Nintendo 3DS Party
Nintendo 3DS Party was a series of five events held by Nintendo of Hong Kong between 2013 and 2014. At each event, participants could compete in various games with Nintendo employees, play select Nintendo 3DS games for free, and enter contests. While the Super Mario franchise had a presence at each of the five events, some of the events featured more or less Super Mario–related activities than others. Each event was announced on the official Nintendo of Hong Kong website a few months prior to the start date of each Nintendo 3DS Party. "Reports" featuring photos and details from the events were published after each event on the official Nintendo of Hong Kong website. Said reports also featured scans of surveys completed by participants.[1]
Events[edit]
Nintendo 3DS Party[edit]
New Super Mario Bros. 2 was available to play free of charge on June 21. Additionally, if participants brought their own Nintendo 3DS and a copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2 to the event, they had the opportunity to turn on communication features and receive "stage data" that nets the participant 30,000 coins.
The Challenge Nintendo Staff! New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coin Battle competition was held from July 1 to July 6. During the event, participants were to stand with Nintendo employees and attempt to collect more coins than the Nintendo employee they were playing against. The employee and the participant had to play at the same time. Both players had a two-minute time limit to collect as many coins as possible. If the participant collected more coins than the Nintendo employee, they received a prize. Participants could choose to play World 1-1, World 1-4, or World 3-2 for the competition. If the participant owned a Nintendo 3DS and a copy of the game, they were to bring their own copy for the competition; however, if they did not own a Nintendo 3DS and a copy of the game, they were to borrow them at the Nintendo 3DS Party.
The New Super Mario Bros. 2 Two‑Player Co‑op Coin Challenge Tournament competition was held on July 6. Two participants were to work together to attempt to collect more than 200 coins in a two-minute time limit. Like the previous contest, both players were to play at the same time. If the players collected more than 200 coins, they received a prize. Players were allowed to play on World 2-Tower, World 3-1, or World 5-2.
The Challenge Nintendo Mr. Kawakami! Mario Kart 7 Tournament competition was held from July 1 to July 7. Participants were to race in either a one-player race or a four-player battle, with the course and specifications selected by Mr. Kawakami. As his record time is listed as being on Mario Circuit in the Flower Cup on the event's page, it is likely that these are the course and specifications. If the participant completed the race before Mr. Kawakami, they received a prize. The event's page mentions that screenshots from the Nintendo 3DS screen during battles were projected onto a television screen during the event.
Transform into Mario: Nintendo 3DS Photo Experience was held, during which participants were to take photos with Nintendo 3DS consoles available at the event in front of backgrounds that were presumably Super Mario–themed. The photos were displayed as a three-dimensional slideshow within the event. They were later published on the official Nintendo of Hong Kong website. Participants in the event received a prize.
Mario Kissing Photo Time was held on July 7. During the event, a person dressed in a full-body Mario mascot costume visited the event to take pictures with participants. The event's webpage notes that if one was interested in taking a photo with Mario, they were to contact Nintendo staff.
The 2nd Nintendo 3DS Party[edit]
A Super Mario–themed coloring area was available at the event for young children. The area was open from September 28, 2013 to September 29, 2013. At the area, participants were able to color pictures depicting Super Mario characters. In addition, Mario Kissing Photo Time (now referred to as Mario appears! Take a commemorative photo together with Mario!) returned, and was available on the same dates as the coloring area.
The 3rd Nintendo 3DS Party[edit]
The Challenge Nintendo Staff! New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coin Battle competition returned from the first Nintendo 3DS Party, with identical conditions to the event held during said Nintendo 3DS Party. The event was held on November 16, 2013.
A matching game themed after New Super Mario Bros. 2 was available at the event. The game was available on November 15.
The Challenge Nintendo Staffs! Mario Kart 7 Tournament was held. Said tournament functioned similarly to the Challenge Nintendo Mr. Kawakami! Mario Kart 7 Tournament held during the first event, as participants were to compete in either a one-player race or a four-player battle with the course and specifications selected by a Nintendo employee. The participant who reached the finish line prior to the Nintendo employee received a prize.
Mario Kissing Photo Time returned from the previous two parties. It was held from November 16 to November 17.
The 4th Nintendo 3DS Party[edit]
Paper Mario: Sticker Star, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon were among the Nintendo 3DS games available for trial from January 18 to January 19, 2014.
The Mario Tennis Big Challenge! competition was held. During this competition, participants were to play one-versus-one matches with Nintendo employees in Mario Tennis Open. The event's webpage states that a "dazzling shot" is the key to winning against the Nintendo Employee.
The Mario Kart 7 Balloon Battle! competition was held. For this competition, participants were to complete four "checkpoints" in the Balloon Battle mode of Mario Kart 7. If the participant completed all four "checkpoints", they received either a Mario or a Luigi-themed cleaning cloth with the text "Happy holidays".
The Mario Kart 7 - Leave the Nintendo Staff in the Dust!! competition was held from January 18 to January 19. The event functioned similarly to the prior Mario Kart 7 competitions held during the Nintendo 3DS Parties. Up to four players could participate in one race, with one of them being a Nintendo employee. The first player to reach the finish on the designated track received a prize. The event's webpage states that each player can only receive one prize.
The New Super Mario Bros. 2 - Star Coin Collection Time Trial: Who is Hong Kong's Most Synchronized Team!? competition was held from January 18 to January 19. Two players were to team up and attempt to collect all three Star Coins in a designated level. The team that completed the challenge the fastest received a prize. Each team was allotted two attempts at collecting all three Star Coins.
The 5th Nintendo 3DS Party[edit]
Yoshi's New Island, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario 3D Land, and Mario Kart 7 were among the games available for trial during the event. Additionally, Mario Kissing Photo Time (referred to this time as Mario and Pikachu Appear!!) returned, though a person dressed in a Pikachu mascot costume also participated.
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Nintendo 3DS Party event page (archived)
- The 2nd Nintendo 3DS Party event page (archived)
- The 3rd Nintendo 3DS Party event page (archived)
- The 4th Nintendo 3DS Party event page (archived)
- The 5th Nintendo 3DS Party event page (archived)
