"So you wish to conquer in the Olympic games, my friend? And I too, by the Gods, and a fine thing it would be!" Epictetus, Greek Stoic Philosopher, AD 55-c.135

The Confrontation

Nintendo and SEGA have finally done it! What so many fan-boys and girls dreamt of seeing ever since the blue blur, Sonic the Hedgehog, came into focus in the gaming world during the early 1990's; Sonic, Mario and their supporting cast will compete in the up coming game titled, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which will be available for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS just in time for holiday season of 2007. This historical event will be published by all three major corporate branches of SEGA and licensed through a global partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Challenge

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, gamers will face off in events that will take place in environments similar to those which will be found in the upcoming Games of the XXIX Olympiad (2008 Olympics), held in Beijing, China. So far only a handful of characters from both realms have been officially confirmed.

• Sonic
• Mario
• Knuckles
• Luigi
• Tails
• Yoshi

The control systems of both the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS have great promise when it comes to maneuvering your favorite SEGA or Nintendo character down the track. Plausible games thus far that could be available to win a gold medal:

• 100 Meter Relay
• Table Tennis
• Swim Heats

"The Olympic Games represent the true spirit of competition and passion," said Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ISM. "Bringing together intensely competitive and fun characters like Mario and Sonic in an Olympic setting helps showcase the sports of the Olympic Games in a new and compelling way for all generations."

The Future?

Could this be the start of a new series featuring the barbaric clash between these two titans? Or is this a possible hint of a new challenger appearing in Super Smash Brothers Brawl?