The Wind Waker sets preorder records

Nintendo has announced that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has presold 560,000 units, beating Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's record for preorder numbers. Nintendo is offering free GameCube versions of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (which is essentially the same as the original game, only with remixed dungeons) to those who preorder The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

"Given the history of the Zelda series, we expected overwhelming interest, and this solidifies the ever-growing phenomenon and attraction gamers have to the characters and story," said George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America. "It doesn't matter which system you own, gamers across the world respect and anticipate the launch of any Zelda game and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a killer application that will move hardware."

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is scheduled for release on March 24.