Mario & Sonic Winter Games sets opening ceremony

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games won't kick off in Vancouver, British Columbia, until February 12, but Mario and Sonic are getting a jump on the competition. Sega has announced that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will arrive for the Wii and DS on October 13.

The game features the iconic mascot pair competing with their friends and foes in a variety of minigames inspired by such Olympic events as bobsledding, speed skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, and more. Additionally, the Wii version of the game will feature multiplayer co-operative modes and certain events will be compatible with the Wii Balance Board.

As with the last athletic competition between the mascots--Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games--Sega will be publishing the title in North America and Europe, while Nintendo will do the honors in Japan. Both companies would doubtless be pleased if their second collaboration performed as well as the first: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games sold a total of 10 million copies worldwide.