The 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China weren't enough to cool off Mario and Sonic's heated rivalry so now they are taking it to Vancouver, Canada and will be using the 2010 Winter Olympics to prove to the world who is the ultimate mascot.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will once again be developed internally by SEGA of Japan under the supervision of Shigeru Miyamoto. The developers aim to maximize the use of the different Wii control methods, while providing a fun and accessible experience.

Like its predecessor, the game will feature a series of mini-games based off real Olympic events. Some of the confirmed events include Bobsled Racing, Ski Racing, Snowboard Racing, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, and Curling. One of the biggest additions to the game is the ability to play the events using the Balance Board. The Balance Board will add a level of depth and realism as players will mimic the movements seen at the actual events. The events can also be controlled using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. The title, however, won't be using MotionPlus in fear of limiting the audience.

SEGA has expressed that the events in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games are more than just mini-games and are nearly full fledged events due to the depth of control and gameplay displayed by each one. An important change made to formula is that all events will be unlocked right from the start in order for people to get right into the game.

Dream Events will also make a return. They are variations of existing events featuring iconic Mario and Sonic elements such as weapons, power ups, and quirky competitive gameplay. At Gamescom 2009 SEGA unveiled two of these events; Dream Snow Fight and Dream Snowboard Cross. These variations, however, have to be unlocked. All event records will be recorded as players progress through the title.

The Mario and Sonic cast from the first game will return, and will bring new friends as well. From the Mario side we have Donkey Kong, a character originally meant to appear in the first title, and Bowser Jr. On the Sonic side Silver the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic round out the roster. No word on additional characters has been heard so far.

The title will also be host to various single and multiplayer modes. The latter will feature both competitive and co-operative play, which is exclusive to the Wii version. Players can either participate in each event individually or participate in the Festival Mode; a mode where players compete their way through the entire Olympics from the opening ceremony all the way to the end.

SEGA is set to release Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games on October 13.