Nintendo press event breaking borders

by Ross Miller { Sep 1st 2006 at 3:05PM }

Nintendo is preparing for something big. A triumvirate of near-simultaneous press conference will be held mid-September. Among them:

September 14: Reggie Fils-Aime will host a "Celebration of Video Games" in New York City.
Also on September 14: Nintendo just announced (via 1UP) an event in Japan to talk about the Wii.
September 15: A European event, held in London, showing off Nintendo Wii and making new announcements.

Three press conferences within 24 hours of one another ... will this be a global announcement of launch details, or is Nintendo preparing us for another let down? After Nintendo's Leipzig press conference, ironically titled "Wii Prove our Promise" and revealing nothing more than a handful of sequels, we'd rather not speculate. Nintendo is running thin with their hype machine, and stretching launch details beyond this event would be rather idiotic.

Joystiq will be on hand at the NYC event to give you our updated impressions and report on any announcements. Our time zone skills are a bit fuzzy, is there any period of time where all three events are happening simultaneously?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Victor Agreda, Jr. @ Sep 1st 2006 3:09PM

I'm betting: letdown. I had high hopes for the "Revolution"-- as N lead us to believe *developers* would lead the revolution. While they're having fun with those fancy controllers, Microsoft just handed a silver platter of fun to users with XNA... I knew it would be like this! (Arthur Dent voice)

Jarvi @ Sep 1st 2006 3:13PM

I am a pretty strong supporter of Ninty- And if they let us down (no new info) again, then They will have officially run out of their E3 Hype steam.

System will still be awesome- just not alot of "excitement", whihc is what they are really gonna need.

dsub @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:25AM

this will be it. A global event? Come on folks. On Sept. 14th we WILL learn the price and launch date of the Nintendo Wii. I expect them to announce details surrounding there online service as well. Then, a week later at TGS everything will be available to try out.

Grindstone @ Sep 1st 2006 3:16PM

Maybe it is that final secret that Nintendo has had up their sleeve. I certainly won't put it past them as we nearly counted them out of the next gen race until we learned about the controller concept.

This would really be an inopportune moment for negative news, seeing how we are ~2 months from launch. But kudos to them if they want us to be informed prior to purchase.

Foppe @ Sep 1st 2006 3:21PM

September 14, everybody waits for the release date.
Reggie starts to talk. He shows some old trailers and some new ones. He picks up a Wiimote and play some Zelda. Then he shows that Zelda is played on a Gamecube, and that it´s possible to use a corded Wiimote on a Gamecube. The public screams in excitement. Then he says that Wii is renamed back to Revolution again.
Then he turns off Zelda, and walks away. No releasedate.

Pickles @ Sep 1st 2006 3:23PM

There's no way for all three events to be simultaneous. It is impossible for Japan to be in the 14th at the same instant as the UK is in the 15th, as Japan is more eastward toward the International Dateline. This means Japan experiences days before the UK and US, albeit only a few hours previously.

The Japan and NYC events could be simultaneous, however, if the NYC one is early in the morning and the Japan one is late at night (8am NYC is 10pm Tokyo).

Geography FTW.

SilverDogg @ Sep 1st 2006 3:24PM

how can it be within 24h? which mathclass did you guys take? O_O

jarvi, i dont think they would just have a "hey come try our games" party. this is it, this is where we will get all the info. they have to spill it since its coming out in about 2 months.

reebo @ Sep 1st 2006 3:24PM

I think they'll set up a whole bunch of public shit (like this), and say nothing. Then one day, out of the blue they'll just be like "Fuck you, *information*".

Yeah. That sounds good.

Chris @ Sep 1st 2006 3:24PM

The press conferces wont happen at the same time. Japan will be first, USA 2nd, and Europe 3rd.

For example..

8am in Japan on the 14th... would be...

7pm in NYC on the 13th. And...

In europe it'd be 12am on early morning of the 14th.

Infil @ Sep 1st 2006 3:29PM

You have to remember that Nintendo never promised the release date in August at the GC. They said specifically that they would release it in September. So those who had hoped for the release date in August (myself included) just set themselves up for disappointment.

But I do think that we'll see more details on price or release date in these conferences.

Also, remember that as soon as Nintendo plays their cards, both Sony and Microsoft see them and have time to react. From a business standpoint (especially considering how many of Nintendo's ideas have been swiped from them in recent memory), it's smart practice to wait as long as possible. It's hard to strike that balance between keeping fans excited and not giving away information to your competitors too early that they can use against you.

But I do think the time will be sometime during these dates. At the very least, they'll reveal some really cool new info that will keep us yapping about the Wii until they *do* decide to release the launch date and price a week or so later.

DojoRacoon @ Sep 1st 2006 3:43PM

They have alot of expectations to live up to. I for one am expecting at least a little more than release date and price to be added to the information we find out.

On a side note does anyone check gamespot often. They just released a story about games they're looking forward to at the Tokyo Games Convention. I noticed there is not a single first party nintendo game in their list. Does this mean that Nintendo will be a no show completely at the convention or should I just look at this as more evidence that gamespot is not the unbiased gaming news page they pretend to be?

Daniel @ Sep 1st 2006 3:34PM

I'm with Reebo on this one, complete with the 'fuck you', which Nintendo has already done on numerous ocassions, starting with E3, screaming it louder and louder until they also kicked Nintendo fans in the balls at Liepzig.

Needless to say, I'm not getting my hopes up for a release date/price on the 14th/15th. Sure they'll unveil something (maybe related to WiiConnect24 or a new game or two) but I'm just not counting on the two big pieces of the puzzle.

Does Nintendo think they're gaining more hype by waiting this long? I could definitely see where they were coming from in recent months, but waiting this long and downright teasing fans for this long is wrong. Just look at these comments - how many people are aching to find out the price but are also PUMPED? More often that not, people are aching to find out, but pissed off at the same time. Not something Nintendo wants, surely.

MMurdock @ Sep 1st 2006 3:49PM

Nintendo is going to shock us with this release. I don't know anything particularly, but I feel that come Sept 14-15 Nintendo will give us the launch information. That information will be that the Nintendo is going to release the system on or around the first week of October. This is the best thing that I think could possibly happen. Store will get what they get, there will be little to no time for reservations, and it will cause a panic for the system launching it into the holiday's number 1 must have gift, and thus creating a hype the like of which we haven't been a part of since the tickle me elmo, and the furby.

This will be the ultimate slap in the face to the game retailers salivating over your reservation dollars, and hopefully show them that the reservation system isn't the be all and end all.

Dustin @ Sep 1st 2006 3:45PM

Wow you guys calm the F*** down, they told you a LONG time back that they will announce release date in September, your the dumba**es for expecting it sooner....

DojoRacoon @ Sep 1st 2006 3:47PM

I think a likely scenario for times would be 12:01 am New york time for the party which would be 1:01 pm in Tokyo followed 19 hours later with the london event.

OldElvis @ Sep 1st 2006 3:50PM

This will be the date they announce the release date on Wii. They cannot wait much longer and still decide to get the unit into everyone's hands for a Xmas Launch. You can preorder a PS3 (in places), but not even get put on a waiting list for a Wii. That will change here.IMO

Subnet6 @ Sep 1st 2006 3:50PM

"how can it be within 24h? which mathclass did you guys take? O_O"

I must have taken a different one from you. I don't see a problem having 3 conferences within 24 hours of each other. In fact if you wanted, you could easily have 3 conferences simultaneously in these 3 locations.

I may be off by an hour or two but couldn't New York and Japan have their conferences simultaneously on the 14th at 8AM local NYC time and 9PM Local Tokyo time, with Londons to follow 20 hours later at 9AM local London time on the 15th?

Dakara @ Sep 1st 2006 3:55PM

I guess none of you has been keeping up with the news. This should be in a double update. Nintendo annouced that the Wii-mote problem was indeed false, and in the same interveiw they said THIS is the event we have been waiting for.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19412

For those to lazy to go there, here is the article.

Nintendo has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that new details regarding its Wii console will be revealed on September 15th in Europe - with a price and launch date announcement looking highly likely.

Speaking on the subject of the trade-only event, an NoE representative said: "Wii will be playable. Nintendo will be announcing new software at the event and there will be new announcements regarding the Wii console itself."

Nintendo is holding a similar event in North America on September 14th, where it’s expected that NoA president Reggie Fils-Aime will reveal price and launch details for the territory.

The representative went on to quash rumours that have recently emerged on the net regarding possible production delays, apparently due to difficulties with manufacturing the Wii's remote controller.

"The reports are entirely rumour and speculation. I can confirm that the Wii is very much on course for a Q4 release, as Nintendo originally stated," the spokesperson said.

There you have it, from Nintendo themselves.

SilverDogg @ Sep 1st 2006 3:55PM

subnet6, of course it could happen. but i believe the japanese event to take place in the morning aswell. of course, i could be wrong there, then they might be able to make the 24h span.

LazrBlastrz @ Sep 1st 2006 4:18PM

> They wiill have release date information.

> They wiill reveal prices for each country.

> They wiill announce system contents (cable, controller, game/demo).

> They wiill demonstrate DS compatability.

> They wiill announce 20-some-odd launch titles.

> Kiosks wiill be available in big market stores by the end of September

> Gamestop wiill immediately start selling pre-orders for system and games.

>

SJ @ Sep 1st 2006 3:56PM

How can they not announce the price/release date during these 3 conferences? I have a feeling that they are having these conferences on different continents so that they can announce the price/release date for those locations simultaneously. It would be stupid of Nintendo not to. What else would they do? Inform us of the price before the day it releases?

Natiahs @ Sep 1st 2006 4:12PM

I'm now all tingly: Only a couple weeks before the date, price, and launch lineup are official!

(although I thought all relevant info had been leaked by this point - release on 11/6 for US$229 with launch titles Dragon Quest Swords, Zelda, Metroid Prime 3, Rayman, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball, Wii Sports, Tony Hawk, Madden, Metal Slug Anthology, Trauma Center, Elebits, Marvel: Useless Alliance, Blitz, Cars, and Spongebob)

If the above is at least remotely true, the launch will be spectacular. I'll grab a good half dozen of those titles.

Now if only that Wii Rez 2 rumor turns out to be true, I will be in heaven. And where's Samba de Amigo? That's custom made for Wii!

JET

Vikram @ Sep 1st 2006 4:16PM

I'd like to offer up a conjecture...

After September 14/15 how fast can the competition scramble to include some faux pas add-on to the PS3 to imitate the innovation in Wii?

Announcements

-release date, price
-new trailers, new IPs
-wii interface
-wiiconnect24 examples
-tidbits and revelations of nintendo's online component

Mr. Khan @ Sep 1st 2006 4:36PM

A conference at 8 am Eastern American Time?
What the hell are they going to announce it on, The Today Show?
(actually not a bad idea, considering it would reach A LOT of mainstream Americans)
Maybe i'll have a heart attack on the 14th/15th

Paul P. @ Sep 1st 2006 4:28PM

You know what would be an awesome move? If Nintendo did like they did with Brain Training and said something at the conference like "The system will release October 30th, but all of you are going home with one today."

DarrenJ @ Sep 1st 2006 5:17PM

This will be it, N is supposed to hold meetings with retailers in preparation for filling shelves sometime in 3 weeks or so. This fits that timeframe.

ALH @ Sep 1st 2006 4:43PM

The state my bank account is in at the minute I'd rather have the wii in november than ASAP. I'm a fool for not remembering to keep some money aside for the thing like I did last year, a fool!

didnt nintendo say ages ago that they had one secret left about the wii? was that the speaker in the remote? the details of the front flap? Or something we dont know yet?

GSI @ Sep 1st 2006 4:48PM

-->"Marvel: Useless Alliance"

HAHA...that was a good one.

Joey @ Sep 1st 2006 4:56PM

surprise launch.

Miharu @ Sep 1st 2006 4:56PM

I had high hopes for the Wii prove our promise thing, and now is Nintendo's last chance. I guess this is it then, finally revelation about the price etc., after all it's getting quite close to the possible release.

dvddesign @ Sep 1st 2006 5:00PM

Japan won't do a press conference at 10pm at night. It'll be earlier in the day. I imagine that by the time we all go to bed here in america, we'll know the japanese launch stuff if they DO announce it that day. I think that'll shed a lot of light on what we're getting if they don't announce US information too.

Jay @ Sep 1st 2006 5:04PM

a lot of silly minds out here tonight.

This event is the final event. The Wii will be here soon, the console and controller are in production (IIRC) so everything is finalised. this isn't Leipzig, this is the world now. America, Japan, Europe in quick succession. Release date and price will be announced - it's crystal clear. and the last of the secrets (the front flap hiding a GBC/GBA player for the final bit of backwards compatibility, wild guess?)

Craig @ Sep 1st 2006 5:12PM

Everyone stop bitching about the GC let down w/ Nintendo. Their "Wii Prove Our Promise" confrence did in fact prove their promise. I recall that Ninty told everyone that all would be revealed in September, so they did in essence prove their promise by Not unveiling all the deets in August. Wii will see their promise and it will be the revolution this industry has needed.

Daniel @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:38AM

For the billionth time, and read this carefully:

Nintendo said they would unveil pricing/release date BY September, meaning no later than September 30. So thinking it would be announced in August ISN'T beyond someone's realm of comprehension. Nintendo is teasing. No one can deny that.

Josh @ Sep 1st 2006 5:19PM

All 3 press conferences will be held at the same time and when they all begin, from 3 different locations around the world, they will play a game using the Wii's online capabilities to face off. They'll go from there showing the interface and announcing more software. Not to mention pricing and a release date for each region.

Matt @ Sep 1st 2006 5:26PM

So where in NYC is this going to be?

pinsleric @ Sep 1st 2006 5:32PM

Ir would be hilarious if Nintendo releases it on the 16th, but that wont happen cuz it isnt Q4

I suspect an october launch

Jed Merrill @ Sep 1st 2006 5:32PM

All I can say is, Nintendo is much better at cards than Sony...

csc @ Sep 1st 2006 5:32PM

@ 33

yeah josh, that works if the european conference is the day after. europe is between the US and japan in terms of timezones, so thats impossible.

maybe US and Japan though.

damn everyone, we europeans always get screwed by the industry.

carg0 @ Sep 1st 2006 5:41PM

Crap, how insane would that be if Reggie gets up on that platform in NYC and announces that it's available for purchase right then and there?

I'm not really interested in the Wii but I would love to see Nintendo continue their originality streak and totally catch everyone with their pants down. It would forever be remembered as the greatest console launch ever.

"Nintendo Catches World With Pants Down...Wii's Exposed Everywhere!"

Sorry, bad pun...

vidGuy @ Sep 1st 2006 5:42PM

My take:

- not simultaneous

information
- release date (late October?)
- release price ($199?)
- retail box contents (Wii, cables, 2 remotes+nunchuks, VC credit, Wii Sports?)
- User Interface for Wii and Virtual Console
- Virtual Console pricing scheme
- confirmed launch lineup
- confirmed launch VC lineup
- demos of improved visuals (you can do a lot more with final Wii hardware than the GC-level hardware devs were working with)
- 2 new IPs revealed
- official stance on rumors (Metroid not delayed but not getting multiplayer till Spring 07, reassurance about supply - I'd guess they already have 1.5 million made, with another 2 million to be produced before launch, and an additional 2 million coming before Jan for a total of 5.5 million by 2007).

Irregardless of what specifics come, this is most definitely the time Nintendo lays its cards on the table for everyone to see.

JacKal @ Sep 1st 2006 5:44PM

I don't get what all the dissapointment is all about. Nintendo said months ago that you wouldn't know any definitive details about launch or price until Sept. THEY SAID THIS BACK BEFORE E3. The previous keynote in August they almost weren't going to even do, but they decided to bring a little something at the last minute and they showed up with two new titles (that are awesome in my opinion) and gave some fruitful seeds of insight into what kind of online service they are trying to do for Wii (by announcing the kinds of multiplayer modes planned for BWii and Strikers Charged). They'll probably do what they did with the DS and work on the online as much as possible and release it when it's ready (especially if they are trying to do something different than the DS friend code system, that kind of revamp just isn't going to take two weeks). Everyone with their expectations are really pissing me off. Pay attention to news and not rumors and maybe you'll stop dissapointing yourselves. This is the Nintendo Wii. It's not going to make gold for you, so stop raising your expectations so high. You do that for any system and you'll be dissapointed. I've been playing games since Atari and I think a lot of you have too, so you should know this by now.

MrTroy @ Sep 3rd 2006 9:50PM

"You know what would be an awesome move? If Nintendo did like they did with Brain Training and said something at the conference like 'The system will release October 30th, but all of you are going home with one today.'"

"Crap, how insane would that be if Reggie gets up on that platform in NYC and announces that it's available for purchase right then and there?"

NO! Absolutely not! Anyone thinking that needs to NOT put that out in the universe. PLEASE! I work that day... and on top of that Reggie has a restraining order against me. :(

GSI @ Sep 1st 2006 5:48PM

@ Carg0:

Holy shit man:

"Nintendo Catches World With Pants Down...Wii's Exposed Everywhere!"

That was the...

BEST.PUN.EVAR!

Marty @ Sep 1st 2006 6:13PM

They've already stated that the price will be below or at $250, so there's no point in getting worked up about it not being released yet.

The big thing is the release date of the console, and they've got to drop that bomb soon... we're almost where it's forecasted to be, and they won't release it without telling people - their marketing team is working way too hard for a stunt like that.