NintendoWorldStore posts(Subscribe to this feed)

"That's a real nice ass," blurted the DJ as Mario jiggled his backside in front of a Super Mario Galaxy backdrop. The scene was something out of "Mario's Bar Mitzvah," CAG's Wombat observed inside a crowded lot adjacent to New York's Nintendo World Store where an awkward clash of tweens, performing impromptu dance routines to yesterday's Top 40, and bundled-up twenty-somethings merged in the dwindling hours of a chilly Sunday night. Despite a Velcro wall and bungee run, some laser lights, and an abundance of Mario-equipped Wii kiosks, the Galaxy launch party never escalated into the full-on carnival that Nintendo had envisioned -- next time, don't forget the funnel cake.

The ringleader was too disoriented to command the crowd, perhaps punchy (it gets hot in those suits) as he latched on to an attractive mom. Urged by the DJ to bring his sexy back, we couldn't fault Mario for his diverted interest. But is it really cougar hunting season already?

Hey New Yorkers, what'cha doing this Sunday evening? Watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Oh, you're watching "football"? Wait, is that the same thing as Madden? Nevertheless, you'll want to ask the TiVo to take care of your teevee and instead head over to the Nintendo World Store at 10 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City (yes, the same place that had the Phantom Hourglass event about a month ago) for a special Super Mario Galaxy launch event. Here's the details, as just shared with us by the Big N:

Festivities include a DJ, dancers, a Velcro wall, a bungee run, a trivia contest, a laser light show inside the building (we imagine it will be preceded by a Nintendo safety warning, so epileptics, stay at home), Mario himself (no word on Dr. Buzz Aldrin), and 250 Wii systems for the chronically Wii-less masses out there.

The shindig starts at 8pm, but that don't mean you shouldn't get there earlier; they'll close at 10pm and reopen again at midnight when the game officially goes on sale (for those of you who don't already have it). The 'stiq oughta be there, what about you?

In order to promote their new Wii game, D3 Publisher and Tomy will hold the Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution World Ramen Noodle Eating Championship at the Nintendo World Store this Saturday. Apparently-well-known champion eaters will come to compete at the chopsticks-only event, including "Crazy Legs Conti, a man who once ate his way out of an 96-cubic foot box of popcorn." Tens of dollars worth of ramen will be consumed at this event, which is only part of the Narutosity taking place at the NWS.

The store will also have stations set up for visitors to try out the game (the Naruto game, not the eating-a-bunch-of-ramen game) and play the Naruto CCG. In addition, special gifts will be handed out to 1500 people who dare to walk around New York City in those headband things. Perhaps most excitingly, a one-of-a-kind Naruto DS Lite will be given away. Will it smell like chicken broth? Probably!

Thousands of Pokemon fans stormed the Nintendo World Store for their incredible Pokemon Diamond & Pearl launch party. Getting into the event was no easy task, as the line stretched across a New York avenue. Once inside, fans were treated to equally long lines to purchase the game, and a myriad of activities to partake in. A scavenger hunt had Pokemaniacs survive the heat and go through all the stations set up for fans.

Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori from Game Freak stopped by to answer fan's questions and sign autographs. In spite of the surprising success of the Pokemon franchise, the two were incredibly humble and seemed jovial in the presence of their adoring fans. Children (of all ages) crowded the plaza for a chance to meet some of the people responsible for this global phenomenon.

To end the festivities, Nintendo made an incredible donation to Earth Day NY: a giant check (is there any other kind?) for $10,000 was presented to the eco-friendly charity. The event was a blast, and everyone appeared to be in high spirits. Considering the thousands of people in attendance, it's safe to say that the Pokemon phenomenon is still going strong.

Nintendo recently held a fashion show at their Nintendo World Store in NYC, where gamers displayed clothing items for sale in the store, as well as fanmade creations. We've developed a new classification system for Nintendo fandom based on this event and the accompanying photo gallery:

1. People who play Nintendo games
2. People who wear Nintendo t-shirts
3. People who make their own Nintendo t-shirts
4. People who model those t-shirts at Nintendo events

We personally fall into level 3 of the Nintendo Fanboyism T-Shirt Scale. We think it's a pretty good measure of fandom, although it doesn't take into account the whole "working for a website called Wii Fanboy and writing about Nintendo all day" thing. Hmm.

[Via GoNintendo]

New York City Pokemon fans: Nintendo wants to catch you all! If you are near the Nintendo World Store on April 22 and want your purchase of one of the first copies of Pokemon Diamond or Pearl to be a big deal, why not pick up your copy there and check out their launch party?

Nintendo promises that their event will bring attendees "live stage events, a Pokemon scavenger hunt, contests, and cool prizes like exclusive premiums, Pokemon Nintendo DS Lite units, Pokemon gear, and even tickets to some great summer sporting events!" Pokemon Nintendo DS Lite units, huh? Better go early to beat the eBay vultures. You know, so you can get your own to sell on eBay.

The folks at Go Nintendo recently hit up the Nintendo World Store in New York City, spotting this beauty, along with a few others. All we can say is that if we were to dream up a DS Lite, it would probably look a lot like the one above. And, even though the tacky Swarovski crystals aren't really our thing, we would love to have ourselves one of these.

We've included the others past the post break, for your viewing convenience.

Reader Alex answered our call for photos from Saturday's Cooking Mama kickoff event held at the Nintendo World Store, and he wasn't messing around -- his Flickr set contains nearly 100 pictures! It's just like we were there ourselves, and thanks to his efforts and our caption skills, you can experience it as well. Hit the jump for a selection of photos, and then go wallow in the entire set. It's enough to make our tummies rumble.

Cooking Mama: Cook Off is already out in shops starting this week, but Majesco's official launch event for the Wii game takes place at NYC's Nintendo World Store on March 31st, the Saturday after next. There will be a variety of competitions for gamers to take part in at the store's interactive stations. We hope that doesn't mean they'll actually be cooking anything themselves, as some 13-year-old kid is bound to burn the Pokémon Center down while trying to flambé.

The Nintendo World Store will have limited edition aprons for attendees and copies of the game for contest winners. If that isn't enough to bring you in, there will also be free food! Keeping with Cooking Mama's theme, an on-site chef will be fixing snacks for the party. If you're in the area, this is definitely worth checking out!

The Nintendo World Store in NYC doesn't have parties too often, so when one happens, you have to take note. Disney's Spectrobes will be taking over the store: you'll get a chance to meet Kentaro Hisai, Spectrobes' producer, play in a Spectrobes tournament and try to win a custom DS.

The party begins at 11AM this Saturday.

Joystiq was in New York City recently to check out Nintendo's famous World Store, when they encountered the manager of said store, Paul Gonzalez, and grilled him about launch figures and sell-outs. In placing his face under the white-hot light of interrogation, he replied, much to the surprise of Joystiq and ourselves, that the Nintendo World Store would have enough consoles at launch for walk-in customers looking for the console.

"I'm not expecting to sell out on Sunday. Monday -- no promises."

So does that mean that other retail outlets could very well have plenty of consoles for launch day and beyond?

The Nintendo World Store hosted a very special event on Tuesday for its fans. They brought Fusion Tour headliners Hawthorne Heights to their NYC flagship store to perform a live acoustic set ... but, that wasn't the real reason Nintendo fans flocked by the hundreds to this midtown mecca. Nintendo also granted their eager, sweaty fanboy hands access to the elusive Wiimote and games like Wii Sports, Excite Truck, Wario Ware, and Metroid Prime. Check out my exciting adventures in picture and video form, after the break.

If you live in the New York area and are unable to attend E3 this year (given the hordes of sweaty, shoving geeks involved, it might not be such a great loss), be sure to drop by the Nintendo World Store on 9 May. The store will be broadcasting Nintendo's keynote, an event sure to host new DS games, Wii revelations and at least one appearance by Shigeru Miyamoto dressed as a Nintendo character. Missing it would be quite appalling.

For more information and an opportunity to RSVP for the event, check out Nintendo's official World Store website. Be sure to snap some pictures and send them to us!

[Via N-Sider]