Nintendo Wii for $250 USD on November 19th!

[dirk digler]

Are you going to try to get one?

I definitely want one. I haven't owned a console since Sega Genesis.

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=35082

Pardon my short news story here folks, but my current health situation prevents me from doing this story the justice it deserves. Needless to say, it's big news.

This is according to Voodoo Extreme by way of a Seattle news source from the NY Times that was apparently "leaked" a bit early. The said NY Times article has since been removed for now, more than likely because Nintendo wants to keep a wraps on it until after a Japanese press event taking place literally right now announcing said story:

In a move that may allow Nintendo of Japan to take advantage of stumbles by its main rival, the company plans to announce today that it will release its new Wii video-game console in North and South America on Nov. 19, just as the holiday shopping season begins, and that the machine will cost $250 in the United States.

Nintendo executives said this week that the company also would announce today that more than 25 new games would be available for its video-game machine this year, a substantial portfolio from several genres that is intended to help the company broaden the appeal of its console. The company plans to ship 4 million of the Wii consoles worldwide this year.

Nintendo intends to announce today that every Wii will come with a game compilation called Wii Sports -- including tennis, golf, baseball and bowling -- meant to show off the machine's intuitive controls.

So, according to various sources including VE3D the Nintendo Wii will see the following:

*
Wii launching December 2nd in Japan at a cost of 25,000 Yen or about $212 USD
*
In the box you get the Wii console, console stand, sensor bar for the Wii remote, sensor bar stand, two AA batteries (rechargable?), Nunchuck controller attachment, Wii remote and hand strap (so you don't launch it half way across the room while throwing your hands around like a big girl when playing Wii Tennis), an AC adaptor, an Audio-Video cable, and some lovely promotional leaflets, along with the manual of course.
*
30 Virtual Console Games will be available at launch, costing between $5 and $10.
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The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will launch alongside the console in Japan, along with 15 other titles.
*
Reports from the Japanese conference indicate that Wii Sports will not be a bundled title over there. (yikes)

I will update this story when new information comes out, if I can.

News source: VE3D

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsguru

I am disappointed a little. $250 for console and one remote with nunchuk and the ugly looking Wii sports. Then if you actually want to play sports with friends you have to spend another $60 to get another remote $39 and nunchuk $19. Now the console is $310 and you still don't have a game title to play.

Very slowly catching up to the Xbox 360 Premium there.

It's not exactly a fair comparison to add in the cost of an additional controller and then compare the price to a console that comes with just one controller and no game. For your $310 you'd get the Wii, two controllers, and a game. For $400 you'd get a premium Xbox 360 and a controller. Add another controller and a game to that and you're at $500.

[007]

Originally Posted by Talisman

It's not exactly a fair comparison to add in the cost of an additional controller and then compare the price to a console that comes with just one controller and no game. For your $310 you'd get the Wii, two controllers, and a game. For $400 you'd get a premium Xbox 360 and a controller. Add another controller and a game to that and you're at $500.

Yeah, I have since realized the error of my statement. I was just expecting it to be $199 like all their previous releases. Just wish my boy wasn't so gung ho to buy it at launch. I am kind of hoping it will sell out before we get one that day. Launch day defects and all.

[BigChiefFan]

For my money I'd rather have a next-generation console. The Wii is intriquing, but for the price, I'd rather get the premium PS3. Nintendo's games typically cater to the family friendly games. That's not the always the case, but the majority of games are kiddy, IMO.

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsguru

Yeah, I have since realized the error of my statement. I was just expecting it to be $199 like all their previous releases. Just wish my boy wasn't so gung ho to buy it at launch. I am kind of hoping it will sell out before we get one that day. Launch day defects and all.

I was hoping for $199 as well, but it has been a long time since they have bundled a game with the system. Wii Sports isn't exactly an awesome game, but it'll be fun to mess around with. Especially since you can make an avatar that looks like your face and import it into the game. If you consider Wii Sports to be a $35-$40 game, the system's really only overpriced by $10-$15. If money's tight, I think most of the games on Wii Sports can be played with just the wand part of the controller (except maybe boxing), so you might be able to get by for $40 for a while instead of $60.

[dirk digler]

I just got my Wii preordered from Gamespot today. I have younger kids so they will enjoy it as much or more than me.

I just can't justify paying $600 for a PS3 especially with all the problems that have been reported.

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I just got my Wii preordered from Gamespot today. I have younger kids so they will enjoy it as much or more than me.

I just can't justify paying $600 for a PS3 especially with all the problems that have been reported.

I stopped by my local Gamestop over lunch to see if they were taking Wii preorders. The guy at the counter said they went through all of the Wii preorders within minutes of opening. People were camping outside the store. I asked him how many the store was allocated and he wouldn't say, but he did say it wasn't nearly enough.

I might try to order one through Amazon if I can get on there quick enough when they send out the e-mail. If not, I'll grab one at a less busy store like CompUSA. They said that when the 360 released, people could just walk in and buy one off the shelf. They only had 10-12 units, but no one thought about camping out there instead of the Best Buy just down the road.

[L.A. Chieffan]

So, whats the deal with the Wii? I was a huge Nintendo fan growing up (NES was my best friend back in the eighties) but I never really got into the gamecube with that funkyass contoller.
But now i got a couple of young kids who'd probably dig Mario and Zelda, but I was wondering if it's worth it and does it have a normal controller?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Talisman

I stopped by my local Gamestop over lunch to see if they were taking Wii preorders. The guy at the counter said they went through all of the Wii preorders within minutes of opening. People were camping outside the store. I asked him how many the store was allocated and he wouldn't say, but he did say it wasn't nearly enough.

I might try to order one through Amazon if I can get on there quick enough when they send out the e-mail. If not, I'll grab one at a less busy store like CompUSA. They said that when the 360 released, people could just walk in and buy one off the shelf. They only had 10-12 units, but no one thought about camping out there instead of the Best Buy just down the road.

I live in a small town and I was the 2nd one there at 10:00am. They said they had somewhere between 6-10 but they couldn't tell us exactly.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

So, whats the deal with the Wii? I was a huge Nintendo fan growing up (NES was my best friend back in the eighties) but I never really got into the gamecube with that funkyass contoller.
But now i got a couple of young kids who'd probably dig Mario and Zelda, but I was wondering if it's worth it and does it have a normal controller?

It just looks awesome especially the new controllers plus alot of people aren't going to pay $600 for the PS3.

I like the fact I could download old Nintendo games for the Internet and play them with the Wii.

[007]

Got my pre-order in today.