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US Nintendo press coverage not-so-live [update 9]

david hinkle
Associate Editor
Updated ·2 min read


Joystiq has a man on the ground in NYC, on-hand during the madness now taking place. He is relaying information, much-needed information, from the press event and we're going to leech said info in the most ridiculous way possible. Keep your eye here as we transport the info over from Joystiq with care. Other sites such as Engadget are also covering the event.

The news so far is after the break.

  • Confirmed price of $249.99 on Nov. 19 in U.S. with Wii Sports pack-in. Worldwide debut is in U.S. Reggie: "One price, one config, one color: white." Included in box seems similar to Japanese system, besides Wii Sports.

  • Games will cost roughly $49.99.

  • Virtual console games will be $5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64. Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda at launch.

  • Thirty titles in U.S. by year's end, about half at launch. Launch games include (compiled from GoNintendo/Engadget): The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, Barnyard, Cars, Avatar, Blazing Angels, Far Cry: Vengeance.

News direct from the event:

  • 10:01 AM EST [update 1] The remote will sell for $39.99, the nunchuck for $19.99. Gamecube version of Zelda will come out Dec. 11, after the Wii version on Nov. 19.

  • 10:04 a.m. EST [update 2] Nintendo again pledges 6 million units worldwide by March 31. The U.S. will get the bulk of units, sold at 250,000 distribution points.

  • 10:07 a.m. EST [update 3] Metroid Prime 3 won't come out until 2007.

  • 10:10 a.m. EST [update 4] Pokemon will be the first online game, ready for Dec. 2 launch in Japan, "shortly thereafter" in U.S.

  • 10:15 a.m. EST [update 5] The press conference is over.

  • 10:18 a.m. EST [update 6]: Some more launch details up top from Engadget.

  • 10:24 a.m. EST [update 7]: Tidbits from GoNintendo -- all first-party games are widescreen, third-party games could be more than $59.99. From Engadget -- the picture editor can play videos.

  • 10:26 a.m. EST [update 8]: From Kotaku's liveblogging -- 2000 Wii points = $24 Canadian ($20 American).

So there we have it, some disappointing news and some not-so-disappointing news. However you feel, you can find more on the event by keeping an eye on Joystiq and here at Wii Fanboy. Let the discussion begin!

[Update 9: Changed the graphic on the post.]