The final event will be a multi-round competition with players competing in different games, which have yet to be announced. To qualify, however, you will have to demonstrate your classic gaming chops on Ultimate NES Remix for the 3DS, which combines short challenges extracted from classic Nintendo titles. Players will compete for high scores in three mini-games from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and Dr. Mario. The format is very similar to the last Nintendo World Championship, held a full quarter-century ago in 1990, wherein players competed in mini-games specially adapted from Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris. The special edition cartridges produced for the event are considered to be among the most rare and valuable NES cartridges out there.
Competition hopefuls can head to one of the following eight Best Buy stores from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 30:
- 1717 Harrison St.
San Francisco, CA - 3675 Pacific Coast Highway
Torrance, CA - 10760 NW 17th St.
Miami, FL - 900 E. Golf Road
Schaumburg, IL - 12905 Elm Creek Blvd. N
Maple Grove, MN - 5001 Northern Blvd.
Long Island City, NY - 9378 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX - 2214 S. 48th St.
Tacoma, WA
The highest scorer from each store will be flown to Los Angeles for the competition on June 14, during the week of E3 2015. They will also compete against eight other, unnamed, mystery competitors. Will they be celebrity gamers? International gamers to make it a truly “World” Championship? Nintendo has yet to say.
Time to start practicing for May 30, if you hope to follow in Fred Savage’s footsteps. Good luck, champions!