​NOW CLOSED – PriceSpy, the go-to platform for price and product comparison information in New Zealand, has released its monthly statistics for August, revealing the compelling lineup of video games that Kiwis have been looking to purchase most.

From nostalgic classics like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, to the more recently released title, Diablo IV, all of the top games that Kiwis were looking to buy in August were found to come in under the $100 price point. This trend underscores the current value-driven mindset of many New Zealanders in the context of today’s challenging economic landscape.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand Country Manager for PriceSpy, says: “It’s remarkable that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a release that launched over six years ago, has clinched the top spot in our August popularity rankings. The game’s enduring appeal serves as a testament to its gameplay, which truly stands the test of time and even outshines newer, multi-platform releases like Diablo IV.”

Liisa adds: “Diablo IV is the newest of the games to feature in our August rankings, making its debut in June 2023. Whilst it has attracted significant consumer enthusiasm, its current pricing strategy is less captivating, offering a modest two per cent off its original launch price. We expect to see more competitive pricing for this title over the next few months.”

“For those seeking the best value, Hogwarts Legacy is the standout, offering Kiwi gamers a substantial -30% discount just seven months post-launch. It’s a compelling value proposition in today’s market, says Liisa.”

Here’s a quick rundown of the top five games and their pricing details:

*Prices correct on PriceSpy as of 11 September 2023

Lisa concludes: “In today’s economic landscape, where every dollar counts, both the longevity and affordability of a game have become critical considerations for consumers.

“Whatever game consumers are looking to purchase, we encourage people to carry out a quick price check before they buy, so that they can make sure they are making the most informed choices.

“And for those keen on making a saving, older titles often provide the best bang for the buck.”

PriceSpy has teamed up with us here at STG to offer you the chance to win two of the top games from August 2023 on Nintendo Switch; Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom.

To enter in for two selected top games of August 2023 with Pricespy, you need to answer this question correctly:

What has been YOUR fav The Legend of Zelda game in the series?

You can give us your answer by placing a comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

Important stuff: Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a physical copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is rated G, The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom is rated G. There is no age rating to enter this competition. Competition ends on the 1st of October 2023. Only New Zealand entries are accepted for this promotion.

Download the PriceSpy app here.

www.pricespy.co.nz

The post Be in to Win the Games of the Month w. Pricespy! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe players across Australia and New Zealand will get a chance to compete for prizes and glory in the Splatoon 3 ANZ Championship 2023 and the Mario Kart ANZ Championship 2023, culminating in a live Australian and New Zealand final at PAX Australia 2023.

Starting in August, Nintendo Australia is hosting a series of online qualifying events for each championship. These open qualifiers will determine the top teams and players who will compete in the finals on Sunday, 8th October at PAX Australia 2023. There are multiple ways to play and participate, and players of all experience levels are welcome. More details about these exciting events can be found at Nintendo Australia’s website.

Australia and New Zealand’s freshest Splatoon 3 squads will be decided through Turf War and Anarchy Battle modes, where strong teamwork and clever strategy will be needed in heated four-on-four match-ups. Registered teams will face off against each other in Turf War best-of-three single elimination bracket, with the quarter and semi finals in Turf War and Anarchy Battle best-of-five single elimination.

The winning team from each qualifier will be invited to the Live Grand Final at PAX Australia on Sunday, 8th October 2023.

To determine the Australian and New Zealand Mario Kart 8 Deluxe champions, racers will compete in 150cc Race Mode with normal items across a variety of courses, accruing points with the top two racers per qualifier (for a total of 12) qualifying for the Live Finals at PAX Australia on Sunday, 8th October 2023.

The schedule for the online qualifying events for both the Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ANZ Championships 2023 are below.

Both tournaments will host qualifiers across August and September, allowing players and teams multiple chances to reach the finals at PAX Australia 2023.

The post NINTENDO SEARCHING FOR ANZ’S BEST SPLATOON 3 TEAM & MARIO KART 8 DELUXE RACER appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NOW CLOSED – According to the latest gaming insights released from the fully impartial price and product comparison site, PriceSpy, Kiwis appear to be switching over – with the most-popular games across the month of July 2022 coming from Nintendo.

For a second consecutive month, PriceSpy’s data found the top game Kiwis were looking to buy most was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch).

And the love affiliation for Nintendo doesn’t stop there – with PriceSpy’s click data also revealing the second, third and fourth most-popular games were for the Nintendo Switch.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says: “Whilst the Nintendo Switch isn’t the newest console on the market, popularity for the games produced for this platform is evidently extremely strong in New Zealand.

“For example, topping the most-popular gaming list for July was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.  And our insights revealed the second most-popular game was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which originally launched in May 2014.

“Even though this game is older on the market (having first launched in 2014), we believe popularity may have been reignited in this classic as a result of Nintendo launching a Booster Course Pass Wave 2 to play for August 2022.

Source: PriceSpy (Prices correct as of 9 August 2022).

Liisa continues: “Interestingly, our insights continue to highlight how consumers are changing up their spending habits – looking to buy games that are older and more affordable on the wallet.

“Purchasing a game that is older on the market is actually a really smart way shop, as it can often offer consumers a considerable saving.   For example, four out of five of the top games this month can be purchased for under $100. And The Outer Worlds (Switch) is currently priced at $29.”

PriceSpy has teamed up with us here at STG to offer the two top games for July 2022.

Those being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch.

To stand a chance of winning, enter our giveaway by answering this question:

What was your greatest Mario Kart moment, ever?

There’s no wrong or right answer, just tell us your greatest Mario Kart achievement or experience and you’re in to the competition.

You can give us your answer by placing a comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

Important stuff: Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a physical copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has an age rating of PG, Mario Kart 8 is rated G. For age restricted games you may be required to provide proof of age. Competition ends on the 1st of September 2022. Only New Zealand entries are accepted for this promotion.

Download the PriceSpy app here.

www.pricespy.co.nz

The post Nintendo Switch Tops July – Pricespy Giveaway! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Mario’s engine is revving. The Koopalings have their eyes on the finish line. The Gran Prix is about to start… in your living room, hallway, kitchen and pretty much everywhere in your house.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit takes the Mario Kart game that we all know and love to play and pits this in to the real world.

The game itself comes with one racer (either Mario or Luigi, depending on the box set you opt for) and via the Switch consoles control your chosen racer in his physical mini kart will burst around the circuit aiming to win.

The small Mario or Luigi kart is responsive to the goings on in the game.

Get a boost? So does the physical kart. Hit a wall or another racer in the game and the physical kart will also react accordingly.

Everything that Mario or Luigi see plays out on your Switch screen via the mounted AR camera on the small physical kart.

The game comes with everything you need to build your own circuit and it’s really just up to you to find ample floor space for a heated yet light-hearted race.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit also offers up multi-player, providing the other players have a physical kart of their own and they can join in to your race and track that you have set up.

Playing Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a mix of live feed of a race and controlling the race at the same time.

Set up doesn’t take too long initially and once you’re good to go you’ll be battling it out against virtual opponents in Tournament or a real world rubber burning fest against up to 4 real world players.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a break in the fourth wall of video gaming, where the onscreen characters are live in your home.

The post Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

First revealed in the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Direct, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is set to provide a completely new Mario Kart experience for both series veterans and newcomers alike.

Now, the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit – Overview Trailer (above) offers a deeper look at what’s in store. Created in partnership by Nintendo and Velan Studios, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit uses AR technology to bridge the gap between the virtual world of Mario Kart and the real world of the living room, bringing fast and frenetic Mushroom Kingdom motorsports to life with a combination of on-screen gameplay and physical kart racing.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit includes everything Nintendo Switch owners need to get ready, set up and go: one kart – with either Mario or Luigi in the driving seat, depending on the set you choose – plus four gates, two arrow markers that can be used to enhance your tracks, and a USB charging cable for the kart. The software comes in the form of a free download from Nintendo eShop, which, once downloaded, syncs up with your physical kart hardware.

Set up for the game involves placing the four gates around your living space, then driving through each of them in turn to create a track layout. Creativity is key and many different shapes of track can be designed, from simple and classic to more complex layouts, full of twists and turns. It’s recommended to have an area of at least 3.5m x 3m to play in, but beyond that, any living space, large or small, can be transformed into a unique Mario Kart experience, with countless course combinations possible even in smaller rooms. Once the track has been set up, it’s time to race!

The main mode of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is Grand Prix, where players will face off against the Koopalings across eight Grand Prix featuring 24 different courses in total. In every race, familiar Mario Kart elements in the game affect the physical kart itself, bringing the frenetic fun of Mario Kart into a whole new dimension. Grabbing a mushroom in-game gives the physical kart a speed boost, whereas getting hit by a red shell will stop the kart in its tracks. A range of well-known items from the Mario Kart series are present, including slippery banana skins, ink-spilling Bloopers, and even Bullet Bills that enable the kart to surge around the course at high speed, steering itself. Different environmental themes, such as underwater, volcanic and retro, spice things up further by introducing a variety of in-game hazards and features – all of which affect the kart in real life. Collecting coins in-game will also unlock customisation options, allowing players to spruce up their on-screen look with different costumes and kart types. Similarly to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there’s also a steering assist option, to help the kart stay on the track and allow younger or less experienced players to join in on the fun.

In addition to Grand Prix mode, there are various other ways to play Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit such as Custom Race, this mode gives players even more room for creativity, designing not just the physical layout of the track but also adding hazards, items and more to bring truly unique creations to life and Time Trial where players create a track and then race to set the fastest time possible – competing either against their own personal best, or handing the controller to another player for an exciting Time Trial head-to-head that requires only one Nintendo Switch console and one copy of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit.

In addition is Mirror Mode for those who fancy an extra challenge, this mode allows all of the Grand Prix tracks to be played in mirror image, with right turns becoming left and the familiar becoming unfamiliar.

With multiple Nintendo Switch consoles and copies of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, up to 4 players can race against each other in either Grand Prix or Custom Race modes. With so many different ways to play, and the ability to utilise furniture, toys and other household objects to create unique home racetracks every time, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit offers a world of possibilities for imaginative racers of all ages and experience levels.

Created in partnership by Nintendo and Velan Studios, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is an all-new Mario Kart experience for Nintendo Switch that brings fast and frenetic Mushroom Kingdom motorsports to life, as players race physical karts around custom racetracks created in their own homes. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is available as both a Mario set and a Luigi set, and launches at retail on 16th of October 2020.

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The post NEW TRAILER GIVES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT MARIO KART LIVE appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gather your friends and get ready to put the pedal to the metal! 

Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo’s first ever Mario Kart game for iOS and Android devices, launches its new, real-time multiplayer mode worldwide on 9th March, 2020.

Players who update their Mario Kart Tour game to the latest version will be able to participate in real-time multiplayer races, where they can race neck-and-neck against friends and other Mario Kart Tour players nearby or online. Mario Kart Tour is free-to-start and is currently available to download for iOS and Android devices, so players can already hit the road and begin training now for the heated competition that is just around the corner.

With real-time multiplayer, players can participate in Standard Races to compete against other Mario Kart Tour players around the world based on an ever-changing set of rules. These rules will change every day, meaning the excitement never ends in the race against your rivals around the world. Players can also choose to create or join a Lobby Match, where they can play against friends or other players nearby based on their own custom set of rules. Finally, in Gold Races, available only to Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass subscribers, players can race at even faster speeds that require advanced kart manoeuvres to challenge other competitors.

In Mario Kart Tour, smartphone owners get to enjoy the thrill of Mario Kart races while also collecting drivers from throughout Nintendo’s rich history of characters, like Mario, Donkey Kong, Peach and Yoshi, as well as a range of sleek karts and gleeful gliders.

Players can choose which drivers, karts and gliders to use in high-speed races across a variety of colourful courses, including new spins on classic Mario Kart tracks, and special limited-time new courses highlighting well-known cities from around the world, seasonal events, holidays and more. In addition to special courses based on these iconic locales and themes, during each event players also have the opportunity to obtain unique variations of Mario Kart drivers, karts and gliders inspired by that event.

For those looking to turbo charge their experience, the Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass is a monthly subscription service that unlocks 200cc mode and enriches the gameplay experience by providing subscribers with in-game gold gifts for racing in tours and special in-game badges from gold challenges.

First-time subscribers can sign up for a two-week free trial. The paid subscription will automatically begin at the end of the free trial period unless cancelled. Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass is not required to play the game or to participate in Standard Races or to play with friends or others nearby in real-time multiplayer mode via rooms.

A Nintendo Account, a uninterrupted online connection and a compatible smartphone are required to play Mario Kart Tour. Players can obtain their in-game registration card by linking their Nintendo Account.

Those who do not already have a Nintendo Account can create one at the official Nintendo website.

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Get your fingertips ready: Mario and friends have boosted across the starting line and begun their world tour! Mario Kart Tour, the first Mario Kart game to launch for smartphones, is now available to download on iOS and Android devices.

Players will be using intuitive touch controls to boost, drift and speed their way to victory over a series of colourful courses, with some inspired by locations in the real world.

The free-to-start Mario Kart Tour brings the endless racing fun of Mario Kart to mobile devices, allowing players to collect a variety of drivers, karts and gliders from an expanding roster. Players can strive to achieve high scores, unlock additional cups, earn in-game rewards, or compare their online ranking in a weekly ranked cup with players from around the world. Many classic tracks, items and characters make return appearances, and new courses and special items specific to each driver have also been introduced, like Diddy Kong’s Banana Barrels and Peachette’s Mushroom Cannon.

Players can choose which drivers, karts and gliders to use in races across a variety of courses, including fresh takes on classic tracks and special city courses. City courses, special in-game event courses inspired by real-world locations, will be available during specific time periods and take place every two weeks. The first city course, inspired by New York City, begins today and will be available until 4:59pm AEDT on the 9th of October 2019. During this time, players will also have the chance to obtain the mayor of New Donk City, Pauline, in the character’s first ever appearance in a Mario Kart game, as well as a New York-themed kart and New York-themed glider. These drivers, karts and gliders can be earned by using Rubies, the game’s in-game currency, to fire off the in-game warp pipe. Rubies can be earned in-game as a milestone reward when unlocking cups, completing challenges, or by purchasing them using real-world money.

New York City is just the first of many stops in Mario and friends’ world tour, with more city courses, such as Tokyo and Paris, taking place in the near future. Mario Kart Tour will continue to receive new content and updates post-launch.

Players can sign up for a free two-week trial subscription to the Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass by tapping the Gold Pass purchase button in-game. With the Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass subscription, players can unlock the extra-fast 200cc mode, obtain additional in-game rewards from racing, and gain access to bonus goals exclusive to Gold Pass members. Once the two-week free trial period ends, it will convert to a monthly subscription for AU$7.99 / NZ$8.99 per month unless cancelled.

Playing Mario Kart Tour requires a Nintendo Account, compatible smartphone and a persistent online connection. For more information about the game, visit Mario Kart Tour’s Official site.

Mario Kart Tour, the first Mario Kart game to launch for smartphones, is now available to download on iOS and Android devices.

The post LET’S A RACE! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Mario Kart has been one of the biggest games, and certainly one of Nintendo’s biggest series for two decades, combining Nintendo’s major characters with Karts for arcade fun insanity at home.  Last year Mario Kart 8 was no different, and now it has been ported to the Switch, which makes it console quality Mario Kart on the go, with all the DLC.

For anybody who may have the Switch for their first main Nintendo console in a while, the eighth main entry in a series can seem daunting, but there is nothing to worry about here.  The game is a kart racer, and nothing more, with no forced in story for the sake of it.  Instead from the inside out the game worries about being a fun game, and that’s it.

The nature of the game concentrating on what it is has resulted in some honed quality unlike many other games.  Kicking in the main gameplay mode involves doing four races for a trophy, being scored after each race.  This is split up into different CC ratings which increase speed and difficulty of your opponents.  In each rating category, there are 12 cups each consisting of four Levels, meaning there is an absolute tonne of content, and that’s Grand Prix mode.

Then there are Time Trials where you can pick any of the four races and try set or beat records, which can be uploaded to the net.  Then there is the VS race which gives you all the customisation you need, such as making it a banana only match. Then the new Battle mode.

As with most kart races the game has weapons used in races to give, or lose your edge, and the Battle mode, which is new to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, concentrates on the use of these.

Battle mode consists of five other modes which involve going around battle specific maps, hitting each other with said weapons, the best two of which are Balloon Battle and Shine Thief.  Balloon Battle is a simple, kill opponents, a get points styled game with a Mario Kart twist, giving each character a set of balloons.  You lose one each time you are hit, and when you lose all your allocated balloons you respawn with less, while losing some of your points.  Then Shine Thief is a mode where you need to hold the Shine, a big gold sun coin, for 20 seconds total, which wins the round.  It is lost by someone hitting you with a weapon which will make you drop the Shine, allowing anyone to pick it up and thus continue their counter.

Battle mode is a huge addition to the game, causing an intense level of fun and joy, which added to portability makes this a worthy purchase for owners of Mario Kart 8 on Wii U.  The gameplay is super simple, making it fit the joy cons perfectly, so one Switch can make multiplayer Mario Kart on the go super easy, or if you don’t have any friends, online matchmaking is also super easy and fast.  During my many sessions getting my ass kicked, I never had an issue connecting to a race.

One element that may frustrate some is the balance of weapons.  They are distributed depending on your placing, where first place gets less powerful weapons, and eighth place gets the best most regularly.  This does mean that an unfortunate series of attacks can drop you from first to last, which may inflict some gameplay rage.  But the consequences for most of the races tend to sit close, if you find yourself at the rear of the race early on, nothing is set in stone until someone passes that finish line.

The graphics and audio also stand out as stars.  With very arcade, relaxed and fun music, it helps set a charming and fun, and very Mario-like tone to the game.  Silly sound effects on top of this sets a very specific tone of fun and fun.  Added to this is the art style which is very simple, charming, and Mario-like.  These added to the range of characters, vehicles, maps and their environment makes the game everything it needs to be.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is everything we want from a Kart racer.  Fun gameplay, atmosphere, maps and modes.  With the extra Battle mode, the game is more than the game of the year edition of Mario Kart 8, but so much more.

The post Mario Kart 8 DELUXE (Nintendo Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Mario Kart, anywhere and at anytime! Friends can instantly compete in thrilling multiplayer races wherever they are, simply by handing one of the two Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch console to an opponent and competing on the console’s built-in screen. Extend the invite and place the console in the Nintendo Switch dock to play in TV mode, where up to four players can settle scores over split-screen action.

Test your skills online and challenge players across the globe, or go solo by playing in handheld mode – anytime, anywhere. Experience precise motion controls that players of any skill level can enjoy by adding Joy-Con to the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Wheel, available separately in pairs. With so many different ways to play and a plentiful number of courses and modes, this is the biggest and most accessible Mario Kart game yet.

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, familiar characters from the Super Mario series compete in races set around the world of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Racers have to be prepared to get ahead of their rivals through the use of items such as the Super Star – which makes players invincible for a short period of time – and the notorious Spiny Shell, which will hunt down and attack the player in first place. Adding to the frantic racing action is the use of antigravity, allowing vehicles to race along the sides of buildings, up astonishing waterfalls, and nudge opponents for a satisfying speed boost.

Budding racers who are new to the series and wish to learn the tracks can now make use of the new Smart Steering feature, which will help prevent them from driving off the course. In addition, the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Wheel Pair will be sold separately on the 28th of April, 2017, so friends and siblings alike can compete using motion control. Mario Kart veterans, meanwhile, can enjoy a more conventional playing style by using either a Joy-Con Grip or the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for more precise controls.

As well as more accessible control methods, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will have 48 courses available from the start, as well as five speed classes, including the expertly challenging 150cc Mirror Mode and the high-octane, ultra-fast 200cc mode. In addition, players will now be able to choose from 42 racers, including returning fan favourites King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr. For those seeking a challenge, Gold Mario awaits the finest players who can complete all cups in 200cc. Friends can also suit up and take to the asphalt with the ability to bring their Mii into the game as a racer. Also new to the series are the Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl from Splatoon 2, who bring new vehicle parts and the new Urchin Underpass course for battle mode, all based on the multiplayer shooter.

Battle mode has been revamped and expanded in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with eight dedicated courses to choose from, including selections from previous titles such as Mario Kart 7. On top of Balloon Battle, both Bob-omb Blast and Shine Thief modes return from Mario Kart Double Dash!!, while Coin Runners makes a comeback from Mario Kart Wii. Battlers can also enjoy a brand new cops and robbers-style mode known as Renegade Roundup.

Multiplayer mayhem can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways on Nintendo Switch consoles, with four different methods available to play with friends. Up to four friends can play on a single Nintendo Switch console in TV mode, or in tabletop mode by using the stand at the back of the console and placing it on a flat surface. Online multiplayer makes a return, allowing for up to two local racers to get involved in 12-player races with others around the world and with Wireless Play, multiple Nintendo Switch consoles can be connected to each other, allowing up to eight people to play together in the same room. Up to 12 consoles in TV mode can be connected via LAN Play, with one or two players per connected Nintendo Switch.

Players can also create highlight reels and watch them again via the in-game mode Mario Kart TV, allowing them to save the memories of their greatest successes, or their most glorious failures. Should players wish to race in style, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes with a wide range of amiibo compatibility, including some Super Mario series and all the Animal Crossing series, while Splatoon series amiibo grant a new racing suit for Mii characters.

Players of all ages will be able to take to the track and race against each other anytime, anywhere and with anyone when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches for Nintendo Switch on the 28th of  April 2017.

The post LAUNCH OFF THE GRID ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, WITH ANYONE – Mario Kart on Switch appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Start your engines and get training, because Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. are joining forces in an exclusive Wii U bundle just in time for Christmas. From today, the Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Premium Pack will become available in selected retailers around Australia and New Zealand. Containing a black Wii U Premium Pack console and two of Nintendo’s most iconic multiplayer games – the high-octane kart racing of Mario Kart 8 (pre-installed) and the ultimate battle of your favourite characters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U via download code.

Since its launch in 2014, Mario Kart 8 has sold 8 million copies worldwide, with both newcomers and veteran drivers alike facing fresh karting challenges in remixed classic and brand new courses, and the added twist of the new antigravity feature allowing Mario and company to race upside down or up vertical surfaces.

Want to battle your friends instead? Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is easily the biggest version of Super Smash Bros. ever created, offering a giant roster of classic video game characters and all the fighting action that fans of the series have fallen in love with over the years. Up to eight players can battle simultaneously and plenty of new modes and stages will keep fans playing the game throughout the holidays and well into the new year!

The fun doesn’t end there, with both Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U offering add-on content that can be purchased via the Nintendo eShop, unlocking entertaining extras for the whole family! In Mario Kart 8, you can get new characters, vehicles and racetracks, including favourites like Isabelle from Animal Crossing. For Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, you can download costumes for your Mii characters, new stages and new playable characters, such as the Psychic-Type Pokémon Mewtwo!

Add the final touch to your favourite Christmas gift with amiibo. Tap compatible amiibo into Mario Kart 8 to unlock costumes for your Mii character, based on those worn by your favourite Nintendo heroes! Or train the ultimate ally or fiercest opponent by tapping your compatible amiibo into Super Smash Bros. for Wii U!

From December the 1st, 2016, the Nintendo Selects for Wii U range expands to include Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Pikmin 3. Don’t miss the chance these holidays to team up with the Kongs in HD and run, leap and roll across six differently-themed islands in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, or explore the surface of planet PNF-404 to save your home planet from famine with the friendly and helpful Pikmin in Pikmin 3. Nintendo Selects for Wii U range offer premium games at a great price.

‘Tis the season for a Wii U bundle of family fun with the Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Premium Pack, launching exclusively in Australia and New Zealand from the 14th of November, 2016.

The post Nintendo Announce the Wii U Premium Pack for Xmas appeared first on Shane the Gamer.