Nintendo's Summer of Touring

Nintendo America this summer is concentrating on creating interactive experiences for consumers through its tour sponsorships.

In addition to the Fusion Tour (Xtra, July 1), Nintendo is tagging along on The Mobile Skatepark Series Tour and the AND 1 Mix-Tape Tour.

The Mobile Skatepark Series Tour kicked off in Cincinnati on June 29 and visits five cities through October. Nintendo is the exclusive video game sponsor. The event features professional skateboard, in-line skating and BMX contests for three days and two days of open skating for amateurs. At the outdoor gaming lounge, visitors can play GameCube and Game Boy Advance games and enter sweepstakes for prizes including skateboards and skate ramps.

The AND 1 tour, named for the urban footwear and apparel maker, will visit 33 cities through Aug. 23. The tour is looking for the best street basketball players. Ten to 12 players will be selected in each market to compete against the AND 1 team.

At the tour stops, consumers can sample GameCube games and stop by Mixman DJ mixing stations to download tracks and mix their own songs. Fans can also enter a "streetstakes'' dangling a 1964 Chevy Impala SS tricked out with a 42-inch fold-out plasma screen.

US Concepts, New York City, executes the three tour sponsorships for Nintendo.