U.S. Nintendo presser somewhat-liveblogging [update 8]
by Kyle Orland 
{ Sep 14th 2006 at 10:00AM }
Our man on the ground in NYC for the U.S. Wii information event has been delayed [update 1: He's there and feeding information below the jump], but we're keeping up with the news via sites like GoNintendo and Engadget (who provided the above photo). A lot of the stuff was already revealed in the Japanese press conference early this morning but here's what seems to be new:
- Confirmed price of $249.99 on Nov. 19 in U.S. with Wii Sports pack-in. Worldwide debut is in U.S. Reggie: "One price, one config, one color: white." Included in box seems similar to Japanese system, besides Wii Sports.
- Games will cost roughly $49.99.
- Virtual console games will be $5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64. Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda at launch.
- Thirty titles in U.S. by year's end, about half at launch. Launch games include (compiled from GoNintendo/Engadget): The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, Barnyard, Cars, Avatar, Blazing Angels, Far Cry: Vengeance.
- 10:01 AM EST [update 1]: The remote will sell for $39.99, the nunchuck for $19.99. Gamecube version of Zelda will come out Dec. 11, after the Wii version on Nov. 19.
- 10:04 a.m. EST [update 2]: Nintendo again pledges 6 million units worldwide by March 31. The U.S. will get the bulk of units, sold at 25,000 [typo fixed] distribution points.
- 10:07 a.m. EST [update 3]: Metroid Prime 3 won't come out until 2007.
- 10:10 a.m. EST [update 4]: Pokemon will be the first online game, ready for Dec. 2 launch in Japan, "shortly thereafter" in U.S.
- 10:15 a.m. EST [update 5]: The press conference is over. Our man Chris will be roaming the demo floor and posting pics and impressions all day. Peace!
- 10:18 a.m. EST [update 6]: Some more launch details up top from Engadget.
- 10:24 a.m. EST [update 7]: Tidbits from GoNintendo -- all first-party games are widescreen, third-party games could be more than $59.99. From Engadget -- the picture editor can play videos.
- 10:26 a.m. EST [update 8]: From Kotaku's liveblogging -- 2000 Wii points = $24 Canadian ($20 American).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
DYLAN MILLIKAN @ Sep 14th 2006 10:05AM
LOL FIRST COMMENT
omg! @ Sep 14th 2006 10:05AM
first post! Wii FTW!
ill trooper @ Sep 14th 2006 10:05AM
Most Excellent!
Cry Havoc @ Sep 14th 2006 10:05AM
This is the worst possible news. Nintendo had a chance to deliver Sony, and perhaps even Microsoft, a huge knockout punch this round, and passed on it.
It will still be a great launch, but not of the titanic power that many of us were hoping for.
Sigh.
Shad Genki @ Sep 14th 2006 10:06AM
Deets! Wheeee!
DYLAN MILLIKAN @ Sep 14th 2006 10:06AM
OMG FUCKING TEMPINBOX FAGS NOT SENDING CONFIRMATIONS FUCK FUCK ASS FUCK
Richard Mitchell @ Sep 14th 2006 10:06AM
Smart move pushing out the Gamecube version of Zelda. That will surely force a few diehards to make the switch to Wii.
David Omel @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
I'm reserving my Wii today... Did they price third party games yet?
kerem @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08AM
Wii is gonna be amazing!! and i'm going to pay through the nose cause i live in england!! i don't care!!
Ness @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08AM
250,000 distribution points? What's that?
ill trooper @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08AM
"One color: APPLE white"
Rii.ISPRO @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08AM
6 million by March? How many at LAUNCH?
Sam @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08AM
Ouch... COming out after the PS3?!?! And 60 bucks for the remote and nunchuck. Can't imagine too many casual gamers spending $60 for an extra controller or 2.
JimmyHACK @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
price a tadded steep for a suped up GC but i'll get one just cause i gotta get new toys...
also nun-chuck and remote seperate purchases is kinda gay, so its really $60 more for two player
JodyAnthony @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
I'm fine with everything except the price of an extra controller. $60 for the remote and nunchuck? Ridiculous.
kilgarin @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
Have you all seen the info on controller price? $39.99 for the remote, $19.99 for the nunchuck. $60.00 for a complete controller does kinda hit me in the gut.
aReEeNeN @ Sep 14th 2006 10:10AM
Does anyone else besides myself feel a little let down with Nintendo once again? The recent news from IBM made it seem that the console would be ready for launch SOON, yet they still failed to beat Sony to market, despite Sony's continued production problems. Also, Iwata suggested to look to past prices for a hint of the Wii's price. I could be wrong, but didn't every Nintendo (Home) system launch for $200. I understand that Nintendo is delivering a unique experience, and I know they kept to their promise of staying in the $250 or lower price range, but I still feel let down. I'm as excited as the next fanboy though, I've been one my whole life. Nintendo has yet to dissapoint me so far, so I'll keep my hopes up. Let the games begin!
32_footsteps @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
Wait, am I reading this correctly? $60 to have a second controller/nunchuck for a two-player game? *That* is a punch in the gut.
Bored @ Sep 14th 2006 10:09AM
Nice how they sell the nunchuck and remote seperately.
stafford @ Sep 14th 2006 10:10AM
$39.99 for controller, the nunchuck for $19.99
I see where Nintendo make all their money, by releasing a new controller with every console, it's a Rip-Off.
JimmyHACK @ Sep 14th 2006 10:10AM
oh they they screwed over gamecube owners one more time with zelda again hahahahahahhahaha
Phantom 018 @ Sep 15th 2006 6:49PM
To #6, do you really need to use profanity like that? It's really annoying!
Judge Ito @ Sep 14th 2006 10:11AM
Quit whining.
DaRk LoOk1e @ Sep 14th 2006 10:13AM
I personally don't understand why A) The Wii is laucnhing in North America before Japan and B) Why they're forcing Wii sports on us. I would rather save my money and get something else...
Karen @ Sep 14th 2006 10:14AM
Was the $250 price confirmed for North and Sounth America or just US?
Other news sites are saying Reggie was talking about the Americas for the November 19th release date not just the US.
vidGuy @ Sep 14th 2006 10:14AM
Pretty crappy for Nintendo to delay the GC version AGAIN. I see the strategy, but it's a pretty good jab at GC gamers.
The VC pricing is a little steep, but pretty much expected. I would have liked a $3, $5, $8 scheme, but whatever.
Metroid Prime 3's delay was expected.
I agree with Cry Havoc. Nintendo will still sell out their 4 - 6 million consoles, but after that will be a big test for Wii. It's not as attractive of a price as we were hoping for ($199).
DrWho @ Sep 14th 2006 12:16PM
Nintendo blew it!!!!!
This is the time to take a loss on a console, but now you are coming in far too close to the XBox 360 price.
Sorry Nin, you BLEW IT!!!!
Kazi @ Sep 14th 2006 10:14AM
stafford, the controller is wireless. A 360 wireless controller costs $50. Consitering the speaker built into it and all the R&D that was put into it, I think 10 more than the 360's wireless controller isn't a bad deal.
FSK405K @ Sep 14th 2006 10:15AM
$5 for Legend of Zelda? Glad I got it on the Zelda compilation for GCN.
nelson @ Sep 14th 2006 10:17AM
The $250 for the whole package comes with Wii Sports also so in reality, its really $200 for the system which is the same price point the other Nintendo systems launched at.
2slick @ Sep 14th 2006 10:18AM
wow just wow. nintendo. can you say dropped the ball?
chargin too much for an outdated system, then to top it off, they justify it by tossin in a lame game that has been out for years. you can pick up those motion sensing "sports" games for like 5 bux a pop, and w/ the same, if not better graphics, then the triangle bodied w/ a circle for a head wii people. i have a bowling, table tennis, and boxing set ups, 15 bucks total, (including an extra paddle for tennis, and an extra set of gloves for boxing) for almost 5 years.
Then to top it off, after the hardcore gamers b1tched (myself included) about the 50 dollar 360 wireless controllers, nintendo does one better and charges 60 bux for a second controller (cuz if u don't get the nunchuk, then u don't really have a complete controller).
AND THENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.........instead of shipping them out the gate within the next month or so, they elect to wait until AFTER the ps3 launches?
AND THENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.........they create an ignorant faux pau (sp?) by saying obviously w/ very little basis of fact, that well these are expected launch titles, who knows, we may have more, we may have less. again not learning from the 360, wait until their solid. or don't claim to act like u think u know what's a solid launch title and whats' not.
was really pullin for nintendo in this one, but just like latrell sprewell, they choked.
oh well, i'll buy one when the price of stuff drops.
Back_lit @ Sep 14th 2006 10:19AM
I honestly have to say I'm quite underwhelmed by this information. I expected, like most, for the system to launch at $200, but instead it launches at $250 (game included). Personally, I'd rather NOT have WiiSports bundled with the system but maybe you pay $250 and get a game of your choice instead.
As for the cost of the Wii-mote...ohmygodwtf?! $40? Ehhhhh...how much of a profit margin is Nintendo making off that price? If its substantial I'd rather see the remote go for $30-35 and the nunchuck to go for $15.
Am I excited? Yes. Am I kind of let down? Just a bit. Will I still buy the damn thing? Hell yes, but my wallet will cry buying a 2nd wii-mote =/
Alex @ Sep 14th 2006 1:21PM
Any news on Region Free? I doubt it since they didnt publicly say it which sucks because now I gotta buy 2 because you all know damn well Japan is going to get some crazy weird games for this thing and I just have to play them. Japan gets 2 slaps in the face lately, they got shafted on PS3 numbers and now a delayed Wii Launch? I think Reggie won a game of Smash Bros and declaired US gets first.
existonfile @ Sep 14th 2006 10:18AM
DaRk LoOk1e:
The Wii is launching here first because Japan doesn't NEED the Wii yet. DS is still incredibly strong over there. They are gonna milk that cash cow for as long as possible. In America the DS is not as popular and the Holiday shopping season starts earlier here than Japan.
Zertoss @ Sep 14th 2006 10:18AM
Pokeyman? Pokeyman with the pokey and the man and the thing where the guy comes out of the thing?
crono141 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:00PM
It should come with 2 controllers.
That and the controller price are my only real complaints. I wanted an Oct launch, but I should have figured it wasn't in the cards.
They say 4 million by christmas (or so). I don't think we'll have to much trouble finding one on the store shelves.
FSK405K @ Sep 14th 2006 10:20AM
Your total: $420
Wii + Wii Sports= $250
Zelda = $50
Extra Wiimote = $40
Extra Nunchuck = $20
Classic Controller = $20
SD Card = $10, if we're lucky...PS2 memory is $30.
S-Video or Component = $30
Thanks TSHBO!! for the start of this.
ill trooper @ Sep 14th 2006 10:20AM
Man you guys sound CHEAP... Suck it up! It's 2006! WiFi, online included...Of course we wanted 'cheaper' but this is it - and it's right around the corner ~
Bender @ Sep 14th 2006 10:21AM
Thinking about most other entertainment products over their lifetime and you'll find a pattern of inflation - it's just natural that this time around it's more expensive at launch.
A brand new mid-range TV can cost you around $4,000 at the moment - that's a lot more expensive than what they were just a few years ago at the end of the CRT product cycle. You're paying for new technology as well as being an early adopter.
The Wii will, just like every other console, drop in costs as time goes on. It may take a year to reach the $200 price point but i'm really not complaining considering the pricing of the other consoles.
Wii60 combo for me!
Justin @ Sep 14th 2006 11:59AM
"Virtual console games will be $5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64. Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda at launch."
I would like to know a complete VC games list and their release dates from Nintendo, Sega, and other 3rd parties.
Great job reporting this event.
eialba @ Sep 14th 2006 10:20AM
I knew they were just making us wonder for nothing. "250 or less" - they could at least make it a little less. But no, they went with the highest price - 250.
Turken @ Sep 14th 2006 10:25AM
So I'm a little disappointed by the $60 "complete" controller, but there are some benefits to selling the two pieces separately.
First, if your mom only like to play the "party" games, then she can get her own controller for a smaller initial investment and then upgrade to the full thing later.
also, in the event that you break or wear out part of the controller, you can always replace just that part.
Randi @ Sep 14th 2006 10:21AM
I'm perfectly fine w/ paying 250 for the system and getting Wii Sports in the package. I was going to buy that game anyhow, so it's not a big deal. And yeah, I think 60 is a bit steep for the extra controllers, especially since Nintendo is pushing the whole "togetherness" thing but I'll still be getting a 2nd controller/nunchuck combo. Not sure how many of the virtual console games I'll be buying, 10 for an N64 is kinda steep, but the other channels seem like a really good idea. At least I have an idea of how much I need to start saving for the launch. Gimme Wii Sports, Zelda and Rayman and I'm one happy girl gamer!
FSK405K @ Sep 14th 2006 10:22AM
Pokemon is first online game? Dec 2 in Japan? What about Blazing Angels, Call of Duty 3, Far Cry Vengeance, Splinter Cell, others? Are they on crack?
Jason @ Sep 14th 2006 10:23AM
What about Canadian pricing? No canadians at the press conference?
quin @ Sep 14th 2006 10:24AM
Has it occured to anyone that you only need an extra controller if none of your friends get a Wii?
They're also saying the controller will be your memory card, so to play at a friend's house I would definitely want to bring my own controller with me...
trickfred @ Sep 14th 2006 10:28AM
Well, I was going to go pre-order one today, but now I can wait until Metroid Prime 3 is released, I guess. :P
RP @ Sep 14th 2006 10:26AM
I'm just waiting for Europeans to get stiffed once more. If the console costs more than £150 and the remote and nunchuck more than £20 and £10 then NOE can piss right off.
Not that it isn't already too steep for the last two.
The Intangible Fact @ Sep 14th 2006 10:26AM
ITS SOOOOO BULLSHIT THAT WII DOSEN'T INCLUDE A NUNCHUK. THAT PISSES ME OFF!
$250 ~ WII CONSOLE, WII SPORTS, ONE CONTROLLER.
$60 ~ ANOTHER CONTROLLER
$60 ~ TWO NUNCHUCKS
$320 ~ BASTARDS
$80 MORE FOR A DAMN 360 WITH NEWER GAMES/GRAPHICS/XBL!
Super Duper MArio @ Sep 14th 2006 10:26AM
ftw they pulled a sony on the prcing, 250 for okay.. fine DEAL cuz wii sports,
Have to buy opera? NES games for 5$ when i can buy the real thing for like 1$ and a game i already beat?
10$ for n64 games,ummm they all(90%) sucked...
60$ for a full contorlor? ftw nintendy
Coming out after sony? okay iget it, PS3 it going to sellout day one no matter what.
no good online games untill 2007? poke-a-man the first wii online game, nice try... the japs love it tho...
its not worth it until the new super smash comes out.