Wii packaging revealed: Wii Sports bundled

Had enough Wii yet? Yeah, we thought not. So now that you know how much it's gonna cost you ($250, $280 Canadian for our friends up north) and when you have to gather your loot up by (November 19th, December 2nd in Japan), you're probably wondering what the game store clerk will be dropping into your sweating, anticipatory paws. USA Today got the scoop on the consoles retail packaging (as seen above), and in good news for gamers and sports fanatics alike, big bold letters on the box indicate the Wii Sports WILL be shipping as part of and parcel of the system. Wanna know more? The news just keeps on comin' -- we're liveblogging the New York-based Nintendo press event at this very moment. Ok, enough, already; head over to the liveblog post and warm up your F5 key -- we got our best blogging sharpshooter in the audience.

[shiftdelete @ Sep 14th 2006 10:13AM]

cool

[Nate @ Sep 14th 2006 10:49AM]

seconded

[.ed @ Sep 14th 2006 11:07AM]

US launch details:

Wii for $250
Wii Sports included
Wii remote included
Wii Strap included
Nunchuk included
Stand included
Nov 19th release
30 NES titles at launch
30 Turbo Graphix16 Titles at launch
10 new Virtual Console titles added every month
Wii has Channels that will own you...
Wii Channel for local forecast
Wii Channel for news
Wii Channel for Shopping
Wii Channel for Mii (my fav)
Wii Channel for Web (Opera)
Wii Channel for Photocasting
Virtual Console titles for about $5-$10

VC systems show up as Channels (Super Nintendo Channel)
White only for US (simplicity)
expected to sell over 4 million in 43 days (until end of 2006)...thats insane
bowling and boxing added to Wii sports
Sensor Bar included

30 launch titles
first party titles are $49.99
500 Wii Points for NES Games
800 Wii points for SNES
1000 for N64 Games
2000 Wii Points for $20
games become thier own channels
the Mii Channel. A digital 3D caricature of you, your friends, your family, anyone you want to create. Three basic ways to interact. Creation, choose a look-alike, 2nd you can start from scratch. Transfer Miis to Wii Remote, take them with you. Populate your games. Wii Sports, etc.
photo viewer can play video clips

There is a Wii Message Board, send messages to other Wii users, PC users, or to cellphones. Leave messages for other family members on your calendar
You can download an Opera browser using Wii points and surf the web
Wii Remote has MSRP of $39.99
Nunchuk attachment has MSRP of $19.99.
All first-party, most if not all, content is widescreen.
2000 Wii points will be roughly $24 Canadian.

[Christian @ Sep 14th 2006 11:09AM]

A game bundled with the system, Yes! The Wii is starting a revolution (I couldn't resist) and taking gaming back to it's roots. How can anyone not get this console; it has everything the 360 and PS3 are lacking (killer titles for the launch and affordability). The PS3 is going to run $700 when you include a game and the 360 still doesn't have a game that makes me want to drag one out of the store.

Sweet! :-)

[Sunny Man @ Sep 14th 2006 11:11AM]

So, Japan and America get it first again. I'm getting annoyed that here in Europe, we're left twiddling our thumbs while the Americans and the Japanese get their hands on the latesting gaming technology once more. I'm not going to import, but I do hope Nintendo make the wait worth wile and bundle Wii Sports in Europe as well.

[mike @ Sep 14th 2006 11:16AM]

awesome...

cant wait to make a preorder...

i wonder when we can start doing that?

[Ryan @ Sep 14th 2006 12:48PM]

@sunnyMan

US americans are always getting left in the cold. You had the black ds at launch and we just got it today! If you should be pissed at anyone its Japan since they get all the cool stuff before anyone. The only reason the Wii is being released in the US 1st is so it can be out in time for the holidays.

[Jason @ Sep 14th 2006 1:17PM]

Notice on pre-order would be great...or maybe they're assuming there will be plenty to go around. Which as we all know...is NEVER the case. Cant wait to play...but 60 bucks for a full controller setup...guess its not too bad in the big picture.

[Dave Zatz @ Sep 14th 2006 1:38PM]

iPod white and uncluttered design must be what they're teaching in marketing these days.

[Sunny Man @ Sep 14th 2006 1:39PM]

@ Ryan

I suppose, but waiting for a different colour isn't the same as waiting for a completely new system! I can see why Nintendo would want to launch in Japan first (or near first) - because it's their home, their roots. But why can't a company just do a world wide simultaneous launch - I don't mind waiting until early next year even! It sucks. But, can't change anything I suppose. Bring on the Wii. Hopefully they'll announce the UK launch details soon.

[Krisjan @ Sep 14th 2006 1:51PM]

Thanks for the Canadian info...

[toodaloo @ Sep 14th 2006 1:57PM]

I don't play video games asides from the occasional Tetris or Diner Dash a few times a year, the last console I owned was a hand me down SNES in 1997 or something. But this looks interesting. As a non-gamer, as someone that has tried to sift through the console wars recently, it seems this is currently the most attractive machine out there and I'm going to buy it. I'm not going to be lining up outside the stores days in advance, but I'll buy it.

[asurroca @ Sep 14th 2006 3:36PM]

Damn, only two months away. Finally, all the juicy info is coming out... this Channels stuff sounds interesting.

[charlie @ Sep 14th 2006 5:35PM]

I'm excited to buy it, and all this news about available legacy games being highly available and extremely reasonably priced ($5, $8, and $10 respectively for NES, SNES, and N64 games) was exactly what I wanted to hear. I was worried because I know Nintendo could have extorted $20 per game out of me to play classics like SMB3 and Ocarina of Time.

I also think it was a very smart move of them to include Wii Sports with the hardware, that way they're assured that everyone will get quickly acclimated to the unique control system through a variety of relatively simple games.

To be honest, though, I think they could have gone with a $199 price point. By the time they launch, MS will have reduced the full (incl hard drive and wireless controller) X360 package to $299, and they'll have a few more compelling games. Also, I'll probably end up owning 4 Wii controllers, at least 2 nunchucks, and at least 2 classic controllers. With the launch prices, thats working out to $140 extra for the extra Wiimotes and nunchuk, and say the classic controllers are $30 each, thats a full $200. Seems a little steep, but then I guess the competition is no better: $50 for the wireless xbox controller.

Here's my prediction: Nintendo will win this round. Parents arent going to spend $800 on PS3 setups for their kids, especially when the X360 and Wii will be significantly cheaper. People will be drawn to the Wii to be able to play the legacy games. To be honest, if they released an updated gamecube that could download and play NES, SNES, N64, Sega, etc, games, I would have paid $199 for it. Wii games are just a bonus.

[Your mother @ Sep 14th 2006 7:59PM]

2 N64 games for 20 bucks?!?! that's better than eBay!

[Kris @ Sep 15th 2006 4:08AM]

that is nice very very usefull

[Jason @ Sep 15th 2006 9:25AM]

Any clue what the two blank bubbles on the wii.com websites could be? Any speculations?