Nintendo Wii Games Summer 2010 Contest

Nintendo has just issued a press release on the upcoming Wii Games: Summer 2010 contest. This contest will be held nationwide, with a championship game in Los Angeles for the regional finalists. The regional qualifying tournaments for the Wii Games Summer 2010 will take place over 5 consecutive weekends, beginning on the weekend of July 16, 2010.

The last time Nintendo held a gaming contest of this magnitude was the 1990 Nintendo World Championships, a 30-city tour that culminated in 3 winners. This competition's prize was what's widely considered to be the rarest video game on the open market, the Nintendo World Championships cartridge. Only 116 of these cartridges were ever produced, making them incredibly sought-after collector's items. One sold back in 2007 for over $21,000. Nintendo promises some excellent prizes for the winners of the Wii Games Summer 2010 contest, so this may just be your chance to get your hands on gaming's next Holy Grail.

The Nintendo Wii Games Summer 2010 contest is open to kids of all ages (even you, grandma!). Like the Nintendo World Championships, the Wii Games Summer 2010 will organize competitors by age. However, the NWC was an "every man for himself" competition, whereas this new contest will feature 2-person and 4-person teams.

This competition also features much more physicality than the Nintendo World Championships, as kinetic gaming as played on the Wii didn't exist in 1990. Contest participants will compete in 5 different sections from Nintendo Wii games: racing in Mario Kart Wii, Wii Fit's Hula Hoop challenge, Wii Sports Resort's Bowling and Basketball games, and good old-fashioned platform play in New Mario Bros. Wii.

The regional qualifiers will be held at Six Flags theme parks in California, Illinois, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Texas. There will also be tournament events at 16 select shopping malls nationwide. You don't have to enter the tournament to play, however - there will reportedly be additional equipment to play just for fun. The contest's kick-off will be held on July 16, in New Jersey's Liberty State Park.

You don't have to enter the tournament to play, however - there will reportedly be additional equipment for spectators to play with. Nintendo's press release states that noncompetitive demos of games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Punch-Out!! will be available for play. Visit the official website of the Wii Games Summer 2010 contest for further information about events near you.

After 5 consecutive weekends of tournament play, qualifying finalists will travel to Los Angeles for the national championships. The Wii Games Summer 2010 championships will be held in L.A. September 3-5. Among the prizes announced by Nintendo are a cruise, Nintendo consoles and games, trophies and home entertainment packages.

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, who has her own video game coming out this holiday season via Ubisoft, is the Ambassador for the Wii Games Summer 2010. Nintendo reports that Johnson will appear at some of the contest's events. In Nintendo's press release about the Wii Games Summer 2010, Johnson was quoted as saying she is "looking forward to watching people from all over the country coming together to have fun and compete."

If you and your family or friends love to play the Nintendo Wii, why not enter the competition? It's been 20 years since Nintendo has held a contest on this scale, and it may be another 20 years before we see another. Good luck in the Wii Games Summer 2010 championships!

Sources:

"Nintendo Invites People to Get Up and Get Playing at Wii Games: Summer 2010." Nintendo Pressroom.

Savant. "The 'Holy Grail' of Gaming Sells for $21,400." Destructoid.

Stephen Johnson. "Nintendo Announces Nationwide Gaming Contest." G4TV.