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Mario & Sonic's Olympic start slips

Release date for Wii crossover joins slew of releases on November 20; DS version set for Q1 2008.

Kane & Lynch isn't the only new game confirmed to join a November 20 murderer's row of new releases. Sega today said that the Wii edition of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will also launch that day, with its DS counterpart coming in a distant second in the first quarter of 2008. The Wii edition previously had been announced for a November 13 release date, while the DS edition had been expected by the end of the year.

Despite the stiff competition on November 20--the Xbox 360 role-playing game Mass Effect and the PlayStation 3 action game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will also be released that day--Sega has high hopes for Mario & Sonic's retail prospects. Speaking at the Tokyo Game Show last week, Sega corporate director Masanao Maede predicted the game would sell four million copies, on par with the success of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game for the Sega Genesis.

As the name implies, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games pits the major mascots of Nintendo and Sega against one another (and 14 characters pulled from their supporting casts) in 20 actual Olympic events. In addition to the standard track and field events, the game will also feature fencing, table tennis, gymnastics, and skeet shooting.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be released in for the Nintendo Wii on November 23 in the UK and Europe, with the DS version set to follow in Q1 2008.

For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

70 Comments

  • Gameboy082017

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 8:20 am GMT

    It's about time they finally made a game with Mario and Sonic. But couldn't they have come up with something better? Like maybe a fighting game or RPG? NO! They came up with the Olympics! Man, this game better be good!

  • Pun_Laca

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 5:27 pm GMT

    It's finally happened! One of my childhood dreams has come true! Hmmm...I wonder who'll win the 100m dash? I'm not concerned about the release date for the Wii version, since it looks like I'll have to wait til next winter, once again, before I can even find a Wii at all.

  • AirBizkit89

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 1:25 pm GMT

    Hmm I'm not so sure if this games is going to sell at 4 million as planned. Anyhow I view this a little more differently, this could actually mean something. i have a feeling that since sonic and mario is gonna be in the same game, then I think that this might mean nintendo/sega's getting us ready for brawl sorta like the way when you go to the movies the previews get you pumped up ya follow : D As for this game it might not hit the 4 million goal but as a gamer ill deff check this out at blockbuster. thats where they might reach 4 mill including sales. This game looks pretty good. whats sucks though is that the olympic games they added arent really good they should have added basketball, hockey, snowboarding etc. but the one mini game i cant wait to try is that bow one looks fun.

  • sniper2k0

    Posted Oct 2, 2007 7:20 am GMT

    It's called marketing and there's no better avenue to do it than the biggest sporting event in the world: The Olympic Games

  • GodfatherStatik

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 9:13 am GMT

    It's awesome to see Sonic and Mario in the same game.. but like Recharger said.. wtf.. it's not a platformer.. or even a fighter? Why.. olympic games?.. I think they should make an RPG-esque game where you have to use both of their talents alternatively in order to beat Bowzer and Robotnik.. Sonic's Speed and Mario's freshness.. but instead we get olympics. Whatever.. i'm not playing it so i dont care. =/

  • Recharger

    Posted Sep 30, 2007 8:15 am GMT

    finally these two characters are in the same game....... then what do they do not make it a platformer. I still don't understand why.

  • XBASX

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 3:23 pm GMT

    We don't know anything yet, so my wallet doesn't either.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 5:38 pm GMT

    Sorry, Sega. . .

    November's all about Super Mario Galaxy for me.

  • gary_safc

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 3:32 pm GMT

    ha ha love that last comment made me laugh

  • InvaderSora

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 1:00 pm GMT

    WTF? Q1 2008 for the DS version? You bastards!

  • dennis8

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 4:44 am GMT

    sounds great... speaking out of topic, I too would like to see Sonic as a character in ssbb.. if they can do this, why not Brawl

  • drummer131

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 4:25 pm GMT

    this game is going to get overshadowed by the countless other games coming out before the end of the year. why? because it's a game based on the olympics and they're never really that good. there are many "undeniably great/awesome" games coming out that everyone is definitely going to ask for.

  • 777rak

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 3:37 pm GMT

    I can not wait. Finally a video game that has my sport, swimming.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 11:45 am GMT

    The video trailer for this game shut me the heck up. Now if they get a mario cart vs sonic drift thing going.......ooooo the possibilties.

  • majin_vegeta300

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 10:58 am GMT

    I love most of sonics games, and still play most of them compulsively, but i think this one is gonna be teh suck

  • MadGamer132

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 10:54 am GMT

    i still can't wait.

  • cos_vanquish

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 10:29 am GMT

    This should be a fun and cool release

  • EliteMBT

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 10:18 am GMT

    cool

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 9:53 am GMT

    This is probably Sonic's most intriguing outing since the first SOnic Adventure on Dreamcast. 4 million copies is asking a lot.

    Like many I would have preferred to see Sonic in SSBB.

    Nov. 20th will be all about Mass Effect anyways for me...however I'm probably getting this game as well.

  • EternalYoshi

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 5:43 am GMT

    Ok. This game can improve relations between Nintendo and Sega or it could break it. Either way, I want Sonic in brawl.

  • DrCLos

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 4:56 am GMT

    I'd rather they make this a straight up Mario sports game and save Sonic for a guest appearance in Super Smash Bros Brawl.

  • slayer1090

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 3:56 am GMT

    this game can be good or bad, only time will tell.

  • mattcake

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 3:30 am GMT

    Id rather they pushed the date back to... well, when the Olympics actually *start* and made the game better in the meantime. I have a horrible feeling its going to be rubbish with weak controls and I sooo want it to be good. They delayed mario galaxy by a whole year, we dont mind waiting if the game is worth it!

  • Pumpkin-Head

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 2:33 am GMT

    the trailer looks cool it might be a great game..
    guess i have to wait ^^

  • wiiwillstand

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 2:16 am GMT

    November is going to be awesome! 8)

  • Anamanaman

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 1:22 am GMT

    I think anyone can agree this game looks vastly better than Mario Party on Wii. Plus, if they market this as the spiritual successor to Wii Sports, then they can do well. I wouldn't mind playing some Olympic mini games over Thanksgiving. I actually think the game probably would have fared better without Sonic. There's a precedent, however retarded, for putting derivatives of real sports into the mario universe. Adding Sonic to the mix confuses everything. The only game that Mario and Sonic could reasonably compete in is Smash Bros since its already a mish-mash of characters rumbling in a completely loony premise. But having Sonic and Mario competing in the 100 meter dash just goes a half-step beyond the already ridiculous line of implausibility.

  • beez1717

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 1:16 am GMT

    why do so many games get their dates pushed back?

  • darth-revan

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 10:57 pm GMT

    From what I have read and seen, this will most likely be a complete disaster for both Sega and Nintendo unless they push the release back to make the game better. Nintendo has no trouble pushing games back for quality, but Sega does so I'm really worried as this may be another nail in the sonic coffin.

  • foxpro-gt

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 8:40 pm GMT

    yeah sega...go head and push this game back afew months if it will make it better and sell more copys. i know me as a sega fan boy wont mind the wait if it means a more quality game

    it could be a good game too but may be way over shadowed with galaxy and smash bros comeing out..... so push the date to sometime next year.. it will be all good

  • ImSwordMan

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 8:27 pm GMT

    sonic was bundled with the genesis, it wasn't 4 million copies alone, if they bundled it with the wii maybe. Wait what am I saying.
    Put sonic in brawl, bundle that game with wii, and this prediction might be true...if the predticion was for brawl that is...

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 8:00 pm GMT

    it wont make 3 mill... well if it is as midcore as i am predicting any ways...

  • gotrice415510

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:57 pm GMT

    i dont know about a game that has payers doing track sports

  • sonic_spark

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:37 pm GMT

    I'm curious. Hasn't sold me on it yet. For my first Sonic & Mario game, I'd prefer to duke it out in Smash Bros.. oh well, I'll keep an eye on this one.

  • NotoriousNick

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:31 pm GMT

    I dont' think SEGA well reach their 4 mil goal but the Sonic fanboy in me is going to make me help.

  • Mr_Apple_Soup

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:11 pm GMT

    i guess ninty and sega must have another card up there sleeve if they want it to sell 4 mil!!

    .....headset anyone?

  • ShuuMutou

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:08 pm GMT

    I think it'll be a great game, something different. Don't judge a game till you have played it yourselves everyone. -.- Sonic and Mario fans should play this one before saying that the game looks crap and ect..

  • xcollector

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 6:12 pm GMT

    They really should just push the game to the summer when there are no games coming out and also because this is the summer Olympics.

  • Taagenbear

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:52 pm GMT

    seems like a medicore game gone good because of the motion sensing controlls

  • cspiffo

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:51 pm GMT

    It's too hard for me to get over the fact that Mario is supposed to run as fast as Sonic. It just makes no sense! Had they put Mario in saaaay a Hedgehog suit or his Go-Kart then this would be believeable. I'll probably try this game, but there are too many other games coming out at the same time that will probably be much better. This game is too little too late.

    They should have a cut-scene before the race where Mario is secretly shooting up amphetamines. That would mimic reality much more closely

  • remembamlilf

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:32 pm GMT

    ......Super Mario Galaxy or Mario and Sonic?

  • sieg6529

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:24 pm GMT

    I'll definitely play it, but they're over-emphasizing the Mario-Sonic matchup here. If they wanted to make the matchup a big deal, they should have included Sonic in SSBB

  • GuitarsOfWarr

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:20 pm GMT

    dan g, this might me be the day i buy a PS3. And now I have to spend 50 more bucks that day? you dotta be kidding me

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:19 pm GMT

    This may seem odd for the biggest crossover in gaming history, but we'll see how it goes...

  • Watch_Me_Xplode

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:10 pm GMT

    I'll be getting Uncharted on Nov. 20, sorry Nintendo. Awesome how each system has a hot exclusive coming out on the same day, though.

  • thewolf619

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:52 pm GMT

    Besides those other games, there's also a little game called Rock Band coming out that day as well.

  • MangyForestCat

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:50 pm GMT

    4 million is mighty high goal...

  • nickythenewt21

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:45 pm GMT

    Okie dokie. Hopefully it'll be pretty sweet.

  • sephiroth_4

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:36 pm GMT

    I love Sega, but they do the wrong things at the wrong times.
    4 MILLION??!!! Do they not see the killer list of games releasing this year? pfffft.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:34 pm GMT

    *sigh*
    Another delay. It wouldn't be a Nintendo game without one.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:30 pm GMT

    Now that I think of it, this is a genious time to release this piece of crap. Manhunt 2 will probably give more bad press about violent video games, then this game comes out right around when the Christmas shopping season begins. So parents are going to go to game shops after Thanksgiving wanting something new but not violent... and that leaves almost everything out but Mario & Sonic Olympics.

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