Mini Mario-Mayhem Throughout The World!

Mario v Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is let loose on Nintendo DS



Hold on to your hats! Mario Vs Donkey Kong is back, and this time our favourite duos mean business! In our last outing it was up to Mario to save the day by finding all the Mini Mario’s, but this time roles have been reversed and he must rely on them! Featuring easy accessible touch screen controls, over 80 different levels and utilising the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is sure to provide all with endless amounts of mind boggling fun as it marches on to Nintendo DS across Europe on 9th March 2007.

A whole host of Nintendo world famous characters make a welcomed return in this game, including Mario, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong’s long lasting love Pauline. Enraged and jealous by Pauline’s preference for Mini Mario over Mini DK, Donkey Kong kidnaps Pauline during the opening ceremony of Mario’s new theme park – Super Mini Mario World. It’s now up to the Mini Mario’s, on orders from Mario to brave mind bending obstacle filled levels and reach the top floor of the theme park where Pauline is waiting to be rescued by her mini heroes.

The player’s simple touch on the Nintendo DS touch screen using the stylus influences and guides the path the Mini Mario’s take, you can also move blocks using the stylus to create new paths, ride elevators and conveyor belts and avoid hazards like fireballs. ‘Thwomps’, lethal lava and deadly water traps all lie in wait for our mini heroes on there march and therefore quick reactions, puzzle skills and a steady hand will stand you in good stead in this game. Donkey Kong isn’t planning to play fair either, with new weapons in the form of Crash Kong and Capture Kong to use against our heroes. Sidekicks Mummy Guy and Snap Claw will do everything in their power to ensure the Mini Mario’s do not reach the exit door preventing our Mini Mario’s from moving onto the next level.

This game features over 8 themes and over 80 diverse and rich levels packed with hazards and puzzles, which will present new challenges to all players. What’s more players can also create their own levels and maps with the ‘new level editor’ before sharing them with others across the world using the unique Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. This feature brings a whole new dimension to gameplay creating an interactive gaming context in which you and others can compete in levels you have created, as well as competing in levels created by others. Players cannot only download levels from friends using the Friend Code system but can do so from anyone around the world ensuring that players really are spoilt with long-term endless fun without restriction.

This is the perfect fusion of retro action and cutting edge contemporary puzzles and is sure to be even more exciting and fun than its predecessor. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis storms into stores across Europe on Nintendo DS on 9th March 2007 at an estimated retail price of around £30.

Nintendo celebrates successful Christmas

Nintendo has announced that according to Chart-Track figures, almost 200,000 Wii units were shifted in the UK over the Christmas period - while DS sales topped the half-million mark.

The Wii launched in Europe on December 8 and became the fastest-selling home console ever during its opening weekend. More than 700,000 units were purchased by European consumers, leading to empty shelves across the continent.

First-party title The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess also proved popular, with more than 500,000 copies sold - meaning that over 70 per cent of Wii owners bought the game. Around 320,000 copies of Wii Play, which comes bundled with a remote controller, were also sold.



In the UK, the number of DS handhelds sold during December topped 500,000 units. According to Nintendo, again quoting Chart-Track figures, it was not only the best selling console over the Christmas period but throughout 2006.

The figure for December DS sales across Europe stood at 1.7 million units. It was the best-selling console across the continent in 2006, and accounted for more than half of all December hardware sales.

"We have enjoyed one of the most successful Christmas holidays ever, with both Nintendo DS and Wii selling at staggering rates," said Nintendo Europe marketing director Laurent Fischer.

"We are facing such high demand for both platforms that unfortunately we are facing stock shortages. However we are doing everything possible to combat this by attempting to deliver both consoles and games to retailers on a daily basis."

Nintendo also enjoyed a successful Christmas in the US - more than 1.1 million Wii units have now been sold since launch, and 1.6 million DS handhelds were sold during the month of December alone.

US hardware sales hit $12.5 billion

After a lively end to 2006 which saw two new home consoles debuting in North America, December hardware sales were up by 59 per cent to US $1.6 billion (EUR 1.2bn), with software sales reaching US $1.1 billion (EUR 851.9m).

Videogame sales for the entire year totalled US $12.5 billion (EUR 9.6bn), a rise of 19 per cent.

Home Consoles
Sony's PlayStation 2 was still the biggest selling home system, clocking up 1.4 million units for December, and 37.1 million to date in the US.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 added another 1.1 million units in December to a total of 4.5 million units since launch.

Nintendo's Wii sold 604,200 units for the month - with year end sales at 1.1 million.

Sony recently announced it had shipped one million PS3 units to North America, NPD data reveals the new console has only sold 687,000 of those, with 490,700 units sold in December.

Handhelds
Nintendo DS continues to prove its popularity by selling the most, reaching 1.6 million sales and 9.2 million since launch.

Sony's PSP also continues to sell well, 953,200 units during the month, and 6.7 million since it first hit store shelves.

Game Boy Advance has sold 35.1 million units in North America, with 850,700 of those selling in December.

Software
Gears of War, sold 817,700 copies, with Activision's Guitar Hero close behind at 805,200 units. Madden NFL 07 shifted 727,100 units in December.

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii, actually performed better on the GameCube (532,900 units) compared to its release on the new console (519,200 units).

Other strong performers included WWE Smackdown v RAW, it helped publisher THQ raise its profit forecasts, New Super Mario Bros. for the DS and the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 3.

However, total software sales for 2006, EA will be celebrating the success of Madden NFL 07, which sold 2.8 million units over the year, while Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. reached 2 million units.

For a game that was only released in November, Gears of War's 1.8 million sales is also a figure that will no doubt please developer Epic, also justifying Robbie Bach's comments that it's a "Halo-like franchise".

Peripherals
Official Xbox 360 wireless controller reaching 832,800 units during December.

The Wii remote sold 646,700 units with the nunchuck controller selling 497,100 units.

Sony's Sixaxis controller for the PS3 sold 336,000 units.

More sales for Nintendo

Nintendo expects full-year profits to increase by 20 per cent

They expecting net income to climb to 120 billion yen (EUR 774.9 million) for the year ending March 31st 2007.

Nintendo raised forecasts for the DS, expecting sales of the handheld to rise to 23 million, plus 100 million games sold.

Wii software is expecting to reach 21 million games, compared to an earlier estimate of 17 million.

Wii consoles sales remain at the previous target of six million units.

Nintendo now expects 900 billion yen (EUR 5.8 billion) in sales this year.