To celebrate the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics, Nintendo and SEGA announced today a partnership that will forever mark the history of video games. Both of their key mascots will be featured in a game titled Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be available for Holiday 2007 and is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, players will compete in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using a supporting cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, gamers will be able to compete as or against a range of lovable personalities including Mario, Sonic, Luigi™, Knuckles™, Yoshi®, Tails™ and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver a favorite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, engage in exhilarating rallies in table tennis and churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after gold medal.

This is certainly not the Sonic-in-SSBB announcement fans have been wishing for, but it remains an interesting mixup. If the game is anything like the Mario Party mini-games, I’m all in.

Official Artwork

Official Site

SEGA and Nintendo Join Forces for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games