Nintendo reveals full Game Stars line-up
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes heads up the cast, but there's no sign of the DS. That said, you can learn to play real bongo drums. Yep. And get a tattoo.
Game Stars Live is going to be a busy place for Nintendo fans, it seems, although judging by details that landed in our laps this morning there seems to be something of an emphasis on extra-curricular activities.
In keeping with its Summer Tour campaign, Nintendo's display will be British seaside-themed (let's hope the weather picks up, eh?), with a camper van doling out free temporary Tribal tattoos to celebrate the Game Boy Advance SP Tribal Edition.
There will also be a bongo drum area, where a professional bongo drummer will be giving instruction in how to play the real things - a skill that Nintendo reckons will come in handy in the 'Bongo Battles' featuring Cube title (and peripheral stockist favourite) Donkey Konga a few feet away.
We've also previously been told to expect a Haunted Mansion, a Mario Crazy Golf course, and a 10-metre high, working helter skelter. All of which sounds like a recipe for a few laughs.
Fortunately there will also be some plain-old-games to back this all up. Principle amongst these will be Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, which will be running in multiplayer form to facilitate the Echos Challenge, which will culminate in a showdown on the main Game Stars Live stage.
Other games on display will include The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the new Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen titles, and, as predicted, the European version of Animal Crossing, which is now set for release on September 3rd - i.e. during Game Stars Live itself.
Sadly there's no word on the likes of Paper Mario 2, Tales of Symphonia or even Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Party Game$, but if there's any change to the line-up we'll be sure to let you chaps know.
More importantly, there's absolutely nothing on the Nintendo DS. Admittedly it was rather unlikely that Nintendo would choose a UK-based consumer games show to demonstrate the new unit and software - especially given that it hasn't even done that in Japan yet, and won't bother at next month's Tokyo Game Show either - but stranger things have happened, so we thought we'd clarify it anyway.
Game Stars Live runs from September 1st to 5th at ExCeL in London's Docklands. More details, tickets, etc. are available on the show's official website.