Nintendo of Australia has announced that new downloadable demo games for the Nintendo DS have finally gone live at Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots all around Australia. Aussie DS owners can just grab their Nintendo handhelds and leg it on over to the hotspots. There, you can test drive games such as Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Elite Beat Agents.

The hotspots also feature some unique Animal Crossing items that you can download to your copy of the game. A special Nintendogs function that allows Nintendogs owners to experience the joys of Bark Mode without having someone else physically there to play with is also available. For a list of the hotspots near your area, you can check out the Nintendo Wi Fi Connection hotspots list by clicking on the Read link below.

For those who are still waiting for the puzzle game Mario Vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis to finally be released in your region, take heart as the wait won't be that long anymore. With its European and Japanese release coming up within the next couple of months, this Lemmings-inspired puzzler developed by NST will finally be making its way into DS-owners' game libraries all over the world.

Bound for a European release on March 9, and a Japanese release on April 12 (aha! They finally get a game LAST, this once), Nintendo has released a new batch of screenshots and character art for this title to tide over fans, as we all wait for the Minis to finally start marching into our hometowns.

A whole lot more screenshots and character art after the Jump!

Even though the game has been out in North America for quite some time now, European DS users are yet to discover the wonders of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.

Featuring eight themes, 80 different levels, touch screen controls, and multiplayer support via Wi-Fi, you'll be able to bring the classic Mario gameplay experience to a whole new level.

The stylus will be used intensively in the game as you'll be using it not only to control Mario but also to create new paths, ride elevators and conveyor belts, and tons more.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 will also feature the new "level editor" which will allow users to create their own challenging levels. Using Wi-Fi, you can share the levels you created with other DS users as well as compete in the ones that they created. No need to worry about security concerns because players will only be able to download levels using the Friend Code system.

But for now, European DS users would have to hang on just a little bit longer to their seats as Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 won't be hitting store shelves until March 9. Brought to you by Nintendo, the game is expected to sell for the SRP of around £30.

One of the things you never ever want to do in your life as a baddie is steal Mario's Princess. That's just one total no-no. It's right along up there with chewing on golf balls. But see, Donkey Kong is one baddie who can apparently chew on golf balls, and he's doing it again, by stealing away Pauline from Mario. The story is set, the game begins.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis just came out today, and we're pretty sure most fans got their own copies already. Basically, the whole game revolves around trying to save Pauline. And since Mario can't get into the amusement park where she's being held captive, he's sending the Minis to march into the "fortress."

You can watch the video below to see how the game is played. It looks quite simple, but as you progress into the game, the levels will become more complicated and quite stressful. Oh, and regarding the video, condolences to family of the Golden Mario. So close and yet so far!

Download: [Mario vs. DK 2 gameplay vid]
Buy: [Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]

Whereas Europe's releases this week feature the sport the Continent loves - FIFA 07 - American releases feature the American-invented sport of basketball. NBA Live 2007, NBA 07, and NBA 2K7 come out today for the PSP and Xbox 360, along with another big-ticket item, Just Cause for the 360.

Over at DS territory, the movie tie-up game Alex Stormbreaker rides into American handhelds, along with the equally movie-inspired Disney's The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

Here's the complete list of DS, PSP and Xbox 360 games for the week starting Monday:

Nintendo DS:

• 09/25: Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
• 09/25: Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
• 09/26: Mage Knight Destiny's Soldier
• 09/27: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
• 09/29: Bubble Bobble Revolution
• 09/29: Rainbow Islands Revolution

Sony PSP:

• 09/25: NBA 07
  
• 09/25: NBA Live 07
• 09/26: Spectral Souls

Xbox360:

• 09/25: NBA 2K7
• 09/25: NBA Live 07
• 09/26: Just Cause
• 09/26: Import Tuner Challenge

The Mini-Marios are marching closer! Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is hitting retail very soon! September 25 is the day, and in anticipation of that day, we give you the box that you want to be looking for:

This is a follow-up of the first installment that came out for the GameBoy Advance. This time around, it's more puzzle-oriented ("Lemmings"-style) as you crash through the obstacle course smattered full of... err... obstacles! You got Mini-Shyguys, patrolling Circus Kongs, and of course Bob-ombs (no Mario game is complete without them anyway)!

If you haven't heard, by the by, you can create your very own levels for this game as well. You upload them through the WiFi connection and share with other players so they can play your obstacle courses and even rate it! The better your ratings are, the more points you get! These points can then be spent on extras for the game!

Mario, the video game character created by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo, is celebrating his 25th birthday this month of September. As Nintendo's mascot, Mario is one of the most recognizable characters in video game history, appearing in over a hundred games. His first appearance as a hero was in 1981's Donkey Kong, and the game was so successful that he carried over into an arcade spin-off, Mario Brothers, which introduced his brother Luigi.

And to celebrate his birthday, Nintendo is releasing two Nintendo DS games. The Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 allows players to use the stylus to make "tricky dribbles, special passes and sweet shots" in the fun game of basketball. The second game is the Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, the follow-up to the Mario vs Donkey Kong on the GBA, where players use the stylus and the touch screen to guide Mini Marios through mind-boggling, obstacle-filled levels.

Since his creation, Mario has established himself as a pop culture icon not only in Japan but also worldwide. In 1990, a national survey found that Mario was more recognizable to American children than Mickey Mouse. In addition, Mario made history in 2003 by becoming the first video game character to be honored with a wax figure in the legendary Hollywood Wax Museum. We here at QJ extend our warmest wishes to Mario on his birthday. Happy Birthday, Mario!

It has only been five days since we had an update about Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and today Nintendo has released even more screenshots of the upcoming puzzle/platformer game. One of the features in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 allows players to create their own maps with a new level editor.

Once a map is created, players can send it across the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players also can use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to download maps created by others, check out a player-ranking system and access special bonuses. A few of the new screenshots showcase the level editor if you wanted to see how it was shaping up so go ahead and check out the screens by clicking on the thumbnails below.

    

More screens await after the jump!

   

Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is not your traditional Mario game. Or actually, if you want to be technical, it IS your traditional Mario game! It's modelled more after the arcade game Donkey Kong than the NES title Super Mario Bros. The game follows a bizarre storyline in which a toy company starts producing Mini Mario toys. The man who produces them becomes rich and the Mini Marios open up a Super Mini Mario World theme park. Yeah, weird.

Dig Dug is expected to be digging and striking its way to the market on the 25th of this month. Fortunately for gamers in Europe, that's not all they'll be getting in the next few months - a release date list is recently being circulated.

After the release on August 25, the next one is slated on September 1 with Star Fox Command, while few more others come after two weeks. See the list below for a complete account of NDS titles. And oh, don't forget to check on the back links for related articles.

August
    25th Dig Dug Digging Strike

September
    1st Star Fox Command
    22nd FIFA 07
    22nd Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
    25th Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 March of the Minis
    29th 42 All-time Classics    
    29th Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

October
    6th Nintendo DS Browser
    13th Crazy Frog Racer
    13th English Training: Have Fun Improving Your Skills
    20th The Sims 2: Pets
    27th Actionloop
    27th Sudoku Master