Nintendo Teams Up With Nickelodeon’s Music Sensation Big Time Rush

This summer, Nickelodeon’s teen music phenomenon Big Time Rush is sharing its excitement about Nintendo’s Mario Kart 7 game in a big way, giving fans from coast to coast a chance to join Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom friends for new kart-racing fun on land, in the air and under the sea.

Known as the stars of Nickelodeon’s hit television series Big Time Rush, the band is teaming up with Nintendo to offer free hands-on demos of Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS system on its upcoming U.S. tour, “Big Time Summer Tour”. From July 5 to Aug. 5, attendees at select Big Time Rush concerts can visit Nintendo 3DS demo stations and experience the game’s wild Mario-themed action, multiplayer features and kart customization options firsthand.

A Mario Kart 7 sampling station and mobile sampling teams will be available at participating concert venues, giving fans a unique chance to play the game, enjoy special photo opportunities and compete for prizes. Fans will also be able to download Mii characters based on the members of Big Time Rush – Kendall, Logan, James and Carlos – and fans who bring their own Nintendo 3DS systems to the concerts will be able to wirelessly access content for Nintendo 3DS via Nintendo Zone hotspots. Additionally, viewers can look forward to seeing Big Time Rush in an upcoming television ad campaign for Mario Kart 7.

“Big Time Rush fans will discover a new kind of rush when they tear up the track with Mario. The frenetic fun of Mario Kart 7 makes a great match with the band’s energetic music. The chance to get hands-on with Nintendo 3DS will make each of these concerts even more memorable for attendees, whether they’re experienced gamers or newcomers.”

– Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing

“We couldn’t be more excited to take Mario Kart 7 out on the road for our tour this summer. We are all huge Nintendo fans and our new partnership provides a cool way to share the fun of Nintendo 3DS with people all over the country.”

– Big Time Rush

• July 5: Columbus, Ohio – Nationwide Arena
• July 6: Milwaukee – Summerfest
• July 7: St. Louis – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
• July 8: Cincinnati – Riverbend Music Center
• July 10: Atlanta – Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
• July 11: Birmingham, Ala. – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
• July 13: Houston – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
• July 14: Dallas – Gexa Energy Pavilion
• July 15: Tulsa, Okla. – BOK Center
• July 17: Phoenix – Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion
• July 19: Irvine, Calif. – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
• July 20: San Diego – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
• July 21: Las Vegas – Mandalay Bay Events Center
• July 22: Mountain View, Calif. – Shoreline Amphitheatre
• July 23: Paso Robles, Calif. – California Mid-State Fair
• July 25: Salt Lake City – USANA Amphitheatre Energy Solutions Arena
• July 27: Kansas City, Mo. – Sprint Center
• July 28: Minneapolis – Target Center
• July 29: Indianapolis – Klipsch Music Center
• July 31: Clarkston, Mich. – DTE Energy Music Theatre
• Aug. 1: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – Blossom Music Center
• Aug. 3: Louisville, Ky. – KFC Yum! Center
• Aug. 4: Tinley Park, Ill. – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
• Aug. 5: Burgettstown, Pa. – First Niagara Pavilion