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Nintendo's Mario Searches Nationwide for Teens

03/07/2002

Redmond, USA - July 3, 2002 (PRN):Mario™, the world's most celebrated video game hero, and the national youth organization SHiNE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) are bringing the virtual clean-up action from Mario's first NINTENDO GAMECUBE™ game, Super Mario Sunshine™, to five American cities. Nintendo of America Inc. and SHiNE on July 2 launch a nationwide campaign to reach teens in a non-traditional fashion to beautify communities and paint neighborhood murals.

Through July 23, aspiring artists, gamers and others interested in making a positive difference in their communities can enter the "Nintendo and Mario Make My Community SHiNE" contest through www.shine.com. Entrants will design murals that reflect SHiNE's mission of promoting cultural harmony, non-violence, and high self-esteem among teens. Winners will see their art prominently displayed in their hometowns or neighboring metropolitan area.

"This is the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to connect to its generations of Mario fans and encourage them to give back to their community," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America Inc. "Like all its predecessors, this latest Mario game expresses positive messages related to restoring the environment, an important issue to people of all ages."

Continuing the underlying theme of all Mario games, Super Mario Sunshine allows players to help Mario overcome obstacles, reach progressive goals, and restore peace and harmony across the land. Throughout this adventure, Mario carries a water cannon on his back that cleans sludge and slime from an otherwise pristine environment.

"Our murals will bring together diverse groups of young people, and have a lasting impression on the community," adds Alan Rambam, SHiNE founder. "It's refreshing to know video game makers are still expressing positive messages to the millions of people who play them."

The "Nintendo and Mario Make My Community SHiNE" campaign will directly reach five cities. Beyond the initial markets of Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia, Nintendo and SHiNE representatives also will travel to one "wild-card" market selected from entries across the nation. That winner will see their mural brought to life in his or her hometown.

Entry submissions run from July 2 to July 23 and winners will be announced on Aug. 1. Beginning Aug. 8, the murals will be fully transferred from design to reality by Nintendo, SHiNE and a collection of community members. More information about the contest can be found at www.shine.com or www.nintendo.com.

In addition to the design contest, SHiNE is currently holding a NINTENDO GAMECUBE sweepstakes on its web site, www.shine.com, giving participants a chance to win a copy of Super Mario Sunshine and other Nintendo prizes.

As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co. Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy®, Nintendo® 64, Game Boy Advance and NINTENDO GAMECUBE™. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.6 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario™ and Donkey Kong® and launching such franchises as Zelda™ and Pok?mon®. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's web site, www.nintendo.com.

SHiNE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) is a non-profit organization that empowers young people to promote respect for diversity and end youth violence. SHiNE's innovative programming uses art, music, technology and sports to inspire creative self-expression and action.

For more information on SHiNE, visit www.shine.com.