Wii game system rolls out on Nov. 19

***wraggster*** · September 14th, 2006, 16:22

Heres a shot of the packaging:

The final pieces of this fall's video game battle fall into position today as Nintendo announces that its new Wii home system will sell for $250 — half the price of Sony's cheapest PlayStation 3 — and launch Nov. 19, two days after the PS3.
The two next-generation systems face Microsoft's Xbox 360, which will have had a year's head start; the anticipated 360 game Gears of War, out Nov. 7, is expected to boost sales.

But Nintendo is deploying a different approach than the others. The cutting-edge 360 ($300-$400) and PS3 ($500-$600) support HD video — and the PS3 uses the just-out Blu-ray HD disc format — while Wii (pronounced "we") depends on more conventional technology.

But Wii's unique wireless motion-sensitive controller has captured the attention of game designers and players. "We think all the other initiatives in the home console space have been much too hardcore-gamer-focused. We want consumers to be able to pick up (the Wii controller) and play," says Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

Nintendo plans to have 4 million systems shipped worldwide by year's end, he says. Sony recently reduced from 4 million to 2 million the number of PS3s likely to reach the USA and Japan this year. Analysts expect U.S. retailers to have about 400,000 PS3s and about 1 million Wii systems at launch.

Included with Wii is the Wii Sports game (with tennis, golf, basketball and bowling), the controller and a "nunchuck" attachment. Other details:

• Wii owners can download and play games from Nintendo's older NES, Super NES and Nintendo 64 systems and NEC's TurboGrafx. Initially, about 30 games (usually $5 to $10) will be available, including The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario 64. Games are saved on SD memory cards, which can also be used to import digital pictures.

• Built-in high-speed Net connectivity (including WiFi) lets Wii gather news and weather updates, plus messages from other Wii owners.

In the game-system battle, Wii "is a wild card," says DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole. "Is it going to be so unique that people are going to really rush and buy it — or be leery?"

**ACID** · September 14th, 2006, 16:24

More exited about this then the PS3

**Offbeat Bareass** · September 14th, 2006, 16:25

I have my own official announcement to make:

I'm excited about this system.

I can't wait to get it!!

**Broonale** · September 14th, 2006, 16:29

Is anyone taking pre-orders so I can reserve one?

I can't find any info at Amazon, Best Buy or Walmart

**samidgley** · September 14th, 2006, 16:40

I'm gonna get this one too... but more like this time next year when I can afford a TV licence, lol

**fg-54** · September 14th, 2006, 20:53

must....have!!!!

**The Hombrew Hunter** · September 14th, 2006, 20:57

Wii sports but no SD? Oh well.

KICK AAAASSSSSS!!!!

**gotmilk0112** · September 14th, 2006, 21:51

i already have a 265MB SD card from my camera so im happy =D

P.S. game stop says they are taking pre-orders on the Wii at: " the beggining of october" so ima call on oct 1st and see if i can preorder. if not then ill call october 2. if not then 3 ect. ect.

i want that Wii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!1111o neoneoneoene!!11!!eleven!!!!!!!!1