mario posts (Subscribe to this feed)

The Mushroom Kingdom doesn't have enough coins to buy this Mario pendant

by JC Fletcher { Feb 13th 2009 at 12:30PM }

This item, currently being auctioned off by eBay seller jewelryking, is perfect for the discerning customer who is:

insane about Nintendo
stuck in a Brewster's Millions-type situation, and
probably the regular kind of insane, as well.

You are looking at a gold Mario pendant covered in 14.5 carats of round-cut diamonds, somehow in the appropriate Mario colors. This is, apparently, a real thing that somebody thought it would be a good idea to make, and then to let other people know that they made. According to the seller, the retail value of this Mario bauble is $11857.00, but you can Buy It Now for just $7,000.

This represents a missed opportunity for jewelryking, who we assume to be the creator of the pendant. Charles Hamilton is a rapper and thus a member of the only profession that could actually get away with wearing this monstrosity -- but he's a Sonic fan.

Update: commenter Rich points out something that we should probably say explicitly just in case: the chances of this thing being made of real gold and/or diamonds are very, very low. But that shouldn't matter because you were not going to buy this anyway.
[Via GameSniped]

Seen @ NYCC 09: Old frenemies in the bargain bin

by James Ransom-Wiley { Feb 7th 2009 at 5:29PM }

Once bitter rivals sharing the throne, these old familiars now find themselves huddled together under a discount sign. At least they're still on top of the heap ...

Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!! site opens with new video

by JC Fletcher { Jan 28th 2009 at 1:00PM }

With the February 11 release of Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!, the sequel so exciting it provides its own exclamation points, rapidly approaching, Nintendo of Japan has launched a series of ads, which should look familiar if you've watched Nintendo ads of any kind in the last few years. They basically consist of a young woman in a well-appointed apartment, reacting with delight to the latest Nintendo game. In this case, a game about two plumbers having adventures inside a giant lizard monster's digestive system. And then that plumber-eating lizard getting into fights with ... rocket-powered castles?

Along with these two ads, Nintendo released a nice, long trailer for Alphadream's latest RPG. To make a snap judgment, yay. It's colorful and well-animated, and seems to feature a wide variety of gameplay. Plus, playable Bowser. All three videos are after the break.

Gallery: Mario & Luigi 3

Continued →

Mario Kart Source: made by fans, for fans

by David Hinkle { Jan 22nd 2009 at 7:11PM }

If you're a fan of PC games, then of course you've heard of the Source engine. It powers Half-Life 2, which is the bee's knees. Well, an ambitious bunch has decided to use the Source engine to code a new Mario Kart racing game, Mario Kart Source. The best part about this project is that the team is looking at all of the previous games in the series and is attempting to take just the best bits for their new game. Our verdict? Awesome.

Sadly, Nintendo won't likely be as excited to hear about the project, so we're sure they'll step in at some point or another and intervene.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Rumor: Mario & Sonic at the other Olympic Games?

by JC Fletcher { Jan 22nd 2009 at 9:58AM }

For some reason, it never occurred to us that Sega would want to make a sequel to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, but of course they would. Wouldn't you, if your game was one of the best-selling games on the best-selling console? Not even Sonic Team would botch that decision.

This purported scan from Nintendo Acción magazine teases a new Sonic and Mario title with the following text (as translated by Sega Nerds): "Who are these two and why do they come to see each other? Find out all the details on the mystery game in the next magazine. But before that, here are some clues: Games, Olympics, Cold, It's winter..."

Either this is a super obvious hint of a Winter Olympics-based sequel, or a fake magazine page, or intentional misdirection from the magazine.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

[Via Joystiq]

Rumor: Sonic and Mario going to the Winter Olympics

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 21st 2009 at 7:25PM }

Judging by an alleged scan of Spanish magazine "Nintendo Accion," a sequel to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games could be in the works at Sega. GoNintendo has a scan of the image, which teases a reveal in the next issue and clearly shows Mario and Sonic. SegaNerds roughly translates the text as: "Games, Olympics, Cold, It's winter." How ... elegant.

Oh, and who would be to blame for another button-mashing, waggle-infused minigame fest on the Wii? That would be the five million (and counting) people who bought the first title. Let's see if those folks will come back for a second, colder dose.

[Via SegaNerds]

Top 5: Jury's Still Out

by Kaes Delgrego { Jan 19th 2009 at 11:44AM }

In this little hobby of ours, there are undeniable classics. Only an utterly clueless fanboy will ignore Shigeru Miyamoto's contributions to gaming, and any Nintendo enthusiast can never deny the quality of a series like Halo or God of War. No matter the platform, there are games which make up the foundation of this medium as we've come to know it.

Traditionally, the formula would seem to be game made by a respectable company + a few years to let it sink in = indisputable classic. Yet there are a few that still provoke debate.

These are games that are neither universally adored nor hated. They almost always spark conversation, and are considered by some to be an acquired taste. Here are the Top 5 games that we all can't decide if they're classics or not.

NEXT >>

The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.

Nintendo dominates 2008 UK game sales

by David Hinkle { Jan 12th 2009 at 2:34PM }

Mario Kart Wii was a popular title for the Brits and their neighbors, as sales data shows it to be the best-selling game in the UK under the category of "individual SKU" during 2008, topping a list that is comprised mainly of games available only on Nintendo gaming systems. Considering how many amazing games released over the course of this year, we believe this to be quite the achievement

The Wii is just so darn popular over there. So popular, in fact, that the top 5 best-selling games for the year were all on Nintendo platforms. Coming in at the second spot was Wii Fit, followed by Wii Play, Brain Training on DS, and our favorite game to poke fun at, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Full list is past the break.

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

Continued →

Top 5: Worst. Cutscenes. Ever.

by Kaes Delgrego { Jan 12th 2009 at 12:42PM }

According to Activision (and after all, they made Pitfall!), video games will "eclipse" all other forms of media. Head honcho Mike Griffith went on to say that "Movies, recorded music and TV - these are all stagnating or contracting entertainment sectors."

I'm not sure how much I agree with that statement. Strictly in terms of cash flow, it's already happening. Gaming is a fairly pricey hobby, and it's been outpacing the other forms of media for several years (in terms of growth). Yet I have a difficult time imagining a time where video games are everyone's preferred form of escapism. Although their respective industries may see drastic changes with direct, indirect, or unrelated connections to gaming, music and film will always have a place. As much as I love gaming, it's not rare that I find myself preferring to zone out with TV or just listen to music and read instead of playing a video game.

What I do see is a further merging of the three into ubiquitous, all-purpose media devices. Microsoft and Sony currently do this, and it's only a matter of time before Nintendo catches up. While most households currently don't rely on gaming consoles as their sole provider of film / TV and music, I imagine that this will change. Perhaps the mediums will start to bleed into one another. With Metal Gear Solid blurring the lines between game and film and Audiosurf doing the same for games and music, perhaps media will merge and propagate a completely new and unique form of entertainment. Interesting stuff.

What was this Top 5 about, again? Oh, right: cut scenes. A lot of them stink. Here's the 5 worst ones.

NEXT >>

Born for Wii: Mario Sunshine

by Wesley Fenlon { Jan 6th 2009 at 12:00PM }

Now that 2008 is tightly packed away into our memories and the glorious new year is unfolding before our very eyes, we're caught between looking backwards at what 2008 imparted upon us and anticipating what 2009 has to offer. Even though Born for Wii is all about looking backwards, it's hard not to be excited about what this year is bringing to the Wii: in just a couple months, the New Play Control version of Pikmin will be hitting the States, and it will be good times. But we've still got awhile to wait until then, and this week we're highlighting a sorely underappreciated Nintendo game of last generation: Super Mario Sunshine.

Mario Sunshine was released in 2002 as the first real successor to the groundbreaking Mario 64, and it was clear from the beginning that things were going to be a little different. For starters, Mario was on vacation on a tropical island, and soon found himself equipped with a water pack for cleaning up sludge. Though it was generally well-reviewed, Mario Sunshine has since become somewhat of a whipping boy in the fan community, and many claim that it didn't live up to groundbreaking pedigree Mario 64 established years earlier. Mario Galaxy managed to exceed its predecessors in virtually every way possible, but in the end, Sunshine still has things worth going back for. The wonderful tropical locale, the FLUDD-less levels, and some fun water pack puzzles all made Mario Sunshine a worthwhile endeavor, and a New Play Control version would give Nintendo the chance to polish its shortcomings and give Mario the vacation he deserved.

NEXT >>

Gallery: Born for Wii: Mario Sunshine

Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, NBA Jam, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.

Drumming to Super Mario Bros. 3

by David Hinkle { Jan 2nd 2009 at 6:20PM }

He's back at it again. Following up his incredible display centered around Super Mario Bros. 2, drummer extraordinaire Andrea Vadrucci has put together another video of himself. This time, he's banging out some key tunes in Super Mario Bros. 3. As one would expect, his execution is near flawless and, well, it's just a great video to watch. Check it out already.

[Via Kotaku]

Mario & Sonic & An Unhealthy Obsession

by Chris Greenhough { Dec 30th 2008 at 9:05PM }

"I predict that it will sell 4 copies total."

"I feel that this game will bomb but only because of the olympic theme."

"Ha ha ha!"

Those are just a small number of your initial responses to Sega's prediction that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games would sell four million copies worldwide. Not that we're bragging at our readers' expense, for we also pooh-poohed the notion. Over a year on from our mocking laughs, and Sega is now hoping to break two million by the end of this year -- in the UK alone. Yeesh.

"Our aim is to hit two million by the end of 2008," Sega UK sales director John Clark has told MCV (the most recent figures, which we assume are from before Christmas, have the title at around 1.75 million across the Wii and DS), adding that the game has more than a 30 per cent attach rate to British Wiis. We shall think twice before snickering into our Earl Gray and crumpets again.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

Study: Buff game characters give males negative body image

by Justin McElroy { Dec 30th 2008 at 11:15AM }

Hey, it's-a me, Mario. You know, mah life, it's-a not fire flowers and princesses. Sometimes, it can be-a downright depressing. I see that Marcus Fenix walking around with his big muscles and I staht to feel a little silly about-a my tummy. It's-a getting worse too. Yesterday, I was wearing my racoon suit, and some lady thought I was a koala bear, if-a you can believe that.

And I'm not the only one! Researchers at Kansas State University say that 15 minutes of viewing extreme body images in games were enough to give both males and females a negative impression of-a their own body image. Me, I'd love to slim down, but I'm not really sure what else I can do. I'm-a freaking fungotarian, for-a crying out loud.

Nintendo dominates Amazon in 2008

by David Hinkle { Dec 29th 2008 at 6:35PM }

The Nintendo Wii has been a hit since it released over two years ago. For popular retail site Amazon.com, Nintendo's latest console has been a big cash generator for Amazon during its time on the market, especially in 2008, as the site has released its 2008 best-of lists and guess what was the top-selling video game in 2008? You guess it: Wii.

Aside from being the top video game, Wii Fit enjoyed the best reviews through 2008, as well as being the product most wished for by users. Last, but certainly not least, was Mario Kart Wii (with Wii Wheel), which was the item gifted the most by Amazon users throughout this year. In the end, Nintendo ended up being

Want to kill some time? Check out Mario vs. Spartan: The Game

by David Hinkle { Dec 24th 2008 at 4:30PM }

Joystiq's Free Game Club picked up on Mario vs. Spartan: The Game and, by golly, we're glad they did. This simple title is easy to get a grasp on, even though the premise makes no sense. But, hey, you get to beat up on a billion dollar cyborg dude thing (whatever that Chief Master guy is supposed to be) with Mario. That isn't too bad, right?

So, if you find yourself stuck in front of a computer today just like us, check out the game here. It's a good way to kill some time.

See also: It's a Wonderful (Super Mario) World

[Via Joystiq]

← Previous Page|Next Page →