mario and Sonic Together at Last
Full article can be found on IGN
Mascots to star in new Olympics game for Wii and DS
Finally the dreams of SEGA and Nintendo fans come true as news hits that Mario and Sonic are set to star side by side in a new game for Wii and DS, based on the 2008 Olympics.
SEGA made the historic announcement this morning and confirmed that Mario & Sonic at the Olympics (as it's known) is due for release this Christmas. The game's currently in development by SEGA Japan and Shigeru Miyamoto is supervising the project. The title will be published by SEGA of America later this year.
Players compete in events around venues based on official locations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Featuring a supporting cast of recognizable faces from the world of both Sonic and Mario, players can choose from a range of characters including Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, and Tails. More characters will be announced at a future date.
Innovative use of the Wii and DS control systems are promised, enabling players to race down the 100m track, participate in exhilarating table tennis rallies and churn water in swimming heats to compete for the gold medal. It's on track to be like Wii Sports, except with Mario and Sonic taking part in Olympic Games.
Asked if it would be a mini-game fest of sorts, SEGA of America's VP of marketing, Scott Steinberg, had this to say: "No, I wouldn't characterize it as a mini-game [fest]. This will be an action-sports game in the Olympic spirit. The idea behind it is really to be an easy pick-up-and-play sports game where gamers of all ages can find it accessible. We see it as being very family-inclusive so my 11-year-old can play with a 75-year-old grandma and just have a blast with it."
Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, told us that all of the competitions in Mario & Sonic at the Olympics will take full advantage of the motion-sensory functionality of the Wii controller.
