SANTA'S SECRET LEAKED: NINTENDO IS NORTH POLE'S GIFT SOURCE

Your Holiday Gift Guide is Complete With Santa-Approved Nintendo Gifts

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 29, 2003 – Santa's elves are toiling around the clock, making daily pick-ups from Nintendo to meet the holiday demand for Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance SP systems and games.

"The best deal of the holiday season is, by far, the Nintendo GameCube," said Santa's lead elf. "Since its price drop to an MSRP of just $99.99, sales have quadrupled week-over-week; it has become this year's ultimate holiday purchase, and is keeping us busy stocking the sleigh."

Santa's bag of goodies will be overflowing this year, considering that by the time he's ready to fly off into the night, Nintendo will have a library of more than 320 games for the Nintendo GameCube and 550 games for the Game Boy Advance.

"In case you hadn't heard, the must-have video game this year is Mario Kart: Double Dash!! for Nintendo GameCube, launching Nov. 17," Rudolph said. "The big man is always pretty generous, but with so much demand for this multiplayer racing game featuring classic Nintendo characters, the game is only going to the really good kids."

A limited pre-sell offer that includes a free bonus disc at the time of purchase is available to consumers who reserve a copy of the game at select retailers. The extra disc is loaded with playable game samples and sneak-peek movies of upcoming software.

"I just wish the sleigh could go as fast as those go-karts," Rudolph joked.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! will be available at an MSRP of $49.99.

One of the new Nintendo GameCube games is Mario Party 5, a twist on traditional board games that includes more than 60 new mini-games. The game is Rated E for Everyone and will be available Nov. 11 at an MSRP of $49.99.

Or check out 1080°: Avalanche for Nintendo GameCube, a snowboarding game so cool, you'll have to wipe the frost from your television screen. It's Rated E for Everyone and will be available Dec. 1 at an MSRP of $49.99.

In the Nintendo GameCube game Pokémon Channel, Pokémon takes over your television. This activity-based software allows players to tune into, and interact with, various Pokémon-themed television programs, from a news channel and a shopping network to a quiz show. The game is Rated E for Everyone and is available Dec. 1 at an MSRP of $29.99.

Fans of hand-held gaming will be excited to see the various new games available for the Game Boy Advance SP, now available in Onyx (black) and Flame (red). The best-selling video game ever, Super Mario Bros. 3, comes to the Game Boy Advance with Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Rated E for Everyone and available now at an MSRP of $34.99.

Players control both Mario and Luigi simultaneously in the comedic role-playing game Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Their hilarious, action-packed journey leads them throughout the Beanbean Kingdom as they attempt to recover Princess Peach's stolen voice. The game is Rated E for Everyone and will be available Nov. 17 at an MSRP of $34.99.

Sword of Mana, available Dec. 1, combines impressive anime-style graphics with an epic storyline for the Game Boy Advance. Players have the ability to choose different characters to play, thus experiencing two unique journeys that come together at key moments in the game. Sword of Mana is Rated E for Everyone at an MSRP of $34.99.

The Japanese smash hit Fire Emblem for the Game Boy Advance makes its debut in the United States on Nov. 3 at an MSRP of $34.99. Players test their military-strategy skills in a world with dozens of soldiers, weapons and magic spells at their command. Fire Emblem is Rated E for Everyone.

For the gamer with everything, e-Reader cards make great stocking stuffers. Used with an e-Reader and a Game Boy Advance, Pokémon Battle-e cards let players battle new Trainers in their Pokémon Ruby or Pokémon Sapphire games. The Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3-e cards add previously unavailable levels and bonuses to Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. The cards are available now for an MSRP of just $5.99 per set.

If you already have enough wires running through your gaming area, starting Nov. 17 you can pick up a new Platinum WaveBird Wireless Controller for the Nintendo GameCube at an MSRP of $34.99.