‘Super Mario 3D All-Stars’ comes to Nintendo Switch on September 18th

Over the span of 35 years, Nintendo’s mainline Mario games have split into two distinct categories: 2D and 3D. The historical 3D games are getting some love today, as Nintendo just announced Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a Switch collection of three of Mario’s most notable adventures. The package includes Super Mario 64 (the first 3D Mario game, originally released for the Nintendo 64), Super Mario Sunshine (for the Game Cube) and Super Mario Galaxy (for the Wii).

Nintendo says all these games have higher resolutions than the originals, but we don’t know yet exactly what the upgrade process was — none of these games were released in HD. Judging from the trailer, though, these don’t look like complete remakes. Naturally, Nintendo has also tweaked the controls to optimize them for the Switch, as well.

Mario 3D All-Stars arrives on September 18th for $59.99, but it’ll only be available until “approximately” March 31st, 2021. Presumably, this game will be released in both physical and digital editions, but it seems they don’t intend on keeping the digital version available indefinitely. Given Nintendo’s history of releasing and re-releasing its games ad nauseam, it seems the company is reserving the right to make more money on these games in a different format down the line. Regardless, Super Mario Sunshine in particular is a nice rarity to have readily available, as it hasn’t been re-released since the original Game Cube version. On the other hand, it’s sad not to see Super Mario Galaxy 2 here.

This is just one of a multitude of announcements Nintendo made this morning for Mario’s 35th anniversary. The company is also releasing a battle royale-style online game and the Wii U’s Super Mario 3D World, and the original side-scrolling Super Mario All-Stars collection is available today for the Switch’s Super NES online service.

CDC tells states to prepare for distribution of COVID-19 vaccine by November 1, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control has urged governors to be prepared for the distribution of a coronavirus vaccine by November 1, which is two days before Election Day. 

CDC Director Robert Redfield sent the letter dated August 27 to governors, informing them that the government is contracting with the company McKesson to distribute the vaccine to local health departments and doctors' offices and asked them to expedite any applications for distribution facilities requested by the company. CBS News has obtained a copy of the letter, first reported by McClatchy news service.

"CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities and, if necessary asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by November 1, 2020," the letter reads. "The requirements you may be asked to waive in order to expedite vaccine distribution will not compromise the safety or integrity of the products being distributed."

Mr. Trump has floated the possibility that a vaccine could ready for distribution by the election or soon after, although most medical experts do not expect widespread vaccinations until 2021.

Read more: CDC tells states to prepare for COVID-19 vaccinations...