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Nintendo Surprises Southwest Customers with Free 3DS Systems, Super Mario Maker

Lucky Southwest passengers receive some holiday cheer, courtesy of Nintendo.
This article is over 7 years old and may contain outdated information

Outside of first class, flying is a routine experience. You cram into a row with two other passengers, politely vie for elbow room and hope the person in front doesn’t recline his or her seat. We imagine this is what most of the passengers on Southwest flight #2482 went through as the plane soared over 10,000 feet into the air. Then something totally unexpected happened.

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Turns out, representatives from Nintendo appeared, alongside YouTube personality iJustine, and gave each passenger a free New Nintendo 3DS XL system, along with a voucher to download a copy of Super Mario Maker from the Nintendo eShop. In case you never heard of Super Mario Maker, the game lets you create your own 2D levels inspired by all those classic Super Mario Bros. adventures that released over the years. It came out for Wii U last year, and now you can take it on the go via the 3DS.

 

 

During the flight, the Nintendo reps and iJustine helped these new 3DS owners design levels in Super Mario Maker, and offered some tips of their own. We don’t know if everyone participated, but wow, what a lucky group of travelers!

 

“With Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, everyone can enjoy a nearly limitless supply of side-scrolling 2D Mario courses anytime, anywhere,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “You’re not only playing a game – you’re helping design it. Nintendo 3DS owners are getting to experience Mario play in an entirely new way.”

Now before you book tickets on Southwest in the hopes of scoring a free 3DS, we don’t think Nintendo has plans to surprise more passengers on future flights. In addition to spreading holiday cheer, this was the big N and Southwest’s way of promoting the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS promotion running from December 16 to January 14. Lucky winners will walk away with Nintendo 3DS systems and games, while one person will win the grand prize, a trip to New York City for up to four people, roundtrip airfare on Southwest, a four-night hotel stay and a $3,000 personal shopping spree at the flagship Nintendo NY store, which sells games, t-shirts and other fun collectibles.

Not a bad way to spend time on a plane, and the contest sounds awesome. That said, make sure you enter Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS before it’s too late.

 

Meanwhile, Nintendo released Super Mario Run for free on the iPhone. Our Super Mario Run guide will tell you how to earn Toad Rally Tickets and unlock all of the characters.


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Author
Image of Christopher Buffa
Christopher Buffa
Christopher lives to help people beat their favorite games. He is a huge Nintendo Switch fan, and spends countless hours playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Bring on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Arms!