Sonic the Hedgehog rolls on to the Nintendo GameCube in a move that sees the video games industry’s most illustrious competitors trade rings and share coins in the spirit of unity and harmony!

Nintendo, whose presence in the European video games market began in 1986 with the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, were historically rival hardware manufacturers with Sega and its Saturn and Dreamcast consoles. In January 2001 Sega announced that it would refocus its business on producing software titles across all platforms, halting production in the games console market completely.

Nintendo, whose most famous character is the vivacious Italian plumber, Mario, launched the Nintendo GameCube in Europe with resounding success. Mario, who first donned his trademark blue dungarees in the original arcade game – Donkey Kong – back in 1981, went on to collect those valuable gold coins in a range of titles on all the Nintendo platforms. Mario has appeared on everything from the Nintendo Game & Watch to the Game Boy Advance, including the top selling Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Sonic, Sega’s super hero blue hedgehog first picked up his iconic red boots and dashed on to gamers screens in 1991 in Sonic The Hedgehog with a mission to sprint and roll around at high speed collecting rings and thrashing his rivals.

And now, Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog is careering on to the screen of not one, but two Nintendo platforms. Sonic will make history as the first game to utilise the link between Nintendo’s groundbreaking handheld console, the Game Boy Advance, and the Nintendo GameCube.

The games, Sonic Advance on Game Boy Advance and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle on Nintendo GameCube, feature little ‘Chao’ creatures, which players can collect and raise within the ‘Chao Garden’. By storing their Chao in the Game Boy Advance game, they can develop Chaos with different powers and then pitch them into competition in a variety of different mini-games on the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance.

David Gosen, Managing Director, Sales and Marketing, Nintendo of Europe comments:

“After 10 years, Mario and Sonic, two of the most iconic video games characters, have reconciled their differences and are bringing new harmony to the gaming industry.

Sega’s Sonic brings creative and exciting gameplay that Mario would be proud of, and the power of Nintendo’s two latest platforms gives Sonic the perfect platform to bring the gamer a unique experience and hours of gaming entertainment.”

Following now are screens to illustrate the cooperation between Sega and Nintendo!