Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 25

LIFESTYLE C5 The StarPhoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Thursday, October 3, 2002 Voisine divulges wedding plans Move over pretty boy9 Mario the mmae to beat SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) French-Canadian heartthrob Roch Voisine is ready to break hearts across the By Darren Bernhardt of The StarPhoenix development. Then there's his appeal as layman a blue-collar plumber who saves the day. "The need for plumbing is pretty much universal," laughed Bertram. change." Voisine will marry Myriam St-Jean, an accounts manager from Montreal, who he met at the beginning of the summer.

The ceremony will be held Dec. 21. Voisine said it was love at first sight when he met St-Jean. "Boom, it's one of those things," he said. "I am a changed man.

She is the most loving, kind person I have ever met in my life." However, anyone expecting a huge, glitzy wedding a la Celine Dion will be disappointed. It will be a private affair with just family and friends invited, away from the newspaper flashbulbs and television cameras. "We are not going to invite the press," he said. The veteran singer plans to get married this winter in Montreal. Voisine, 39, revealed his wedding plans Wednesday in an interview with the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal about his upcom The most lucrative leading man in the entertainment industry is not who you might think.

Cast aside images of rugged good-looks. Forget the slick, bad-boy type. Try a short, stocky He calls Mario the company signature character" because every product innovation from the company has been unveiled in a Mario game. The first one to get the video game industry booming in North America was in 1985's Super Mario Bros, for the old Voisine plumber with a moustache. Mario, the pint-sized protagonist of many Nintendo video games rakes in more dough than Harrison Ford.

In 21 years since he first appeared in the 198 1 arcade hit Donkey Kong, Mario has ing concert tour. "I will be married before I am 40," he said. "It's big news. It's a big, big, big NES system. It sold more than 4U million units worldwide.

ti inoi earned more than $7 billion (US). j. I nidi was luiiuwm uu ill 1701 wiui juun Mario Bros. 3, which was the first That total would be much higher if it included titles in which Mario "guest stars" such as Super Smash If this jjiauuuu-juuipci gaiiit. 'That catapulted gamers' attention on to Mario and how fun video game play could be," said Bertram.

In 1996, Super Mario 64 was is your idea launched for the N64. It was the first ever 3-D game, adding a new depth to the gameplay. In all, Bertram esti Bros. Melee and the Mario Party series. His earnings have helped push the video game industry in North America past the film industry with projections eclipsing $10 billion (US) in revenues by the end of 2002.

Ford's films have earned more than $5.6 billion (US) worldwide. "The beauty of Mario versus mates Mario has starred or ap- peared in about 40 different games. of financial planning, bales ot the various games which bear his name have hit 158 million units. His lat est, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario is Nintendo's leading man we need to talk. Hollywood A-list actors is that he needs less cosmetic surgery as he gets older," joked Ron Bertram, general manager for Nintendo of Canada Ltd.

He doesn't hold out for any contract demands or higher wages either. "Maybe for a new pair of overalls or jeans now and then to update the look. But other than that, there's not much trouble from him," said Bertram. With the way things are go hit stores in August. "He has become such an icon he's gone beyond games into modern culture," Bertram said.

Mario is the brain-child of Shigeru Miyamoto, considered by TIME Magazine as the Steven Spielberg of electronic entertainment and one of the most prestigious video game designers and creators in the world. 6 The beauty of Mario versus Hollywood A-list actors is that he needs less cosmetic surgery as he gets older.9) Creating Personal Worth Offering full financial planning services at no-fee through FirstSask Financial Group: Retirement and Investment Planning, Education Planning, Will Preparation and Estate Planning. Pictured from left to right: Judy Sokoloski, Sharon Hamilton, Louarm Turcotte. Mariana Hordal, Charlerm Rahn Benefit from the financial advice of an experienced, professional financial planner. At Saskatoon Credit Union that means service, not a sales pitch.

Guaranteed. We're here (in Saskatoon), when you need us. Contact us for our no-fee financial planning services. Ron Bertram, Nintendo Canada Ltd. 1 SASKATOON CREDIT UNIONS! INVESTING IN A BETTER WAV Miyamoto was the first inductee into Interactive Digitial Software Association's hall of fame.

"When I created Mario, I wanted him to be a character that everyone could relate to and enjoy," Miyamoto stated in a Nintendo press release. "I never doubted Mario would be successful as a video game star, but I had no idea how incredibly popular and recognizable he'd be throughout the entertainment world." 934-4000 www.saskatooncredltunlon.com I r- i i ii urn li in -i- Milium ii. i i ing under Mario's guidance, there's no plans on the company's part to retire the character anytime soon. "He'll be a part of Nintendo gaming for a long, long time into the future," said Bertram. "He's a timeless character who will carry on through many generations of gameplay-ers game-playing systems." He attributes Mario's popularity to original concepts in the games and that the titles often reveal the latest industry Freekstyle offers lots of spills, thrills Freekstyle PS2 It's described as "comic mischief on the cover jacket but "reckless abandon" is more suited.

Electronic Arts, has created a dirt bike thrill ride in the same vein as its adrenaline-fuelled and hugely successful SSX Tricky. Forget that most of the extreme tricks are beyond physical comprehension and just enjoy the action. "I j- h41 it Is St I i 1 I PJ I 4 PIECE PACKAGE iiJy 0f I 9 i Jit I jai yf inn's, 1 The computer-controlled racing opponents can be unduly aggressive so torque the throttle at the flicker of the green light and get out front. You're going to spill, guaranteed, but don't get frustrated watching the other riders blow past while you're dusting yourself off because you can I 7 9 Bv Darren By Darren Bernhardt catchup. Once you've run the track a few times you'll get a better feel for it and the race is much more exciting because you know when to get in position for some killer tricks handstands while soaring 40 feet above the ground and side-saddle insanity.

The camera can be as tricky as the riding at times, with Utile track showing on some curves. Another great twist is the Shortcuts through abandoned tunnels and roads not immediately obvious. But if you find them, they'll spice things up. There is a myriad of tracks and riders but you have to prove yourself to unlock many of them and the higher-end bikes that accompany them. The only negative to the game is the demand on your dexterity with the controller.

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Tickets are $22. Call 938-7800. Local band Tin Pan Alley hosts a weekly open stage for folk and acoustic musicians and singer-songwriters at Mama's Restaurant, 1611 20th Street West. It runs Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It's gonna be a crazy Celtic Christmas in these parts.

Four bands with Celtic leanings are playing separate concerts at Centennial Auditorium in a three-week span: The Chieftans on Dec. 1, Rita MacNeil on Dec. 2, Leahy on Dec. 12 and John McDermott on Dec. 16.

It's nice for the city to get all the attention, but the audience is going to be split and attendance can't help but suffer. Saskatoon is a tasty place to play, no doubt, but you can only slice the pie so many times. 601 First Avenue North Telephone 934-2433 FURNITURE.