When you ask people about the most popular characters in video game history, it's inevitable that the names Mario and Sonic will pop up. So if you put the two together, you will undoubtedly have one of the biggest games of the year.

Apparently, these are the very thoughts of Sega's Corporate Director Masanao Maeda. He expects the upcoming Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games by Sega and Nintendo to sell several million units.

It was even mentioned in the Reuters news report that it is expected to rival big name titles like Microsoft and Bungie's Halo 3. The game will have Mario, Sonic and other characters from both universes competing in events based on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Maeda noted that "This will be the first time ever that we see Sonic and Mario appear together in a game. It surely has potential to be the No.1 title."

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is set to be out for the Wii and Nintendo DS. It is expected to be out in the United States and Europe around the second week of November. The game will be published by Sega in the United States and Europe, and by Nintendo in Japan.