E3 06: Nintendo Wii thread

[Lovecraft13]

Here is a thread for all Wii news.

[Lovecraft13]

Time Magazine reported that Nintendo is working on the next-gen Wii version of Warioware [Made in Wario] and tennis game. Warioware is a collection of mini games; the tennis game will use the Wii controller as tennis racquet.

[Lovecraft13]

At its press conference today Square Enix announced a Dragon Quest game for the Nintendo Wii. Titled Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen at the Tower of Mirrors, the title will be available at the system's launch.

[Mwynn]

So will they break out anything new, or will it be the same games with Wii in front.

Wii Mario Cart
Wii Mario Brothers.

Come on Nintendo.

[Mr.Musgrave]

So will they break out anything new, or will it be the same games with Wii in front.

Wii Mario Cart
Wii Mario Brothers.

Come on Nintendo.


People always bitch that Nintendo keeps putting out the same games but those same games are consistantly million + sellers. It would be crazy not to put them out.

[Mwynn]

True, yet I want something they have not done in awhile. Where is Punchout and Urban Champion. I am not one of those millions, I'm selfish.

[Lovecraft13]

Nintendo could remake every one of their classic games with the new controller functions in mind, and they'd be a new experience.

[Mwynn]

I am sure that is what they are planning.

[Lovecraft13]

Despite the allure of the controller, there isn't a single game that interests me so far. Even Super Mario Galaxy looks terrible.

[Troy Wall]

Where's the best place to read about what's going on at E3, Josh? I usually just wait for EGM to release its E3 coverage issue, but I'm eager to read about all the next-gen games.

[Mwynn]

IGN.com gamespot.com
Or on G4tv around 6pm I think.

[KIERAN OATS]

So will they break out anything new, or will it be the same games with Wii in front.

Wii Mario Cart
Wii Mario Brothers.

Come on Nintendo.

hehe, thats kinda like saying "come on marvel, stop making xmen books"
personally I find that having newer versions of those games with the same characters draws me to them because I already am comfortable with the previous games, and everything they bring out a new machine, they manage to add something new to the experience, think of how amazing mario64 was in terms of freedom of play, there was nothing like it at the time. And being that it was mario who's world you are already familiar with, the chance to explore it was very interesting, and now if nintendo are doing this whole new controller stuff, I'm dying to see what its like.
I've just find that it seems more and more that other consoles are trying to make games that are either super technical or are "cool" with hip music etc, rather than sticking to inventing new ways to enjoy videogames,
I'm not all "nintendo is king" I've owned pretty much every game machine, but all my fondest memories are playing mariokart, goldeneye and mario64, which just happen to all be on the n64, lol,
Though I almost went out and bought a xbox360 today because of that halo 3 trailer, lol, that is about the only game that I am excited about, because I am familiar with it and know what to expect to an extent that would make me comfortable from the begining,
but buying into a new franchise every other month is something I can't be bothered with, which is why I think nintendo are doing the right thing,
even if I get an xbox360, I will probably get the Wii aswel, lol
I guess it boils down to what kinda gamer you are, whilst games like grand tourismo are fantastic, I doubt that mariokart would be as fun to play if you had to pimp out your kart and get better shocks etc to win a race,
I am a pick up and play kinda guy,
anyway, thats my 2 cents, bah!

[DemolitionSamurai]

I haven't had much interest in Nintendo since the 64, but this system is really reinvigorating my hopes for the company. Since just about everything for the ps3 will be also made for the x-box 360, and square is working with Nintendo again, i'm not seeing a whole lot of reason why i should fork over the 600 to Sony.

[Troy Wall]

Random new tidbits released by Iwata and Miyamoto to EGM:

-The controller has a built in speaker. Iwata used the example of it making the classic lightsaber sounds when the player slashes. Could be a hoot for the youngsters.

-The Wii has an always online connection--that is, when you turn it off, it uses minimal power to maintain a connection to the internet. Iwata used the example of entering someone's town on a game like Animal Crossing even if they were asleep and their Wii turned off. Miyamoto seems hyped about it and eluded to utilizing the feature in Zelda games.

-The virtual console will have SEGA GENESIS games available for download. Hell yeah. It will also have TurboGrafx 16 games.

[Lovecraft13]

Where's the best place to read about what's going on at E3, Josh? I usually just wait for EGM to release its E3 coverage issue, but I'm eager to read about all the next-gen games.

I highly recommend Gamespot for their extensive coverage of E3 shows. They also have a pretty solid coverage of all of the games presented this year with video, screenshots, and interviews.

[Mwynn]

Wii rumors.

Price 199-250
The wii was not at e3, all the games were running off the gamecube.

[JamieRoberts]

In the UK, 'wee' means piss. Or small, in Scotland.

Neither were obviously researched when they named this little beaut.

Love the look and concepts though.

[Mr.Musgrave]

I'm fairly sure they were counting on people to be at least a LITTLE mature. Silly Nintendo.

[JamieRoberts]

Yeah, but Nintendo's market has traditionally been the young.

Honestly, they could have a negative reaction based on the name in Britain. I think it's safe to say most adults (most...) could overlook it, and take it as intended, but the kids will think it's hilarious and the parents may not want to encourage.

Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I know my sister's kids will be giggling when they hear the name.

[Mr.Musgrave]

It means the same thing here, and in just about every english speaking place on earth. Nintendo isn't worried about it and most other people aren't either. Dramatic is putting it mildly.

[JamieRoberts]

Fair enough.

[bluelinesmoke]

I think it's a sill name regardless. It sounds like a product marketed to young children as opposed to the "gaming system for everyone" that nintendo has said it will be. That's not to say that it will be a bad system. I'm sure it will be a quality machine but the name is crap. Matter of fact; if the name was crap I would like it better. The Nintendo Crap. They should have just stuck with the Revolution.

[Mr.Musgrave]

It is a silly name, but it's even sillier to judge things based on a name. People order shit like "moons over my hammy" or a "McMuffin" but "wii" is just too much for them.

It's a crazy world I'm trapped in.

[DemolitionSamurai]

Hot damn I could go for some moons over my hammy

[bluelinesmoke]

Yeah, I don't mean to judge it solely by it's name, but until I get to play it thats about the only thing I can judge it on. I like that its smaller, and I love that it's cheaper, but if nintendo only releases a few good games for it and it gets minimal third party love, then who cares if it's inexpensive. The gamecube left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth because of the fact that it could have been the best system of the three. When I have the choice between playing a game on any of the systems though, I never got it for GC because A. the graphics always seemed toned down on the GC as opposed to the other two, and B. I've gotten used to the control layout of the PS2 and X-Box controllers and so have the developers. Most third party games were designed with that control scheme in mind and whenever it was "adapted" to the Nintendo controller it seemed odd. This is my big worry with the Wii as well. I won't discount it untill I try it, and I certainly hope that Nintendo continues to stress quality, but I hope that their inovation doesn't continue to hinder their support from other developers.

[Lovecraft13]

Nintendo has announced the price point for its new living-room console, the Wii, which will be launched globally in Q4 2006. Although for now the pricing is not exact, it will not exceed $250 in America or 25,000 yen in Japan. No estimate was announced for the European market, but the indication given was that it would be a "similar, affordable price".

In addition Nintendo said it was expecting to ship six million consoles between its launch date and the end of March next year, as well as 17 million games.

The news comes hot on the heels of an earlier posting by the company of a 19 percent drop in annual profits, and a warning that results for the current financial year would be 3.5 percent lower than previously thought.

However, Nintendo still expects sales to grow by 18 percent globally, based on continuing sales of the Nintendo DS and hopes for a successful Wii launch. The DS Lite, a new, sleeker version of the twin-screen handheld, is due to launch on June 11 in America and June 23 in Europe, and new key titles such as New Super Mario Bros. will no doubt cause sales spikes globally.

Nintendo's pricing decision will compare directly with key Japanese rival Sony, whose PlayStation 3 console will ship for a significantly higher price at around the same time, up to $599 for the top-end model.

-gamespot

[Lovecraft13]

Famitsu reported that Nintendo's senior management director Yoshihiro Mori has confirmed the price of Wii, the console will cost 25000 yen (US$222) in Japan. The price is about 1/3 of PS3 and less than half of Xbox 360.

[Mwynn]

Are they finally switching to a dvd format for the discs?

[Troy Wall]

I think so, but I'm not positive.

[jimmycakes]

I'm not much of a gamer anymore, but the price interests me and the fact that I can download old NES games to it sounds cool. Yes, I know I can get an emulator.

I think they are just marketing, mainly, families who want an affordable alternative and lots of kiddy games. And I think they found their niche.

Any word on tons of idiotic expensive add-ons?

[DemolitionSamurai]

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3103&Itemid=2

"Nearly 70% of readers said they are most looking forward to Wii. 21% voted for PlayStation 3, while the others voted for systems already released. 88.4% of readers believe PlayStation 3 is too expensive, while 10% believe it's "about right"."

It looks like the price is going to hurt Sony a lot more than it would like to believe. It's good to see Nintendo back where they should be.

[jimmycakes]

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3103&Itemid=2

"Nearly 70% of readers said they are most looking forward to Wii. 21% voted for PlayStation 3, while the others voted for systems already released. 88.4% of readers believe PlayStation 3 is too expensive, while 10% believe it's "about right"."

It looks like the price is going to hurt Sony a lot more than it would like to believe. It's good to see Nintendo back where they should be.

Yeah I think Nintendo is on the ball with the adds too.

revolution.nintendo.com

I'm sure you've seen it. That controller is wacky!

[JamieRoberts]

"Nearly 70% of readers said they are most looking forward to Wii. 21% voted for PlayStation 3, while the others voted for systems already released.
People seriously voted for consoles that are already available in a 'most looking forward to' poll? Jesus.

[Ten_dvs_one]

You guys keep forgetting that the Wii will have a super NES-like controller. They keep showing the thing on G4 during the feed re caps. It looks like it has two anologo sticks in the middle of it similiar to PS2, possible 4 shoulder buttons. Nintendo isnt dumb. They have thought of almost everything that a gamer really will want to deal with. Graphics mean crap... its always about gameplay. Im tired of this SONY/ IMAGE YEAR 1 era of gaming

[DemolitionSamurai]

...

[jimmycakes]

Yeah I'm a huge game play fan. I had issues with many games on a few consoles when they came out. I'm not enough of a gamer to mention them, because I'm sure they've been remedeed.

Anyway, I was checking the computer data base at work and according to Blockbuster Wii games are street dated for 11/06/06 There's about twenty listed so far. They weren't in the system last week.

That can change, but is a pretty good indication of the date we'll see'em.

[JamieRoberts]

I'm considering getting a Wii, even though I've been off gaming since the demise of Dreamcast. I think the deciding factor will be how much fun multiplayer is, since that's all I'd want to play. Hate playing solo.

[dpendleton]

I know that I will get the wii, I will wait on the ps3.

[Lovecraft13]

Nintendo of America's president and COO, Reggie Fils-Aime, has won over diehard Nintendo fans ever since his spirited speech at 2004's E3. As the company gears up for the launch of the Wii, the Nintendo faithful's hopes hang on the man's every word.

Fils-Aime recently spoke with USA Today about the console, its launch, and Nintendo's strategy going forward. Though little new was revealed, his words maintain that Nintendo is staying its course.

After a brief spiel very familiar to gamers that the company is trying to rope in "nongamers" to expand the market, Reggie chatted about online play, which many believe Nintendo is catching up on.

"We view online gaming as essentially an enhanced way to enjoy the gaming experience and drive more sales of hardware and software," he said.

Fils-Aime also moved to quash any lingering doubts as to whether first-title online gameplay for the Wii would be free. "We will offer online-enabled games that the consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for. They'll be able to enjoy that right out of the box. The Wii console is going to be Wi-Fi enabled, so essentially, you'll be able to plug it in and go. It won't have hidden fees or costs," he told the paper.

It should be noted, however, that Nintendo has not officially announced any pricing for its online service, other than that connecting to WiiConnect24 will be free. As for paying for online gaming on the Wii, à la Microsoft's Xbox Live service, Fils-Aime's comments seem to imply that the feature will also be gratis.

Fils-Aime also fed rumor flames that the Wii will undergo a major tour that will let gamers personally try out the Wii--in keeping with the console's E3 motto that "playing is believing."

While talking about the marketing plan for what could be the company's biggest product launch, he said, "It's going to be massive amounts of hands-on activity, as well as showcasing exactly how Wii games are different. We're going to create advocacy. We're going to make it so that everyone who tries the Wii experience talks to their friends and neighbors."

While other Nintendo execs have shied away from the idea that the Wii is directly going up against the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Fils-Aime acknowledges that Sony and Microsoft are competitors. However, he does admit that Nintendo is doing something different.

"Our competitors are both going down the same path. Both believe that more and more performance with a higher and higher price tag are their keys to success. So what do I see? I think our two competitors will trade share between them, while we go off and grab share in a completely different way."

-gamespot

[compton]

PLease PLease PLEASE let them ahve more than a hand full of games the last 2 nintendo consoles where a huge let down. N64 was good at times but my GC only got used for anout 2 weeks at a time and then sat there for about 3 months. sure it's cheep but I don't need a $200 paper weight

[jimmycakes]

I believe that Nintendo is making a big announcment on Friday. Have any of you seen the PS3/Wii spoof? (http://www.8sided.com/article.cfm?blog_id=17095)

[Lovecraft13]

NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime confirms $249.99 price, November 19 launch, 25-game day-one lineup; Twilight Princess available immediately for Wii only, Metroid 3 pushed to 2007.

NEW YORK--At Nintendo's Wii press event this morning--where it had been expected the company would unveil the full monty on the Wii--attendees arrive to find the cat was already out of the bag. The New York Times and USA Today have now both reported the two pieces of information most sought after by diehard fans: The Wii will cost $250 in the US and go on sale November 19. Nintendo told the papers other juicy pieces of information about the Wii release, including a 25-strong launch lineup, pricing on the Virtual Consoles downloadable classic games, and the inclusion of Wii Sports as a pack-in game.


Wii in NYC Nintendo's press event reveals its next-gen console.

Meanwhile over in Tokyo, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced the Wii would go on sale in Japan on December 2 for 25,000 yen--around $213. Since then, the Japanese Wii site has posted extensive information and videos of the Wii's media functions in action, as well as a slick montage of its Japanese launch games.

The hottest details may have already hit the wire, but GameSpot is still front and center at Nintendo's cozy presentation, expected to be led by prominent NOA president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. Stay tuned for a live blog with all the pertinent info, with a tape-delayed video stream of the entire presentation to come at 12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT. Also, visit GameSpot's Wii Launch Center for all the latest Wii updates throughout the day.

9:05 a.m. EDT: Attendees are just starting to filter into the conference space, and the show is set to begin soon.

9:15 a.m.: The place is still filling up. Time to sheperd the nerd herd into their seats.

Waiting for the Wii.

9:19 a.m.: NOA VP of marketing Perrin Kaplan has taken the stage to talk about the three near-simultaneous events in Tokyo, London, and here in New York. Now she's introducing the man everyone wants to hear from: newly anointed NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime.

9:23 a.m.: The Regginator speaks! "The next step in gaming is bringing gaming back to the masses." Obviously it's working for them so far, if you'll notice the brain-training craze and the runaway popularity of the Nintendo DS. Not surprisingly, those are exactly the products he's talking about now.

9:27 a.m.: Here comes the hard info. "One price, one configuration, one color." So there's only a white one (for now), it comes with the nunchaku and so-called "Wiimote" controllers, and it costs...$249.99! The system will show up at 25,000 retail locations, so it probably won't be too hard to find one--especially since Reggie just promised 4 million units shipped globally by the end of calendar 2006, with the majority share going to North America.

9:29 a.m.: But what's in the box? One Wii remote, one nunchaku, both included. Don't forget about Wii Sports, the first pack-in game at launch since the SNES. Speaking of which, we're now seeing a demo of Bowling--one of the games included in Wii Sports.

9:32 a.m.: Like almost every Wii game so far, Bowling is played just like you would in real life: throw the ball as if it were real. You can purportedly put some spin on it, too. We'll have a more detailed report later today.

Perrin Kaplan and Reggie Fils-Aime.
9:33 a.m.: And the final Wii Sports lineup is...Tennis, Golf, Baseball, Bowling, and Boxing?! That's new. This should be interesting.

9:35 a.m.: Reggie's talking about the 25-game launch lineup, not surprisingly being led by The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Excite Truck will also be out on day one. He makes much of the fact that this is the first Nintendo console to launch with a Zelda...though, admittedly, this Zelda was originally intended for the previous console.

9:39 a.m.: Here's a random sampling of third-party games that will be out on day one: Call of Duty 3, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Need for Speed: Carbon, Madden 07, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Splinter Cell Double Agent.

9:41 a.m.: More details that we already knew: roughly 30 games by the end of the year and all first-party games will be in at $49.99 or under. But here's something we haven't heard much about in the US yet: "Wii Channels." Reggie says this idea is meant to expand the console's interface for all the members of the family.

9:44 a.m.: Now we're getting slides of the Wii Channels interface, which lets you start up a Wii or GameCube disc, as well as hit the "Wii Shop Channel" to buy older games for the Virtual Console (look for Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 at launch). After launch, Nintendo is estimating around 10 new games a month to be available.

Surprisingly, full pricing details are here. NES games will be available for 500 Wii points, Super NES games for 800, and Nintendo 64 for 1,000. Wait, Wii what? Looks like they're taking the same tack as Microsoft: Consumers part with fake money more easily than real money. A 2,000 Wii points card can be had at retail for $20.

9:46 a.m.: Bill Trinen is showing off the "Mii" channel, which lets you create your cartoonlike avatar to represent yourself within games. To demonstrate the flexibility of the Mii character-creation utility--which lets you pick hair styles, skin color, facial features, and so on--Trinen is creating a rather, uh, loose interpretation of Samuel L. Jackson. After finishing the Mii, he's got it running around with pretty accurate Mii versions of Iwata and Miyamoto.

9:50 a.m.: The second component of the Mii concept is transporting your Miis elsewhere, since they're stored on your remote. Head to a friend's house, play tennis with your controller, and you'll see your Mii pop right up in the game.

Now we're getting a demo of the photo channel, which is a pretty standard photo viewer. The most impressive thing here is how quickly Bill is navigating the photos with the Wii remote, which works like a mouse. You can also view videos through this thing, even adding mosaic effects or turning the video into a slide puzzle.

9:53 a.m.: Reggie again with some more channels, like weather reports and news headlines (which are updated nonstop through WiiConnect 24 so you can read them anytime). A messaging service is also in place, letting you send messages to other users on the Wii or even to their cell phones (though Reggie didn't say exactly how this will work).

Finally, there's the Internet channel, which is basically just the Opera browser--you'll need to cash in Wii points to purchase it. But the Wii remote does seem uniquely suited to surfing the Web on your couch.

9:55 a.m.: Reggie emphasizes the positioning of the Wii Channels interface for the casual, mainstream user. He makes a point of saying that the Channels interface will come up immediately, with no lengthy boot-up process to get in the way.

9:59 a.m.: That's the end of today's scheduled programming. On with the Q&A!

Additional Wii remotes will be $39.99, separate from the nunchaku, which will be an additional $19.99.

Wii in Action GameSpot editors emote with the Wiimote at NOA's NYC event.

Will the system have its own internal memory for photos and such? Kaplan says it will have some capacity for internal memory, but "most" of the storage will indeed be through SD cards.

Of the 30 games promised by year's end, Kaplan says about half of those will be available at launch. Sounds like Zelda, Excite Truck, and Wii Sports are the only first-party ones, though. While first-party games are indeed $50 and under, third parties are--not surprisingly--free to set their own pricing on upcoming games.

Uh-oh. GameCube Twilight Princess now pushed back to December.

All first-party games and most (if not all) other Wii content will be capable of the 16:9 aspect ratio used by HDTVs but will not be in high definition.

Will the DS and Wii be interoperable? "You'll be hearing more in the future about that," says Kaplan. Nothing today, though.

It's official: Metroid Prime 3 is now a "2007" title.

Pokèmon Battle Revolution (just announced in Japan) will be the first online-multiplayer-enabled game. Um, good?

-GAMESPOT

[Troy Wall]

Can't. Fucking. Wait. :happy:

[JamieRoberts]

Went into a shop to ask if they had any release date info, and the whole staff started getting excited about the console. It's infectious.

[jimmycakes]

Went into a shop to ask if they had any release date info, and the whole staff started getting excited about the console. It's infectious.

Yeah, the two guys I talked to this morning were all giddy and didnt' stop talking about how different and innovative Nintendo's approach to this console was. The mentioned the Wii may cause Sony to drop its prices a little for the PS3.

[J.C. Vice]

This system is going to be cool. My 3 year old and me are going have some fun with this.

[jimmycakes]

EB Games just announced that they are taking pre-orders in Canada and N. America. I pre ordered mine yesterday at FYE. Apparently they have been doing so, quietly, for the last month!

[Phatman]

I think the online download feature of all of the old games and the ability to play Gamecube games are a bonus. Anybody preordered one yet? How much did it run you?-I've heard $250.

[Troy Wall]

My plan for nabbing a Wii on launch day: Drive to my local podunk, and I do mean podunk, Wal-Mart and simply but it. :laugh:

This is the only advantage of living in the sticks I can think of. My Wal-Mart always gets the goods on time, and damned if they EVER sell out due to very small population it serves.

[jimmycakes]

I pre-ordered with $50 down. It's going to be 249.99 in the end. I was seventh on the list and was promised a Wii the day it comes out.

[Nitecrawlah2]

From a Nintendo Wii press reelase:

- Wii Classic Controller for playing the downloadable games will be available, but no price announced, looking at the Japanese price, it might cost as little as $20.
- At least three games will be online on launch day.
- By the end of the year there will be at least 30 classic Nintendo titles online for download. Beginning in January 2007 that will grow 10 a month through the year.
- Pricing for downloadable games will be 500 Wii Points (or $5) for NES, 800 (or $8) for SNES, and 1,000 ($10) for N64. You can buy a 2,000 Wii Points card at a store for $20.

My question is: are these prices per game?

[Mr.Musgrave]

Yeah, they're per game. Which isn't that expensive to me since they'd cost that much on ebay or a used game store anyway.

[Nitecrawlah2]

Yeah, they're per game. Which isn't that expensive to me since they'd cost that much on ebay or a used game store anyway.
Yeah, I suppose that's right. Geez, can you imagine the profit on those old titles? XBLA and the Wii services are making a killing off games that require no box, no manufacturing production, no ads. $$$$

I'll stick with my ol' Genesis and NES titles after all :).

[Mr.Musgrave]

Well, that kind of thing is the reason Nintendo always makes a profit. Out of Nintendo, X-Box and PS, Nintendo is the only company that makes a profit per system. MS and Sony lost money hand over fist with their consoles.

[jimmycakes]

Yeah, that classic controller lists for 19.99 in blockbuster's computer database. Seems like they'll also be selling the points cards as well. Kinda cool. I'm all over the NES. Like you say, they cost a lot more to get most of them for the actual NES console. I have a ton myself, but there are a few that people are selling for $40 that I'm just not willing to pay.

[Lovecraft13]

Nintendo revealed some additional details on Wii's system settings.

Up to 100 Miis can stay in your Mii plaza

The Photo Channel can display a maximum of 1000 photos. If your SD card has more than 1000 photos, you can reorganize the way the photos is displayed

The Photo Channel can display JPEG images up to 8192x8192 resolution, or QuickTime videos up to 848x480 resolution

You cannot save or overwrite any photos or videos stored on SD cards

Software downloaded from Wii Shop Channel is licensed to you, not sold.

You cannot send photos from your Wii console to PC or cellphone users

Parental Control feature does not apply to GameCube games

If you use the messaging feature on the Wii console, Nintendo may monitor
your usage and share certain information as required by law

Initial recommended distance for using the Wii Remote is 3 to 8 feet from the sensor bar. Direct sunlight and various light sources can interfere or make the Wii Remote operation less optimal.

By formatting the Wii Shop Channel from the Wii System menu, you will clear all records of your transactions and rights to download software

Adjusting the speaker and rumble settings will affect all Wii remote currently connected to the Wii console.

[Mr.Musgrave]

What's the Mii Plaza? I haven't heard about that before.

[Mwynn]

http://wii.qj.net/Previiew-the-Wiide-world-of-the-Mii-Plaza/pg/49/aid/69312

Walk a miile in a Mii's shoes in this preview of Mii functionality from Reuters' Gameworld. Your Mii is your in-Wii avatar, your passport, if you will, to interacting with both your Mii-enabled games and other Miis in the Mii Channel.

The Mii Plaza is the "lobby" for all Mii users, where you'll first drop in after you first turn on your Wii. You, Mii, and Duprii many, many other users who'll be bumping into each other in the Plaza: the Mii Channel can hold up to 100 Miis at a time.

Are you through networking? Let's get that Mii's game on. We already know, thanks to all the Wii game previews we've had, that Miis can be dropped into a game to interact with the game environment - such as in Wii Sports where you - well, Mii - becomes the player. (A funny: drop the Mii into Red Steel, and the Mii becomes the protagonist? Imagine a dual-pistol-wielding Mii!)

But Miis can also be dropped into online messages, too - the Reuters source article says "emails," so we presume Wii users can send emails to each other and attach their Mii avatars to them, like a sort of "video message."

Short preview as it is, it still shows off how the Mii could be used as a networking and communications tool as well as a gaming device - and as a cute distraction. Expect to see a Wiide, Wiild world of Miis online as each new Wii hooks up to the net.

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/737/737078/mii-on-parade-20061003040933198.jpg

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/737/737078/mii-on-parade-20061003040932869.jpg

[Mwynn]

Nintendo confirmed via a Q&A at its official website that it will release a higher end version of the Wii in the later half of 2007. The new model will offer DVD playback, but is not expected to see any other changes, external or internal. Nintendo expects the new model to cost more than the standard 25,000 yen Wii due to the costs associated with DVD licensing.

Based on Nintendo's statement, it seems that, in Japan at least, gamers will be able to select between two Wii system SKUs later next year.

Those who purchase the current model Wii hoping for a DVD upgrade in the future may be out of luck. Japan's Impress Watch tech site reports that Nintendo currently has no plans to make the current Wii model DVD ready, neither through software nor hardware. Previously, Nintendo had planned on selling an attachment that would give the Wii full DVD capabilities.

[Mwynn]

Wow I hope you can use any SD as a memory card.

http://www.ebgames.com/search.asp?N=138+117

[Biofungus]

Has anybody tried playing any gamecube games on their Wii yet?

[Troy Wall]

Yup, works like a charm.

[Biofungus]

Have you had trouble adjusting the controller? (I mean playing gc games with a wii controller), or did you just use a gc controller?

[Troy Wall]

I just used my GC wavebird. I don't think you can use the wii-mote on GC games...games have to be programmed to work with that little thang.

[Lovecraft13]

Nintendo will release 3 more titles for Wii by the end of March 2007, including WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Jan 2007), Wii Play (Jan 2007), and Mario Party 8 (Mar 2007). All 3 titles are compilations of mini games.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves contains a collection of seconds-long mini games

Wii Play contains 9 brief games such as Duck Hunt, it will come packed with an extra Wii controller (without Nunchuck). There is a contraption that turns the Wii controller into a Zapper gun

Super Mario Galaxy will be available sometimes between March - December 2007

Reggie confirmed there won't be a Wii console with built-in DVD player
EA's Godfather will be coming to Wii with a different control mechanism from other versions

Nintendo will release the first Wii online game in early 2007

Nintendo will have "Virtual Console Mondays" for Wii, a weekly release of virtual console games. There will be 30 more VC titles by the end of 2006

Certain classic games may not make it to Virtual Console due to licensing issues, such as GoldenEye and Tecmo Super Bowl

[jimmycakes]

Certain classic games may not make it to Virtual Console due to licensing issues, such as GoldenEye and Tecmo Super Bowl[/QUOTE]

I think a lot of people were looking forward to Golden Eye.

[Nitecrawlah2]

This new generation will be cheated out of 600-yd rushing games by Bo Jackson :laugh: .

[Mwynn]

Super Mario Galaxy will be available sometimes between March - December 2007

Why not just say sometime in 2007.

[Artsta]

do these things play dvd's by the way? been wondering about that...

[KIERAN OATS]

I just got one of these things, my g/f got me one for christmas, but I had bit of a "preview" play last night, man its so amazing, the potential there for absolute hilarity is unparalled, can't wait to get some more wii motes and get some boozed hags around to wip up some chaos,
and Artsta, I don't think it plays dvds

[Mwynn]

do these things play dvd's by the way? been wondering about that...
No it uses optical discs.

[Artsta]

ahh okay. i wonder when they'll ever enable that, nintendo's have got to be the only next gen console to not play dvd's. i recall even the later Sega Dreamcasts played dvd's. well my friends did anyways, but he may of had it modded... not to sure.

[Mwynn]

The Dreamcast could play VCD's with a boot disk. The Wii uses last generation gd roms. It also has an outdated Mask rom on the board.

[Dexxell]

I love Rayman. And I have both Trauma center and Zelda but refuse to touch them until I finish a script I'm working on. Hah.

[Khuth]

I have played the Wii at a friend's house and fell in love with this little party system. It's so much fun, harkening back to my early video game days. I haven't owned anything since SNES but the Wii is going to change that. All I have to say is shoulder is sore from the baseball game :bounce:

[KIERAN OATS]

I never got around to owning a gamecube, so now that I have a wii I can get all those games, I picked up mariokart and metroid prime the other day, so awesome, I'm regretting not getting a gamecube years ago, hehe.
Looking forward to downloading some n64 games aswel, although I wish that they could spend a bit of money and make the old games so you can play them online, lol, but I guess its not cost effective.

[William Blankenship]

Been alot of weird vicious elitism from ps3 buffs about the wii that i've seen. I don't get it. The graphics are par but it's fun as hell. It`s not a hardcore gamer system. Stuff like Rayman is challenging but never gives me the urge to throw my controller.

[Mr.Musgrave]

It's probably because the Wii is outselling the PS3. Of course, apparently so is the PS2.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20070223/tc_nf/50280

[Biofungus]

TOKYO - Nintendo’s president acknowledged Friday that the shortage of the hit Wii game machine was “abnormal,” and promised production was being boosted to increase deliveries by next month.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18348840/

[james46]

Wii, definitely, has become as the most popular and most sought after gaming console nowadays. It is different from the usual gaming equipment that everyone used to know of. Its innovative gameplay is what most probably endeared it to gamers and non-gamers alike to all ages.

http://www.smartratings.com/review/electronics/video_gaming_consoles/86

[jimmycakes]

six of my buddies just scored consols. i'm psyched. can' t wait for the online experience.

[Biofungus]

six of my buddies just scored consols. i'm psyched. can' t wait for the online experience.
Isn't that like, a quarter of the population of your state? :p

[jimmycakes]

Isn't that like, a quarter of the population of your state? :p

Well... They are actually in MA and CT. :rolleyes:

[Biofungus]

Not enough people in Rhode Island, you have to hire friends from out of state, eh? :p

[HaphazardJoy]

Hey! Leave Rhode Island alone! It's got Lupo's, that's an awesome venue for shows, and it's got a lot of cool people from MA who can't afford rent around here, and it's got.... well, okay, it was a lot cooler when I had to go there for tattoos, but now that's finally legal in MA. Oh well. I tried Rhode Islanders, but looks like you're on your own.