Sonic and Mario Teaming Up... Who Would Have Thought?

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is just a year away, but apparently gamers might be able to "play" it just before it begins, in Christmas 2007 (title link). And it features two characters who I never knew would appear in the same game. Many of us have heard about "Capcom vs. SNK", or "Capcom vs. Marvel", but "Mario and Sonic At the Olympic Games"? The game will be featured on the Wii, a console that has done extremely well in the market, moreso apparently than the more pricey PS3 and XBOX360. I know this news is old, but I have just sought it out. As per SEGA Europe,

SEGA® Corporation and Nintendo Co. Ltd. today made a historical announcement that two of the biggest icons in the entertainment industry, Mario (TM) and Sonic (TM), are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed for the Wii (TM) video game system and the Nintendo DS (TM) system, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game.

Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be available for Christmas 2007 and is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, players will compete in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using a supporting cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, gamers will be able to compete as or against a range of lovable personalities including Mario, Sonic, Luigi (TM), Knuckles (TM), Yoshi®, Tails (TM) and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver a favourite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, engage in exhilarating rallies in table tennis and churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after gold medal.

I personally stopped playing these kinds of games a couple of years ago, even though they still have their appeal. I was more a fan of Sonic than Mario because I never had a Nintendo DS as a child, but a SEGA Genesis instead. Right now, I'm more into strategy games, which I might talk about later.

On the other hand, games that feature Olympic themes haven't been so successful in the past, but apparently the Wii will change that as the controls become more interactive and innovative. I really doubt I will be getting it, but it would be interesting to see how this one does on the market.