Mario and Sonic starring in a game together

[Julius Seeker]

It is coming out for Wii this fall.

-The game will be based on the Beijing 2008 Olympics
-The project is being developer by SEGA and directed by Shigeru Miyamoto
-Other characters, such as Luigi and Knuckles, will be involved as well.
-The game will use the unique features of the Wii controller(s) to play; am guessing this is like a second generation and highly advanced Wii Sports.

Here are some quotes from IGN:

"Mario and Sonic have been respectful rivals since the early days of video games," said Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. "In fact, for a long time they have been discussing the possibility of one day competing against each other. Now that they have been given the perfect opportunity to meet at the Olympic Games, we may finally learn who is actually faster, Mario or Sonic?"

"We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo and ISM on this groundbreaking title," said Hisao Oguchi, president and chief operating officer, SEGA. "For the first time, two of the world's greatest games' characters come together to compete in the world's greatest sporting event and we couldn't be more excited."

"The Olympic Games represent the true spirit of competition and passion," said Raymond Goldsmith, chairman and chief executive officer of ISM. "Bringing together intensely competitive and fun characters like Mario and Sonic in an Olympic setting helps showcase the sports of the Olympic Games in a new and compelling way for all generations."


http://wii.ign.com/articles/776/776460p1.html

[Julius Seeker]

Update from IGN:


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.

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.

Speaking about the development process between Nintendo and SEGA, Kaplan noted, "The beauty of the relationship is that SEGA of Japan will work in close collaboration with Miyamoto, so that's sort of like the icing on the cake. There's a great development team and then he's going to amp it up like he does with all the games. That also speaks to our commitment to the relationship and to the product. We're excited about it."

We asked the inevitable question, what does this announcement say about the possibility of Sonic becoming a playable character in Nintendo's forthcoming Wii fighter, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but neither Nintendo nor SEGA reps had any comment.

"We're only speaking about this title so there's no comment about that," said Scott Steinberg.

[Eric]

Action-sports isn't what I really wanted for a Sonic/Mario game, but whatever.

[Julius Seeker]

Action-sports isn't what I really wanted for a Sonic/Mario game, but whatever.

Yeah, I was hoping something more along the lines of Super Smash Brothers, that's what everyone has wanted for years, but they haven't denied anything about that. This is a first, and it might be the first of several projects over the next few years. It is just that the two biggest videogame mascots are in the same game, that is something I have wanted to see for a while =)