The Nintendo World Store in New York is throwing a Mario Super Sluggers launch party on Sunday August 24th from 12pm to 4pm. Where you can play, sample, and buy the new Baseball game before it is actually released. Not only that but there is probably going to be some games and contests where you can win some prizes or a copy of the game. Now if that didn’t make a perfect launch party, how about getting an Autograph and your picture taken with the voice of Mario, Charles Martinet! Although their might be a slight catch of…

Get an autograph and have your picture taken with Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, with purchase of Mario Super Sluggers!

So… yeah. However, how often do you get a chance to meet the actual voice of Mario. However, that leaves two questions… What to get signed, and anyone up for a road trip?

Just like all the previous Mario sports titles once a year all the characters in the series get together for some non-canon fun. All without worry of some bothersome kidnapping from Bowser or the ever so sly, smelly, scheme of Wario. I have to honestly say that I have never really been a fan of any of the sports titles. They just do not do anything for me, and after watching the introduction to Super Sluggers, I kind of feel depressed. After seeing a few WiiMotes turn into bats, and Nunchucks become balls, I don’t think I can be serious about this game. Maybe it’s just me and my standards for a Mario game, but I would like to know how you feel about the Mario sports titles? Also, is anyone planning to pick this up on the 25th?

Just behind Super Robot Battle for PSP and Metal Gear Solid 4, Mario Super Sluggers (Called: Mario Stadium Family Baseball in Japan) is number three for game sales according to Famitsu’s retail ranking from June 16-22. This shows extremely strong sales for the title since it was released on the 19th of this month, three days after Famitsu started their ranking numbers and has already hit the top three. Additionally, the chart shows little signs of a sell-out, which means sales have remained steady despite a low frenzy-factor.

I’ve been in Los Angeles since the end of May for the convention circuit but I’m heading back on the 12th, so you can bet we’ll be previewing this game at least a month ahead of it’s US release.

After prematurely slamming Mario Super Sluggers for weeks, IGN has posted two hands-on previews of the Japanese version.

From IGN AU’s Monday article:

“Namco Bandai has clearly done a great job of re-imagining the Nintendo world as this place called Baseball Island. It looks as good as any first-party Wii effort so far, moving at 60 frames-per-second, and it’s easy to pick up and play.”

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Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo’s newly crowned Vice President of Sales and Marketing, yesterday announced Mario Super Sluggers, a Wii sequel to the successful 2005 GameCube title, Mario Superstar Baseball.

Any person qualified enough to take Reggie’s old job demands respect. Her words, dripping with delicious truth, ought not be disputed:

“We think (Mario Super Sluggers) is going to take these three wonderful areas of Mario, baseball and the unique capabilities of the Wii remote and bring them together in an exciting experience.”

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, or maybe I’m referring to the precedent set by Mario’s countless successful sports endeavors prior, but what about this game doesn’t seem awesome so far?

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The ongoing excitement over Nintendo’s groundbreaking Wii system gets a surprise springtime boost with the announcement of a new game. Kicking off its semiannual media summit in San Francisco near the company’s new sales and marketing offices in Redwood City, California, Nintendo of America today revealed plans for Mario Super Sluggers for Wii, giving baseball fans even more reason to root this season.

“Mario is truly a one-of-a-king character; clearly fans can’t get enough of him and his friends,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re giving Wii users brilliant new ways to enjoy him while expanding our series of active-play games.”

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