A screenshot of Hello Kitty in the video game "Super Maria Maker." Photo: Xinhua

 
The popular character Hello Kitty will debut in Nintendo's star product "Super Mario Maker" this week.

The fictional cat will be unlocked together with My Melody after players start a new event course. The course opened Thursday evening in North America, and on Friday morning in Japan or Europe.

Hello Kitty is not the only fictional character added to Super Mario game. "Ice Climber" Popo and Nana also appeared in the game earlier this month. More cartoons and fictional characters are expected to join the game in the future.

An actor in the costume of Super Mario throws candies during the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Mainz, Feb. 16, 2015. (Xinhua/Shen Zhengning)

 

Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2015, shows a Hello Kitty balloon during the 89th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)