Today a number of release dates were announced for high profile titles in 2003. Firstly, Metroid Prime and Resident Evil 0 will be available from March 2003.

Here are a few quarter specific releases:

Quarter 1 2003

Phantasy Star Online

Super Monkeyball 2

Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon

Quarter 2

The Legend of Zelda

1080º Avalanche

Wario World

Enter The Matrix

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

Quarter 2/3

True Crime

Quarter 4

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

Below is the press release detailing the marketing campaign this Christmas.

Nintendo Announces €20 million European Marketing Campaign for Christmas 2002

15 November 2002 – This Christmas there will be over 100 fantastic titles available on the NINTENDO GAMECUBE, over 20 of them exclusive to the platform. The NINTENDO GAMECUBE is still the lowest price next generation home console on the market. These facts alone make NINTENDO GAMECUBE an essential purchase this Christmas for anyone serious about their video games.

Throughout December there will be a heavyweight marketing campaign supporting the 1st & 3rd party game titles available this Christmas and into 2003. The titles featured in the campaign showcase the breadth and depth of games on NINTENDO GAMECUBE, and include Eternal Darkness, FIFA 2003, Starfox Adventures, Metroid Prime, Legend of Zelda, Resident Evil 0, Super Mario Sunshine, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles & 1080 Avalanche.

Range ads for both NINTENDO GAMECUBE & Game Boy Advance will be running on terrestrial & satellite television channels throughout December.

Individual tactical campaigns will run for key 1st party NINTENDO GAMECUBE titles Starfox Adventures, Mario Party 4 & Metroid Fusion, and also for Game Boy Advance.

The Starfox Adventures campaign is underpinned with the strapline, “A planet with fear needs a hero with none”. There will be a 3 week terrestrial & satellite campaign targeting 15-34 year olds, plus a national 6-sheet poster campaign & extensive in-store activity with key retailers.

Mario Party 4 will be promoted on Cartoon Network, with bespoke online activity and a heavy in-store presence.

The release of Metroid Fusion on GBA will be supported by heavyweight television advertising set to break at the end of November across terrestrial & satellite channels. In addition, a significant national outdoor campaign will run concurrently utilising transport media (bus sides, London Underground and trams in Croydon, Sheffield & the Midlands) in major urban centres.

The Game Boy Advance will be promoted using the “Entertainment on the go” message, communicated via a heavyweight 5 week outdoor campaign using similar outdoor transport media to Metroid Fusion across bus, tube & tram panels.

The above tactical campaigns will be bolstered by comprehensive PR support in the form of targeted reviews and editorial features across specialist and lifestyle media, in the press, TV & radio.

In store POS and trade advertising will be used to communicate the £129.99 solus price of the NINTENDO GAMECUBE. The heavyweight in-store campaign will include windows, front of store POS, gondola ends, direct mail and training of store staff on the extensive range of games available for the format this Christmas.

This Christmas promises to be a very busy one for Nintendo, and is the first since the launch of NINTENDO GAMECUBE in the UK.

Click onto www.Nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.