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16

Latest News / Super Mario Run release date, pricing announced

« on: November 15, 2016, 03:17:46 PM »

Super Mario Run for iOS will release on December 15, Nintendo announced today in a press release.

Launching in "151 countries and regions," Mario's first mobile game will have select content playable for free. To unlock the full game, there will be a one-time charge of $9.99 (USD).

Link: NOA news

17

Game Blog / New Mario Kart, 3D Mario games shown in Nintendo Switch preview video

« on: October 20, 2016, 08:48:49 PM »

During the much-anticipated reveal of Nintendo's next console, officially named the "Nintendo Switch," two new Mario games were unveiled today.

The first was a Mario Kart game in the style of Mario Kart 8, but with King Boo included as a racer and two item slots instead of one. Two players were shown racing in the "GCN Yoshi Circuit" course.

The second was a 3D platformer with the camera positioned behind Mario. In the footage, Mario showed off his triple jump and long jump abilities, and narrowly avoided a Bullet Bill.

It wasn't mentioned if the Mario games shown were tech demos or previews of actual games, but with the Nintendo Switch releasing in March, there's a good chance we'll find out soon either way.



Screen captures from YouTube video.

Link: First Look at Nintendo Switch (YouTube)

18

Latest News / Super Mario Run announced for iOS

« on: September 07, 2016, 03:42:20 PM »

Super Mario Run for iPhone and iPad will be released in December, Nintendo announced today during an Apple event in San Francisco, CA. In this 2-D side-scrolling platform game, Mario runs through the courses on his own, relying on players to tap the screen to make him jump.

The game will be free to start, with the option to purchase the full version.

Details about pricing or a possible Android release were not given in Nintendo of America's press release.

[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]

19

Game Blog / Mario news round-up from today's Nintendo 3DS Direct

« on: September 01, 2016, 10:35:02 PM »

Nintendo announced three more games starring Mario and friends during the Nintendo 3DS Direct earlier today.

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS - New additions to this version include interactive lessons and 100 built-in courses. Unfortunately, a small number of course-creation tools from the original won't be available (exact number unknown), and there's no online sharing, but players can download "select courses from the Wii U version," according to a press release from Nintendo. Players can start making Marios on Nintendo 3DS on December 2 in both the U.S. and Europe.

Mario Sports Superstars - The latest Mario sports game will support local and online multiplayer for each of its five sports: baseball, golf, horse racing, soccer, and tennis. Mario Sports Superstars will sit on the sidelines until Spring of next year.

Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World - Yoshi's Woolly World is coming to the 3DS with added stages made just for Poochy. This version is set to release on February 3 in both the U.S. and Europe.

amiibo - In amiibo news, a yarn Poochy figure will release alongside Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World on February 3.

Links:
Nintendo 3DS Direct 9.1.2016 (NOA)
NOA news
NOE news

20

Game Blog / Mario news from E3 2016

« on: June 19, 2016, 09:49:44 PM »

Though Nintendo's main focus for this year's E3 was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, they still had some announcements ready for Mario and friends.

* Mario Party Star Rush was announced for Nintendo 3DS. This party starts in Europe on October 7, and in North America on November 4.

* Announced earlier this year, Paper Mario: Color Splash now has a release date set for October 7 in both North America and Europe.

* The Super Mario series of amiibo will soon expand to include Boo, Daisy, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Rosalina, Waluigi, and Wario. All seven will launch in North America on November 4. In Europe, four of them (Boo, Donkey Kong, Rosalina, and Wario) will launch on October 7, followed by the other three (Daisy, Diddy Kong, and Waluigi) on November 4.

Link: Nintendo @ E3 2016

21

Game Blog / Mario news round-up from today's Nintendo Direct

« on: March 03, 2016, 10:52:35 PM »

Here's a quick recap of the Mario news from today's Nintendo Direct.

* Paper Mario: Color Splash was announced for Wii U, and is planned for release sometime this year.

* On March 9, Super Mario Maker will receive an update that adds new course elements: Skewers (first seen in Super Mario World), Keys, Key Doors, and Pink Coins (collect all five Pink Coins to make a Key appear). Also, a Super Expert mode will be added to the 100 Mario Challenge.

* Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge is coming to North America for Wii U and 3DS. It will be free to download, but you'll need a compatible amiibo to play. Early access begins March 25 (amiibos from participating retailers will include download codes), which is just over one month before it hits the Nintendo eShop on April 28.

* The Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is set for release on June 24.

* Super NES Virtual Console on 3DS starts today, but only for the New Nintendo 3DS models. Super Mario World, Pilotwings, and F-Zero are now available on the eShop. The next wave hits on March 24, with Super Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Country, and EarthBound. April 14 will see the release of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Super Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Links:
Nintendo Direct 3.3.2016 video (NOA)
NOA news

22

Latest News / Mario Advance 4 for Japanese Wii U Virtual Console will include e-Reader courses

« on: December 22, 2015, 11:52:24 PM »

The Game Boy Advance e-Reader "Level Card" courses will be included in the Japanese release of Super Mario Advance 4 on the Wii U Virtual Console, according to Nintendo's website. On the original Game Boy Advance version of Super Mario Advance 4, these courses were only accessible by swiping the Level Cards through the e-Reader accessory.

It is currently unknown if the American release will also have the extra courses.

Super Mario Advance 4 on Wii U Virtual Console is set to launch December 29 in Japan.

Link: Super Mario Advance 4 on Wii U (Japanese)

23

Latest News / Super Mario Maker sales surpass 1 million copies

« on: September 30, 2015, 09:49:20 PM »

Super Mario Maker has sold more than 1 million units worldwide, Nintendo of America (NOA) revealed today in a press release. This includes all physical, digital, and bundled copies of the game.

In the same press release, NOA also announced that the 2.2 million courses created by Super Mario Maker players have been played more than 75 million times combined.

Super Mario Maker launched in Japan on September 10, in North America and Europe on September 11, and in Australia on September 12.

Link: NOA press release

[Here's What Super Mario Bros.' Creators Think of Super Mario Maker]

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Game Blog / Warp Zone #3: SMB 30th Anniversary Edition

« on: September 18, 2015, 10:19:12 AM »

Welcome (back) to Warp Zone!

The 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. and the recent release of Super Mario Maker have spawned some interesting articles and videos. Here are some you might have missed:

Here's What Super Mario Bros.' Creators Think of Super Mario Maker (time.com)
Super Mario Bros. creators Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka talk about how Super Mario Maker started and how it might affect future Nintendo consoles.

With 'Mario Maker,' Nintendo relinquishes control (bigstory.ap.org)
Though this one is a bit shorter, it's still worth a read, and not just because it calls the game "Mario Marker" once.

Interview: Yosuke Oshino On The Origins And Evolution Of Super Mario Maker (nintendolife.com)
An interview with Yosuke Oshino, director of Super Mario Maker.

Mario Maker's Makers On The Added Super Prefix, Mario Paint, And LittleBigPlanet (gameinformer.com)
GameInformer recently reposted this interview from June, which is when "Mario Maker" was renamed to "Super Mario Maker."

Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Special Interview (youtube.com)
In this nearly 10-minute-long video from Nintendo, Miyamoto and Tezuka show some design documents from the original SMB. It also includes some footage from the late 1980's with Miyamoto and other Nintendo staff showing more old SMB stuff.

Super Mario's makers play Super Mario Maker (youtube.com)
Eurogamer's video of Miyamoto and Tezuka editing a course in Mario Maker.

Miyamoto on World 1-1: How Nintendo made Mario's most iconic level (youtube.com)
Another video from Eurogamer. Miyamoto and Tezuka share some interesting details about designing SMB's World 1-1 and creating the Goomba.

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Game Blog / Miyamoto takes on Mario myths

« on: September 10, 2015, 02:06:11 PM »

Was Super Mario Bros. 3 just a play? Does Mario break bricks with his fist? Would you let Dr. Mario operate on you? Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto answers these questions and more in Nintendo UK's video, Mario Myths with Mr Miyamoto, posted today on YouTube.

Though some of the questions are silly, and the answers are mostly yes-or-no, I always find it interesting when Miyamoto is asked these kinds of questions. It's too bad only eight questions were asked -- here's hoping for another "Mario Myths" interview sometime soon!

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Latest News / Super Mario Maker Wii U bundle announced for Europe

« on: July 22, 2015, 12:32:27 PM »

A limited edition Super Mario Maker Premium Pack Wii U bundle will launch in Europe on September 11, Nintendo of Europe (NOE) announced today in a press release.

The bundle will include the following items:

* Black Wii U console
* Super Mario Maker game disc
* Hardcover art book
* Classic Colours Mario amiibo

NOE's press release did not give any pricing details. The Classic Colours Mario amiibo will also be available to purchase separately starting September 11.



Link: NOE press release

27

Latest News / Yarn Yoshi amiibo series announced

« on: April 02, 2015, 10:44:48 AM »

Three Yoshi amiibo figures made with yarn were introduced in the Nintendo Direct webcast yesterday. Green, pink, and light-blue yarn Yoshis will be available this fall in the U.S. All three will be compatible with Yoshi's Woolly World, also coming this fall.

The Japanese release is scheduled for this summer. In Europe, both the yarn Yoshi amiibo series and Yoshi's Woolly World will launch on June 26, along with a special bundle pack that includes the game and a green yarn Yoshi amiibo.



Links:
Nintendo Direct - 4.1.2015 (NOA)
Nintendo Direct 1.4.2015 (Nintendo UK)

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Latest News / Mario Kart 8 DLC pack #2 release date pushed forward

« on: April 02, 2015, 01:27:42 AM »

The second Mario Kart 8 DLC pack will launch on April 23, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced during yesterday's Nintendo Direct. Originally scheduled for a May release, the pack will contain three racers (Isabelle, Villager, and Dry Bowser), four karts, and eight courses.

See the screen capture below for pictures of two of the four new vehicles.



Link: Nintendo Direct - 4.1.15

[Wii U Virtual Console]

29

Game Blog / Only 1 month left to earn Club Nintendo Coins

« on: March 01, 2015, 02:10:53 AM »

On January 20, Nintendo announced that Club Nintendo will close down at the end of June. They also announced the last day to earn coins is March 31, which means members have about 31 days remaining to register products and fill out surveys. If you haven't already registered all your games, we recommend doing so ASAP to make sure all the post-play surveys pop up before the deadline.

The last day to redeem coins, however, is June 30. The current rewards catalog will also run until Club Nintendo closes. Speaking of rewards, here are all the Mario, Luigi, DK, Yoshi, and Wario digital games available, and how many coins they'll cost you:

Wii U Virtual Console

Donkey Kong 3 - 200
Donkey Kong Jr. - 200
Dr. Mario (NES) - 200
Mario Bros. - 200
NES Open Tournament Golf - 200
Super Mario Bros. - 200
Super Mario Bros. 2 - 200
Super Mario Bros. 3 - 200
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - 200
Super Mario World - 200
Wario's Woods (NES) - 200
Wrecking Crew - 200
Yoshi (NES) - 200
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 - 200

Wii U

Dr. Luigi - 300
Game & Wario - 600
NES Remix - 300

Wii Virtual Console

Mario Golf (N64) - 250
Mario Kart 64 - 250
Mario Party 2 - 250
Mario Tennis (N64) - 250
Paper Mario - 250
Super Mario 64 - 250
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - 200
Super Mario Kart - 250
Super Smash Bros. (N64) - 250

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console

Donkey Kong (GB) - 150
Donkey Kong Jr. - 200
Mario Golf (GB) - 200
Mario's Picross - 150
Super Mario Land - 150
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - 150
Wario Land II - 200

Nintendo 3DS

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - 600
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move - 250
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! - 200
New Super Mario Bros. 2 - 600
Paper Mario: Sticker Star - 700
Super Mario 3D Land - 600

And finally, don't forget to check Club Nintendo in April for the Elite Status 2015 gifts!

Link: Club Nintendo Program Notice

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Latest News / Gold Mario amiibo announced for USA

« on: February 26, 2015, 11:49:17 AM »

A gold-colored version of the upcoming Mario amiibo was announced today by Nintendo of America in a press release. Releasing alongside the Super Mario amiibo series on March 20, the gold Mario amiibo will be exclusive to 3,000 Walmart stores in the U.S., according to Nintendo.

The announcement comes three weeks after gold and silver Mario amiibos were leaked on Nintendo's website.

Links:
NOA press release
Mario - Gold Edition (Nintendo.com)