Nintendo ‘Pioneers’ Get First Chance to Preview Animal Crossing
Select Players Nationwide Will Play Upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE Title a Month
Before Launch
REDMOND, Wash. – Aug. 7, 2002 – Moviegoers get "sneak previews." Book lovers get
"exclusive excerpts."
Now, video game players get their chance for a privileged video game experience.
Nintendo of America today launches a nationwide contest to find the first video
game players to experience its upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM) title, Animal
Crossing(TM), a full month before it becomes available to the general public.
Through Aug. 12, fans can enter in teams of two for the chance to be selected as
Animal Crossing Pioneers, the first players in the United States to move into
this virtual neighborhood. Nintendo will choose 125 teams via a contest on
www.nintendo.com where they will be asked
to explain why Nintendo should pick them to be Animal Crossing Pioneers. Winners
will receive a pre-released copy of Animal Crossing and be invited into the
limitless world of the game.
"Animal Crossing is a unique title that has to be experienced firsthand to be
truly understood and appreciated. Its success in Japan, with over 700,000 units
sold, inspired us to want to get feedback as soon as possible from U.S.
players," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing,
Nintendo of America Inc. "Animal Crossing Pioneers will be true trailblazers for
Nintendo and we’re looking forward to hearing about their virtual communities
and experiences."
The Animal Crossing Pioneers will work closely with Nintendo to complete game
objectives, provide feedback, participate in online chats and post comments on
an Animal Crossing Pioneer-only Web site.
These virtual explorers will step into the world of Animal Crossing, where
villagers live their everyday lives in time with an actual 24-hour clock and
365-day year. They will carry out their daily routines, build relationships with
villagers, celebrate special days, collect furnishings for their homes and just
live life in an innovative experience that’s a world of its own. And, when team
members exchange memory cards they can visit other villages, thus opening up
endless possibilities.
For an application or to view the official contest rules, visit
www.nintendo.com/animalcrossing.
Animal Crossing launches Sept. 16 with an MSRP of $49.95.
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(R), Nintendo(R) 64, Game Boy Advance and NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM).
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(TM) and Donkey Kong(R) and launching such franchises as Zelda(TM)
and Pokemon(R). 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.
