Sonic and Mario: together at last
Linc
OwnerDetroit Icrontian
The formerly competing companies of Sega and Nintendo have two of the most recognizable mascots in the video game industry. Next Christmas, those mascots will share the title of their first joint appearance: Mario & Sonic at the Olympics.
"I think the Olympics acts as a neutral ground for the two characters. We know that Sonic is fast and Mario is strong," said Mike Hayes, the president and chief operating officer of Sega Europe in an <a href='http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161056'>interview with CVG</a>. "The Olympics is the perfect territory to bring them together because they can use their different skills in the events that we're going to have, which include track and field events, table tennis, swimming and more." The game is still in early development, so details are sparse, but they state in the interview that a player can use any character in any event. Hmm, who should I choose for the sprinting events?
Sega decided to use a character lineup (rather than produce it as a simulation game) to appeal to a younger demographic that, hopefully, will rub off on the real 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Sega secured the rights to produce the game from the International Olympics Committee.
Also noteworthy is that Shigeru Miyamoto (of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, and Pikmin fame, among others) will be playing a significant role in the development. This is a bit unusual, because the game is primarily being developed by Sega. No doubt the announcement of Miyamoto's involvement is meant to build positive anticipation for the release, which it seems to have already done.
I know what you're asking yourself: Why does Mario get his name first? Sega Pres Simon Jeffery and Nintendo VP Perrin Kaplan <a href='http://ncral.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=546590'>answer in Newsweek</a>:
<strong>Jeffery:</strong> Sega's being respectful. Mario is older than Sonic, and we'd like to give the old man some respect by letting him go first.
<strong>Kaplan:</strong> Here's the bottom line: He's Italian, he's really sexy, and he can get more women than Sonic.
"I think the Olympics acts as a neutral ground for the two characters. We know that Sonic is fast and Mario is strong," said Mike Hayes, the president and chief operating officer of Sega Europe in an <a href='http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161056'>interview with CVG</a>. "The Olympics is the perfect territory to bring them together because they can use their different skills in the events that we're going to have, which include track and field events, table tennis, swimming and more." The game is still in early development, so details are sparse, but they state in the interview that a player can use any character in any event. Hmm, who should I choose for the sprinting events?
Sega decided to use a character lineup (rather than produce it as a simulation game) to appeal to a younger demographic that, hopefully, will rub off on the real 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Sega secured the rights to produce the game from the International Olympics Committee.
Also noteworthy is that Shigeru Miyamoto (of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, and Pikmin fame, among others) will be playing a significant role in the development. This is a bit unusual, because the game is primarily being developed by Sega. No doubt the announcement of Miyamoto's involvement is meant to build positive anticipation for the release, which it seems to have already done.
I know what you're asking yourself: Why does Mario get his name first? Sega Pres Simon Jeffery and Nintendo VP Perrin Kaplan <a href='http://ncral.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=546590'>answer in Newsweek</a>:
<strong>Jeffery:</strong> Sega's being respectful. Mario is older than Sonic, and we'd like to give the old man some respect by letting him go first.
<strong>Kaplan:</strong> Here's the bottom line: He's Italian, he's really sexy, and he can get more women than Sonic.
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