Anyone heard about the new Mario?

[Koopaking]

Nintendo announced at a recent video game conference that it would be completely revamping the Super Mario Bros. franchise. They wanted to give Super Mario a more "edgier" look to compete with competitors more mature titles.

They say the plumber look of the brothers will be scrapped and they are now dressed as "Mushroom gangstas". Mario will be sporting a red dew rag with baggy pants, Converse sneakers, and shiny bling. Luigi will opt for the more classic approach and will wear a fedora hat with a trench coat and gold tooth fillings.

The development department at Nintendo has begun work on "Super Mario Street" for the Wii, in which the Mario Bros. and Bowser are in rival gangs and are at odds controlling the streets of Toad Town. The game is reported to include many things never before included in Mario games, such as guns, drugs, sex, and gratuitous amounts of violence.

"I think Super Mario Street will keep the old fans with the series and bring new fans over from Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 to the Wii. Our players have changed over the years, and so are Mario and Luigi now!" says Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

You can find more information about the game at http://www.nintendo.com/news/articles=40108. Super Mario Street is scheduled to be released for the Wii in early 2009.