Gearbox's maraca-shaking music game Samba de Amigo will be the first retail Wii release to support downloadable content, publisher Sega confirmed today.

New tracks will arrive in 3-song packs, all performed by the original artist, with pricing yet to be announced. The first bundle, slated to arrive when the game launches on September 23, will contain the following:

• Mambo Mambo - Lou Bega
• I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
• Are you Going to Be My Girl - Jet

Other upcoming Wii games that support paid downloadble content include Vicarious Visions' Guitar Hero World Tour and Harmonix's Rock Band 2... Read more

Gearbox Software's efforts to bring maraca-shaking monkeys to the Wii will be realized when Samba de Amigo hits North American retailers on September 23 and European stores on September 19, publisher Sega has announced.

Along with the date, Sega issued a list of the songs contained within the Wii Remote-rattling music title and a couple new screenshots.

All-New Wii-Exclusive Songs:

• Pon de Replay - Rihanna
• Smooth - Santana*
• Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega*
• Oye Como Va - Santana*... Read more

Currently making their way online are screenshots from upcoming Sega games. We have images from Alpha Protocol, Empire: Total War, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, Madworld, Samba de Amigo, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Sonic Unleashed, Space Siege, Stormrise and Valkyria Chronicles.

Alpha Protocol (PC, PS3, X360) Empire: Total War (PC) Golden Axe: Beast Rider (PS3, X360)... Read more

Having a slow start this morning? A bright, colorful trailer for Gearbox Software's Samba de Amigo (Wii), courtesy of publisher Sega, might be just what you need.

Last seen as a peripheral-equipped rhythm game on the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, Samba de Amigo's Wii revival hits stores in August. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

A chimp, maracas, and gameplay footage can be found in this trailer for Gearbox Software's Samba de Amigo (Wii), due out this August.

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Box art for Gearbox Software's Samba de Amigo (Wii) on games retailer GameStop's website indicates that the game will support some sort of pay-to-play content.

Unearthed by the internet detectives at gaming forum NeoGAF, the box art—while not necessarily finalized—is the first Wii box shot to feature the red Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection logo, which indicates pay-to-play functionality in the game. Given Samba de Amigo's maraca-shakin' rhythm roots, the evidence seems to... Read more

Publisher Sega has released the first screenshots and a few more character renders from the Wii edition of Samba de Amigo.

Along with same predilection towards bright colors and psychedelic settings as the Dreamcast and arcade originals, the new shots reveal that the music title will make use of the console's Mii virtual avatars as performance indicators and background dancers.

Developed by Brothers in Arms creator Gearbox Software, the Wii entry in the formerly maraca-centric series has players shaking the Wii Remote and Nunchuk at various heights while staying in beat with the music.

Samba de Amigo was originally slated to debut this spring, but several reports now indicate that its release has been pushed back until fall. Shacknews has contacted Sega for more information.

There's a Samba de Amigo preview on GameSpot, offering brief impressions of the Gearbox Software Wii game.

Confirming earlier reports, Sega announced it will be bringing a new iteration in the long-lost Samba de Amigo franchise to Wii next spring in North America and Europe as well as Japan.

As previously indicated, Brothers in Arms creator Gearbox Software will be developing the game. Gearbox is said to love both of Sonic Team's maraca-shaking Dreamcast titles, which had players shake height-sensing maracas to music at various altitudes. This time around, the Wii remote and nunchuk will replace those costly maracas. (Note: "Jesus Christ," exclaimed an overjoyed Chris Faylor when Sega's press release arrived in the Shack inbox this morning. -Remo)

Though details are few, Sega says the soundtrack will include both new song as well as returning favorites. Notable tracks from the original titles that may appear in the new edition include Bellini's "Samba de Amigo," Reel Big Fish's cover of A-ha's "Take on Me," and Hideki Naganuma's Jet Set Grind Radio anthem "Let Mom Sleep." More details on the song list and other new features are said to arrive within the next few months.

Dance monkey, dance! Reports coming from all corners of the internet say that the latest issue of Nintendo Power announces Sega's beloved maraca-shaking monkey dancer is coming to Wii courtesy of, brace yourself, Brothers in Arms creator Gearbox Software.

Gearbox is said to love both Sonic Team's Dreamcast original and sequel, which utilized a set of special height and motion-sensitive maracas and required players to shake the maracas at varying heights in beat with the music, so it's not too far-fetched of a proposition--especially since the company is working with Sega on the upcoming Aliens FPS.

Given the popularity of the Wii and the capabilities of its controller, a Wii edition of the always-popular-in-a-social-setting Samba could tackle two of the biggest barriers that prevented the original from taking off: the sinking popularity of the Dreamcast and the cost of the $80 maracas, which were not bundled with the game.

Shacknews attempted to confirm this news with both Sega and Gearbox, but had yet to receive a comment as of publication. In the meantime, this writer will be fishing out his Dreamcast and imported copy of Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000 and shaking two fistfuls of awesome to such hits as Bellini's "Samba de Janeiro," Reel Big Fish's cover of A-ha's "Take on Me," and Hideki Naganuma's Jet Set Grind Radio anthem "Let Mom Sleep."