SAN JOSE, CA - September 26, 2005 Namco and Nintendo have teamed up again, offering for the first time, a proven consumer franchise for the arcade!

Word about this acclaimed title has been on the streets for over 8 months.  Namco is happy to announce that MARIO KART® ARCADE GP™ will be shipping in October.  Due to limited production, this soon to be chart-topping game is available in limited quantities so act fast.

MARIO KART® ARCADE GP™ offers classic Mario Kart action with 11 characters.  Familiar Mario Kart ® characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach and Wario tear up the track with characters available only in the arcade model…. Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Blinky.  Each character has unique driving abilities so you'll have to try them all.  The Player Continuation feature makes that possible!

MARIO KART® ARCADE GP™ is a 2-player dedicated game.  It's an impressive attraction piece when two cabinets are linked for 4-player thrills and spills.   Six worlds offer a variety of racecourses, 24 in all, to challenge both hard-core Mario Kart® fans and casual players alike.  Add in the variations of time and environment and you get 68 diverse courses!  Plus, there are hilarious challenge stages available to those who wins the Grand Prix Mode tracks.

This dedicated model features a NamCam 2 to add to the excitement of the game play.  You insert your face in the character image of your choice and BAM….an image of your marvelous mug appears on screen where your rivals can see you as you leave them in the dust. 

The game play is fast, furious and FUN!  You race around the course and collect crazy items to toss at your adversaries.  There are 57 objects available, over 40 developed just for the arcade model!  Some items can be thrown forward at the competitors racing in front of you on the course and others can be used to disrupt those who are hot on your tail.   There are items that lock on your target and some that provide you with shields to reflect the rival's attack, there's even one that allows you to become invisible!  While you're trying to whip around the track and stump your friends you've got to dodge the stuff your buddies are tossing your way!  The sophisticated feedback steering will have you wishing you never got hit by that blasted Needle Bomb, Thunder Cloud or Tornado.  Gathering coins along the way increases your speed and helps you win the race.  Advanced players will be thrilled when they discover the hidden moves and use them to their advantage.

MARIO KART® ARCADE GP™ is suitable for players of all ages.  For pricing and delivery information contact your local distributor or the Namco America Inc. Sales Office at 877 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, IL  60106  (630) 238-2248, fax (630) 238-9333.  For additional product information visit our website at www.namcoarcade.com.

About Nintendo
The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems.  For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

About Namco America Inc.
Namco America Inc. is one of several wholly owned US subsidiaries of Namco Limited, a Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry.  Established in 1955, Namco is committed to providing the ultimate interactive entertainment experience. Namco uses cutting-edge technology and advanced electronics to take their coin-operated video games far beyond traditional entertainment.  Namco, which also has business related interests in films, toys, health equipment, consumer video software, and restaurants, is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and owns a number of other subsidiary entertainment companies around the globe.

Source: Nintendo Media Page

9/15 Update

Revolution Controller Unveiled!

    Nintendo has finally unveiled their closely guarded secret of the Revolution's controller!  It looks sort of like a TV remote control, but it works like a 3d computer mouse.  The revolution controller can sense motion in up, down, left, right, forward, and backwards directions.  In addition you can tilt it side to side, and there is an expansion port at the bottom for attachments, such as an analog stick to connect to, therefore allowing Gamecube style games to still be played on the system.  In fact, the analog stick has already been developed, with two trigger buttons on it.  The revolution controller also has a D pad for NES style games, and some buttons on the front, as well as a 'B' button underneath that seems similar to the 'Z' trigger on N64.  The revolution's controller is also completely wireless, but right now there's no information on what the range is, or the source of power or anything of that nature.  As with every controller, Revolution's also has the rumble feature built in.  The 'home' button near the middle of the controller may be a way to get into some sort of menu for downloaded games using the virtual console feature, but Nintendo hasn't made an announcement on that yet. 

    What does this mean for actual games?  At this point it's difficult to say.  For first person shooters it will be great, since you can 'aim' the controller at your target on the screen and shoot, and probably use either the forward and backwards motion to move, or even the analog stick attachment.  For Zelda it's possible the analog stick attachment will be used to move, then the motion sensing controller part could be used to control the swings of Link's sword or to make the motion of throwing the boomerang or pulling back an arrow to fire at an enemy.  While nothing has been revealed by Nintendo on this yet, it is interesting to think about.  Check below for screenshots, and we will continue to bring you news on the Revolution controller as it becomes available!

Source: IGN