Are you busy wrapping packages, or are you simply diving into pipes?

Either way, WTMK is here -- for YOU!  We're now broadcasting a holiday/Christmas/winter music, just for you!  Every tune you've enjoyed hearing as Mario slowly trudged through snow -- now broadcasting on WTMK!

Tune in now!

Overstock.com is having a four day video game sale. I'm not entirely sure when the sale started, but I thought these deals might be appealing to some of our TMK readers.

* Wii Mario Super Sluggers for $24.95

* Wii Wario Land: Shake It! for $24.95

... and while it isn't a Mario related title, I feel like I'd be doing our friends over at Kirby's Rainbow Resort a disservice if I didn't mention the following...

* NDS Kirby Super Star Ultra for $16.88

Overstock features $2.95 shipping, and I believe it's a flat rate no matter how many games you purchase.  Great time to pick up some games for your friends and family!

(Did I mention that I needed a copy of all three of those?  Just keep it in mind... I mean, it's not like my infamous wish list has ever done me any good.  Of course, there is a first time for everything, right?

A French fellow named Remi Gaillard decided to reenact some Mario Kart madness... along the streets of France.  I hadn't seen it before, but some of the rest of you might have.  In any event, seeing a fellow on a go kart tossing banana peels while swerving in between cars is interesting, at least for a few minutes.

Video on YouTube
Video on DailyMotion (appears to be slightly higher quality)

Someone brought this to my attention recently... a music video about love and Mario Kart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDBpQVhCMb8

Someone else then directed me to this.... weirdness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuX5_OWObA0

I was going to do something more interesting with these, but I got tired of keeping them bookmarked, so I've unleashed them on the TMK community. Enjoy!

Want some cheap Mario games?

* $30 Wario Land: Shake It! on Amazon.com
* $30 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) on Amazon.com
* $135 Mario Edition DS Lite with New Super Mario Bros. on Amazon.com, OR
* $136 Mario Edition DS Lite with New Super Mario Bros. at Wal-Mart/Wal-Mart.com

During a routine internet investigation for Mario-related madness, I stumbled across "The 40 Greatest Uses of the Super Mario Theme" on an odd website dedicated to lists.  It seems like the sort of thing some of you might enjoy, so feel free to go take a look -- I was rather impressed by the SMW track played by dialing a cellphone.

Link: http://www.rockthelist.com/2008/10/23/the-40-greatest-uses-of-the-super-mario-theme/

Go, take a look.

Many months ago, I got an e-mail about this webcomic, but I can't recall if I ever actually mentioned it much around TMK.  I was browsing some websites today and came across this comic... and felt a need to share it with you all.

Have a great weekend.

Source: Brawl in the Family (www .brawlinthefamily .com)

If you can, stop by Toys R Us soon for some sweet deals on great games.  I didn't see any Mario games in the bargain bin, but there are several others that are well worth it -- only $7.98 (marked $9.98, but you get 20% off).  It's a shame Zack & Wiki for Wii didn't sell better given its quality, but its retail failure is your gain.  I also saw some other good games such as Elite Beat Agents for DS and Every Extend Extra for PSP.  The store I went to even threw in a free frisbee.  If you can't make it out to the store, you may still be able to pick up the games without the 20% discount, and with shipping added.  Still, it's probably worth it for some quality titles.  Even better, here's a coupon for $5 off if you spend $25, but it's only good today and tomorrow.

Nintendo finished up their E3 press conference a few hours ago, and we are sad to report that there is not much news for the Mario crew. NCL President Satoru Iwata touched on the success of New Super Mario Bros., but Wario Land: Shake It! and Mario Super Sluggers were conspicuously absent from the upcoming games shown during the hour-long conference.

Though no new Mario games were announced, we saw (and heard) Mario references in the upcoming Wii games Animal Crossing: City Folk and Wii Music. The big bro's shirt was clearly visible in the City Folk video, and the Super Mario Bros. theme was performed during the Wii Music live demo.

Meanwhile, on Nintendo of America's press site, the release of Wario Land: Shake It! was quietly moved up one week, from September 29 to September 22.

NCL recently unveiled their minisite for Wario Land Shake (Wario Land: Shake It! in the USA).  Along with the cheery character art for the "Sha King", Captain Syrup, and Wario, you'll also find what appears to be the game's animated intro and some gameplay footage.

Gameplay Footage: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/rwlj/point/index.html
Click through the down arrows to the final page.

Animated Intro: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/rwlj/prologue/index.html
Click on the text box in the top right corner.

Source: NCL Wario Land Shake minisite

Brian Brinegar, Dan May, and John Groth are playing Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy to raise money for Child's Play.  You can join in the fun by chatting with them while watching the marathon live on Ustream.  Of course you could donate to Child's Play for the kids and to show Brian, Dan, and John your support, but could you play all those Mario games for 55 hours straight?

Although I've never tried to play a marathon of games, I have donated to Child's Play before.  I gave several GBA SPs and SMA4:SMB3 to three childrens' hospitals a few years ago.  I think it's time to do it again.  I just wish I could afford to send Nintendo Wiis this time.  Makes me almost regret spending my money on a PS3 this week. 

Source:  mariomarathon.com Amazon.com Deal of the Day
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - $25.99 (Reg $39.99, $14 savings, 35% off)

6 AM PDT Yoshi's Island DS
8 AM PDT The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS
10 AM PDT Super Mario Galaxy Wii
12 PM PDT New Super Mario Bros. DS
2 PM PDT Mario Kart DS
4 PM PDT The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii
6 PM PDT Mario Party DS
8 PM PDT Pokemon Diamond DS

Also get a $20 gift card when purchasing Nintendo DS and Guitar Hero On Tour.

Each deal valid for four hours or until sold out.

Sources: LightningDeals.com and Amazon.com Goldbox

In a short interview with Wired Magazine, Shigeru Miyamoto discussed Nintendo's gamble with the Wii Remote, the semi-game nature of titles such as Wii Fit, and most amusingly, how quality control is conducted by saying "Oh, this looks like a Sega game. We need to make it look more like Mario."

Photo by David Cheung
Link: Wired.com

The 2008 Golden Joystick Awards have been narrowed down to a short list.  You can vote for the greatest games, publishers, and developers from July 31, 2007 to August 1, 2008 and also have a chance to win prizes like Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 consoles, Sony TVs, games from the short list voting, magazine subscriptions, and prizes from Madcatz.  Every 10,000 votes someone will win. 

There are fourteen categories to vote in.  Here's the breakdown of categories that include Mario related options:

The Sun Family Game of The Year:
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario Kart Wii
Super Mario Galaxy
Wii Fit

Bliss Handheld Game of The Year:
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

Nuts All Nighter:
Mario Kart Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Nintendo Game of The Year:
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario Kart Wii
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii Fit

Publisher of The Year:
Nintendo

BBC 1Xtra Soundtrack of The Year:
Super Mario Galaxy

The Ultimate Game of The Year:
Mario Kart Wii
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Vote: http://www.goldenjoystick.com/

In honor of the release of the Nintendo Wii's first official NHL/NHLPA licensed hockey video game (NHL 2K9, from 2K Sports), our main man Mario is taking a trip to Toronto. He'll be available for picture opportunities on the red carpet at Elgin Theatre, 6:15 p.m. ET, during the 2008 NHL Awards.

It seems like a rather unreasonable ploy to sell another iteration of another sport simulator, but you've got to admit, those official Mario costumes are pretty good.

Source: tradingmarkets.com