nintendo-selects
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Pikmin 2, Mario Power Tennis on US Wii June 10, DKC Returns and Brawl discounted
Despite never having been released for Wii in North America, the Wii's "New Play Control" version of Pikmin 2 will be released as part of the "Nintendo Selects" line June 10, alongside fellow GameCube port Mario Power Tennis. Rather than question the logistics of a budget re-release of a game that was never released in the first place, we'll celebrate the $19.99 price point under which it's coming out.Also joining the Nintendo Selects line are two bona fide Wii games, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the excellent Donkey Kong Country Returns, at $30 each. It's about (two years past) time for Brawl to be made cheaper, though it's unusual that these two games will sell for $10 above the normal Nintendo Selects price.%Gallery-155336%
Nintendo Selects budget line adds Super Mario Galaxy, Punch-Out!!, and more
Faced with drooping sales and waning retail interest in its platforms, Nintendo's been exercising its price-cutting muscle with some regularity. Before the unexpected 3DS price cut, there was the $50 Wii price cut that also included a bundled copy of Mario Kart Wii and the Wii Wheel accessory. At the same time, Nintendo introduced the budget-priced Nintendo Selects game lineup and, on August 28, it's dropping four more games to the $19.99 price point. Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch-Out!!, and Super Mario Galaxy join The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers, and Wii Sports in the bargain aisle. While it's hard to argue with the new, lower price, our secret, inner box-art snob wonders, "Is a measly $30 savings worth the shame of having that on the game shelf?" A look at the art for the latest Nintendo Selects selections is after the break.
'Nintendo Selects' a slightly different set of games for Europe
Nintendo's new Mario Kart Wii pack is coming to Europe on May 20, at a "reduced trade price" around £129/€150. The budget "Nintendo Selects" line will launch in Europe the same day, featuring a slightly different lineup from the American version: Wii Sports, Animal Crossing: City Folk (under the overlong European title Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City), Mario Strikers Charged, and WarioWare Smooth Moves. Mario Super Sluggers isn't part of the series because it was never released in Europe!
Wii drops to $150 on May 15, bundled with Mario Kart and wheel
Nintendo has officially announced an impending price drop for the Wii. As of May 15 (confirming our earlier report), the Wii will be sold at a suggested retail price of $149.99, and will come bundled with Mario Kart Wii and the Wii Wheel accessory. The new price applies to both black and white system models. Now that Mario and his comical transportation have been crammed into the box, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort are out. On May 15, the original sports collection will join the "Nintendo Selects" line of budget-priced software, alongside The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk and Mario Super Sluggers. Expect to pay $19.99 for each of those (and accept the obligatory punishment of polluted box art). %Gallery-122793%
