With the international launch details for Nintendo's Wii all but certain to be revealed in the next few days, it will be time for journalists, bloggers, analysts and forum trolls everywhere to say goodbye to one of their favorite pastimes: rumormongering. In tribute to happy guesses gone by, here's a quick round up of some of the more memorable rumors that have emerged over the past few months, with original sources and dates noted.Whose information will reign supreme? You'll know the official word as soon as we do.
Price
America:
Official: $250 or lower - Nintendo senior managing director Yoshihiro Mori (5/25)
$150 - Vibe Magazine (9/10)
$170 - David Gardner, executive VP and COO of EA's worldwide studios (8/21)
$175 - Text of supposed Reggie speech from Go Nintendo (8/27)
$200 - Merill Lynch analyst Justin Post (5/17)
$229 - "sources suggest" to IGN (8/7)
$229 - "A source close to Nintendo" via NintendoPlayers (9/12)
$249 - EGM (5/8)
$299 - 7-11 flier (8/4)
Japan:
Official: 25,000 yen or lower ($213) - Nintendo senior managing director Yoshihiro Mori (5/25)
19,800 yen ($170) - Financial report from Tokyo-based Nikko Citigroup (8/15)
Europe/Britain:
Official: Less than 250 Euros ($317) - Nintendo's head of German operations, Bernd Fakesch (8/23)
149 pounds ($278) - Shopto.net via GoNintendo (7/14)
149 pounds ($278)- MCV (9/8)
Australia:
330 AUD ($248) - Sunday Herald Sun (9/10)
Release Date
Official: Q4, 2006 - Nintendo E3 press conference
America:
October - CNN/Money (7/5)
Oct. 2 - GamingTarget, based on software release date press release (7/25)
Oct. 2 - Text of supposed Reggie speech from Go Nintendo (8/27)
November - Insider source from Nintendo sales meeting, on Orange Lounge Radio (9/4)
Nov. 2 - Best Buy game listing
Nov. 6. - Sports Illustrated for Kids (7/2)
Nov. 6 - "an industry source speaking to Cubed3" (5/31)
Nov. 12 - "some have suggested" to IGN (8/7)
Europe/Britain:
October - Shopto.net via GoNintendo (7/14)
Oct. 2 - JeuxFrance (5/31)
Nov. 3 - EA launch date for Need for Speed: Carbon (7/19)
Shortly before Nov. 24 - MCV (9/8)
Australia:
November - Toys "R" Us
