Posted September 14, 2006 Quote from IGN:"Wii goes on sale November 19. "The worldwide debut of the Wii system happens right here in the Americas -- the same place where we debuted Nintendo DS. On November 19, it will be available at more than 25,000 points of distribution across the Americas. And with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $249.99. One price. One configuration. One color." Which is, for the record, white. Plans to ship 4 million Wii consoles between launch and December 31. Americas will receive the largest share of stock." November 24th FTW in Europe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 DS launched november 29 in USA and december 2nd in Japan. It only launched in 2007 in EU, don't fuck up like Sony Nintendo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 As long as Wii is available in England by the time my birthday arrives (20th December), i'll be happy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Quote from IGN:"Wii goes on sale November 19. "The worldwide debut of the Wii system happens right here in the Americas -- the same place where we debuted Nintendo DS. On November 19, it will be available at more than 25,000 points of distribution across the Americas. And with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $249.99. One price. One configuration. One color." Which is, for the record, white. Plans to ship 4 million Wii consoles between launch and December 31. Americas will receive the largest share of stock." Oh god, I'm hoping we get it the following week then. I've had my hopes set on a November release. It would be pretty shocking for Nintendo to release it here before they release it in Japan though.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 We must be in the middle of USA and Japan then! I honestly can't see Nintendo stating a date after December 2nd. PLEASE! It can only be November 24th then! My only worry is Nintendo stated it's not November 24th 2006, unless they lied. So it may well be after the Japanese date! Screwed again in my opinion! Hate the date! It's too near Xmas if it's released 8th or 15th December, it will be total panic for parents! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Screwed again in my opinion! Hate the date! It's too near Xmas if it's released 8th or 15th December, it will be total panic for parents! I agree with that. It's too close to Christmas; not enough people might know about it then even. Not a good time I think. =/ Plus I was hoping I'd be playing it in November already. December and January will be filled with studying (and travelling) for me. >.<; Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 My only worry is Nintendo stated it's not November 24th 2006, unless they lied. So it may well be after the Japanese date! Dont worry... Nintendo have lied before... and they always will if someones on to them... November the 24th it will be, if not ill eat my hat :p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 A christmas date is bad? Seriouslym think. Christmas=money=selling=money Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 But Iwata will speech tomorrow at the european event, and I belive the last time Iwata made a speech in europe was when the DS release date was announched so, I think we will at least know when it will launch in europe, Maybe 1 december or 24 november, Nintendo never said specificly that this release date was wrong I believe, May be MCV was only wrong about the price Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 God help Nintendo if they'll release here in 2007 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 A christmas date is bad?Seriouslym think. Christmas=money=selling=money No, Christmas is a good selling time. Except it's better when it's released earlier. People like to buy Christmas presents beforehand. Plus the more time you have between launch and Christmas, the more people will probably get to know about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 A christmas date is bad?Seriouslym think. Christmas=money=selling=money Thats the only thing Nintendo were thinking about when they thought of the release dates. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 America have a sales tax though, different in every state but the average is about 6% (i think) $250 - $10 = $240 $240 = £127 £127 + VAT = £149 So with tax, it will be £150. Any more than that and we are being ripped off by Ninty But US prices are always quoted without sales tax included... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 No, Christmas is a good selling time. Except it's better when it's released earlier. People like to buy Christmas presents beforehand. Plus the more time you have between launch and Christmas, the more people will probably get to know about it. With the console launching in other territories before people will know, I mean they are already accepting pre orders, forcing a Christmas rush of parents buying Wiis is good publicity, they will sell anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 I'm still sure it will be released in November here,but I really want the black console.I want to see what the launch games are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 From the Nintendo Press Site: Wii Press Release: NINTENDO’S INCOMPARABLE Wii CONSOLE LAUNCHES NOV. 19; MSRP $249.99 30 New Games, 30 Retro Titles, User-Friendly ‘Channels’ Make it the Affordable System for Gamers, Newcomers and Families NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2006 – Nintendo will reshape the home entertainment and video game landscape with the launch of its heralded Wiiâ„¢ home video game console. The Americas will lead the worldwide launch on Nov. 19. Wii will be sold as an affordable, mass-consumer product at an MSRP of just $249.99. The price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchukâ„¢ controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc, which anyone can play using simple movements, experienced or not. Every Wii console includes another distinctive feature: a series of on-screen “channels†that make up the Wii Channel Menu, which makes the console approachable and customizable for everyone, from the most avid gamer to people who have never played before. The Wii Channel Menu is the starting point for all of the console’s functions. The “channels†offer a gateway to a rich variety of entertainment options. When connected to a TV, the Wii Channel Menu offers a simple interface, letting users pick games to play, get news or weather, view and send photos or even create playable caricatures of themselves to use in actual games. Additional functions allow users to redeem Wii Points and download classic games to Wii’s Virtual Consoleâ„¢. The variety of options available through the Wii Channel Menu motivates both gamers and non-gamers to turn on Wii’s power every day. Wii is creating worldwide excitement with its unique control system, an inventive, first-of-its-kind controller whose position can be detected in a 3-D space. The new controller allows users to pinpoint targets in games or move through the Wii Channel Menu with precision and ease. This intuitive control system will be understood immediately by everyone, regardless of their previous experience with video games. With this one small controller, Wii makes games both easier and more intense than anything previously experienced. For example, in the Wii Sports tennis game, players swing the Wii Remote like a racket to hit the ball, as in real life. They can add topspin or slice the ball just by angling their hands and wrist like they would in a real match. “Wii reinvents games for the devoted player,†says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “But more importantly, Wii breaks the wall separating players from non-players by delivering the best game experiences for the most affordable price. We believe the next leap is games for the masses – young and old, gamer or non, alone, with a friend or with the whole family.†Fils-Aime made his remarks in New York, shortly after Nintendo executives in Japan announced Wii will launch there on Dec. 2. Between launch day and Dec. 31, Wii owners will enjoy a robust lineup of 30 software titles, with selections for everyone from video game veterans to newcomers. Some top Nintendo launch titles include Wii Sports, a compilation of tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing; The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess; and EXCITE TRUCKâ„¢. While publishers are free to set their own prices for games, first-party Nintendo titles will have an MSRP of $49.99. Wii’s self-loading media bay also can play the entire library of more than 530 Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ titles from day one. Third-party developers around the world have lined up to provide unprecedented support for Wii. “The Wii is changing audience interaction, opening up whole new experiences that have never been possible in video games,†says Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. “With the instinctual control of the Wii Remote, Nintendo is advancing the gaming experience to the broadest audience of gamers. Activision is excited about the launch of the Wii and the opportunity it offers. So much so, we plan to have five titles available at launch – our strongest lineup ever for a new console. We have more development resources devoted to the Wii than to any previous Nintendo platform. The Wii is likely to have a profound impact on the size, growth and overall opportunities for the video game market.†“I believe the Wii will attract new and casual gamers to the world of interactive entertainment,†says Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO, Electronic Arts. “It’s a fun, easy and economical system that will become a bridge to gaming for mainstream audiences. At EA, we are putting more support behind the Wii than any Nintendo hardware launch since the Super NES.†“The Wii control scheme opens up unexplored areas for our talented teams to innovate when creating games,†says Laurent DeToc, President of Ubisoft North America. “It’s invigorating for us. We believe that it will help create a new level of interest in video games and engage more players around the world.†Additional information about the list of Virtual Console games and the pricing structure will be revealed in the coming weeks. The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Nintendo DSâ„¢, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ systems, and upcoming Wiiâ„¢ console. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 375 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Marioâ„¢, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zeldaâ„¢ and Pokémon®. 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 http://www.nintendo.com. Wii Fact Sheet: Wiiâ„¢ Launch Date and MSRP: Nov. 19, 2006, in the Americas at an MSRP of $249.99. Color: White. Size: About 8.5 inches long, 6 inches wide and less than two inches thick (157mm x 215.4mm x 44mm). Controls: Intuitive control for anyone using the physical motion of the Wii Remote controller, which resembles a television remote control. Up to four Wii Remote controllers can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii Remote and Nunchukâ„¢ controllers include a three-axis motion sensor. The Wii Remote controller also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port, and can be used as a pointer within 5 meters of the screen. The Wii Remote controller has a power switch, plus pad, A, B, Minus, Home, 1 and 2 buttons. The Nunchuk controller includes an analog control stick and C and Z buttons. The Look: The Wii console features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any television setup. It can be displayed either vertically or horizontally. Media: A single self-loading media bay will play single- or double-layered 12-centimeter optical discs for the Wii console, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ discs. Channels: The Wii Channel Menu is the main gateway for a variety of easy-to-use, interactive multimedia, entertainment and communication functions. Communication: The Wii console can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off. The WiiConnect24â„¢ service delivers a new surprise or game update, even if the system is idle. Users can connect wirelessly using IEEE802.11, or with a USB 2.0 LAN adaptor. The Wii console also can communicate wirelessly with Nintendo DSâ„¢. Virtual Console: The Wii console will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo® 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System® (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System® (NES). The Virtual Consoleâ„¢ also will feature a “best of†selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TURBO GRAFX16 console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets. The Specs: The Wii console has 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the “sleepless†WiiConnect24 mode. CPU: PowerPC CPU (code-named “Broadwayâ€) Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM. Graphics Processing Unit: Being developed with ATI. Other Features: Four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video. Wii Channel Menu: The Wiiâ„¢ console will revolutionize how people play games. But more importantly, it will entice new players into the world of video games by offering a variety of entertainment, information and communication Channels that add value to the console and make it a device that the entire family can enjoy. The Wii Channel Menu will be the first screen shown on the television, as it easily integrates itself as part of people’s everyday lives. Disc Channel: This channel allows users to play either Wii game discs or the entire library of Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ discs. Miiâ„¢ Channel: Fun caricatured portraits created in this channel can be used as characters across a variety of Wii software. Portraits can be stored in a user’s Wii Remote and taken to a friend’s house to play on another Wii console. Each member of the family can have his or her Wii Remote personalized with a caricature. Photo Channel: This channel allows users to take digital pictures stored on an SD memory card and display them on their television screens. Users also can manipulate the photos in a variety of fun and creative ways, such as zooming or creating mosaics, puzzles or slide shows. They can draw, add stamps, and copy and paste. They also can change the “mood†of photos by brightening them, converting them to monochrome, inverting the color or changing them to stark black and white. Users can even add an MP3 tune to their slide shows. It provides a fun and easy outlet for people to edit their digital pictures. Users also can send their pictures to other Wii consoles by attaching a photo to the Wii Message Board. Forecast Channel: Users who have connected their Wii console to the Internet can access free local weather forecasts just a few seconds after turning on the Wii console. The WiiConnect24â„¢ service automatically updates local weather information. Users can view forecasts for cities around the world on a 3-D globe. News Channel: Users can access breaking news with the touch of a button. When connected to the Internet, the WiiConnect24 service automatically updates this free channel and organizes it in a variety of topical categories. Users can see where news is happening by viewing the location of news stories on a 3-D globe. Wii Shop Channel: This is where users go to buy Wii Points or redeem them to download classic video games to the Virtual Consoleâ„¢. Users also can use points to download the Opera browser used in the Internet Channel. Internet Channel: This channel dramatically changes the relationship between a user’s home, the television and the Internet. Users download the Opera browser with Wii Points. Then they can surf the Internet right from the comfort of their couch. They can do quick research while watching a television program (“What was that actor’s name again?â€). Or book travel plans and shop during commercials. The service is compatible with Macromedia Flash. Wii Message Board: Forget hand-scrawled notes tacked to the refrigerator door. Users can leave messages for other family members on a calendar-based message board. They also can use WiiConnect24 to send messages to people outside the home as well. Even better, people can trade photos and text messages with cell phone users. The service also allows for incoming messages targeted at software, such as a new map or weapon for a game. Games can constantly be updated, thereby extending their playability. Quotes from Third-Party Publishers about Wii “I believe the Wii will attract new and casual gamers to the world of interactive entertainment. It’s a fun, easy and economical system that will become a bridge to gaming for mainstream audiences. At EA, we are putting more support behind the Wii than any Nintendo hardware launch since the Super NES.†– Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO, Electronic Arts “The Wii is changing audience interaction, opening up whole new experiences that have never been possible in video games. With the instinctual control of the Wii Remote, Nintendo is advancing the gaming experience to the broadest audience of gamers. Activision is excited about the launch of the Wii and the opportunity it offers. So much so, we plan to have five titles available at launch – our strongest lineup ever for a new console. We have more development resources devoted to the Wii than to any previous Nintendo platform. The Wii is likely to have a profound impact on the size, growth and overall opportunities for the video game market.†– Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. “The Wii control scheme opens up unexplored areas for our talented teams to innovate when creating games. It’s invigorating for us. We believe that it will help create a new level of interest in video games and engage more players around the world.†– Laurent DeToc, President of Ubisoft North America “Nintendo’s strategy is expanding the market. We are thrilled.†– David Pierce, President and CEO, Atari, Inc. “Nintendo’s vision perfectly aligns with our strategy to broaden our portfolio by allowing us to create new genres that have strong global appeal.†– Shinichi Suzuki, President, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. “Video games are becoming more of a mainstream phenomenon than ever before with virtually all members of the family playing different games in the living room. Nintendo’s strategy of ease of play and mass marketing pricing is perfectly aligned with Disney.†– Graham Hopper, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Buena Vista Games “In order for our industry to continue to grow, we’ve got to think about gaming and games differently. That’s exactly what Nintendo is doing.†– Geoff Mulligan, COO, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “For established publishers, the Virtual Console model is a tremendous opportunity to extend our classic brands. Nobody ever thinks of a good book as retired – why shouldn’t great games live forever, too?†– Naoya Tsurumi, CEO, Sega of America “With escalating costs for both developing games and for consumers buying new game systems, we applaud Nintendo’s drive to spread gaming to the masses – and we fully support that approach.†– Brian Farrell, President and CEO, THQ, Inc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Man, I hope Europe won't get screwed over price/date wise. When does the European event start again? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Man, I hope Europe won't get screwed over price/date wise. When does the European event start again? Noon tomorow! not long to wait! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Yeh but I have to wait till I get back from school Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 I wouldn't worry too much. I think we'l get it before christmas, because a while back, Nintenodo promised us that Zelda would be out by then. So Zelda = Wii. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 How much is a xbox360 in America? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 $250. 19th November He said Xbox360 but it's nice to see the USA price and date of the Wii again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 Something in my head tells me Europe are getting it first...but i'm not getting too excited...AT ALL.... I never ever expected December for Japan. He said Xbox360 but it's nice to see the USA price and date of the Wii again! Oh, sorry, stupid me The Premium is $399.99 and the Core is $299.99 (according to Amazon). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 14, 2006 ok xbox360 is $299 (core) in America, Wii will be $249. xbox360 core is £199 in the UK, thats a third off the US price then just switch the currency symbol. So that should mean the Wii will be roughly a third off the US price ($249), that ends up being roughly £165. Thats not using any currency conversion either, so no flaming about tax being worse in the UK as this should represent the tax rape in the UK. I thought the price would be £149.99.... but around £165 would be ok by me still. btw.... did anything get mentioned about DVD playback? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
