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Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics


Emerald Emblem

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Details!

 

Wii details

 

- all events will have multiplayer modes available from the start

- Downhill Skiing: hold Wiimote/Nunchuk like ski poles, tilt to guide, miss a gate and gain a time penalty, horizontal split-screen mode for competitive play, balance board compatible

- no support for two balance boards

- A button for turbo boost in some events

- you only get one turbo boost per event

- special mode being considered that will balance out core/casual players when playing competitively

- Speed Skating: swing arms as if you’re skating, rhythm is key, messages indicating “A little late†or “A little early†appear on screen

- Bobsledding: co-op event, run at start by shaking controllers, press A to hop in, hold controllers to your chest and tilt left/right to steer, character icons show which way players are learning, best track for racing is shown by shiny chevrons on track

- Dream Events return with more power-ups

 

“We’ve tried to make the game more accessible and easier to understand for casual users, but we would also like to focus on core gamers as well. So we’re making it very accessible, but then putting in in-depth gameplay for the skilled player.†- producer Takashi Iizuka

 

DS details

 

- developed by separate team

- single card download play for 4 players, all events open

- Snowboard Cross: uses both dpad and buttons

- Skeleton Board: bobsled run on a body board-style sledge, rub stylus back-and-forth to run up, swipe upwards to jump on, slide left and right to steer, swipe up for speed boost

 

 

A couple of screens over at....

 

http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7758

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Potentially awesome game. Olympics is a fantastic party game with some annoying niggles.

 

The stupid things they need to lose are that the higher the player (player one being the highest) get more points if the event is a draw. This is so effing ridiculous and really ruins the spirit of the multiplayer - how they missed this idiocy baffles me. Also the double points for the first race is another stupid decision.

 

If this game has a full on ice hockey game on it, that would be incredible!

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Awesome. I love Olympics.

 

Did they pick out standout events? And did the comment how well the balance board works?

 

They say that like any game like this out of the 27 events people will have their favourites while other events wont get played so much. The only mention of the balance board is that its for single player only but it works well.

 

The Dream Events sound amazing. They mention that the Dream Ski Cross event takes place on Mario Circuit from Mario Kart Wii only with snow on the track. The music is remixed and you will find the usual MK weaponry on the circuit such as redshells and stars.

 

Dream Ski Jumping has you blasting through the Good Egg Galaxy from Mario Galaxy where you have to collect coins and land on a huge target.

 

Dream Snowboard Cross is set in Sonic Adventure 2s Radical Highway level. This sees you collecting rings and hitting springboards trying to get a high score.

 

All in all the game sounds fantastic and my level of anticipation has jumped up.

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Got a review copy of this through the post today. I'll probably give it a go at the weekend, but I can't say I'm too excited about it, as I'm not really into sports games, and I didn't really enjoy what little time I spent on the first game. I'll post impressions when I can though. :)

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MCC's Preview & Sega's Major Marketing

 

Sega’s 2007 retail smash returns, swapping Beijing for Vancouver and introducing a brand new range of events for the whole family to enjoy…

 

To call Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games a success is to call Mount Everest a bit tall. The game has sold more than ten million units around the world, driven by its combination of loveable iconic characters and fun, accessible mini-games that delighted entire families the world over.

 

A sequel, it could be argued, was inevitable. Sure enough, MCV revealed a snow-covered follow-up back in February in the form of Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games. Needless to say, this is going to be big.

 

Set during next year’s Vancouver event, the title sees gaming’s favourite mascots competing once more,

and arrives on retail shelves just in time to dominate the gifting period for a second time. Sega is, understandably, rather optimistic.

 

“The first Mario & Sonic Olympic title has sold over two million units in the UK alone,” says marketing manager Jo Fawell. “The Winter Olympic version is a whole new Mario & Sonic experience. It’s bigger and better than ever, and we’re confident that consumers will agree that this is a great game and a perfect Christmas gaming gift.”

 

A change of season means a change in line-up, with a brand new range of events for players to participate in.

Gone are the running circuits and swimming pools of

the original, heralding the arrival of ice rinks, snowy mountain passes and toboggan runs.

 

Every winter sport imaginable is available, including the likes of skiing, skating, luge, bobsleigh and more.

There are even new dream events, bringing a little video game charm to an otherwise serious sporting event, with examples including the Dream Snowball Fight.

 

SNOW BUSINESS

Another new aspect is a more immersive approach to controls. Once again, the game will make the most of the Wii’s motion sensitive controls and the DS’s stylus precision, but now the console version will be compatible with the Balance Board. Families will find themselves leaning back and forth to control snowboards and skiis, and even lie down with their chest on the board to navigate the twisting course of the skeleton event.

 

As with the original, the emphasis will be on multiplayer and both the Wii and DS versions will cater for up to four players in all events – a feature that is certain to be popular over the upcoming holiday season.

 

“Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games has moved on in terms of gameplay experience from the original in so many ways,” says Fawell. “The use of the Balance Board and more intuitive controls add a whole new depth of gameplay.

 

“More fun dream events have been added, new characters and mini-games have also been included. The multiplayer events have more co-operative and competitive play using both balance board and Wii Remote.

 

“A new mode on the Wii allows players to experience a Winter Olympic campaign from the opening ceremony until the close of the event.

 

“The DS has an all-new adventure mode that allows players not only a solus gaming experience by wi-fi play with up to four players from one game cartridge. Therefore we are confident the game offers a new Mario & Sonic experience for players.”

 

MARKETING CHAMPIONS

 

Mario & Sonic is Sega’s biggest release of the Christmas season, and given the success of the original, the firm is keen to let everyone know, with a mammoth marketing campaign:

 

TV

Millions of pounds have been invested in a four-month TV campaign ads running alongside key programmes such as X Factor. 90-second ads will takeover

five kids’ channels on the game’s launch day.

 

Sega estimates that 93 per cent of housewives and 88 per cent of kids will see the advert 11 times each, while 80 per cent of 16 to 34 year-old adults will see the advert eight times each.

 

Cinema

A five-month campaign will see 30-second ads running before family and children’s blockbusters. This will rack up eight million admissions over the duration of the campaign.

 

Print

Over the course of six months, Sega has secured five front covers on various specialist and consumer publications, supported by three months of print advertising.

 

Mario & Sonic is already receiving positive reviews, with Official Nintendo Magazine awarding Gold awards and scores of over 90 per cent to both Wii and DS versions.

 

Online

There will be ads running across key specialist and lifestyle sites for four weeks, incorporating dedicated interactive creatives and takeovers.

 

Trade

Sega has prepared its biggest retail marketing campaign to date. Spanning a whopping eight months, this will include in-store activites, set to run from launch through to February 2010. There will be a full range of premium POS available and pre-order incentives running across retail, which will be supported by competitions and online features in the months after launch. The company has also arranged in-store events across 40 retail outlets.

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