Nintendo handed out free New 3DS XL systems to unsuspecting passengers aboard the Southwest Airlines flight 2482 on Wednesday, kicking off the company's gift-giving spirits in time for the holidays.
Hovering 10,000 feet up in the air mid-flight, a familiar voice echoed inside the plane, one that's peppered by an iconic Italian lilt. Mario, Nintendo's beloved mascot, announced an early holiday surprise for everyone aboard. Free New 3DS XLs were given out, alongside a voucher to download Super Mario Maker, the latest Mario entry that lets players hone their level design skills.
"With Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, everyone can enjoy a nearly limitless supply of side-scrolling 2D Mario courses anytime, anywhere," Doug Bowser, Nintendo od America's senior VP for Sales and Marketing, said.
A Very Nintendo Christmas
Representatives from Nintendo guided passengers through Super Mario Maker, helping them create side-scrolling levels for Mario to course though. YouTube personality iJustine was also on the flight, helping Nintendo tip the lucky passengers about Super Mario Maker.
The aforementioned flight was the first leg of a promotion titled "Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS" with Southwest Airlines. It runs from Dec. 16 to Jan. 14, 2017, open to U.S. residents 14 years old and above. Up for grabs are New Nintendo 3DS systems and games, and one lucky winner will receive a grand prize, which includes a four-person New York trip, air travel and hotel accommodations, and a shopping spree at the Nintendo Store in Rockefeller Center.
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker was released for the Wii U in 2015, but a 3DS port soon followed. The game unleashes an expansive Super Mario toolkit for players to design levels with. Players have already run up and down the creativity spectrum with Super Mario Maker for the Wii U with unique results. Even Southwest Airlines created a custom Super Mario Maker level early this year. The 3DS version is a virtually complete port in and itself, though its measly online features are something of a disappointment for fans who enjoyed cross-sharing levels with online players.
Other Mario News
Super Mario Run, Nintendo's second foray in the mobile space, was released Thursday, and it's still racking up millions of downloads as we speak. The game is a one-hand endless runner that brings Shigeru Miyamoto's masterstroke into Apple smartphones and tablets. On that note, we have handy tips and guides for novices trying their hand at Super Mario Run.
What do you think of Nintendo's early holiday treat for lucky Southwest Airlines passengers? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
