Next Stop, Minus World: New Super Mario Bros. Wii Launch Event

Editor's note: Derek played cub reporter for Bitmob and covered the launch of New Super Mario Bros. Wii for us at the Nintendo Store in New York City. How many of you have Mario relics worthy of inclusion in this museum? -Jason

I took the train down to New York City to attend the New Super Mario Bros. Wii launch event at the Nintendo World Store. Advertised as a huge extravaganza, with an ad-hoc museum and everything decorated like the Mushroom Kingdom, I was looking forward to what a large company like Nintendo had in store for the latest release in their flagship series.

Unfortunately, while waiting in line, the weather decided to warp us to Minus World -- it got a little wet outside. I kept my spirits and hopes high, eagerly awaiting what could be in store for me in the “Mushroom Kingdom” museum. However, those hopes quickly turned as sour as the weather when I caught a glimpse of the “museum.”

The inside wasn’t much to speak of, either, consisting mainly of every Mario game behind glass along with a few novelty relics.

After spending no more than 2 minutes inside the tent, I decided to go inside the store and get my mitts on the game. On the way in, I spotted the other outdoor event, a real-life modernization of The Wizard.

As soon as I stepped inside, I made my way over to one of the NSMBW kiosks. After waiting about 10 minutes, I got my chance and played through a couple of stages fairly quickly. The game felt good, although the jumping seemed to be slightly different from past Mario games.

The store was packed with little kids and big kids like me, all there out of admiration -- and anticipation -- for a fat Italian plumber. Oh wait, there he is! (In case you're wondering, the guy next to him had to lead him around.)

After all that madness, I managed to meet up with Bitmob’s Rich McGrath for some discussion on the event and game. As we chatted, a reporter from CNN Business stood in front of a camera behind us and pretended that she had any clue about what she was covering. At that point I called it a day and made my way back home.

Tags: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

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Toby Davis

November 20, 2009

Did you ask her if she knew Mario Questions? Now only if you and Rich could do a joint dilliberation about the event that would be awesome to see the different views or takes on it.

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Derek Lavigne

[b]@Toby[/b] I was very, very tempted to try and make her feel dumb. I chose to ignore the situation instead.

Derek - After reading this and realizing the date today. I feel helpless to think your holding back a review for this game from me. 8) I wanna know how it is.

Chris "Cosmo" Ross

I guess I'm glad I didn't make the trek to New York, although I'm glad you did and took some pictures! I guess I assumed Nintendo would've made a bigger deal about this, like having Miyamoto or Fils-Aime present or something.

Eric King

November 21, 2009

Wow what a sad launch event!

Dan "Shoe" Hsu

November 22, 2009

Thanks for covering this, Derek! Yeah, I heard from Rich, too, that this museum was a letdown. Too bad...I was excited to see it. I hope it was still worth your time to trek into the city for it. Have you been playing the game? Raychul and I broke it out again last night to do some Star Coin clean-up duty.

Ed Tremblay

that museum IS a letdown. I could have opened my own if I still had all the swag and comics and posters and freaking everything that was stolen by the movers when I was 10. My Mario Collection was epic, and unchacateristically pristine for a kid my age.

The sad thing is, I don't even own a Wii. Anyone want to play the role of Santa for me? 8)

[b]@Derek[/b] My physical dimensions make the cut, but I'm a selfish bastard. Anyone else?

Tom Heistuman

I have probably 70% of the museum pieces sitting in boxes. My original NES is actually wrapped in a SMB3 shirt I got from Mervyn's in 4th grade. I have to say, making fun of reporters doesn't go very far due to their ingenius editing abilities. The MW2 midnight launch had one standing outside a city away and I guess a bunch of people were heckling the reporter, asking if he knew anything about the event. Apparently the spot aired with a quick pan of the line and a voiceover so it was pretty fruitless as far as comedy was concerned.