Forget lamenting 2008 as the first year off for the "Zelda" series in a decade -- the long history of another Nintendo franchise suggests that a new "Mario Party" in 2009 is almost a sure thing.
During the holidays, website TheGameReviews.com looked into the history books and deduced that 2008 was the first "Zelda"-free year since 1997. Before you decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, consider that the "Mario Party" series also skipped 2008.
That "Zelda" streak started in 1998, the same year that the first "Mario Party" game was released. Since then I could have sworn that we got a new "Mario Party" game every year. Not quite. We've been granted eight console "Mario Party" games, one GBA edition and one DS version since then. But sometimes they've been bunched up. The series has not had a new release in 2001, 2006 and 2008. (See this "Mario Party" release list for proof). The most recent entry was the Wii's "Mario Party DS," which was released in the U.S. in December 2007.
What can we conclude?
"Mario Party" has never had a two year absence before. So if we didn't get one in 2008, then chances are good that we're getting one in 2009.
It is curious, though, that since the release of the Wii the series has had some off-years. The Wii is a system rife with mini-game collections, one where you would expect "Mario Party" releases to be consistent and frequent.
I've had a theory that Nintendo could do good business changing the series mini-game/party-game formula by making a "Mario Party" Wii Channel. Instead of selling a boxed game, the company could offer new mini-games for download and online play every week.
What would you like? Do you want "Mario Party" back this year? If so, in what form?
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