Wii set to drop on November 6th?

You may remember us passing along a rumor last month from Cubed3 which claimed that Nintendo would be launching the Wii on November 6th; as usual, we took the info with no small amount of skepticism, but now that date actually seems to have been confirmed, and in the most unlikely of places: this month's issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids (Disclaimer: Engadget and SI for Kids are part of the same loving corporate family). Generally not known for getting the inside scoop on the video game industry, the magazine nonetheless seems confident enough in its sources to have published the supposed release date as fact without even the hint of a disclaimer, which combined with the Cubed3 info, makes us think that they might be onto something here. Obviously any deets related to the launch and pricing of this console are up in the air until the official word comes down from Japan, but with Xbox 360 already firmly entrenched and the PS3 scheduled to roll out a little later in the month, it certainly makes sense that Nintendo would be looking to leverage even the tiniest advantage.

[Via Joystiq]

[Darren @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:39AM]

Talk about unexpected places to find information!

Nintendo can't hold back the pricetag too much longer...

[HOLLAND @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:40AM]

Maybe they mean game reviews.. Those could apear way before the Wii does

[Rishard @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:59AM]

While I think the Nov 6th is a valid date, I highly doubt SI Kids has a scoop on it. I don't think any print magaizines have any more info then any other news source. If it was reported coming from an interview its one thing. Chances are they seen it reported somewhere else with that date first and are just passing on the same speculation.

Though I think the 6th is a good valid date cause it beats the PS3 out the gates.

[Roban @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:00AM]

Well, if you're the same company, why not ask them why they're so sure of the launch date?

[WIll @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:19AM]

My thoughts exactly Roban

[Karl Viklund @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:21AM]

Why are these images always so blurred?
Do they know about focus?

[JinKazama @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:37AM]

The fact that we still have no price concerns me. With gaming boards abuzz about how great the Wii is and how the PS3 sucks, I can see Nintendo dropping this puppy for $299. Which with the PS3 and 360 Premium pricing would seem like a bargain to the average gamer...Having played the thing I think $299 would be a rip.

The Wiimote is nice but has gimmick written all over it. The graphics are good but no where near next gen, more like XBOX +.

If they drop this puppy at $199 they will run Sony and MS out of town. If they get greedy all bets are off.

[chenry @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:09PM]

Re: JinKazama
I thought Nintendo said the Wii would be priced at no more than $250USD.

[All Your Lost Socks @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:22PM]

I don't see them getting greedy at all. Nintendo has been quite reasonable in the past with pricing on new releases.
I hope this is an actual date... the sooner, the better.

[Craig @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:26PM]

JinKazama,
There is no way that Ninty is gonna drop this console anywhere over the mark of $250. Said so before and if they do drop it any where over 250 they can kiss my purchase good bye until it drops to a respectable $199. A promise is a promise and they would lose many buyers raising the price like that.

[tristanfey @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:33PM]

RE: Roban and Will

Corporate structure makes that about as easy as you contacting them to verify the information. Just to give you an idea. Engadget is part of the Weblogs, Inc. family. Which is owned by AOL, which is a division of Time-Warner.

SI Kids is a division of Sports Illustrated. Which is part of Time Inc. the book publishing division of Time-Warner.

I guarantee every one of these divisions and corporate entities have different policies and structures.

[Eric @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:39PM]

Nintendo really isn't the price gouging kind of company, I think they were pretty sure at E3 of the price, and Sony's price point really hasn't changed theirs, they are just waiting for the right moment to make the splash with the price.

Rather, I see them selling a bundle pack, a sort of core and premium, if you will, with maybe a game and a 4GB SD Card, or something that could store a lot of information, to give the system an "internal storage" feel to it, to compete with Sony and MS.

Also, while I doubt that the controller is just a "gimmick", Nintendo should release the cost for extra controllers, or, controller configurations [See Nunchuck attachment] the same day they release the console prices, as many people will probably want extra controllers as soon as possible.

[Waylen @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:50PM]

How come all the important pics are always so blurry? Is it intentional?!?

[Superdotman @ Jul 3rd 2006 1:37PM]

Karl: It's more mysterious that way.
JinKazama: It's definitely under $250, and the pretty much everyone who went to E3 has confirmed that it's more than a gimmick.
Engadget: November 6 is Nintendo's 117th birthday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_6), so rumors could have stemmed from there. A quick Google search only yields Cubed3 as a source for the information.

[Aaron @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:22PM]

I figure it's more likely these guys just went to Google and searched for "Wii launch date" or something... I doubt they know any more than we do.

[Perrey Z. @ Jul 3rd 2006 5:02PM]

This is great! Wii, PS3, Sony's Blu-Ray player. The rest of the good top-of-the-line Flat Panel TVs from Sony, Samsung, Toshiba and Hitachi. It's going to be a very good holiday season.

[bliss @ Jul 3rd 2006 7:54PM]

so when it gets dropped, is it going to go "wiiiiiiii!"

[theturk @ Jul 4th 2006 1:02AM]

nintendo launches their consoles on sundays. this information is not true. november 6th is a monday.

[syxed @ Jul 4th 2006 8:32AM]

theturk -- what??? you cant just say things as fact if you have no idea what you're saying. Super Nintendo launched Aug 13, 1991 in the US. A Tuesday. Or maybe you mean Japan. Super Famicom launched Nov 21, 1990, a Wednesday. Hmm. Wierd how the facts get you. Maybe Europe? Jun 1, 1992, Monday.
OK fine, maybe the SNES was an exception. The DS in Japan launched December 2, 2004, a Thursday. DS Lite, March 2, 2006, Thursday.
So maybe you mean America only? Even though this post does not imply America.
OK, GBA June 11, 2001, Monday. GBA Micro September 17, 2005, Saturday.
Virtua Boy August 21, 1995, Monday.
NES -- America and Japan - Fridays.

So please please get your facts straight before jumping to conclusions. This date has complete potential to be correct.

[vidGuy @ Jul 4th 2006 12:48PM]

My guess at Nintendo launch details:

US Launch - November 3, 2006

$199 Action Pack
Wii Console
Wii Sports
2 Wii remotes
1 Wii nunchuck

$249 Action+Retro Pack
Wii Console
Wii Sports
2 Wii remotes
1 Wii nunchuck
512MB or 1GB SD card
Virtual Console Controller
(2 free downloads on VC?)


Here's my thinking. The Wii should come with at least one full controller setup (remote+nunchuck). Otherwise, the bigger launch games (Zelda, MP3) can't be played without an additional purchase, which doesn't look good at all.

The Wii is about multiplayer-goodness, so two remotes and Wii Sports out of the box would be a perfect fit. Plus, it would get gamers used to and excited about the controller.

With the Retro pack, gamers would get additional storage for downloads, and the VC controller. This would be a great marketing tool for the Virtual Console.

Now, while these packages may seem to be too much, I could see Nintendo going for it because they have to distance themselves from the competition, and 'value' is a great way to do that. And it's a lot easier to grab the attention of the average consumer when he/she only needs one box, at one price.

[Adrian Powell @ Jul 11th 2006 9:14PM]

I'm happy to know that my comment came into thought cuz now the nintendo wii will have wicked features like making the player able to continue using the gamecube controllers.I think they shouldn't make super smash bros brawl next year but sooner like near christmas time or even sooner instead because many people will want to buy it for christmas and i think it will be a mega hit.Also the name wii doesn't really have a ring to it the name for this system should remine as nintendo revelution cuz that sounds like a system for players and trust me revelution sounds WAY better den wii.

[ds-flash @ Jul 19th 2006 8:29AM]

Keeping my finger crossed for an earlier release!

[Adrian Powell @ Aug 9th 2006 11:26PM]

I think super smash bros brawl is going to be a mega hit but unfountanatly it not coming out in 2006 but in the beginning of 2007 which is not all that bad if its coming out in January I think since this game is no longer a wii launch game it should have more playable characters like shadow from sonic the hedgehog and people from the really cool naruto series just imagine mario VS nine tailed naruto or cursed marked sasuke i think it would be wicked to have at lease 10 or more playable characters from the naruto roster some suggestions are Rock lee,Gaara,neji,Gai sensi,Itachi, all 5 of the hokagaes,Orochimaru and yeah you get the point.

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[Tristan @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:20PM]

I think super smash bros brawl should have inu yasha and his brother because they use swords just like link and marth and roy they should also have charaters from the dragonball Z series like goku and vegeta or goku Jr. and vegeta Jr.

[Adrian Powell @ Nov 12th 2006 9:14PM]

I'm happy to know that my idea was taken into thought bcuz now the nintendo wii is gonna have wicked features like making players able to continue using gamecube controllers,merory cards,and players can play their games from nintendo gamecube on nintendo wii.But i think nintendo should keep the name of revolution
cuz that sounds like a system cuz whats wii and i think all nintendo fans will agree with me on this one revolution is WAY better den wii.I think super smash bros 3 should be released somewhere near the time nintendo wii does and thats this year or at lease near christmas because i know many people will want this incredible game for christmas or sooner.

[Adrian Powell @ Nov 14th 2006 5:51PM]

I know nintendo does really care about visuals but it would be still nice to see very good graphics like on the PS3 or Xbox 360.Why is it that nintendo always has to have the lease amount of graphics i think if they were to upgrade their graphics to at llease 780p they will gain more people to want to buy their console.I think nintendo should start making a chip of some short to upgrade the graphic of their games and sell it by next year then for sure they would have no competition against either of the other consoles and they will still be in the lead of the console war by next year

[Adrian P @ Dec 10th 2006 7:00PM]

Nintendo broke its promise by changing the price of the new nintendo console and not only that they raised the price of games,controllers and nunchuks. They said they will price it No higher then $250 but why is it in the newspaper for $279.99 thats a 30 dollar increase and thats not fair for us all living in Canada they should drop it back to $250 before launch day because $60 for games is too expensive!

[Adrian P @ Dec 10th 2006 7:28PM]

I think Nintendo should have 2 controllers for the up coming smash bros. brawl one being the gamecube controllers and the second being the wii remote because I think it could work because you can still use basic fighting moves with the [A] button special moves like fire balls and lighting bolts with the [B] button and have button like the [C] to be used for grappling and for throwing items and as for the [Z] button that can be used for the shield and if you keep it pressed down and turn the nunchuck stick right or left you will roll to the side. So basically its the same mechanics like melee but your not going to need to use the motion sensor for in game fighting but it should be forgotten it could be used for bonus things like mini games that require the use of the remotes motion sensor there should be a lot of mini games to choose from just for extras that could make smash bros. brawl more interesting. Also the game could have some really cool cut scenes during the adventure mode before a fight with voices from the characters because reading dialog for most games get really boring and tiring because this is a brand new generation and this could be a great start towards it.

[Adrian P @ Dec 10th 2006 7:46PM]

I really hope that www.supersmashbros3.com is an official site because they have a lot of information about the up coming smash bros. brawl and it would be a huge disappointment for a lot of people to know that some of their information is fake. Also in brawl Gannondorf should look like he did in the game twilight princess because he looks more evil looking then he used to and that�s good.