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Mario, meet Sonic (at the Winter Olympics)

June 5th, 2009 by Mike Schramm

Listen — not every game at E3 is a winner. The Joystiq heavyweights get to go play all the big games and interview all of the developer hotshots, and that’s the stuff you love reading about. But some of us are down in the trenches, doing all of the demos that no one else wants to do, checking out all the games whose names are read around the schedule planning table, and answered only with the silence of bloggers who have better games to play.

That’s not to say that Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics is a bad game — its audience will probably enjoy it. Just like the previous Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, it offers multiple Olympic sports-based minigames featuring popular Nintendo and Sega characters, controlled by various Wii and DS motions. People who like buying that kind of thing (parents wandering a videogame store looking for wholesome family entertainment) will probably enjoy it. But even though most of the Joystiq staff passed on this demo (and your faithful blogger bravely attended it), it was one of the more surreal things we’ve seen this week. Our strange experiences, let us show you them.

Continue reading Mario, meet Sonic (at the Winter Olympics)

JoystiqMario, meet Sonic (at the Winter Olympics) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in Nintendo, , sega, Mario, Sonic, princess-peach, Mario-Kart-Wii, amy-rose, mario-and-sonic-at-the-winter-olympics, mario-circuit | No Comments »

You’ve got Mario in my DSi calculator app

February 28th, 2009 by Xav de Matos

So, you’ve got $2 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to calculate money you only wish you had? Well DSi users, you’re in luck with a nifty calculator. But, the convenience doesn’t end there. The application utilizes sound effects and visuals from Super Mario Bros. If you think about it, it’s a really smart idea! For years we’ve been joking that the DS prints money, but now the DSi can count it, too. Oh, technology … where would we be without you? Check out a video of the application in action after the break.

Continue reading You’ve got Mario in my DSi calculator app

Joystiq NintendoYou’ve got Mario in my DSi calculator app originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in , Mario, dsiware, dsi, calculator, ds-ware, dsi-ware, dsware, nintendo-ds-ware, super-mario | No Comments »

Mario & Sonic & An Unhealthy Obsession

December 31st, 2008 by Chris Greenhough

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“I predict that it will sell 4 copies total.”

“I feel that this game will bomb but only because of the olympic theme.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Those are just a small number of your initial responses to Sega’s prediction that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games would sell four million copies worldwide. Not that we’re bragging at our readers’ expense, for we also pooh-poohed the notion. Over a year on from our mocking laughs, and Sega is now hoping to break two million by the end of this year — in the UK alone. Yeesh.

“Our aim is to hit two million by the end of 2008,” Sega UK sales director John Clark has told MCV (the most recent figures, which we assume are from before Christmas, have the title at around 1.75 million across the Wii and DS), adding that the game has more than a 30 per cent attach rate to British Wiis. We shall think twice before snickering into our Earl Gray and crumpets again.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

Mario & Sonic & An Unhealthy Obsession originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in , sega, Mario, Sonic, mario-and-sonic, minigames, uk, sports | No Comments »

Hit the slopes in new Mario Kart tournament

December 16th, 2008 by Chris Greenhough

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With the onset of winter, the latest Mario Kart Wii tournament features a thematically appropriate choice of track: the snowy peaks of DK Summit. From today, you can hop online and complete a single lap of the twisty course in the quickest time possible. On your way, you’ll also have to pass through a bunch of deviously placed gates, or your time won’t register. The closing date for this is December 25, so you’ve got another ten days to work on beating the whole world at Mario Kart Wii.* You won’t be short of challengers.

* Note: Beating the world is not as great as winning Wii Points, primarily because beating the world won’t buy you River City Ransom. But it’s still to be encouraged.

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

[Via Nintendo Everything]

A fan of Mario Kart Wii? Us too, especially the tournaments, of which there have been quite a few. To check out previous contests, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Fancy yourself a good karter? Then check out Game Night for some of the community’s best competition!

Hit the slopes in new Mario Kart tournament originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in , Mario, Tournament, Mario-Kart, Mario-Kart-Wii, dk-summit, tourney | No Comments »

E308: Wii Fanboy’s E3 Endgame Evaluation

July 20th, 2008 by Alisha Karabinus

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In the second year of the newly revamped show, Nintendo released a few much-desired games, as well as a pair of incredible peripherals, and yet, there seemed to be something missing. Much of the show’s excitement came from third parties (on my Nintendo Wii?), and some found Nintendo’s announcements disappointing. Whatever your reaction, we’re sure we can all agree on one thing: there was a ton of news and a flood of media. Luckily, you can revisit it all right here (even the week’s most outrageous story, which wasn’t even from E3).

We’ve listed a few of the show’s highlights below, but for the full index of all our 2008 E3 coverage, hit the break. We still have a few items rolling in, and we’ll be updating the index as that happens. Check back with us over the next few days by clicking the E3 sidebar graphic.

A new Pikmin sprouts! Animal Crossing: City Folk confirmed
The Conduit will use WiiSpeak Wii Sports Resort announced (and Wii MotionPlus!)
Mega Man 9 feels more like a 10 Wii Fanboy bats-on with Mario Super Sluggers
Animal Crossing to support keyboards, save fruit-picking time Wii Fanboy hands-on with Wii Sports Resort


News

Hands-on Impressions

Video

Screens

Misc

And don’t forget about the stories at Joystiq!
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Posted in , Mario, Animal-Crossing, Wii-Sports, pikmin, mega-man, mega-man-9, e3-recap, e3-2008, e308, city-folk, conduit, hands-on, mario-super-sluggers, the-conduit, wii-motionplus, wii-speak, wii-sports-resort, wiispeak | No Comments »

Deaths that don’t mix with Super Mario Bros.

May 20th, 2008 by David Hinkle

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Oh, the memories we have from our days playing Super Mario Bros. in our PJs, bellies full of sugary cereal. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched Mario die, whether it be falling down an endless chasm or getting torched by a runaway fireball while penetrating the darkest corners of Bowser’s castle.

What would you get if Mario’s death animation was swapped out for the death animation of, say, Mega Man? Or Q-Bert? Our personal favorite? The use of Friday the 13th.

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Posted in Nintendo, , capcom, Mario, super-mario-bros, friday-the-13th, mega-man | No Comments »

Real Bowser stalks our nightmares

April 30th, 2008 by Chris Greenhough

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Back in March, this realistic depiction of Mario made us hide beneath our beds, though that was nothing compared with the horrors of what followed.

Now, some twisted internet japester has reinvented Bowser in a similar fashion. Gone is the happy-go-lucky Bowser, the ultimately lovable, pantomime-esque villain with an addiction to kidnapping royalty. And in his place? Teeth. Scales. Leathery flesh. Claws that could rip through a plumber’s torso like a warm knife through butter. Please, won’t somebody think of the children us?

Creep apprehensively past the break for the full image.

[Via Digg]

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Posted in , Mario, art, bowser, photoshop, real-life, uncanny-valley | No Comments »

Crochet Mario has a nemesis

January 28th, 2008 by Chris Greenhough

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The biggest threat facing Crochet Mario on his adventures? Why, that would be Crochet Piranha, lurking silently in its Crochet Green Pipe, waiting for the right moment to emerge, bow its head, and release fiery balls of death.

This Piranha Plant is the work of Etsy user michellerheaume, the same crocheter (yes, we had to check that) behind Crochet Mario. At $80, it’s a little more affordable than Mario, and arguably even more desirable. Nevertheless, it’s still going to take a little more to impress us from now on. Like an entire troupe of crocheted Goombas and Koopas. That is sent to us.

[Via Hawty McBloggy]

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Posted in , Mario, crafts, crochet, piranha-plant | No Comments »

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games video review (Wii)

November 23rd, 2007 by supadupagama

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games for WiiMario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Nintendo Wii has players competing in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In making this game SEGA used 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 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.

Does this Olympic team-up of old-school rivals go for the gold or stumble out of the starting blocks? To find out, watch the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games video review.

Surprise! With 24 different events it looks like a fun game.

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Posted in Nintendo, , Wii, Videos, News, game, videogame, nintendo wii, sega, Mario, Sonic, olympic games, mario sonic at the olympic games, mario and sonic at the olympic games | No Comments »

The VC Advantage: A Very Special Anniversary Edition

November 21st, 2007 by JC Fletcher

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The internet has made it easy to find cheats for games, but we miss the tips pages from game magazines, when the discovery of a new code could inspire you to go back to an old game. These codes aren't exactly new, but oldness is the essence of the Virtual Console! We're bringing back the classic codes every week on The VC Advantage.

It's another special celebration this week at Wii Fanboy, and we thought that we would do something special in this week's VC Advantage, involving one of the most iconic Virtual Console games -- in fact, one of the most iconic video games of all time. Even though Super Mario Bros. didn't come out in the U.S. until Christmas, it's the canonical Nintendo game and thus seems like a perfect candidate for the Wii anniversary week VCA.

Two (more) caveats before we delve into our subject matter: first, we'd like to bring up the point that not all secrets are cheats, and not all are intentional. Some of the most interesting discoveries in video games were put in there totally by accident, or are the result of someone's imagination. Second, the images and subject matter of today's VCA are as not safe for work as unaltered Super Mario Bros. footage can be.

The Kintamario

In 1-2, or any other level in which you can get on top of the line of blocks acting as an upper screen boundary, you can perform a puerile visual gag that makes Mario resemble a tanuki, but not in the same way that Super Mario Bros. 3's Tanooki Suit did. Simply position the coin in the coin display between Mario's legs. The coin's "flashing" color is the same as Mario's skin tone, so Mario will appear to have a rounded protuberance between his legs. That's right, Kintamario is a portmanteau consisting of the words kintama 'balls, testicles' and Mario. Oh, how clever!

The Unkomario

This equally childish gag uses the same setup: positioning Mario in front of the coin icon. If you then crouch, it sort of looks like Mario is defecating, right there on the bricks! "Take that, bricks," we imagine Mario saying, "maybe next time, you'll just give me the star instead of making me beat it out of your friend over there." Unko means 'feces', of course!

Something as ridiculously silly can only be funny to children, right? Maybe not. Check out 9-Volt and 18-Volt's intro video from Wario Ware: Smooth Moves and see if you see anything familiar. Apparently someone at Intelligent Systems thinks it's funny too!

We like stuff like this not only because we're giggling man-children, but because we like the idea of finding new ways to enjoy our games. This is user-created content, right here.
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Posted in , nes, Mario, vcadvantage, super-mario-bros, supermariobros, hurr, kintamario, poop, unkomario | No Comments »

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