Mario and Sonic Make History in New Olympic Game

YokimaSun writes "SEGA. and Nintendo today made a historical announcement that two of the biggest icons in the entertainment industry, Mario and Sonic, are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. 'In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, players will compete in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using a supporting cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, gamers will be able to compete as or against a range of lovable personalities including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver a favourite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, engage in exhilarating rallies in table tennis and churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after gold medal.'" Has to be better than the usual Olympic Game titles, which have been categorically awful.

Awful?

[drinkypoo]

Has to be better than the usual Olympic Game titles, which have been categorically awful.

I have to admit that I really enjoyed Winter Games [wikipedia.org]. Only game I can remember ever doing a biathlon in. Ski and shoot! Skills that will come in handy after global warming pitches us into the next ice age :)

Re:WTF?!

[Chris Burke]

It's not that outrageous, now that Sega is out of the hardware business. They seem to have formed very close ties with Nintendo since then. I know to those of us who remember those awesome Genesis vs SNES smear ads it is like Satan and Jesus sitting down for a nice game of scrabble, but times have changed.

Re:Oh I wouldn't say that...

[Crymson4]

I played California Games on my old 286... had some fun with hacky sack, but that's about it. The game just didn't hold it for me. A party game could be fun, but in the Olympic setting? Who gets the best 100m dash score? It's the TYPE of event that would make or break this game. I agree a sim would suck, and that's what I'm saying. When you move away from sims, it is no longer an "Olympic" title. I can hope that it would be fun, but I just don't see it happening.

They're kidding, right?

[Pyrrhic Diarrhea]

FTFA: "SEGA® Corporation and Nintendo Co. Ltd. today made a historical announcement that two of the biggest icons in the entertainment industry, Mario(TM) and Sonic(TM), are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games."

Are these guys serious about Mario and Sonic being among the biggest players in the entertainment industry? The industry as a whole goes much further afield than video games. Mario is a "star" in gaming, but has little to know cross-over appeal that I know of. Mario Bros. Movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108255/ [imdb.com] anyone? Seems like there is a Sonic cartoon, but since I don't watch cartoons anymore I can't gauge the overall interest in that, but seems to me that it wouldn't be that great. Certainly not among the biggest in entertainment. Unless one or both go to rehab and shave their heads.

Aside from this, how is the Wii going to incorporate the power pad?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Pad [wikipedia.org]? Sorry for the obligatory wiki quote. Any ideas?

Re:WTF?!

[acidrain]

Oh yeah, and while I'm on the topic -- working with the Olympic Commission at the same time is pure brilliance. People who don't normally watch sports tend to get sucked into the Olympics media frenzy. Which fits perfectly with Nintendo's current direction of creating a new casual market. I bet the Nintendo execs are falling all over themselves congratulating each other on this one.

Re:They're kidding, right?

[Stormwatch]

Mario is a "star" in gaming, but has little to know cross-over appeal that I know of. Mario Bros. Movie, anyone?

Don't blame Mario for the movie's suckitude. It had almost nothing to do with the game (unlike the cartoon, which was pretty good). Dennis Hopper (the movie's King Koopa), in an interview, said he had this lil' chat with his son:

- Dad, why did you work in this Mario film?
- So that I can buy you shoes, son.
- But I don't need shoes that badly!

Seems like there is a Sonic cartoon, but since I don't watch cartoons anymore I can't gauge the overall interest in that, but seems to me that it wouldn't be that great.

I can't judge it by watching 4Kids' version, I heard it was heavily censored and the japanese one is much better.

Re:Awful?

[ECMIM]

Yeah, these games haven't been good since Epyx did them right on C64 (the best game machine ever!) Winter, Summer and World (cliff diving!) were all fantastic!

I feel old.

[Ant P.]

I remember the days when such an announcement would be taken as an insult or a joke... and here it is for real.
Hmm.