As Nintendo officially revealed details about the Wii's Japanese launch in Tokyo, a New York Times report answered the questions on millions of US gamers' minds: When will the Wii go on sale here? What will it cost? How many games will it have at launch?
As it turns out, the console will arrive on Sunday, November 19, in North America and South America, according to the Times. That puts the console's launch just two days after that of its archrival, the PlayStation 3, which has recently seen its own debut scaled down.
But while only 400,000 PS3s will be available at launch, the Times claims that the Wii will be "far more available in stores this holiday season" than its competitor due to its cheaper and simpler form factor. The company now plans to ship 4 million Wiis worldwide by the end of 2006, nearly double the 2 million to 2.3 million shipped PS3s Sony is now forecasting.
As many suspected, the Wii will cost $250 in the US, according to the article. Since Nintendo executives have said it would be under $250, the likely final price will be $249.99 or $249.95. It will also reportedly have over 25 first- and third-party games available at launch, with up to 30 on shelves by the end of the year. First-party games will cost just $50, $10 less than most third-party PS3 and Xbox 360 games; it was unclear what third-party Wii games will cost.
The report also said that the classic NES, SNES, and N64 games downloadable to the Wii's virtual console would range from $5-10 in price, in line with most Xbox Live Arcade games. Some 30 titles will be available at launch, including unnamed installments from the Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Mario franchises.
But while many had hoped for a console that cost $199--or less--the Wii will have something not seen in a Nintendo launch since the SNES--a game packed in with a console from day one. (Note: Several GameCube bundles were offered post-launch.) As rumored, the console will come with the Wii Sports compilation that was shown off at E3 earlier this year. The game comp will allow players to engage in bouts of baseball, bowling, golf, and tennis using the Wii's motion-sensing controller.
"Our goal is to bring gaming back to the masses," Nintendo of America president and chief operating officer Reggie Fils-Aime told the Times. "You see that in our pricing, you see that in the number of units we plan to make available this year and you see that in how we are positioning the Wii to appeal to every member of the household, including but not limited to the hardcore gamer."
The Times also re-confirmed that the most anticipated game for the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, will be available by the end of the year, as will Excite Truck. However, the first Mario game for the console will now reportedly not arrive at retail until 2007.
The article also claims the Wii will have Web-surfing capabilities akin to that of a home computer. "Perhaps most intriguing, the Wii will make it possible to browse the Web on the television," said the report. "Microsoft's Xbox 360 does not permit this because that could negate the need to buy a Windows PC." Attempts to clarify the Wii's exact Internet capabilities with Nintendo reps had been unsuccessful as of press time, most likely because of the late hour.
Nintendo also appears to be moving away from its GameCube-era "game consoles should be for games only" mantra. Besides the Wii's previously announced DVD playback abilities, the console will also have many multimedia functions. "There will be a photo channel that will allow users to use the Wii to display digital photographs on television," read the report. "There also will be an easy-to-use interactive news channel and weather channel." [UPDATE 7] These media functions are demonstrated at length via a series of videos on the Japanese Wii.com Web site.
"We are including all of these capabilities as part of our overall strategy to expand the gaming market," Fils-Aime told the Times. "Broadening the market is important because it will breathe new life into this business. Otherwise, this industry is moving down a path of being more and more limited to the hardcore gamer."
As for Europe, Nintendo is holding an event in London on Friday to reveals its Wii launch plans for that continent.
~ over. While it would be awesome if that was what the real game look like, obviously, I'm taking a wait and see approach to it. No way will I take it as face value, and no should either. <_<
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