Nintendo officially confirms Zelda bonus disc

Nintendo of America has confirmed that it will be offer consumers a bonus disc similar to one recently released in Japan. The disc will be part of a preorder program that will officially start February 16, 2003. When consumers place a preorder for the upcoming GameCube game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, they'll receive a limited-edition disc that will feature two games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (known as Ocarina of Time Ura in Japan). While The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in the US for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest was released only in Japan for the 64DD peripheral.

The bonus disc's release was fueled in part by consumer demand that began when information on the Japanese preorder program was released. "We were surprised consumers tracked the program in Japan and were begging us to do it here," said Peter MacDougall, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Nintendo of America. "We decided it was a great idea and one we know consumers really want. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker game raises the bar on digital entertainment with a unique and technologically advanced graphic style and compelling story. Making this presell program available to the fans, it solidifies Nintendo's commitment to the hard-core gamer, while introducing the series to a whole new generation of gamers."

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is currently slated to ship March 24, 2003, in the US. For more information on the bonus disc check out our previous coverage .