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Wii to tango with Latin America in December, price is high
During a recent games convention in São Paulo, Brazil (pictured), a representative of Lamatel (Nintendo's Latin American distributor) announced that Wii will be released in Brazil during the first week of December to the tune of 1,400–1,500 Brazilian reais (roughly $640–$690). Ouch! That smarts more than a hot Brazilian wax! Not that we ... I mean ... it was just a team bonding experience ... it's not like ... oh, never mind.But seriously, at that rate, who's buying? Just import. Of course, you may want to add some games to that overseas order. So far, only Twilight Princess is confirmed for launch in Brazil.[Link in Portuguese; Google translation; via NeoGAF]
CNN Money sees Wii launching as early as September [update 1]
The words of CNN Money's Chris Morris, which suggest a Wii launch in late September or early October, are certainly tantalizing and not entirely unrealistic. Getting the machine onto store shelves and into our loving, embarrassingly weak arms would give Nintendo a healthy lead on the PS3 and Microsoft's glut of holiday titles, not to mention the joy it would grant fans of intergalactic bounty hunters and pointy-eared archers. Morris cites an earlier analyst report by P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research which notes that Nintendo already began manufacturing final retail consoles on 21 June, providing ample time until a prospective September launch.Further evidence comes in the less sturdy form of past release dates of Nintendo consoles, with only the Gamecube missing an October or September release window. Of course, if the Wii launches worldwide immediately, one would expect a strategy similar to that of the DS launch -- that one happened in November as well. While it's not entirely unfeasible, Morris' suggestion is still swathed in speculation. With no details available on manufacturing, Nintendo may have simply started up the production line early (if they did so at all) to avoid launch shortages which plagued the Xbox 360 and are sure to plague Sony's machine.Unfortunately, it looks like the only words we can fully trust right now are the ones from official (and sober) Nintendo men and women.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!][Update 1: Nintendo has (predictably) put the kibosh on this one, with a spokesperson stating, "There's no change in our plan to release the console in the last quarter of this year."]
NP confirms identical versions of Twilight Princess
The newest issue of Nintendo Power has some good news for the six people who own Gamecubes, but don't want a Wii. With the exception of the control scheme, the Gamecube and Wii versions of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be essentially identical. It's currently unknown whether the Wii version will also allow the use of standard Gamecube controls, but if you want the classic experience, it's nice to know you won't lose anything from buying the current-gen version.O', may time ride as quicksilver toward the Twilight...
Joystiq / Engadget Podcast 079 - 05.10.06
Sony may have had their fun on Monday, but Tuesday turned out to be one of the craziest days of the gaming year. Nintendo decided to one-up Sony by adding additional speaker support for the Wii-mote, reveal some sort of launch strategy (albeit with no specific launch date or price) and demo actual Wii gameplay. Shortly afterward, Microsoft set us off with some footage of up and coming games, as well as some new periphs (that's what the kids call peripherals now-a-days, right?) Our very own Vlad Cole steps to the mic and joins Engadget's Ryan for today's podcast. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3). [MP3] Download the show (MP3).[OGG] Download the show (OGG). [Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley! Host Engadget's Ryan Block Featuring Joystiq's Vlad Cole Producer Randall Bennett Music J J J - 'Suits' in Japan Format 1:04:58, 29.4 MB, MP3 Program 00:00 - Nintendo's keynote32:30 - Microsoft's keynote LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
Wii Twilight Princess in widescreen, GameCube in 4:3
According to a Nintendo press release titled, "Nintendo Introduces the Next Leap in Video Games," the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will feature a widescreen mode, but the GameCube version will not. This can be inferred from the following statement:"[Twilight Princess] will also be playable on Nintendo GameCube, but without the widescreen format or special controller functions."Is this Nintendo's subtle way of urging us into its next generation? Why does a stripped-down GameCube version of Twilight Princess even exist? Is Nintendo simply satisfying fans that are hesitant to upgrade to Wii? Wouldn't a Wii-exclusive Twilight Princess drive more sales of the next-gen console? What's Nintendo's strategy here? Questions ... questions ... questions ...[Via Nintendo press release; thanks, Oro]
TIME gets hands-on with the Nintendo Wii
We knew we should have taken that call from Miyamoto the other day, but our loss was TIME magazine's gain, because the Mario and Zelda creator was looking for someone to, wouldn't you know it, take the upcoming Wii for a little spin. TIME's five page article is so full of interesting deets that we barely have room to scratch the surface here, but suffice it to say that Lev Grossman not only reports on his hands-on experiences with a number of games, he's also able to get inside Nintendo's head, if you will, and tease out a bit of the methodology behind what some hardcore gamers perceive as the company's madness (Wii? those controllers? Nintendogs?). As for the actual gaming, Grossman got to play some tennis (the sensors even allow you to add spin), slay some dragons (brandishing the controller like a sword in Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess), and bring those wacky Warioware minigames into the third dimension (think: fishing, weight lifting, cooking, etc.). Geez, this thing sounds like so much fun that we may just skip the Sony keynote this afternoon and see if the folks from Nintendo will let us play with their goodies.
Twilight Princess now Wiimote-controlled
The TIME Wii tell-all has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will feature Wiimote-specific functionality. TIME, trippin' off a self-confessed Errol Flynn flashback -- now that's old school! -- got a chance to use the Wii controller to sword fight, aim a bow and arrow, and reel in a "stubborn virtual fish."While the details of the play-test were limited, the revelation suggests that Twilight Princess will play a major role in the Wii launch lineup. Twilight Princess is no longer a Wii-functional GameCube title. Uh-uh, Zelda just upgraded to next-gen status.
Miyamoto confirms Twilight Princess and Revomote play nice
Today is an amazing day! We're knocking two recurring stories off our plates: the PS3 delayed/not delayed saga (for those not keeping score at home, it's officially delayed) and the rumored Twilight Princess Revomote functionality. In an interview for Nintendo-Europe's VIP Lounge members, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto said, "...one of the most important features is that, because Revolution can run GameCube software, when you play Twilight Princess on Revolution you can take advantage of the Revolution controller."There you have it folks, the tumultuous tale of Twilight Princess and the Revomote has come to a close. It's officially delayed, will launch alongside the Revolution, and will feature enhanced functionality. What sort of functionality? We're guessing everything from boomerangs to fishing games, with a couple secrets thrown in for good measure. [Thanks to everyone that sent this in; via Revolution Fanboy; image credit, 4cr's Revolution skins]
Reggie interview: Over 1,000 Revo dev kits sent out
In Engadget's most excellent interview with Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo's VP of Sales & Marketing, it is revealed that Nintendo have already sent out in excess of 1,000 Revolution controller development kits, allowing potential software creators to try their hand at the Japanese giant's great gaming gamble. If anything, this shows that there could very well be loads of third-party developer support for the Revolution, at least to a much greater degree than what the Gamecube experienced. Reggie goes on to say that "The response to the controller has been fantastic. Developers are truly embracing the innovation. They’re embracing the approach and quite frankly, they’re embracing our vision; our vision of creating games that are as sophisticated as the core gamer wants it to be but could also be as straightforward and as accessible as brand new gamers." Another point worth mentioning is Reggie's continually changing stance regarding Gamecube games being played on the new console. Reggie tells us here that Gamecube games will only function with Gamecube peripherals and not with the Revo controller. Where does that leave Twilight Princess? Well, we're going to stick to our guns and suggest that a Revolution "Twilight Princess: Special Edition" will be running straight into the crossfire come E3. Click the link for more interview goodness.
Twilight Princess to be "magical" on Revolution
Since we've danced about this issue with Reggie before, we feel that we're quite familiar with the steps by now. This EGM interview scan shows Reggie strongly alluding to some Revolution enhancements to what is undoubtedly Nintendo's flagship title for this generation. In fact, the only thing missing here is wanton winking and a mildly painful elbow jab to the rib. C'mon, just admit it! It seems that Nintendo's marketing cyborg is the only one that doesn't blatantly exclaim what a great idea it is to make the massively anticipated (and delayed) Twilight Princess a pseudo-launch title for the Revolution. It's sure to satisfy Gamecube fans staring at all the blank spaces on their console's release list, and it's just the kind of powerful franchise a launching console needs to usher in its capabilities and ideals. As the man says: Any Nintendo fan would love to see that.[Thanks dsub!]
Zelda: TP will be "special" on the Revolution
Despite the incessant back and forth, the unending rumor and rejection, it looks like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will feature "special" Revolution functionality! In an interview with EGM in the upcoming March issue, Reggie all but confirmed it saying, "The trick will be what makes it special to play on the Revolution, and to the extent that we could create something like that, boy, wouldn't that be fantastic?" It sure will Reggie. I mean would... it sure would.We all anticipated this functionality when the info got leaked the first couple times. So now that the speculation regarding future Revolution controller compatibility is gone, it's time to speculate on what kind of functionality the game will have. I'll begin: Wind Waker-style music composing? The fishing minigame will rule! Swordplay FTW? Grappling hook? On second thought, not sure that one's gonna work.Follow the whole tumultuous affair:Zelda: Twilight Princess delay is officialTwilight Princess back on schedule Twilight Princess gone 'til NovemberNintendo shoots down Revo details: "still speculation"Magazine reveals Revolution details: Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Donkey KongaNintendo dismisses Zelda use of Rev controllerZelda: Twilight Princess can play on Revolution controllerReggie: Twilight Princess still GameCube-bound[Thanks, dsub]
Twilight Princess: Revo controller support or not?
In what is quickly becoming a saga of operatic proportions, the issue regarding whether or not The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will use the Revolution's controller has now managed to go through several phases: It's been rumored, discussed, explored, rejected, embraced, confirmed, resolved, denied, counter-denied, buried under a mango tree somewhere in the Dominican Republic and finally, posted on a myriad of Nintendo-themed blogs. Just like this one.For those who have been unable to keep track of the whole thing either due to a lack of attention span or basic literacy (and we can certainly identify with that one), here's a short summary: NGC Magazine: Holy yes! You can use the Revolution's controller with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess!Nintendo: What? Uh, that's totally not true. You guys are a bunch of liars.NGC Magazine: It's true! Stop denying it! Jerks.Well, that's a rather crude compression of events, but it should be enough motivation to get you thinking about what would prompt a magazine to risk its reputation and go up against the word of the actual creators of the game. Have they lost their minds? Is Nintendo trying to keep a brilliant idea under wraps? A more detailed version of the story and my own vaguely coherent thoughts on this situation follows.
