NYT: Wii to launch Nov. 19 for $250 in US [update 6]

by Ross Miller { Sep 14th 2006 at 1:18AM }

After a bevy of rumor-mongering and Joystiq predictioning, it looks like we have an early confirmation via a trusted source, The New York Times' Seth Schiesel. Drumroll please ...

The Nintendo Wii will arrive stateside November 19 for $250. It will also include a copy of Wii Sports. If true, this will be the first Nintendo console in history to launch at a price other than $200. According to the article (also being run by GameSpot and Engadget, among many others), 25 to 30 titles will be released for the Wii this year, including Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, and at least eight from Ubisoft.

Nintendo expects worldwide shipment numbers to total 4 million by the end of the year (we're unsure whether they mean fiscal or calendar year). Virtual Console titles will be priced in the range of $5 to $10, similar to the prices (between 500 and 1000 yen) just announced in Japan.

That means the closest blogger to the correct release date / cost is tied between Blake and Jennie -- congratulations, you guys have 15 mintues to gloat.

The Seattle Post-Intelligence confirmed to Nintendo Wii Fanboy that Scheisel's article was posted in the NYT wire but quickly pulled. It was not altered by the Seattle publication and, after being pulled and then republished on PI's website, remains in its original published form. As of 2:44 p.m. EST, the article has not shown up on The New York Times' website. [Update: The article is now live at The New York Times website.]

That they are launching after the PlayStation 3, on a Sunday, sounds kind of fishy to us. We are still awaiting final confirmation from tomorrow's NYC event, so don't take this as the final word just yet. More details to come, so stay tuned.

See Also:
Nintendo Japan conference not-so-liveblogging

[update 1: The SIP, which was hosting the NYT-penned piece, has pulled the article. Did they post it too early?]

[update 2: cleaned up some language, clarified some information.]

[update 3: added shipment figures, VC pricing.]

[Update 4: The Seatlle Post-Intelligencer has re-posted Schiesel's article.]

[Update 5: Added the information from NWii Fanboy's sleuthing.]

[Update 6: Added official NYT link]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

The King @ Sep 14th 2006 1:22AM

:o

Not bad at all.

ck @ Sep 14th 2006 1:23AM

A little disappointed with the price. I'm hoping for some better news after the hour....

PRguitarman @ Sep 14th 2006 1:23AM

I think the price is great, but I wish they would have released it on the 12, which is my birthday

SonicRift @ Sep 14th 2006 1:23AM

Not as cheap as I was hoping it would be, which means I won't be getting it this year.

anthony @ Sep 14th 2006 1:23AM

was hoping for 199.99

dvddesign @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25AM

The original NES launched at $299. They didn't pull R.O.B. from the set until late 1986. That's when they started bundling it for $200 with Mario only. I know it was $300 because that's what was paid for mine back in 1985.

RevJonathan @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25AM

I hope this isn't true, they need to launch BEFORE the ps3

What are they thinking!?

Kerina @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25AM

There's been so much confusing and false info tonight that I think I'll just wait till morning for everything to clear itself up.

Also, I'll only trust the article if it's up on the NYTimes website, the author is confirmed to work for him, and he actually wrote the article. SeattlePI doesn't cut it for me.

Raynre @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25AM

Damn, that means I wont be getting another game for Wii... looks like MP3 will have to wait it out until it gets a price cut...

Again though, this is the NYT we're talking about, it's not exactly the most reliable source of information...

ty belcher @ Sep 14th 2006 1:26AM

allright, some time to save up so i can actually afford it ($250=alot for me)

Cry Havoc @ Sep 14th 2006 1:26AM

So he knows the pricing and release date, but he won't even mention the number of controllers it comes with?

Something smells fishy.

Joe @ Sep 14th 2006 1:26AM

Like I said in another post, I really hope that the classic Virtual Console games are not $5-10 like the article states. That's a completely ridiculous price, and I can guarantee that I personally will not be buying any classic games for that price.

I have a modified Xbox with a ton of emulators on it, but I really was hoping for a reasonable price so that I could actually buy some of the great games of the past and not have copies that aren't as legal, but there's no way that's going to happen for $5 for a NES game.

Rishard Chapoteau @ Sep 14th 2006 1:27AM

At first I was disappointed by the price until I realized it came with Wii Sports which I was going to buy anyway so its a $200 console with a $50 game. I would have preffered a $200 console though and bough the game seperately. It would just look better on paper. All in all I guess I'll spend the same price no matter what.

RiemannMeetLebesgue @ Sep 14th 2006 1:27AM

NYT? A trusted source? ROFLMAO... Anyway, if it's true, the release date is the part that is baffling. Two days after PS3? That doesn't make any sense at all.

Rishard Chapoteau @ Sep 14th 2006 1:53AM

The launch date definitely sucks. This should have launched before the PS3. That 2 days is not cool.

Minime283 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:45AM

Good one Nintendo. So the Wii will retail for less than $250? So $249.99?

I'm calling this guy's bluff, I don't believe it.

zero2dash @ Sep 14th 2006 1:28AM

I hate to rag on this (rumored) price but I hope to god it's not $250. With all due respect and admiration/yearning I have to buy a Wii on launch day, $250 is steep for that console, I'm sorry. For $50 more you could get a barebones 360 and that's ridiculous.

I want a Wii and I have high hopes for it. But $250? I hope this rumor ends up being debunked real soon and the real price is announced as something lower (even if it's $229 for a massive pack in deal).

Swifty @ Sep 14th 2006 1:28AM

Predictable.

Cosmos @ Sep 14th 2006 1:29AM

I don't buy it, for one reason and one reason only. $5-$10 for *classic* virtual console game downloads is just bs. And I'm almost certain that Nintendo has said that NEW virtual console games would be priced at around $5-$10; why would they expect anyone to pay that kind of money for decades-old 8-bit games, especially if original vc games will be similarly priced?

If $250 is the actual price, which I'm not convinced of, I'll accept it. Especially with WiiSports bundled :) But there's no way I'd be happy about $5 NES and SNES games.

And I think I speak for everyone when I say any release date other than 5 minutes from now sucks!

Paul Gale @ Sep 14th 2006 1:29AM

I'm perfectly happy with $250 for a Wii, nunchuck, Wii Remote, and Wii Sports. Also, the date of November 19th, means that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be out that day. And not just that, but Wii will come out 5 years and 1 day after GameCube.

This also is reminiscent of Xbox vs. GameCube in 2001, with the two systems being out so close to one another. The difference this time though, is that PS3 will be available in limited quantaties compared to Wii and the price difference will be gargantuan.

Now we just have to find out when Wii will come out in Japan and Europe. Man, this Fall's going to rock.
Paul Gale
1up.com

mustafa @ Sep 14th 2006 1:29AM

$5 - $10 for a game is not a bad deal for most. $5 for Bionic Commando? I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'd pay $10 to get my Jet Force Gemini on again. Just to get frustrated all over again. Wonky shooting, etc. A pack-in takes the sting away for this kid. Wii Sports!

Sean @ Sep 14th 2006 1:31AM

Over $200 AND not launched on a Tuesday?

hmm...

Kerina @ Sep 14th 2006 1:31AM

The source just was deleted. Someone's early mistake or proof of a phony article?

Kate @ Sep 14th 2006 1:31AM

The article is no longer on the Seattle PI site, or at least the link no longer works. I can't find the article anywhere on the NYT site.

themikey @ Sep 14th 2006 12:23PM

That's awesome. My birthday is on November 19!

I think it will be sooner though... I guess we;ll find out tomorrow.

GameAddict @ Sep 14th 2006 1:34AM

oh great.

GSI @ Sep 14th 2006 1:37AM

-->"That they are launching after the PlayStation 3 sounds kind of fishy to us."

Oh good god...stop your damn whining. You are starting to sound like Summa now by saying that.

sam @ Sep 14th 2006 1:37AM

5-10 is a great deal. i just payed 40 dollars for killer instinct gold at a local gameshop, i know i got ripped off but i LOVED that game and if i think its worth 40 bucks it is to me.

5 dollars for bionic commando.....man i i can not wait.i will buy most of the titles they have for the VC, since me nes has recently gone kaput, and it is hard to track down all the games i want. i think this is an amazing deal and i cant wait to get a list of vc titles!!!

metal slug wii ftw!!!

Swifty @ Sep 14th 2006 1:50AM

Lol, so we are trusting the NYT for translating this?

Sonic @ Sep 14th 2006 1:40AM

Release on a Sunday, it doesnt make sense.

azesino @ Sep 14th 2006 1:49AM

over $200 :( in on the bandwagon of the ones that are gonna be waiting for a price cut

skyman8081 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:39AM

OH GOD NO!

Nintendo, show some mercy on those who work in retail. That means that there will lines of BOTH Nintendo Wii and PS3 fanboys outside, bitching and bickering at each other.

My nightmare has come true

Juan Carlos @ Sep 14th 2006 1:47AM

I`m already saving up my money. This is totally amazing news!!!!!!! More than 20 lauch titles!!!! 50$ games!! Dvd with no add on!!, Web browser, digital photo and weather channel! This is gold! pure gold!!!

Rabish12 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:40AM

Am I the only one who finds it weird that Nintendo would give those details to a media source like the New York Times only a day before holding an event whose purpose is most likely to reveal exactly the sorts of things this article claims? I mean, why would they bother giving the stuff early to a specific source like that when they're about to give it to EVERYONE? And then, of course, there's the fact that the pricing and dating don't really work well with their history and strategy. All of Nintendo's consoles have released at $200, going right back to the NES, and I was under the impression that they'd intended to release before Sony got the PS3 out, not after.

I don't know, it just doesn't seem to fit. I'm reluctant to call it out entirely, but I think it should be taken with a grain of salt.

lovechops @ Sep 14th 2006 1:40AM

Did people expect it to be $200 US somehow?

Brandon @ Sep 14th 2006 1:41AM

Sunday makes sense... the GCN was released on a Sunday... I still think the article is BS

azesino @ Sep 14th 2006 1:40AM

Pleaseeee let it be $200.... I dont wanna wait for a price cut

gamesarefun @ Sep 14th 2006 1:42AM

screw the price complaining! a nov 19 launch date is unacceptable. they have the units ready, they should launch in october and just ship more when they come off the assembly lines!

Jeremy @ Sep 14th 2006 1:42AM

IGN has confirmed it:
http://wii.ign.com/articles/732/732669p1.html

Yoshi Likes Boys @ Sep 14th 2006 1:43AM

Didn't the NES deluxe set go for $250?

Jeremy @ Sep 14th 2006 1:45AM

"If true, this will be the first Nintendo console in history to launch at a price other than $200." - I think I paid $249 for the N64 at Wal-Mart.

Waccoon @ Sep 14th 2006 1:46AM

Oh for heaven's sake... WAIT ONE DAY! Is that so hard?

Nothing matters except what comes directly from Nintendo.

Swifty @ Sep 14th 2006 1:51AM

OMG Ign HAS confirmed it.. It will come with a built in picture-holder :S

Tukka @ Sep 14th 2006 1:49AM

I'm a bit disappointed by this news. Price at the upper end of everybody's speculation and a later release date than what Nintendo previously indicated.

At $5-10 per VC game, sorry, I will just stick with an emulator. These are games that I've already purchased (some of them, more than once) and these games would be almost pure profit for Nintendo anyway. I'm not paying 10%-20% of the price of a brand new game for a game that, while fun, is utterly obsolete.

I hope it does come with an extra controller, since they are pushing this "casual gamer, fun for the family" angle. I also hope it comes with the analog stick attachment also, as it seems it will be virtually mandatory if you want to play any but some of the most basic games.

If it comes with those extras, it's a good value. If not, meh.

Infil @ Sep 14th 2006 1:57AM

Seems fishy to me, but IGN has already published the story. I don't know how often they've published a story like this on false information, and had to pull it down the next day due to it being false. They've probably known about this for a while now, and only now could post it due to NDA or something.

I thought it would be cheaper, and earlier, but I'm still buying one.

Those extra features don't really interest me, but at least they'll be releasing good games for the console.

Hopefully we'll hear differently tomorrow from Nintendo. But if not, it's not the end of the world.

digitalFrequency @ Sep 14th 2006 1:57AM

well i'm not surprised the price is set at $250. i was really hoping that nintendo would do something crazy like release the wii during tgs... not that it'd happen but that was the degree of hope i was shooting for.

...but a later release date? i dunno about that.

anyway, i'm looking forward to hoping that tomorrow's press conference in new york has something different to say... like uh, the release date for the wii is NOW or something remotely close to that degree. price-wise i don't really care as long as it's under $250 like they promised.

i'm just kinda antsy waiting for this official announcement so pre-orders can finally begin at my gamestop.

Syntax @ Sep 14th 2006 1:58AM

December 2nd in Japan, 25000 yen.

Rabish12 @ Sep 14th 2006 2:19AM

IGN didn't confirm it. They're referring to the same article that Joystiq is.

Also: "The Nintendo 64 cost $199 at launch in the United States."

From Wikipedia's article on the N64 (the number's accurate, I've check it and the numbers on all Nintendo's other consoles before to make sure). If you paid $249 for an N64, you got ripped or bought some form of expensive bundle.