Thursday, September 14th 2006
Nintendo Wii US & Japan launch details
So it now seems that the new Nintendo console will launch in the United States on November the 19th, and that the machine will cost $250. The console which was once named the "console for the masses" due to its cheap price, was first rumored to cost $149, then $179, followed by $229 Dollars.
Details for Japan are as follows (taken from TheINQ):
Source:
TheINQ
Details for Japan are as follows (taken from TheINQ):
- The Wii box in Japan will include: Wii, remote with strap, nunchuck attachment, power cord, AV cable, stand, sensor bar and stand, and batteries.
- Apparently Japanese gamers will not get a pack-in game, but the US pack is expected to have Wii Sports bundled.
- Wii Sports will sell for the knock-down price of ¥4800, and include Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, and Boxing.
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will sell for ¥6800 Yen and will be a launch title.
- Ten companies will be providing software at launch, and the Wii will launch with 16 titles in Japan. Full launch list here.
- 24 companies have signed on to provide games for the Virtual Console, including Sega, Hudson Soft, Tecmo, Atlus, Capcom, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix.
- 30 downloadable virtual console games are expected on launch.
Famicom virtual console titles will retail for 500 yen ($4.25), Super Famicom titles for 800 yen ($6.81) and Nintendo 64 titles for 1000 yen ($8.51). - Standard Wii software will retail for between ¥4800 ($40) to ¥6800 ($58).
- Consumers will be able to buy prepaid cards with Wii points on them (or just use their regular credit cards), those points will be used to purchase the virtual console games, very similar to Xbox Live's points system.
- The nunchuck and the classic controller attachment will both sell for ¥1800, but there will also be a bundle with the classic controller and 5000 Wii Points for ¥5000.
- The version of Opera for the Wii will be much more advanced than the DS Version, and will support popular technologies such as Flash.
10 Comments on Nintendo Wii US & Japan launch details
PC and console gaming has become vary regular, we see drawn out series, games with 20 expansion packs (cough* cough* BF2 etc) and sometimes terrible engines filled with new content intended to keep the aging and sometimes boring game alive. MORPGs that are updated monthly with new areas and content, but its all starting to become the same boring thing (Killing monsters and having your characters numbers go up, not to mention making him look pimp). Shit, I just gave you the three secrets to making a RPG. . . haha.
It's about time someone (in this case Nintendo) was smart and is dabbing back into the well of innovation that was here in the beginning. Console wars was turning into hardware war, all about Processing power, and graphics, Wii is what game consoles were originally intended for. Kicking back with some friends or family just enjoying a game, whether its yelling (sometimes derogatory terms) at your friends or laughing your ass off at your uncoordinated friend who can't use a thumb stick.
And its funny how finally something different happened during this generation of game consoles. PS3 goes high end, Xbox360 mid, and Wii Low end.
Now tell me which kind of PCs sell more, the high or the low end? Low end outsells high end by almost 100:1(Shot in the dark number) if not more. Now what happens if that PC in the low end has something neither the mid or high end have? You see sales shoot through the roof. If I had the money and wasn't a college student right now, I'd be investing a good deal of money into Nintendo. Dynasty’s rise and fall, as has Nintendo, but they know when they have caught that perfect wave.
That being said, this is still a prediction and based on my opinions and understanding of gaming so don't place your life savings at stake here . . . I know I was convincing though. . . haha.
Also this is open for Discussion.
I still want to get one... but am reluctant to drop all this money on getting one at launch. Maybe just after the 'holiday season'.