It's time for some post-holiday peace and quiet. Except that the kids won't stop pestering you with questions about how to defeat the bad guy in their new Nintendo video game. No need to worry: Even people with no video game savvy can find a sympathetic ear and a helping hand at Nintendo of America's Consumer Service Department.

Every year during the period between Christmas and New Year's, known at Nintendo as "Crunch Week," the Consumer Service Department sees a flood of inquiries. But with record sales of Nintendo's portable Game Boy(R) Advance systems - and a recent boom in demand for the Nintendo GameCube(TM) home console - those consumer contacts seem destined to balloon. During an average week, Nintendo responds to about 30,000 phone calls, 9,000 e-mails and 500 letters. But during Crunch Week, it typically handles 60,000 total inquiries. Consumers want to know everything from tips about the hot games they received to how to hook up their new Nintendo GameCube consoles. And Nintendo is there to help.

"Our in-house experts know these games and systems inside and out," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Game-play counselors have, at their fingertips, access to a vast library of information regarding more than 3,300 video games for all Nintendo systems."

Consumers can reach Nintendo four different ways. First, they can find extensive information at Nintendo.com. The recently redesigned Web site is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is the most comprehensive resource for Nintendo game and product information. Each month, Nintendo's Web sites average more than 5 million unique visitors and more than 70 million pages viewed.

By calling the Consumer Service Line at 800-255-3700 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific time, consumers can speak with Nintendo representatives - in English, Spanish or French - about Nintendo game systems and subscriptions to Nintendo Power(R) magazine. Because of the large volume of calls on Dec. 26, the call center's hours will be extended that day only from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific time.

For game-play tips, consumers can call the automated Nintendo Power Line 24 hours a day at 425-885-7529. The line is updated daily and contains information about more than 100 video games. If that's still not enough information, for $1.50 per minute players can call the Game Play Counselor Hotline at 800-521-0900 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific time to get advanced game advice from a live operator. On Dec. 26 only, the hotline also will have expanded hours, from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific time. On average, questions are answered within three to four minutes.

Each year the Consumer Service Department at Nintendo headquarters in Redmond, Wash., helps more than 1.9 million people increase their knowledge of video games. Since the department began in 1985, Nintendo has helped more than 78 million people become better gamers. The department is composed of 100 game-play counselors, consumer service representatives and online staffers. During Crunch Week, their number surges to 150. Nintendo's customer-service employees typically stay with the department for eight years, compared with a customer-service industry average of less than two years.

The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems. Each year, hundreds of all-new titles for the best-selling Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo GameCube(TM) systems extend Nintendo's vast game library and continue the tradition of delivering a rich, diverse mix of quality video games for players of all ages. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.8 billion video games globally, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(TM) and Donkey Kong(R) and launching popular culture franchise phenomena such as Metroid(TM), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.