Dwango, the operator of online video-sharing site Nico Nico Douga, surprised its users last week by announcing that gaming giant Nintendo will be a special co-sponsor of the second Nico Nico Cho Kaigi event, which aims to bring the virtual activities of Nico Nico Douga into the real world this April.
"I know we are the ones who asked, but we are really surprised (that Nintendo has agreed to support the event)," said Dwango Chairman Nobuo Kawakami during the Dec. 6 announcement of the general outline of the two-day Nico Nico Cho Kaigi (Cho Kaigi means "super conference").
The crowd of Nico Nico users who had gathered at the Nicofarre hall in Roppongi for the event were clearly both intrigued and excited when they heard Nintendo's signature sound of a coin being gained in the game "Mario Bros.," as the voiceover on the presentation video announced that "The special co-sponsor is ... ." Then, as Nintendo President Satoru Iwata appeared on the stage, the crowd went into a frenzy of astonishment.