Nintendo Redefines "T & A" for College Crowd

REDMOND, Wash. -Oct. 24, 2002- Rip roaring parties, all-nighters, caffeine and sugar binges ... these are just a few of the ingredients that get college kids to dare to bare -- well, their talent and adventure (T and A), that is. As it rolls out its strongest game lineup ever for older players, Nintendo of America Inc. today kicks off something a little bit different -- a nationwide Metroid Prime Talent and Adventure (T and A) Contest.

Effective immediately, Nintendo is searching for the most creative, adventurous and innovative group of college students in the country -- the kind of fans who will go to extreme lengths to win their very own preview party for the all-new Metroid Prime game for Nintendo GameCube.

College students with a bit of wit who love a good time are officially invited to prove their ingenious abilities by doing something outlandish and clever -- though safe and legal -- featuring the words "Metroid Prime" to garner attention. Award-winning stunts might include spelling the words out as a human pyramid at a crowded football game, "commandeering" a cable access program, or otherwise doing something wild with the words "Metroid Prime."

"The Metroid Prime Talent and Adventure Contest is designed for students who aren't afraid to take some risks, be bold, and have some fun," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America Inc. "We're going straight to the experts, the kids who really know how to have fun -- all for the sake of entertainment."

Each of the five Grand Prize winners of the Metroid Prime T and A Contest will receive $1,000, five Nintendo GameCube systems, five copies of the new Metroid Prime game, along with an official Nintendo Metroid Prime party on their college campus for up to 200 of their closest friends. To help get the party started, Eric Nies of MTV's Real World will serve as the professional Metroid Prime-Time party host, along with dance tunes spun by Noah Kerner -- Jennifer Lopez's personal DJ.

Stunt entries submitted between the contest dates of October 24 through November 7, 2002, will be eligible. Only one contest entry is allowed per individual and for group submissions, one entry per group. Students must be age 18 or older to enter, with one winning entry per college eligible to win.

Metroid Prime, exclusively for Nintendo GameCube, is one of the most highly anticipated games of the year and is scheduled for U.S. launch on November 18, 2002. This 3D first-person adventure game is based on the classic Metroid franchise, which takes players on a brand new, visually stunning futuristic voyage through the eyes of its prime time star, Samus. Now for the first time ever, consumers can play Samus on and off the video game screen, for a chance to prove their super human talents and adventure. Metroid Prime features a T (Teen) rating and an MSRP of $49.95.

For more information on Nintendo's T and A Contest, stunt suggestions, entry forms, contest rules and judging criteria are now available online at www.metroid.com/TandAContest.

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 Pokemon. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

October 24, 2002

Jim - News Contributor, GameCubicle