Japanese video game giant Nintendo announced that it will launch the My Mario collection for kids living in the US next month. As the name suggests, the collection is inspired by Mario and his friends from the Mushroom Kingdom.
Turning a few pages back into gaming history, Mario was developed by Nintendo"s Shigeru Miyamoto, who made him a recurring character in the arcade game Donkey Kong. The character was initially known as "Jumpman" and later named after Nintendo of America"s warehouse landlord, Mario Seagale.
My Mario already arrived in Japan in August last year. The collection intended for young children comprises physical games, animated videos, merchandise, and a free Hello, Mario! game. It was developed in collaboration with Mattel Fisher-Price and TOMY.
Nintendo said that kids can enjoy these experiences with their parents and play side-by-side with characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi. The collection includes a Mario Wood Block Set (3 pcs) and a bigger Mario & Friends Wood Block Set (30 pcs), featuring various characters from the Super Mario series.
There is a stop-motion animated series, It"s Me, Mario, available on the Play Nintendo YouTube channel and the company"s official website. Meanwhile, Nintendo"s Hello, Mario! game lets kids and parents playfully interact with Mario"s face to change his expressions.
Nintendo said the game will go live on the App Store and Google Play on February 19, and on the Nintendo eShop for Switch and Switch 2. The collection will include a platter of other items, such as apparel for infants and toddlers, an interactive board book, soft toys, bath toys, and water squirters.
The video game company announced that My Mario collection will be available in the US from February 19, starting with its official stores in New York and San Francisco. Nintendo said that the launch time for specific products may vary. The collection will expand to more places throughout the year, arriving at select retail stores nationwide in the spring.