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Post by Matt on Aug 7, 2006 18:50:42 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Rumor: Wii Release Date, Price[/glow]If insiders are to be believed, Nintendo's new console could arrive earlier and with a cheaper price tag than expected.by Matt Casamassina August 7, 2006 - With only a few months left before the release of Nintendo's new generation console, every publisher, developer and hardware manufacturer seems to have a friend of a friend who knows something about Wii's release date and price point. Over the last week, IGN has been able to compile the juiciest rumors for your reading pleasure. Please keep in mind that Nintendo has yet to announce an official release date or price point for its new system and as such, everything below should be considered with a grain of salt. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft's Xbox 360 console is out and Sony announced a release date for PlayStation 3 months ago. So the big question is, when will Wii launch? The only official answer from Nintendo is sometime before the Thanksgiving holiday in America. But sources -- both on the hardware and development side -- argue that the console will be hitting much sooner. A number of big-name publishers are set to release their Wii games in mid-to-late October, which suggests that a system debut could not be that far off. And several insiders have told IGN that November 2 could, in fact, be the big day. Thing is, not all of our contacts are in agreement on the date. Some have suggested that November 12 could, instead, by Wii's launch date. Regardless, though, it seems that Wii fans can look forward to their console sooner rather than later. Sources suggest that Wii will launch with a $229 price tag and will be available in both black and white. Nintendo has allegedly bumped production of Wii hardware to more than five million units by the end of the year, a significant upgrade to previous numbers. The jump is purportedly based on the positive reaction to Wii from press and industry analysts at E3 2006. The console is unlikely to be region-free, although the lock is unrelated to hardware; a firmware update could theoretically allow gamers to play import software. We presented this information to Nintendo of America for response, but a spokesperson for the company said that it does not comment on rumors and speculation. wii.ign.com/articles/723/723894p1.html
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Post by Benjammin on Aug 7, 2006 22:49:49 GMT -5
So close, and yet so far away. I cannot wait!
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Post by Nick M on Aug 10, 2006 10:03:50 GMT -5
Yes I cant wait for them to just release the date so I can go pre order it. -NicK-
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Post by kairigurl on Aug 11, 2006 12:54:38 GMT -5
...Nick, you can pre-order it without there being a release date.
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Post by Matt on Aug 15, 2006 23:09:56 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] Will Wii feature voice recognition? [/glow] (Monday August 14, 2006 at 3:27 pm) Mozlapunk reports a supposed insider leaked information about some features that could pop up in upcoming Wii games, like advanced voice recognition. Apparently, a trusted person at the IGN Insider forums, who has been right before about a speaker in the Wii controller, has dropped a few pieces of information. “voice communication will be via wireless, head-mounted microphones” - To be expected, there will be a similar DS VoIP set soon to chat easily in Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. “Some peripherals for the DS will be compatible with Wii and vice-versa.” - So you could use the DS stylus to write a letter to a friend on Animal Crossing Wii. “Many Nintendo first party games (specifically games designed for a younger audience) will feature a new system currently being developed by Nintendo called ‘voice to text communication’. This system also allows online voice communication to be easily censored by the user.” - That’s a great way to sensor bad language from people not on your friends list, or to not have to hear a friend all the time in a co-op game of Super Smash Bros Brawl. “The system works using an advanced voice recognition system which Nintendo has been developing for several years. When a user speaks the sound is converted into on screen text and sent to the other players. However, rather than just plain text being sent the system also picks up the tone, pitch and volume of the voice and translates that into colour, font size and character set. For example, if a player shouts ‘I win’ loudly into the microphone the on screen text may be all capitalized, and in a large red font; conversely if a player speaks quietly the font may be a pastel shade and smaller.” Perhaps the reason they are calling this rumored voice recognition “advanced”, is because it could be improved from what they used on the Nintendo DS. I reckon over four million Brain Age buyers know what I mean when I say BLUE! www.videogamesblogger.com/2006/08/14/will-wii-feature-voice-recognition.htm
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Post by Zoso the Rock God on Aug 16, 2006 14:18:59 GMT -5
I can't decide wheather to get a wii.
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Post by Matt on Aug 16, 2006 16:23:50 GMT -5
Why not? Its the only one I can see myself getting. I hope...
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Post by Matt on Aug 22, 2006 1:45:07 GMT -5
Since the price of the Wii is one of the most anticipated topics about the Wii, I was reading through some blogs of the staff over on IGN.com, and came across an entry from a guy named Matt Cassamassina, who looks for Wii news, and thought I would post his thoughts about it. The entry below is a very well written one about what he considers about when the release date will be. [glow=red,2,300]Wii's Launch Date [/glow]So it turns out that a well-timed and clever press release by Nintendo of America has sparked quite the debate about when the company's forthcoming Wii console might launch. Readers have sent me some positively insane e-mails in what can only be described as entirely overzealous attempts at cracking the code in the Big N's release, supposing there really is one. Here's a rather tame example: wii.ign.com/articles/720/720864p1.htmlIt appears that the number of words in each sentence is significant. There are 19 in the first sentence and 26 in the second sentence. 2006 is the given key, so as 26 becomes 2006 then 19 becomes 1009. This gives us 10/09/2006 as the release date. At least, this is my take on it. Toby Er, thanks Toby. I mean to stay vague when I state that there have been multiple indications that Nintendo aims to launch Wii in the October time frame. Which would, of course, put the machine well ahead of the expected mid-November debut and likewise well ahead of Sony's looming PlayStation 3 console. Sleuthing readers have determined that October 2 is a very likely candidate for Wii to launch -- this, based on the aforementioned press release, which has a suspicious opening on said date. Let's go with that for a minute and consider why this might make sense and why it might not. Launching Wii on October 2 makes sense for several reasons. First, there's the element of surprise. I don't think anybody really expects Nintendo to break from tradition and debut a new system a full month and a half ahead of the historic time frame. The Big N could therefore use these expectations to its advantage, sneaking out its new platform early. Sony has enough problems already with the high-priced Blu-ray drives and the low yields of its Cell processor; a surprise release of Wii could go a long way against a company which is likely fiscally unable to quickly mount a counter. Nintendo could pull an Apple, which has rarely, if ever been done in the videogame console business. What I mean by this is to hold an event and then release a spotlighted product within a week of said event. Apple does this at Macworld all the time. Nintendo could theoretically do it at the Tokyo Game Show. I'm leaving the realm of rumor when I state that Nintendo is scheduled to hold a Wii related event in September. Furthermore, Iwata himself has said that the price and release date of the machine would likely come in September. Now, the Tokyo Game Show happens to fall in late September. If the hardware is ready in bulk, what is to stop the Big N from announcing price and release date on or around TGS and then shipping everything a week later? Retailers would love it. Launching Wii in October would effectively kick off the holiday buying season early, a prospect that retailers could rally behind. In contrast to the usual release-everything-in-November mentality, Nintendo and backers could ship Wii with, say, 5-10 games and deliver an additional 10-15 through October and November. Good news for the Big N, which will undoubtedly have big guns like Metroid and Zelda at launch. Good news for third parties like EA and Ubi, both of whom will probably have Madden and Red Steel rearing to go for launch, too. Meanwhile, Nintendo and third parties could trickle out other big games -- WarioWare, Trauma Center, Rayman -- in October and November, which offers two immediate benefits. First, some third party titles that may have gone overlooked now have a chance. Given the choice between Zelda, Metroid and anything else, your average Nintendo fan is going with the established icons. That's just the way it is. But perhaps after two weeks have passed, they'll have room for some third party goodies, too. And second, a steady release of games both offers potential buyers continued incentive to pick up a Wi and also creates the perception that the console has a lot of continued support, not just one big bang. There are also reasons why it doesn't make sense. I don't think hardware is the problem. Wii is essentially current generation horsepower shrunk to fit inside a tiny console. The controller has been working for months. And some developers have finished kits. Hitting it in bulk might be a hurdle, but Nintendo seems better prepared for this challenge than any competitor. Still, software could be problematic. Games like Excite Truck and Zelda should have no trouble launching in early October, but third parties may have more difficulties. And although it could actually prove fiscally irresponsible to launch their games against Nintendo's powerhouses, some third parties see the word 'launch' and think that if they hit the window, they've got it made; thus, if they can't make it because Nintendo launches too early, there could be some backlash. Would there be adequate time for public relations and marketing campaigns? Difficult to say. Apple is a Mac monopoly, if that makes sense. It is the only company creating Apple computers, as opposed to PCs, which can be manufactured by anybody. It is therefore the Field of Dreams for Macs, meaning that if Jobs builds it, they will come. It can sell iPods and Macs a week after announcing everything with a commercial and a smile. But can Nintendo do the same? It's never been done by a videogame giant. On top of everything else, Apple runs its own retail outlets and therefore has the unique ability to ship product without spoiling the surprise. Can Nintendo do the same when dealing with outside retailers who have nothing to gain in keeping the secret? Despite these potential issues, I think it can be done and to be perfectly honest, I'd prefer it. Hitting the October window would be unexpected and original, two words that can simultaneously be used to describe the Wii console. I want to see Nintendo make the first move. What do you think?
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Post by Matt on Aug 23, 2006 20:48:52 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] Nintendo Event on September 14 [/glow] August 23, 2006by: Phillip LevinNintendo invites members of the media to an event on September 14, 2006. Nintendo sent out an invite to members of the media tonight, inviting them to a private event on Thursday, September 14, 2006. The invite reads “Nintendo of America personally invites you to experience our upcoming line up with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime.” No other details regarding what the event could be about are disclosed. Nintendo is expected to give full launch details, including a Wii release date and price point, sometime in September. This event could be for that announcement. We’ll have more as it develops. wii.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=7424
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Post by Matt on Aug 26, 2006 22:06:29 GMT -5
Wii Launch Price - More popular speculation surrounds the impending announcement of Wii's price. Here's my contribution: Wii will launch at $179 in the US. Just today, IGN Wii reported that Japanese-based Nikko Citigroup speculates a price of 19,800 yen for the Wii launch. Converted to US dollars, that's a startlingly low $170. Officially, the only thing Nintendo has said is "less than $250," and, "people will be lining up for it." For anyone suspecting that "less than $250" means $249.99, here's some relief: Wii will not be $249.99. The entire focus of Wii is a new market, selling the system to people that would previously never have bought a game console. A large part of this strategy is Nintendo's pricing--this is no secret. Selling the Wii a mere $50 cheaper than the Xbox 360 isn't an impressive undercutting that's going to draw new crowds of consumers. Last week, IGN Wii posted a separate speculation piece that pins the Wii price at $229 USD. But Wii will not cost $229. At $229, the system is still not far enough away from Microsoft's Xbox 360. With rumors supporting speculation of an impending Xbox 360 price drop, a $229-priced Wii wouldn't be left with much of a price advantage. In spite of published rumors, it seems that most industry people and gamefans alike anticipate a price of $199. I think $199 is certainly more likely than the $229 guess. But even at $199, the Wii is still dangerously close to a price that looks high, and not far off the price of a price-cut Xbox 360. At $199, most gamers will have no problem buying a Wii, but can the same be said for the casual consumer? I believe that a $179 launch price will make the system significantly more attractive to the mainstream market and secure a place in the households of America. blogs.ign.com/MarkRyan-IGN/
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Post by Nick M on Aug 26, 2006 23:40:17 GMT -5
All sounds good to me. I would rather pay $200 and have Wii Sports bundled in. -NicK-
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Post by Matt on Aug 27, 2006 2:45:12 GMT -5
Yep, it sounds good indeed! I especially like this line: Officially, the only thing Nintendo has said is "less than $250," and, "people will be lining up for it." I'm actually rooting for the more cheaper price below $200, but that really seems too good to be true. I just had to post that article though and now I'm even more curious. A trusted source I know of says he thinks the Wii price details and release date could be before the Tokyo Game Show in late September. I hope he's right! And what is up with you and Wii Sports? You must really want this game. I still dunno if this will be bundled with it, but when I do find out, I'll post it here.
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Post by Nick M on Aug 27, 2006 16:17:55 GMT -5
I just think it will be a great selling point. And it will get my friends acquianted with the Wii controller before moving on to a more complex game. And I could play it with my family -NiCK-
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Post by Matt on Aug 27, 2006 16:36:44 GMT -5
Great reasons, Nick! OK, I think you've convinced me. WiiSports should be bundled in with it at launch. I heard from G4's Attack of the Show that SOMETHING is going to be free. I dunno if they were talking about something at launch like a bundle with the Wii or something free like downloadable content with the Virtual Console, but it looks like the G4 guys wanted LoZ:TP included with its price tag. For me, that would be a sweet deal! However it would make a bit more sense to include WiiSports over TP mostly because it IS a more simpler game to play. And really, its more true to Nintendo's goal of spreading the gaming market to a more broader audience, not just the ones who buy it but also their family members, regardless of age.
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Post by Nick M on Aug 27, 2006 19:08:59 GMT -5
Woohoo...I am converted you. Now to the next step Smee. -NicK-
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