With the whirlwind of news and announcements swirling around the Wii over the past few days, we thought it might be handy to collect all the newly released information in one place for easy reference.This round-up will be updated as more information continues to leak out and be collected. Notice anything we forgot or got wrong? Send us a tip.
(All information from Nintendo unless otherwise noted)
[Update 1: added Canadian price]
[Update 2: updated region-protection details]
[Update 3: A/V output and Mexican price added]
| Launch Details | N. America | Japan | Europe / Britain | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Nov. 19 | Dec. 2 | Dec. 8 |
Dec. 7 |
| System | $249.99* / $279.95CAN |
¥25,000 | €249 / £179 |
A$399.95 |
| Games |
$49.99** / $59.95CAN |
¥4800-6800 | €49-59 / £34-39 | ? |
| 2000 Wii Points*** |
$20 / $24CAN |
¥2000 | €20 / £14 | ? |
| Remote |
$39.99 | ¥3800 | €39 / £29 | ? |
| Nunchuck / Classic Controller | $19.99 | ¥1800 | €19 / £14 | ? |
| Launch games**** |
20 - 30 |
16 (list below) |
15 - 20 | ? |
| Launch "window" games**** | 52 (full list) | 27 |
? |
20 |
* - One Mexican retailer is advertising the system for 4,490 pesos (Approx. $402) [Update 3]
** - Only confirmed for first-party games. Third-party games may be priced differently.
*** - Virtual console titles will cost 500 points (NES), 800 points (SNES) and 1000 points (N64)
**** - Numbers are tentative and subject to change. For our purposes, launch window is launch through Dec. 31, 2006
Included in the box: (all regions unless otherwise noted)
- Wii Console (white)
- Wii Remote with strap
- Nunchuk
- Wii AC Adapter
- Wii Stereo AV Cable
- Wii Stand
- Wii Stand Plate
- Wii Sensor Bar
- Sensor Bar Stand
- 2x AA Batteries
- Wii Sports (not included in Japan)
First party Wii games will be region free. For third-party games it will be up to the publisher.Nintendo has confirmed that Wii games will actually be region-encoded. [Update 2]- The system has "an AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video" according to wii.com. It is not clear what standard(s) the included cable supports [Update 3]
- The system will not feature DVD playback as previously stated.
- Internet connectivity is free, but the Opera browser will need to be bought and downloaded for an undisclosed price.
- Newly unveiled Wii Channels will allow online news and weather reports, e-mail and message boards, as well as photo viewing/editing and avatar creation.
- Nintendo aims to sell 4 million systems worldwide by the end of the calendar year and 6 million systems by the end of March '07
- Full list of planned Wii games in North America
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be available at launch for all territories. The GameCube version goes on sale Dec. 11.
- Marquee Nintendo franchises Mario, Metroid and Smash Bros. are not expected until 2007.
- Anywhere from 15 to 60 virtual console titles will be available by the end of the year (depending on the report/region). Nintendo promises ten new virtual console games per month after that.
- Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 will be available for the U.S. virtual console at launch.
- Metroid Prime 3 has a new control scheme geared towards expert players.
- Wii Sports has two new sub-games, bowling and boxing.
- UbiSoft revealed five previously unannounced games for the U.S. launch: Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, Far Cry: Vengeance, GT Pro Series, Monster 4x4: World Circuit, and Open Season
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
- Wii Sports
- Wii Play
- Red Steel
- SD Gundam Revolution
- Tamagotchi
- "Ennichi no Tastsujin"
- Trauma Center: Second Opinion
- Elebits
- Necro-nesia
- Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
- Pangya Golf
- Wing Island
- "Kororinpa"
- "Machariku Domino"
