NY Times says Wii: Nov 19th, $250.

zeroKFE wrote:

No, I'm pretty sure the word is that Zelda for the Wii will be available on launch day. The Gamecube version, however, won't be out until early December.

Gamespot wrote:

[UPDATE 10] Nintendo has now confirmed that the Wii version of Twilight Princess will be available on November 19, but the GameCube edition won't arrive until sometime in December.

Okay, that makes sense.

Personally I'm excited about Wii and expect to get one near launch assuming they're available. Wii Sports will be perfect in my house - my son will go crazy trying to launch baseballs out of the park all winter.

I'm still a bit skeptical about the remote functionality though. Last night I was watching the recent IGN Wii coverage and called my wife over. She's a big Zelda fan and her first reaction was "I don't want to have to wave my arms around just to play Zelda!". Not a good sign.

Check Certis' write up over at the Escapist for a nice, clean round up of all the news.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news...

One useful bit for our conversation here is that the virtual console games will indeed be downloaded, and will likely need to be stored on external storage media.

More good info over at Wired, including confirmation that like the DS, the Wii will not have enforced region encoding (however, support exists if publishers want to use it).

http://blog.wired.com/games/

Also, some slightly less cool news:

Will Wii users be able to add storage via USB hard drives? No. The Wii's storage will be exclusively via flash memory storage, such as SD memory cards, at least at launch. Kaplan said a hard drive addition could be in the future, but that sounds more like a "Sure, why not?" response than one based in any immediate plans.

VERY disappointing that the price didn't make its way down to $199.

Wii Sports strikes me as one of those games that every game store will have 30 used copies of for $15 a couple of months after release.

My enthusiasm was starting to build as a sub-$250 price was more heavily rumored, but now I'm firmly in the "wait" camp.

Dude, I know it's been said before but I'm so incredibly pleased that a system is being bundled with a game again. I wasn't even planning on buying Wii Sports, but the fact that I'm getting it is seriously giving me a huge nostalgia trip.

I would have been more surprised if they had not included Wii Sports as a pack-in, for a few reasons:

1) It's clearly a basic sort of game that many people wouldn't feel was worth $50 on its own (or else no one would mind the $249 price while longing for the $199 price with no game), but they've made it and want to get some kind of return on it. In terms of profit motive, it guarantees sales of a game to 100% of the audience. It clearly cost less to make than Twilight Princess, so if the decision was between (this is all hypothetical) Wii Sports, TP, or $199/no game, this is the most profitable route for them to take.

2) It's a great demonstrator of what the system does in the most basic terms. You can't reach the mass market of non-gamers that they're hoping to pull in by showing off Twilight Princess; the people who want and aren't intimidated by Twilight Princess are already on board. Wii Sports is a kiosk-style demo that communicates the new functionality that the Wii brings in a way that probably everyone can understand...and by packing it in, they're creating a demo kiosk in the home of everyone who buys a Wii. Even if you wouldn't have bought it otherwise, if you're trying to show off the Wii to your girlfriend/parents/grandparents/whoever, I'd say you're more likely to show them Wii Sports rather than TP because it's a simpler, more elegant and more effective demonstration.

3) I think pack-ins may speak more to casual gamers. I don't know for sure, but it seems like people who are on the fence about trying something new like this may be more apt to buy if it's a complete package right out of the box. Not positive at all, though.

Not that any of this (if true) makes anyone happier about the price if they aren't happy about it now. Compared to the price of the other consoles, I think it's fine. $199 would be better, FREE would be best...but this price seems kind of fair. Yes, I'm a Nintendo fanboy.

I'm looking at this as a console my whole family can enjoy, and a great way to introduce my kids to gaming...I can get my after-bedtime gorefests while they can cut their teeth on Wii Sports. If I can swing it, I will pick this up at launch.

$250 sounds pretty reasonable for what you're getting, though the Wii already is significantly more interesting to me than the 360 with its hardware issues and FPS-heavy roster (the PS3 isn't even under consideration). I probably won't buy one at launch, but if the games are good and hardware reviews are favorable, I can easily envision it as our next console purchase.

$250 doesn't phase me, its still the cheapest next-gen console around. Guarenteed that I won't be picking one up until Smash Bros is out, which is sometime in early 2007. I'm really concerned that Wii games will look like garbage on my Dell 2407, even at 480p I can't imagine it being a pretty sight. The controller prices suck, I wouldn't pay $50 for an extra controller if you held a gun to my head. (Yes, I haven't bought any extra 360 controllers.) Metal Slug Anthology, Zelda and perhaps Battalion Wars will be picked up when I get I do get aroudn to buying one.

Asz wrote:

$250 doesn't phase me, its still the cheapest next-gen console around.

Does it really count as next gen though? I'm thinking 1/2 next gen, maybe 3/4.

Vrikk wrote:

Dude, I know it's been said before but I'm so incredibly pleased that a system is being bundled with a game again. I wasn't even planning on buying Wii Sports, but the fact that I'm getting it is seriously giving me a huge nostalgia trip.

Word.

Same here. Actually, when I told my wife about the release date and price, she said (and I quote):

"Ok, I've got to go to EB Games and preorder that right after my lunch".

Damn I love that woman.

CannibalCrowley wrote:
Asz wrote:

$250 doesn't phase me, its still the cheapest next-gen console around.

Does it really count as next gen though? I'm thinking 1/2 next gen, maybe 3/4.

I guess if you want to get that technical, the PS3 will be next-gen, the 360 is 85% next-gen (somewhere in the 80-90 range based on rumors & reports) and the Wii will be 55% next-gen (roughly 50-60 more powerful than the Cube, but like usual, with stuff hardcoded into the system to offload work that a more powerful process and larger RAM would be needed for in a standard console more dependent upon clock-cycles).

Frankly, I think that's all a pile of hooey, as noted in my earlier post (which no one gave any feedback with their thoughts on it). It's a new console, it's at least significantly more powerful than the old one (or would you NOT want to upgrade from, say, a 2ghz cpu to a 3ghz cpu, saying "it's not worth it until it's a 4ghz cpu"?) and will be able to provide game experiences the old console couldn't. Thus, it's next-gen.

Le sigh.

Farscry wrote:
CannibalCrowley wrote:
Asz wrote:

$250 doesn't phase me, its still the cheapest next-gen console around.

Does it really count as next gen though? I'm thinking 1/2 next gen, maybe 3/4.

I guess if you want to get that technical, the PS3 will be next-gen, the 360 is 85% next-gen (somewhere in the 80-90 range based on rumors & reports) and the Wii will be 55% next-gen (roughly 50-60 more powerful than the Cube, but like usual, with stuff hardcoded into the system to offload work that a more powerful process and larger RAM would be needed for in a standard console more dependent upon clock-cycles).

Frankly, I think that's all a pile of hooey, as noted in my earlier post (which no one gave any feedback with their thoughts on it). It's a new console, it's at least significantly more powerful than the old one (or would you NOT want to upgrade from, say, a 2ghz cpu to a 3ghz cpu, saying "it's not worth it until it's a 4ghz cpu"?) and will be able to provide game experiences the old console couldn't. Thus, it's next-gen.

Le sigh. ;)

I agree with you. Next-gen should not be just about graphics.

I saw some videos of the interface/applications. They made me want to buy one more than the games did.

Farscry wrote:

Frankly, I think that's all a pile of hooey, as noted in my earlier post (which no one gave any feedback with their thoughts on it).

Sorry, Fars, I just thought it would be redundant to do so, since your thoughts ARE my thoughts.

Only thing I find disappointing about this announcement is the fact that it's not coming out until November 19th. I was hoping to play some Wii in October.

CannibalCrowley wrote:

Does it really count as next gen though? I'm thinking 1/2 next gen, maybe 3/4.

Nintendo keeps clarifying and calling it New Generation not Next Generation. So, take that for whatever it means.

dhaelis wrote:

Same here. Actually, when I told my wife about the release date and price, she said (and I quote):

"Ok, I've got to go to EB Games and preorder that right after my lunch".

I called my local store. They said they wouldn't be taking pre-orders for a few weeks. I had the afternoon off already too. And not so I could rush to the store to pre-order as I was teased about at work this morning. I'm not worried about it, though. If Nintendo really gets 4 million units shipped by Dec. 31, there shouldn't be a problem for the people who call EB everyday to check. Or for the normals, too. I guess.

What I'm bummed about is $60 for the extra controllers. As a family of four, that could add up!

Husband and I had $600 in free game coupons we went to the store with. We were going to get a 360, since we already had a bunch of games for it.

We looked at the titles again, and realized there was nothing there either of us was excited to play. We bought some x-box games and a lego mindstorms.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Farscry wrote:

Frankly, I think that's all a pile of hooey, as noted in my earlier post (which no one gave any feedback with their thoughts on it).

Sorry, Fars, I just thought it would be redundant to do so, since your thoughts ARE my thoughts. :smile:

You know, you and I keep this up, the CEO's are going to start wondering if we're actually one guy posting on two accounts.

CannibalCrowley wrote:
Asz wrote:

$250 doesn't phase me, its still the cheapest next-gen console around.

Does it really count as next gen though? I'm thinking 1/2 next gen, maybe 3/4.

Next-gen = new. It could be a repackaged 2600 with a motion sensing remote and still be next-gen to me.

Let's all point and laugh at the morons at Joystiq.

Seriously. Read that "Editorial" and then if you want a good laugh, read Penny-Arcade's opinions on it from Today's post.

One choice excerpt:

Tycho wrote:

Awesome! It's a Goddamn {ableist slur} rodeo over there. It's fun to think about the author tippity-tappin' this one in while he eats light bulbs in the last car of the circus train.

its good to know that for $250 the Rev doesnt even play DVD's.. I know I know this is Nintendo... it matters not.

Guru, surely you have a standalone DVD player by now.
I dont know if playing dvds is that important for a game console. Sure it might be nice to have the option, or just 1 box hooked to the TV but that's what AV switchers and mulitple inputs are for. I doubt it'll be a dealbreaker with a lot of people.

The $250 pricepoint is only dissapointing to some people because the internet got people's hopes up for a $200 console. They could always import the thing for $215 (plus importing markup) if it's the principle that paying under $250 is "sticking it to the man". Rebel! Rebel!

And the European info, straight from eurogamer's live coverage:

Release on the 8th December, 250€ for the bundle, 49 to 59 hempen slips for each game. As usual, living here earns me the highest console prices. Importing might actually be cheaper at this rate.

250$ is not bad with games and some cool software like picture editing and the Mii channel.
Online is free, i just hope it will be good.

Ganguro wrote:

Guru, surely you have a standalone DVD player by now.
I dont know if playing dvds is that important for a game console. Sure it might be nice to have the option, or just 1 box hooked to the TV but that's what AV switchers and mulitple inputs are for. I doubt it'll be a dealbreaker with a lot of people.

The $250 pricepoint is only dissapointing to some people because the internet got people's hopes up for a $200 console. They could always import the thing for $215 (plus importing markup) if it's the principle that paying under $250 is "sticking it to the man". Rebel! Rebel!

nahh I just find it amusing that Nintendo gets free passes left and right.

I mean lets face it.. this is a company that could essentially repackage the GameCube into a fancy new box.. throw a new GUI on it.. perhaps add some fancy whiz bang gyroscope controller that was done 4 times in the 70's early 80's and call it a new console. The Nintendo droids would eat it up and call it the greatest thing since sliced bread.

The rest of us more objective people would say.. wtf? I just want a new Zelda game on my Xbox 360/PS3.

oh wait..

It's going to be £179 in the UK. Same bundle as US. Out on December 8th.

That's a 'wii' bit too much for mii, I think. I have got a £80 HMV gift voucher, so I could pick up the machine for £100. It's just Wii sports that's putting me off.

If the launch night is at HMV I may try to make it; they often give free goodies away.

I'm sure it's been on everyone's minds since the switch from Revolution to Wii, but remember how the two i's in Wii are supposed to represent two controllers/people. The whole idea was that this system promotes social gaming, etc. Does the price point of $40 ($60 with nunchuk) coincide with that PR gobbly-gook (I'm borrowing words from my father. Leave me alone.)? I guess it depends on each game. I would imagine WarioWare or MarioParty would only require the remote, but $40 is still a lot for another controller. I made the mistake of buying 4 controllers for Cube and Xbox. If I hadn't already decided to not do that this time, I think the $40/$60 price would have caused me to reach the same decision.

TheGameguru wrote:
Ganguro wrote:

Guru, surely you have a standalone DVD player by now.
I dont know if playing dvds is that important for a game console. Sure it might be nice to have the option, or just 1 box hooked to the TV but that's what AV switchers and mulitple inputs are for. I doubt it'll be a dealbreaker with a lot of people.

The $250 pricepoint is only dissapointing to some people because the internet got people's hopes up for a $200 console. They could always import the thing for $215 (plus importing markup) if it's the principle that paying under $250 is "sticking it to the man". Rebel! Rebel!

nahh I just find it amusing that Nintendo gets free passes left and right.

I mean lets face it.. this is a company that could essentially repackage the GameCube into a fancy new box.. throw a new GUI on it.. perhaps add some fancy whiz bang gyroscope controller that was done 4 times in the 70's early 80's and call it a new console. The Nintendo droids would eat it up and call it the greatest thing since sliced bread.

The rest of us more objective people would say.. wtf? I just want a new Zelda game on my Xbox 360/PS3.

oh wait..

Except for the fact that is more powerful than the GC and the Xbox, so it's not really a repackaged Cube. The controller is more than just gyroscopes, that has never been done before. I don't think you should call your self objective. I remember you being "objective" about the DS and the PSP, and how did that turn out?