Mario Kart Wii in Q2 2008

Update: Nintendo issued the following statement earlier clarifying the below: "The Nintendo first and third party software line-up release schedule which was distributed by Nintendo on Thursday 6th December confirmed launch dates for Nintendo titles launching in Q1 2008.

"Nintendo also included some titles which were fixed for release beyond Q1 2008 such as Mario Kart Wii. All Nintendo software titles launching in Q2 2008 have not been finalised or confirmed to date. Nintendo will communicate on all software titles launching in Q2 2008 for Wii and Nintendo DS at a later date." Update ends!

Mario Kart Wii will be released in Q2 2008, Nintendo said today, along with its steering wheel attachment.

You see, having trussed up its Christmas tree with Super Mario Galaxy, the Wii Zapper and Metroid Prime 3 in recent weeks, Nintendo has set its sights on the inevitable 2008 hangover and announced some release dates to soothe it.

January should be a fun month for Nintendo fans, immediately, with Wii Chess and Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure thinking and yarring their way to retail on the 18th, to be joined a week later by Donkey Kong Jet Race.

Perhaps of greater interest though is the presence of DS title Advance Wars: Dark Conflict that self same 25th January. "Players will have to plan the perfect attack with their armed forces as they complete single player missions or challenge the world through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection," says Nintendo.

February is fun too, with Battalion Wars 2 (15th) and No More Heroes (29th), while the DS embraces the tentatively titled Professor Kageyama's Maths Training on the 8th, and then in March we'd promised Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice - the latest instalment in the series that now seems to be done with Phoenix Wright.

Here's the full list cribbed from Nintendo's press release:

Wii Software 2008

• PDC World Championship Darts 2008 (Oxygen Games) 11th January 2008
• Wii Chess (Nintendo) 18th January 2008
• Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (Capcom / Nintendo) 18th January 2008
• Donkey Kong Jet Race (Nintendo) 25th January 2008
• Hamster Heroes (Data Design Interactive) January 2008
• Kawasaki Jet Ski (Data Design Interactive) January 2008
• Kidz Sports: International Football (Data Design Interactive) January 2008
• Urban Extreme (Data Design Interactive) January 2008
• NiGHTS: journey of Dreams (SEGA) January 2008
• Ghost Squad (SEGA) January 2008
• Last Ninja (System 3) January 2008
• Battalion Wars 2 (Nintendo) 15th February 2008
• No More Heroes (Rising Star Games) 29th February 2008
• Call For Heroes: Pompolic Wars (Data Design Interactive) February 2008
• EARACHE Extreme Metal Racing (Data Design Interactive) February 2008
• Bleach (SEGA) February 2008
• Kawasaki Snow Mobiles (Data Design Interactive) February 2008
• London Taxi: Rush Hour (Data Design Interactive) February 2008
• Pool Party (SouthPeak Games) February 2008
• Destroy All Humans 3: Big Willy Unleashed (THQ) February 2008
• Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis (THQ) February 2008
• ATV Thunder Ridge Riders & Monster Trucks (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7th March 2008
• The Wizard of Oz (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7th March 2008
• Naruto Wii (tentative title) (TOMY/Nintendo) 28th March 2008
• Bomberman Land Wii (Rising Star Games) March 2008
• SEGA Superstars Tennis (SEGA) March 2008
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (SEGA) March 2008
• MX vs ATV Untamed (THQ) March 2008
• Harvest Moon Magical Melody (Rising Star Games/ Nintendo) Q1/Q2 2008
• Worms: A Space Oddity (THQ) Q1 2008
• PES 2008 (Konami) Q1 2008
• Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) Q2 2008
• Dancing stage HOTTEST PARTY (Konami) Spring 2008
• Iron Man (SEGA) Spring 2008

Nintendo DS Software 2008

• Advance Wars: Dark Conflict (Nintendo) 25th January 2008
• Betty Boop (ZOO Digital Publishing) 25th January 2008
• Garfield Gets Real (ZOO Digital Publishing) 1st February 2008
• Professor Kageyama’s Maths Training (tentative title) (Nintendo) 8th February 2008
• NATURO NINJA Destiny (TOMY/Nintendo) 15th February 2008
• 8Ball Allstars (Oxygen Games) 15th February 2008
• Powershot Pinball Constructor (Oxygen Games) 15th February 2008
• Harvest Fishing (Rising Star Games) 15th February 2008
• Bleach (SEGA) February 2008
• Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis (THQ) February 2008
• Command and Destroy (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7th March 2008
• Magic Taizen (tentative title) (Nintendo) 14th March 2008
• Ace Attorney Apollo Justice (Capcom/Nintendo) March 2008
• Bomberman Land Touch 2 (Rising Star Games) March 2008
• Dungeon Explorer (Rising Star Games) March 2008
• SEGA Superstars Tennis (SEGA) March 2008
• MZ vs ATV Untamed (THQ) March 2008
• DRAGON QUEST® MONSTERS: Joker (Square Enix) Q1 2008
• Final Fantasy XII® Revenant Wings® (Square Enix) Q1 2008
• Crayola: Treasure Adventures (Ignition) Q1 2008
• George Of The Jungle (Ignition) Q1 2008
• Teenage Zombies (Ignition) Q1 2008
• Iron Man (SEGA) Q1 2008
• Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams (Empire Interactive) Q1 2008
• Code Lyoco 2 (Game Factory/K.E. Media) Q1 2008
• Zoo Hospital (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008
• Nancy Drew (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008
• Holly Hobbie (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008
• Fish Tycoon (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008
• Hannah Montana - Music Jam (Disney Interactive Studios) Spring 2008