Hard-Core Nintendo Fans Wait Two Days As Nintendogs Takes On New York
Miyamoto Visits Nintendo World Store, Unlocks Secret Breed
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 27, 2005 - This weekend Nintendo hosted two major NintendogsTM events in New York. On Sunday, some 1,500 people lined up at the Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller Center to meet legendary Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Dedicated fans staked out the first spots in line as early as 2:30 a.m. Friday - more than two days before the event began. Some came specifically for the event from as far away as France, Canada and South Carolina, and eventually the line wrapped around several city blocks.
Miyamoto signed T-shirts, current and classic video games and consoles ranging from the original Nintendo Entertainment System® to Nintendo GameCubeTM. While only the first 200 people were guaranteed a meeting with Miyamoto, hundreds of others received a special gift from him as he unlocked the secret Jack Russell terrier breed in Nintendogs and shared his trainer information. The special feature moved from person to person through the line via the wireless abilities of the Nintendo DSTM. Owners also were able to share a special voice message from Napoleon Dynamite actress Haylie Duff.
On Saturday, a dozen real-life pooches changed the catwalk into a dogwalk as they showcased the latest in puppywear in the Nintendogs Doggy Fashion Show in Riverside Park. The clothes were the creations of Little Lilly, designer to the stars' dogs. A few of the dogs were available for adoption through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which received dozens of adoption inquiries and multiple donations.
"It's no secret that Nintendo has the best, most loyal fans in the world," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing,who also met with fans at both events. "These events demonstrated that Nintendogs has huge momentum to carry it through the holidays."
The smash-hit Nintendogs already has sold more than 1.5 million units worldwide. Nintendogs, made exclusively for Nintendo DS, went on sale in the United States on Aug. 22 and became an instant sensation. The week of Sept. 5, Nintendogs even was the subject of a weeklong plotline in the popular syndicated comic strip "FoxTrot." Retailers nationwide are reporting shortages, although Nintendo ensures new puppy litters are on their way.
Consumers who don't live in the New York area will get a chance to receive the special Haylie Duff message and virtual gift at events in the future. For details, along with downloads, video diaries and fun Nintendogs extras, visit www.nintendogs.com.
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 and portable video game systems. Each year, hundreds of all-new titles for the best-selling Game Boy® Advance SP, Nintendo DSTM and Nintendo GameCubeTM systems extend Nintendo's vast game library and continue the tradition of delivering a rich, diverse mix of quality video games for players of all ages. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 2 billion video games and more than 353 million hardware units globally, creating enduring industry icons such as MarioTM and Donkey Kong® and launching popular culture franchise phenomena such as Metroid®, ZeldaTM and Pokémon®. 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 at www.nintendo.com.