Wii launch date/price rumors abound, Brazil deets set
By Paul Miller 
posted August 8th 2006 3:47PM
posted August 8th 2006 3:47PM
We've heard enough Wii launch dates by now to fairly flesh out a fall calendar, but the rumors just keep coming. A pre-Thanksgiving launch in America is the only official word we've got to go on so far, but IGN is seeing all sorts of clues that point to an earlier release. For starters, lots of big-name publishers are promising Wii titles in mid-to-late October, and they're going to need a console to play on. Then there is the November 2 crowd and the November 12 types, which seem to be the main dates floating around currently, in spite of the fact that November 6th used to be a favored date, and we've heard things as wild as October and late September. All the same, most of IGN's sources seem to be settling on a $229 pricetag, with around five million units in black and white due to be available by the end of the year. The latest hard fact out of Nintendo on all this is that they're planning to release the Wii in Brazil the first week of December for 1,400–1,500 Brazilian reais (around $640–$690 USD). We're not sure if this is a slip by Nintendo's Latin American distributor, or just a clever ploy to throw us off the scent, but what we do know is that Nintendo will most likely announce launch deets before they release their console, so the window to take such an action is narrowing by the day!Read - IGN rumors on Wii release
Read - Wii due in Latin America early December
they'd better keep the Virtual Console titles dirt cheap, or they'll really be shooting themselves in the foot (again) for a few extra bucks in the short term.
and if they were smart, they'd get a ton of Dreamcast titles... that things has the hugest following. :)
PLEASE DONT SCREW THIS CONSOLE UP, big N. you have the chance to do something good!
Am I the only one who thinks the Wii will be the end of consoles for Nintendo? You've got the uber, powerful PS3, then the 360 which isn't too shabby. And then this. Lackluster graphics and CPU compared to their competition, and a controller that'll make you look more retarded than the Star Wars kid. And the launch title list doesn't impress me much either. The only thing it has going for it is the price, but in the end, you get what you pay for. I'm not saying this as a fanboy, because I'm not one...I hate fanboyism. I'm saying this as a neutral party looking at the next gen consoles and making unbiased comparisons.
The "uber powerful" PS3 is going to be the worst selling console this tim around. The Xbox 360 pumps out the same graphics, is $200 less and the Wii provides something new and fun that will be cheap and an enormous hit.
With the world economy slidin in to arecession, a $600 PlayStation with marketing that is more arrogant than Hitler is not what the mass markets are looking for.
Your "uber powerful" PS3 won't be very uber for long as it will be out of date very quickly. Tech goes out of style quickly, gameplay stays current forever.
Am I the only one who thinks the PS3 will be the end of consoles for Sony? You've got the fun and innovative Wii, then the 360 which isn't too shabby. And then this. Lackluster games and innovation compared to their competition, and a controller that hasn't changed in 3 generations. And the launch title list doesn't impress me much either. The only thing it has going for it is graphics, but in the end, you overpay for something that doesn't make it any more fun.
I want it to launch in Europe tomorrow.
When nobody expects it, that ought to be a marketing stunt like none before it :)
Way to turn it around Loban. I honestly think that the PS3 will be the worst selling console of the 3 this generation. I'm sure there will be a few gems of games, but for the most part, the PS3 is this generation's version of the Sega Saturn: Overpriced, difficult to program for, multiple processors, poor library of games.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Saturn, but it simply wasn't a mass-market console.
$1 NES and 2$ SNES 'roms'
PLEASE!
smoke some wiid.
Actually, this only indicates that Nintendo will import the units, as always. Taxes here at least double the price of any product (and this explains the huge black market over here).
Also, in Brazil it makes no sense to launch it earlier than this date, as thanksgiving is not celebrated here. Christmas is the only relevant date to be considered.
Anyway, my thoughts are that Nintendo can succeed, specially in more price-sensitive markets. As for the PS3, they must still show something overwhelming to justify the huge price difference.
The thing that Sony and Microsoft (and apparently several posters here) forgot was that a lot of PARENTS, yes, those folks with the credit cards in their wallets, aren't going to drop $500-700 on a game console. And then having to spend $50 - 75 per title for a game. But a lot of parents, myself included, have no problem spending $250 - 350 on something like Wii for our 7 to 10 year olds. That's one thing Nintendo has understood from the start. And to appeal to this market, they don't need triple HD hi-res graphics, a system that needs quadruple cooling towers, and the ability to interact with 47 other people around the world at any given time. They keep it simple and they keep a loyal market.
I don't think the PS3 will be the worst selling console this generation, i'm not naive enough to underestimate their following. In fact, it will probably sell the most. But I do think it's definitely the most useless console this gereration. It has Blu-Ray (which you MUST pay for) which is completely useless to the vast majority of the market, it also has games that....suck, it also has....ummm....hm.....a controller that....sucks. It is shiny though, so it's got that going for it.
Nintendo could launch the Wii now, in November 2006, or November 2026. It doesn't matter. I know that I'm NEVER going to buy one. If I had to keep it, I wouldn't take one if you gave it to me.
It's true. I talked about it yesterday on my blog (in portuguese) and what Nintendo's sales person said is that they are going to distribute to big retail brazilian companies.
The goverment says that the price is that high because we have taxes to protect our internal market. I want to know which brazilian companies are selling next gen videogames here that need this kinda of robbery, I mean, protection.
"but what we do know is that Nintendo will most likely announce launch deets before they release their console,"
Why not? Sega did it with the Saturn, and that turned out great for them. [/sarcasm]
Nintendo could launch the Wii now, in November 2006, or November 2026. It doesn't matter. I know that I'm NEVER going to buy one. If I had to keep it, I wouldn't take one if you gave it to me.
--
Thank you for sharing that illuminating post.
If Sony gave me a PS3, I would take it, and then sell it, and then buy 3 Wiis. :) Or I guess I could keep it and use it to heat my basement.
no matter how this thing shakes out, there are going to be a lot of people with their heads up their asses
Editors:
Please stop using the term "deets" because "natch" was annoying enough when that was the catch phrase of the day.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
P.S. More TiVo stories please!
Yeah the tax in Brazil is CrAzY. Spent the holidays with the In-laws in Sao Paulo. We took my sister-in-law an Ipod Nano. It was $200. We went shopping and found the Nano for 1200 reais. That was about $550 US. Gotta tax those that have so that the counrty can survive. The rich are super rich so if ya wanna Wii in Brazil, you better have some coin.
Nice post, Loban.
To people who come here saying things that have nothing to do with the article, we don't care whether you're buying one or not. As I recall, that wasn't the subject of the article.
It's true about the parents. And it seems like no one is remembering the statement that Nintendo made in the beginning about casual gamers. Do you think casual gamers looking for an awesome christmas present of some kind are going to balk at $250? Not as much as $600, that's for sure. And even parents will be able to recognize the figurehead characters that their kids talk about when they see them on the boxes including bundled games.
Back to the article, I like the feel of November 2. That's the one I'm betting on. I liked October 2, but it seems too soon. Maybe I just like the number 2...
Do you think casual gamers looking for an awesome christmas present of some kind are going to balk at $250? Not as much as $600....
_________
What about if casual players hold off till the christmas after, the wii will be 150 bucks and the Playstation 3 would be lucky to survive the christmas before
The wii is mainly marketed toward kids. like 10-year-olds. That means that it won't have many T or M rated games. I'm not going to buy a wii just to play games for an older system. I can go on the internet and buy a NES, SNES, and a ton of games for under whatever they sell this for. Its just nintendo making a sub-par system for little kids. again.
Meeemoriees!...maan I could buy the Wii just because of that sexy gamepad! Seriously people, Nintendo has been with us for a long time, long before Sony, long before Microsoft. Anyone thinking they're done for has been reading too many spec sheets from those pixel pushers.. Nintendo belongs to the group of original innovators that does not follow the trend of pixel hysteria, they make games that are fun, crazy and unique. Games that last! The success with DS, if anyhing, is proof of that. I really believe this console will be a killer. and the gamepad too :)
"Editors:
Please stop using the term "deets" because "natch" was annoying enough when that was the catch phrase of the day."
Seconded... It sounds bloody stupid!
Remember that Brazil taxes for imported products are about 40-60%
Sorry my bad english
Marlon José, Brazil
That means that it won't have many T or M rated games.
Yeah, call of duty is rated E
Your Mother: The Wii's virtual console is certainly aimed at adults who remember the games from years past. Even the slim iPod-like stylish design of the Wii console and its controllers appears to be aimed at adults who wouldn't want a purple cube sitting on their living room tv.
Also, Nintendo has been successful in selling the DS to adults. Their Brain Age game, which is marketed towards adults, has sold almost as many copies as their Super Mario game (and, more copies than GTA: Liberty City Stories on the PSP!)
It may be true that Nintendo is not be going after hard-core gamers, but hard-core gamers != adult gamers.
Your Mother. I'm sorry, but good SNES games go for a LOT of money on Ebay nowadays. and the whole design is not marketed towards kids. How is the console marketed towards kids? because NINTENDO made it? because MARIO was demoed at E3? because... you can download NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Turbogrfx games on to it? because it has a motion sensing controller? because huge crowds of people stampeded towards the Wii booth at E3? because it's not as powerful as the PS3 or 360? or is it because you can't steal cars, rob convenience stores and beat strangers up in the games?
this is bull - The "uber powerful" PS3 is going to be the worst selling console this tim around. The Xbox 360 pumps out the same graphics, is $200 less and the Wii provides something new and fun that will be cheap and an enormous hit.
Yes the ps3 may be the worst one this time, but the 360 does not have the same graphics. your an idiot if you think that, just take a look at fight night and graw and all the newest titles. i agree with post #2 in that this will be nintendos last home console. the gamecube was a disappointment and this one will be also, because no one wants outdated graphics no matter what people are saying online here. the online world does not respresent normal america.
The deets and natch shorthand is something Wired does too, but fails to filter through their little 3 tier hot or not side bar.
What will keep a console going is innovative games, which I still expect to come from Nintendo. PS3 and xbox will still have MORE games, but they will be the same old retreads of Madden, etcetera.
"The gamecube was a disappointment"
Gee, me and my friends weren't so dissapointed by the gamecube, but then again we don't really care about horsepower as long as the gameplay's good.
"no one wants outdated graphics no matter what people are saying online here. the online world does not respresent normal america." And neither do you, so shut your pie hole. :P
The Wii will succeed because many people will want a next gen console without spending hundreds of dollars.
"The gamecube was a disappointment"
Actually it sold very well for Nintendo.
Just because you didn't buy it doesn't mean other people haven't.
What's sad are teenage boys who believe the only thing that makes good video games are more power and more violence. For the younger untainted crowd and older more seasoned crowd (and a few evolved ones inbetween) there is the Wii. And thankfully so.
The Wii is actually targeted at the true mainstream - Everyone. Why is it so hard for idiots here to understand that?
Gee wiz! There is so much bias in here i can smell it!
The Gamecube was a great system. Of the 3 of that generation, it was the only one where you could have 4 different types of people sit down and play the same game: Mario Party 7!
Plus, Super Smash Bros Melee for the kid fighter in 'ya. The only game to come close on another system was for the original XBox, the one with all the mini-games that came out early on. That was fun, but only for a little while. I could play SSBM or MP7 any time and not be bored with it.
Also, the Zelda games are a blast, and I'm looking forward to their new one.
If all 3 systems were available right now, I believe I'd pick the Wii for overall fun factor. The only real reason I would pick another system (preferrably PS3) is because of DDR and FFXIII.
I also live in Brasil, but I'm gonna get a Wii from abroad; taxes on imported goods in Brazil are astronomical, way higher than in almost every other country.
For example, if I buy a US$300 product from the US and pay US$ 50 in fright costs, I will pay US$ 180 in taxes for the product, plus US$ 30 in taxes for the FREIGHT, bringing the grand total to US$560.
And the costs soar even higher for a resale product like the Wii, there are lots of additional retail and transportation taxes involved, which can easily bring the price here to over US$600.
The gamecube failed miserably here, and Nintendo got out of the Brazilian market after that: It cost initially around US$1000, and each of the only 6 games released retailed for over US$100;
You can see WHY piracy is so rampant here...
Well, of course I don't have to pay FRIGHT costs :D
But FREIGHT costs, they are big :)
i agree with post #2 in that this will be nintendos last home console. the gamecube was a disappointment and this one will be also, because no one wants outdated graphics no matter what people are saying online here. the online world does not respresent normal america.
Lol you actually think that ps3 and the xbox360 will do better then the nintendo wii. Well true who does want outdated but yet again who wants a console that cost 600 dollars and who wants a console were the average American thinks anything xbox = sucks, Next Gen console markets spells some bad times for teh American console market. Mainstream America wants a ps3 but majority cant afford it and intrest in the ps3 will wan because of the price point. So this is it the problem for Next Gen in the eyes of the casual gamer the ps3 is cool but expensive cost more then my rent, the nintendo wii stupid control scheme outdated graphics kiddy and gay, and the xbox360 will have halo but the entire console still sucks. To be honest I think the North AMerican game market might crash next gen for the fact that the majority of gamers wont have a next gen console because of the ps3 being expensive and non intrest in the wii and the 360. I just hope the xbox360 or the wii pick up casual gamers from the ps2. And oh yeah when did average americans care about graphics, if Average Americans cared about graphics gamecube and xbox should have been number1. Either way the AMerican gaming market is doomed just hope the ps2 becomes a comodity for gamers in the next 5 years to carry the U.s game market.
The console looks weird.
"The Wii will succeed because many people will want a next gen console without spending hundreds of dollars."
$229 dollar price would be just sweet. At that price I would get 2 consoles so I could have one at my parents house and we could use it for long distance voip calls AND gaming when I come over.
Everytime I look at the Wii, I think "Damn, that is one sexy machine." And I've heard an early october release date, too. I hope that one, my birthday is on the 13th and my mom says she'll get it for me if it's out. =D
Please Nintendo, don't make this another GC. DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME
They better motherfucking have a grey/silver color controller available at launch.
I want probably the black system, but I hate the black controller, it looks like something bigfoot shit out after eating a bunch of charcoal and has aids. I might get a white system, because I like the white controller, but I'm planning on getting the black system, and buying a grey controller. Sometime down the line, I'll probably buy more controllers. If they dont have a grey controller available at launch, I'm buying a PS3.
Im just kidding, I'll buy a white controller and use that one and make my bitch (who ever is playing a multiplayer game with me) use the bigfoot-shit-with-aids black one, and then buying the grey one when its available and have 3 controllers. Then buy another controller when theres another color available.
I hate having controllers of the same color. Thats why I put these retarded little Zelda stickers all over my 2nd blue gamecube controller I use.
KTHXBYE! =D