First Samba de Amigo art is exactly what we all imagined

New developer Gearbox, at least, hasn't made many changes to Samba de Amigo's mascot character, Amigo the monkey. Same festive hat, same red neckerchief, same permanent, vacant grin. The only major difference we can see in the first promotional art for the Wii Samba de Amigo is the very obvious addition of the Wiimote. That's Sega's subtle way of telling us that this is a Wii game, that you play on the Wii using the Wii controller. The press release, after the break, confirms this, reporting that the Wiimote and Nunchuk will take the place of the sublime maracas controller from the Dreamcast and arcade versions.

This is not the first time in the short history of the Wii that Sega has released Wiimote-holding-monkey artwork. This time, however, the monkey is wearing a hat.SEGA GETS SHAKIN' WITH SAMBA DE AMIGO

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (October 25 2007) - SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. are excited to announce that they are bringing back Samba De Amigo, the Dreamcast classic that helped to create the now-popular rhythm music genre. Created exclusively for the Wii home video game system, this vibrant and addictive new game lets players shake to the beats of a samba-infused soundtrack comprised of popular new songs as well as fan-favorites from the original game.

Playing as the grinning, sombrero-topped monkey, Amigo, players shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like maracas, in time with the visual beats of the music on-screen. The perfect party game, Samba De Amigo is packed with lively stages and a host of colorful characters. More details about this exciting new title including a full song listing as well as new special features will be revealed over the next few months.

"The Wii's controllers enable players to enjoy Samba De Amigo's unique gameplay without having to purchase an expensive peripheral," said Rick Naylor, Director of Marketing at SEGA. "Between the music, the quirky art style, and the maraca-shaking players, Samba De Amigo is as much fun to watch as it is to play."

Developed by acclaimed developer, Gearbox Software, Samba De Amigo will be exclusively available for the Wii in spring 2008. For more information, please visit www.sega.com.