[Wii] Official Nintendo Wii thread

Kaleb G recommended that we have an official thread given that we're rather close to getting official details on the much awaited console. Pricing, launch date, games, peripherals and so on.

Nintendo Wii

Well, here it is folks, the Nintendo Wii. This thing caused a stir when it was first unveiled, with many gamers crying haplessly like colicky babies while developers loved it. Its novel interface allows for an unpredecented amount of interaction in the game you're playing. Apparently saw something that the other two behemoths missed, in the form of a massive number of people alienated by the complexity of modern games.

The Wiimote. Waggle this baby to start the fun!

Whether they succeed in drawing these folks into the fold with their intuitive new controller, quirky games and low price remains to be seen, but no doubt, it'll be fun.

Launch date: Sunday, November 19th (NA)

Quote:

Wii goes on sale November 19. "The worldwide debut of the Wii system happens right here in the Americas -- the same place where we debuted Nintendo DS. On November 19, it will be available at more than 25,000 points of distribution across the Americas. And with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $249.99. One price. One configuration. One color." Which is, for the record, white.

Quote:

1:55 p.m. [update 8]: And the other shoe drops. Famitsu is reporting a December 2 launch and 25,000 yen price for Japan.

Price: $250.00, Games - $50.00

# of units at Launch: 4 million

Quote:

Plans to ship 4 million Wii consoles between launch and December 31. Americas will receive the largest share of stock.

Retail box content:

Quote:

Inside the box, you'll get the hardware, all the cables, the sensor bar. One Wii remote and one nunchuck controller. The info in this section refers to the North American retail box.

Quote:

US has Wii Sports packed in, as well as mini games included with the console.

Virtual Console:

30 games available to download at launch.

• NES - $5 (per game)
• SNES - $7 " "
• N64 - $10 " "

Supported VC consoles:

Quote:

- Famicom/NES
- PC Engine
- Super Famicom/NES
- Genesis/Megadrive
- Nintendo 64
- MSX

Quote:

1:38 a.m. EST [update 7]: Famitsu reports 30 Nintendo games and 30 PC Engine/Megadrive (Turbo-Grafx/Genesis) games before end of year. Ten new virtual console games every month after that!

Quote:

2:45PM: Virtual Console will accept purchases via credit card, or via prepaid cards purchased in-stores.

Quote:

• Will games downloaded from the Virtual Console store be tied to an account like Xbox Live or a one-time-only download like iTunes? Tied to an account. Kaplan discussed a scenario where a player's Wii was broken or destroyed, but would be able to re-download titles they had previously bought to a new Wii machine. Because my left leg was burning from an accidental Zippo oil spill, I neglected to ask if a user would be able to log into friends' Wiis and play their Virtual Console downloads away from their home machine.

Gamespot NYT leak article

IGN Price/Launch article

Technical specifications:

• Processor:
• CPU: IBM PowerPC processor codenamed "Broadway"
  
  GPU (video/graphics card):
• ATI "Hollywood"
  
  Memory:
• 1T-SRAM
  
  Ports and Peripherals:
• Up to four Wii Remote controllers (connected wirelessly via Bluetooth)
• One SD memory card slot
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• One Sensor Bar port
• Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports
• Two Nintendo GameCube memory card ports
• Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
  
  
  Peripheral prices:
  • Wiimote - $40
  • Nunchuck - $20
  
  Storage:
• 512 MB built-in flash memory
• Expansion available via SD card memory and USB mass storage
  
  

  Quote:

  Will Wii users be able to add storage via USB hard drives? No. The Wii's storage will be exclusively via flash memory storage, such as SD memory cards, at least at launch. Kaplan said a hard drive addition could be in the future, but that sounds more like a "Sure, why not?" response than one based in any immediate plans.

• Slot-loading disc drive compatible with DVDs (No Hollywood DVD playback (SL and DL), Gamecube 8cm discs
• Mask ROM
  
  Video:
• Maximum supported resolution of 480p
• Output via either Component, S-video or Composite
• 16:9 Widescreen support
  
  Audio:
• Main: Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable
• Controller: Built-in speaker

Classic controller.

Features:

• Backward compatibility
• Nintendo DS connectivity
• Player characters and profiles
• Parental controls

Quote:

Wii Channels Menu - News channel shown, as well as weather, shop, photo, and others. 1 page of 12 Wii channels, expandable as well. Disc channel allows players to play Wii game or Game Cube games, Wii Shop is the Virtual Console home, The legend of zelda, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong available for VC launch day. 10 games per month, 5 bucks for NES, 8 for SNES, and 10 for N64. Wii Points acquired online or at retaliers. 2000 Wii points card for 20 bucks at retail. Games story internally and becomes its own channel. Title is available forever once downloaded.

Here's the times for the conferences being held by Nintendo, in each region:
This site will become active after the conference is over (3AM EST): Here

Quote:

Japan Event
* 8:00PM (Wednesday) - 3:00AM (Thursday) EDT
* 5:00PM (Wednesday) - 11:00PM (Wednesday) PDT
* 1:00AM (Thursday) - 7:00AM (Thursday) GMT/UTC
* 2:00AM (Thursday) - 8:00AM (Thursday) BST
* 10:00AM (Thursday) - 4:00PM (Thursday) Japan Time

U.S Event
* 9:00AM (Thursday) - 4:00PM (Thursday) EDT
* 6:00AM (Thursday) - 1:00PM (Thursday) PDT
* 1:00PM (Thursday) - 8:00PM (Thursday) GMT/UTC
* 3:00PM (Thursday) - 9:00PM (Thursday) BST
* 10:00PM (Thursday) - 5:00AM (Friday) Japan Time

Europe Event
* 7:00AM (Friday) - 1:00PM (Friday) EDT
* 4:00AM (Friday) - 10:00AM (Friday) PDT
* 11:00AM (Friday) - 5:00PM (Friday) GMT/UTC
* 12:00PM (Friday) - 6:00PM (Friday) BST
* 8:00PM (Friday) - 2:00AM (Saturday) Japan Time

Hurl arrows in Zelda or pull levers in Metroid with this setup.

Confirmed launch titles (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii):

Quote:

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Call of Duty 3
Excite Truck
Far Cry: Vengeance
Gottlieb Pinball Classics
GT Pro Series
Leaderboard
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Metal Slug Anthology
Monster 4x4 World Circuit
Pokémon Battle Revolution
Open Season
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Rapala Tournament Fishing
Red Steel
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Wii Sports
World Series of Poker

Gamespot confirmed launch titles:

Quote:

Nintendo
Excite Truck
The Legend of Zelda: Twlight Princess
Wii Sports (bundled with console)

Activision
Call of Duty 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Rapala Tournament Fishing
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
World Series of Poker

Atlus
Trauma Center: Second Opinion

EA
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon

Konami
Elebits

Ubisoft
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Far Cry: Vengeance
GT Pro Series
Monster 4x4 World Circuit
Open Season
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent

Super Smash Brothers Brawl thread

Misc Game info:

• Resident Evil Wii
  
  

  Quote:

  RESIDENT EVIL WII IN DEPTH
  Extensive information on the gameplay and content of RE:Wii has surfaced.
  
  -The game consists of 4 "chapters", RE1's mansion, RE2's RPD, RE3's city areas and RE4's village (plus surrounding areas).
  -Each chapter has 2 characters to choose from. RE1 has Jill and Chris, RE2 has Leon and Claire, RE3 has Jill and Carlos and RE4 has Leon and Ada.
  -There are several characters that can be unlocked by playing through the game: Rebecca Chambers, Hunk and Albert Wesker.
  -The gameplay of all chapters is designed around RE4's. Press the B trigger on the wiimote to go into over-the-shoulder view, aim with the pointer and press A to fire.
  -The game will have QTEs, but rather than push buttons you have to make motions with the wiimote in order to get through them.
  -All characters will have mêlée attacks, just like RE4.
  -To encourage replayablility, each character has strengths and weaknesses, similar to how in RE4:Mercenaries Ada had the least health, Krauser was the slowest, etc.
  -Just like in RE4:Mercenaries each character has a unique set of weapons. What's more players can only carry 2 weapons at any one time. Chris gets a pistol and shotgun whilst Jill gets a pistol and grenade launcher.
  -You will be able to find several new weapons during each stage. For example, RE1 will have Richard's shotgun, RE2 will have the Desert Eagle, RE4 will have the Chicago Typewriter. There will also be new weapons like Krauser's anti-personnel robots.
  -Similar to Devil May Cry 3, after each chapter you can save your data and any new weapons picked up will be available for use in Arcade Mode.
  -Arcade Mode is like a giant Mercenaries minigame, where you pick a character and stage and blast through it. Building on the resounding success of Mercenaries seen when RE4 was released.
  -Scenario mode will feature a large number of ingame cutscenes.
  -New content not in the games that the chapters were based on will be added. The primary goal of this will be to link RE4 and Umbrella's status in it more closely with the rest of the series.
  -Ammo conservation will play a part in the gameplay, so it's not just constant action like RE4.
  -Trailer coming at TGS.

• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
  
  

  Quote:

  Apparently, Metroid Prime 3 is now a 2007 title.

Media (comments by Infernal Monkey):

Stuff/Game/Virtual Console selection.


Weather Channel. If only the sun was replaced with ANGRY SUN from Mario 3.


Photo.. viewer.. thingy.


And you can mess around with them! COOL DOG.


I believe this game is Donkey Kong.


Custom character creator, used for WiiSports, WiiMusic, WiiPlay, Wii Motor Sports and whatever other games will support them in the future.


Not sure. Looks like it may be an online friendzzzz lobby type thing?


Sex.


Fire Emblem gooooo.


Wii boxart revealed!


Wii version. GameCube version pushed back to December 11th just because Nintendo wants to keep striking those low blows! ='D

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

Ahaha never! "STAY A WHILE, STAY FOREVER"

More new Mario Galaxy screens at IGN. =x






interneeeet.



Yes! I hope Toys R Us don't try and pass the packed in WiiSports as the free game now though!

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

Screenshots of every game shown today. They're getting pretty raped, here's a few random games Image Shack'd.

Bleach


Nomiso Puzzle


Bomberman


Big Brain Academy


Necro Nesia


Forever Blue


Korolimpa


Harvest Moon


YOU KNOW THE DRILL


Project H.A.M.M.E.R (TIME)


Cooking Mama

That's a mighty piece of meat right there.

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

The IGN updates are zooming along the internet now. New screens of Zelda.







EXCITE TRUCK



Tony Hawk's Downhill Strawberry Jam



Wario Ware Smooth Moves





Am I destroying enough 56k guys? :]

Movies:
Link to dashboard in sweaty action

Wii Main Menu Navigation

Mii Channel: Creating your avatar

News Channel

World Forecast Channel

The Japan conference start time has apparently been changed to 1 AM EDT.

Originally Posted by The Extremist

The Japan conference start time has apparently been changed to 1 AM EDT.

Err, I think I fixed it, though I may be wrong. Is it for the first date in Japan?

Edit: Eh, nvm, I understand.

Subscribed, checking back at 1:00am.

I'll just start by saying I'll be very disappointed if Resident Evil Wii is yet another remake of the first game (which looks that way from the mansion shot).

It will be interesting to see how the release of solid info (finally) affects people's perceptions of which console they will be picking up.

Also, I would like to see some info on the Virtual Console. Even if it was only a handful of confirmed games. This could greatly broaden Wii's appeal at launch.

Well done Metal Sphere. Will be checknig back later tonight. Hopefully some fit hits the shan before the night is over.

Originally Posted by Dayvon

Well done Metal Sphere. Will be checknig back later tonight. Hopefully some fit hits the shan before the night is over.

Thanks. Yeah, I'll be adding/removing stuff as this goes on. Anyone know of a reliable stream website so I can include it in the OP?

I believe it's going to be streamed at this address once the conference starts:

http://www.irwebcasting.com/060914/01/

Correct me if I'm wrong. Got it from the other Wii thread.

Originally Posted by SOLDIER

I'll just start by saying I'll be very disappointed if Resident Evil Wii is yet another remake of the first game (which looks that way from the mansion shot).

Why would they even want to do that, considering they were all remade for gamecube and Wii is backwards compatible. I wouldn't like it either, but it just doesn't make any sense to even consider that.

Originally Posted by Cobalt Katze

I believe it's going to be streamed at this address once the conference starts:

http://www.irwebcasting.com/060914/01/

Correct me if I'm wrong. Got it from the other Wii thread.

Thanks, Cobalt. I'll put it up just above the conference dates.

Price and launch date announced due to a premature release of an article about the press conferences by the New York Times.

$250.

November 19th.

WiiSports to be packed in.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...intendo14.html

NY Times may have broke the news before it even hits Japan. We'll see what's unveiled at the keynote though.

50 dollars for games. Not too bad.

30 games available for download through the virtual console seems kind of weak. I hope that goes up alot after launch or else it seems like a waste.

Originally Posted by Cobalt Katze

I believe it's going to be streamed at this address once the conference starts:

http://www.irwebcasting.com/060914/01/

Correct me if I'm wrong. Got it from the other Wii thread.

I don't think that's a live stream, that will just show the conference once it's over.

Thanks Mo0 and Cobalt, updating now. Looks like NDAs or what not expired at midnight or something.