Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe will serve up the Wii remake of Mario Power Tennis in March, according to their release schedules for early 2009. The series of GameCube games updated with Wii controls, known as "Wii de Asobu" (Play on Wii) in Japan, is named "New Play Control!" for North America and Europe.

Links:
NOE press release
NOA press release

The first DSi Ware titles, downloadable software for Nintendo's currently Japan-only handheld, have been announced.  Included is Chotto Dr. Mario, yet another rendition of the Nintendo action puzzler.  The game features classic single player and Vs. COM modes.  Also upcoming is Utsusu Made in Wario, a new Wario Ware game, which in true Wario Ware fashion, features gameplay that revolves around the latest Nintendo technology.  In this case, at least one of the DSi's built in cameras is used to control the microgames.  Both games launch with the service on December 24th and will cost 500 points.

Link: Game Watch

Announced on October 2nd, Club Nintendo has finally come to North America. Much like the Japanese Club Nintendo, American gamers can register Nintendo products to earn "Coins," which can be redeemed for exclusive goodies. As expected, the program launches with some Mario-themed merchandise:

- Hanafuda Cards (800 Coins)
- Mario Party Playing Cards (600 Coins)
- Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack (600 Coins)
- Nintendo DS Game Card and Stylus Set (600 Coins)

Club Nintendo also offers Game & Watch Collection for 800 Coins. Previously only available through Club Nintendo in Japan, this Nintendo DS game includes the Multi Screen Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong.

Link: Club Nintendo

Mario Golf has finally made it to the Wii -- but only on the Virtual Console. Camelot's N64 classic is now available in North America for 1,000 Wii Points.

Announced during Nintendo's Fall Conference yesterday, the "Wii De Asobu Selection" (Play on Wii Selection) will bring select GameCube titles to the Wii, updated with motion controls. The lineup includes Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Mario Power Tennis, and Pikmin 2.

Visit the link below for a Jungle Beat video and more on Wii De Asobu.

Link: Keynote Address translation

Nintendo's 2008 conference has just ended in Japan, where they revealed an upgraded Nintendo DS model called the DSi. Among the new games revealed is the third installment of the Mario & Luigi series, tentatively titled "Mario & Luigi RPG 3." Short gameplay clips can be seen in NCL's DS lineup video.

Here are a few stills from the Mario & Luigi RPG 3 footage:
- Rolling Toad
- The brothers' shell attack
- Bowser in a battle

Link: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/index.html

Wario Land: Shake It! muscles its way into stores across North America today. It will release next in Australia (9/25) and Europe (9/26).

After having been rated by ESRB and removed, being in the top five Nintendo Power readers' most wanted for five months running, and releasing in all other territories, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars finally hits the Virtual Console in North America for 800 Wii Points.  Super Mario RPG marks the 250th game for the Virtual Console.

Source: Nintendo of America press release

Mario Super Sluggers was released in North America today, and should be available in most stores by tomorrow or Wednesday.

Link: NOA press release

This coming Sunday, August 24th, Charles Marinet will be at the Nintendo World Store in New York for a special Mario Super Sluggers promotion.  Buy a copy of Mario's newest Wii game and you'll be able to get an unknown gift from Nintendo, signed by the voice of Mario himself.  If anyone is in the NYC area and gets pictures of the gift and Martinet's appearance, feel free to send pictures in.

Hey David!

I hope you're doing great!
I just want to let you know that I'm going to be at the Nintendo World Store on Sunday August 24th from noon till 4pm.
When fans buy Mario Sluggers at the Nintendo World Store that day, I'll be there to autograph a gift from Nintendo.
Woo Hoo!
Please get the word out to your friends and Mario fans you know are in New York.  It'd be great to have a nice turnout!
Thanks!

Best,
Charles

Source: Charles Martinet

Wii owners in Europe and Australia/New Zealand will finally be able to do something that once required importation: play Super Mario RPG.  The long-awaited game comes to Virtual Console on Friday (8/22) with a premium price of 900 Wii Points.  The Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 was also re-added to the available Virtual Console game list at 600 Wii Points.  There is no word on an American release date, the only region still waiting for Super Mario RPG.

Birdo has a prominent role in the Captain Rainbow trailer released recently. In this new Wii game from the makers of Chibi-Robo and GiFTPiA, the eponymous hero visits Mimin Island, home to obscure Nintendo characters. Since not much information is known at this time, it's possible that more Mario characters will be included.

Captain Rainbow currently has no Japanese release date set and has not yet been announced for North America.

Link: Captain Rainbow trailer

NOA sent out a press release concerning some of their 2008 titles, and they helpfully included a release date for the new Wii Wario Land platformer.  Wario Land: Shake It! will be released in the USA on September 29th of this year.

Wario Land™: Shake It!, a classic side-scroller for the Wii console launching Sept. 29, stars Wario, the smelly, bad-mannered alter ego of Mario™. With the Wii Remote™ controller turned sideways like an old-school controller, veterans and newcomers alike can run, jump and smash their way through hectic side-scrolling stages. Players shake the Wii Remote to help Wario take down his enemies, empty bags of treasure or cause earthquakes. Best of all, there are numerous stages each offering multiple missions to keep players coming back again and again to unlock everything, collect more coins or just improve their best times.

Source: Nintendo of America press release

The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) site posted a "G" rating for Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars today, just one week after it revealed a new title for Wario Land Shake. Thanks to the Virtual Console, it appears that Australia will get Super Mario RPG for the first time, but no official release date has been announced. Because Australian and European VC titles usually release on the same day, does this mean Super Mario RPG's first ever European release is coming as well?

Link: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars rating

Wario Land Shake has a new title and rating for Australia. A "PG" rating for Wario Land: The Shake Dimension popped up on the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) site today. Wario's 2-D Wii adventure is set to release July 24 in Japan.

Link: Wario Land: The Shake Dimension rating

Nintendo's Japanese Virtual Console schedule updated today with the first release date for Super Mario RPG, which will be available in June for 900 Wii Points. Also coming in June is Yoshi's Cookie (NES). This unique puzzle game starring Yoshi and Mario was released last month in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Link: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/lineup.html

Nintendo's release calendar now includes Wario Land Shake, a Wii game coming out July 24 in Japan. We'll have more news on the game as it becomes available.

Link: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/schedule/0807.html

Dr. Mario Online Rx is now available on WiiWare in North America. For 1,000 Wii Points you can visit this doctor as many times as you like.

Link: NOA press release

Dr. Mario Online Rx was one of the six games available for download when WiiWare launched in Europe and Australia today. Although the game was a launch title in Japan as well, Wii owners in North America are still waiting for a house call from Dr. Mario.

Links:
NOE news
NAL news

With the launch of the Nintendo Channel in North America today, Nintendo unveiled some new details concerning WiiWare's Dr. Mario title. The official name is now Dr. Mario Online Rx, and is priced at 1000 Wii Points, or $10.00. A video in the Nintendo Channel showed a release date of 5/12/2008 for the game.

Link: The Nintendo Channel

Starting today, Nintendo is holding a series of worldwide Mario Kart Wii tournaments on the Mario Kart Channel. The first tournament is for the fastest time in Mario Circuit. Of course, in order to participate in the tournaments, your Wii must be connected to the Internet.

Link: NOA press release

Mario Kart Wii races to store shelves across North America today. Pick up your copy, with a free Wii Wheel, for $49.99.

If you pick up the game, please post your friend code in the Fungi Forums!

Nintendo of America announced Mario Super Sluggers today at its media summit. First revealed in Japan in October 2007, Mario's first baseball game for Wii is a follow-up to Mario Superstar Baseball for GameCube.

Link: NOA Press Release

Previously only thought to be a rumor (as reported on the TMK Blog),  a June 19th release date has been confirmed for Mario Superstar Baseball in Japan. The confirmation comes courtesy of a flyer that included screenshots and game information. Check it out below!

Link: Mario Superstar Baseball flyer

Yoshi's sweet tooth puzzle game, Yoshi's Cookie, has been released on North American Virtual Console. Hop into the kitchen with Yoshi and download this game now for only 500 Wii Points.

Today, Nintendo of America announced an April 27 release for Mario Kart Wii. The game is also set to launch in April for Japan, Europe, and Australia, but the U.S. will get it last.

Link: NOA press release

Nintendo has finally unveiled the launch date and lineup for WiiWare, a download service for original Wii games. On March 25, Dr. Mario & Virus Buster (1000 Wii Points) will be one of the nine games available for purchase when WiiWare goes live in Japan.

WiiWare is currently scheduled to launch May 12 in North America.

Link: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/index.html

After a couple of delays, the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl is out now in North America.

In related news, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the subject of today's FoxTrot comic. You can read it online at FoxTrot.com.

SEGA announced today that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Wii and DS have combined for five million copies sold globally. On November 6 in North America, Mario & Sonic met for the first time in the Wii version, which was among the ten best selling games in December. According to the press release, the game saw even more success in Europe: "Mario & Sonic became the best-ever performing Wii game over the seven-day period that ended on December 11, 2007. In January, Mario & Sonic was the best-selling video game in England across all formats."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the highly-anticipated third installment of the Smash Bros. series, is out now in Japan.

With more than a month to go before Brawl is released in North America, the official Brawl website has announced that its future updates will focus on hidden content.

The latest update at the Smash Bros. Dojo contains two new tidbits that everyone here is sure to enjoy.  World 1-1 from Super Mario Bros. will be appearing as a battle stage... a side scrolling battle stage, somewhat akin to Rainbow Ride in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but moving towards the right and much more amazing... especially with the piano remix of the Super Mario Bros. theme, by Kondo himself.  It also seems that the level changes to World 1-2 at times.

It's a great time to love Mario.

View the stage on the Dojo here.
Hear the music on the Dojo here.

Source: Smash Bros. Dojo

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Nintendo DS ships to stores across North America today, two and a half months after the Wii version. It should be available in stores on the 24th.

Smash Bros. Dojo returns from its week-long vacation with news of more Super Smash Bros. Melee stages returning in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Five stages were revealed today, including Yoshi's Island and Rainbow Ride (known as Rainbow Cruise in SSBM).

Source: Smash Bros. Dojo