Wii news

[bravesj858]

according to this press release, looks like the wii will be way less than the ps3 and may come out earlier than the ps3, if not around the same time. i think sony will lose in this generation becuase of high prices, and the wii will get many of it's fans back for people tired of having an enteramient, pseudo computer system when they just want to play games.

Nintendo's Wii may get early launch

Industry observers expect company's new video game machine to launch before the PlayStation 3 - perhaps by a month or more.

Game Over is a weekly column by Chris Morris

July 5 2006: 11:32 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Nintendo has stated numerous times that its next generation video game machine will be less expensive than the competition. Now it appears that it might be on store shelves considerably earlier than many were expecting as well.

While Nintendo has not made any formal announcements about the launch date for the Wii, most of the industry has expected the machine to hit retail at approximately the same time as Sony's PlayStation 3 (which is set for November 17). Now, industry observers - and insiders - say they expect the system to be available in October, with late September a dark horse candidate.

Indeed, the company appears to be already manufacturing final retail units of the Wii, according to a June 21st analyst's note from P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research. That would give it a significant head start over Sony (Charts), which has yet to begin final manufacturing of the PlayStation 3. Microsoft's first Xbox 360 did not roll off the assembly line last year until 69 days before the on sale date of Nov. 22. (That late start in production is the root cause behind last holiday's shortages.)

"October is a reasonable timeframe," wrote McNealy.

Nintendo has downplayed any suggested dates. Other industry insiders, who asked not to be named, though, said they, too, are expecting a September or October launch for the Wii.

Early manufacturing will certainly help Nintendo do a better job of meeting consumer demand. New console launches traditionally sell out fast. Because of manufacturing problems, Microsoft was not able to come anywhere close to meeting worldwide demand. Widespread shortages of the PlayStation 3 are also expected. Nintendo, like Sony, has given guidance that it expects to ship 6 million units by March 2007.

A pre-November launch wouldn't be an unusual move for the company. In fact, it was only with the GameCube that the company opted for a November release for a home system. The NES, which established the company as a force in the gaming space, was released in the U.S. on Oct. 18, 1985. The Nintendo 64 dropped on Sept. 29, 1996.

Pricing for the Wii remains a question mark, but the most likely price points are $199 or $249. That would put it considerably below the PS3, which will sell two versions for $499 and $599. Microsoft is not expected to cut the prices of the two versions of the Xbox 360, which currently cost $299 and $399.

That price would also be closer to the sweet spot for mainstream consumers, which the company has said is its primary target this generation. The Wii breaks many of the video game industry's traditional rules for a "next generation" console. Graphics on games that have been shown to media are not dramatically better than those found on GameCube games - and the system will not support high definition video, unlike its competitors who are using the move to HDTVs as a major part of their system. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has also vowed to keep game prices lower than the $60 price tag for many Xbox 360 games (a price that's expected to be mirrored for many PS3 titles).

The most unusual aspect of the Wii, however, is its controller, which resembles a television remote-control. Instead of worrying about which button or which thumbstick corresponds to which action, Wii players will simply move their hands and wrists. That movement is then translated into onscreen movements. The remote also features two prominent buttons where the player's thumb and forefinger will rest.

Nintendo also has yet to announce the full list of games that will launch alongside the Wii, though it has confirmed "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption" - the latest installments in two of the company's premier franchises - will be available on day one. A new Mario game - "Super Mario Galaxy" - is deep in development, but will most likely come out after the Wii has launched.

[BrooklynNets24]

i heard that the Wii will be 300 and the games will only cost $40 and if thats true i will definitly be buyng that and asking for the ps3 for christmas...oh wait that would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy to late

[UncleMo]

nintendo is a joke. Has been since N64. They are a washed up company. If Sony and Microsoft are the Road Warriors, Nintendo is Coco Be Ware.

[nc4182]

I stopped enjoying nintendo when gamecube and gameboy advance came out. I still own the original nintendo and i still play that from time to time .

[brutushayesosu]

As innovative as the controller may be, it doesnt really appeal to me. I usually only play games real late in the night or early morning. I cant see myself waving that controller around at 3 am when Id rather be laying on the couch using only my thumbs. I'll wait a couple yearrs aftter the ps3 launch to get that. $600 isnt in my budget for gaming.

[JoeyMcM93]

I like Nintendo. They have a lot of costumers. The Nintendo is much more poular in Japan. Nintendo has lost a lot of costumers because they just pomote games, bot all the extra stuff Sony and Microsoft do.

[bravesj858]

i'm pro ninendo, and i think this is a good move for ninendo. i'm not into all the flashy things the ps3 and 360 have, it's just extra, and i can get that in a regular computer.

so it's not cutting edge, that's not what i'm looking for all the time for games. i look for a nice system that delivers it all, and the wii will finally have games online...looking forward to that.

[Kccitystar]

nintendo is a joke. Has been since N64. They are a washed up company. If Sony and Microsoft are the Road Warriors, Nintendo is Coco Be Ware.

Nintendo is a joke because you can't accept the fact that they are innovators and have stuck to their roots in making a gaming machine, not a living room takeover PC hybrid

[Kriegz]

It better not sell at all with a name like the 'Wii'

[BrooklynNets24]

Well when i get WII the first game im getting is Madden and if that game blows with the innovative controller its return time for the WII

[Applejak]

Nintendo isnt a joke, but it is clearly aimed at kids, and has been for some time.

Wheras Microsoft and Sony are targeting the "man market", with more realistic and/or violent games, and less cartoony, fantasy stuff.

$600 does sound pretty steep though. But like everything, give it 6 months and it will be a lot less. I thinmk the PS2 was around that price in teh UK when it first game out, but deropped to les than 400 in a few months.

[Kccitystar]

Nintendo isnt a joke, but it is clearly aimed at kids, and has been for some time.

Wheras Microsoft and Sony are targeting the "man market", with more realistic and/or violent games, and less cartoony, fantasy stuff.

$600 does sound pretty steep though. But like everything, give it 6 months and it will be a lot less. I thinmk the PS2 was around that price in teh UK when it first game out, but deropped to les than 400 in a few months.

Nintendo may make games for kids but it's always been fun as hell to play games like Smash Brothers, Metroid and Zelda. To me, gameplay will always prevail over flashy stuff like graphics. Aside from that, it's 2006. I don't want any "next-gen" versions of the same crap. I want something new, which is why I have a different perspective of what nintendo is trying to do. They dont want to appeal to XBOX 360 or PS3 fans, but more like people who aren't into video games that much.

[krawhitham]

i heard that the Wii will be 300 and the games will only cost $40 and if thats true i will definitly be buyng that and asking for the ps3 for christmas...oh wait that would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy to late

Nintendo is on record saying it will not cost more than $250. Most are guessing $200. Every system Nintendo has ever released has cost 199.99 on launch day

[sfgiantsflgators]

personally i'm torn between the 360 and PS3. quite a few of my friends have or are getting the 360, so the "friend's list" thing as well as the "gamer points" is a big plus;

however, i hate halo. and i love the final fantasy and gran turismo series. so the PS3 has the games category won. basically, other than those two games though (FF and GT), all i play are the EA Sports games and the ocassional FPS, all of which are available on both systems.

decisions, decisions...

[Applejak]

Go with the games. Its what teh system is for.

And youll get to play with the 360 at your friends houses.

Ive steadily grown away from console towards PC games, although Ive always played strategy games more than anything else.

I agree in part with KC though. The point of a console, for me, is for fun, quick games. As they have become more in depth, loading times are up, and its tough to squeeze in 15mins, and still do anything, which was the reason I bought my first Playstation.

[Tidalwav90]

gta comes out on both 360 and ps3 now at the same time, sony's big advantage to me is gone

[GreenMonsta]

I still have and play the original NES :lol:

[sfgiantsflgators]

Go with the games. Its what teh system is for.

And youll get to play with the 360 at your friends houses.

yeah, that's why i'm torn. but quite a few of my friend's still live in my hometown, which makes the online play a big perk. hell, i'll probably just go ahead and get the 360 next month and then get the ps3 next summer when it's been out awhile, any bugs are worked out, and the price hopefully drops a bit.

I still have and play the original NES

lol...i miss mine. but with ROMS on the computer now, i can still get a game of RBI Baseball in now and again.