Nintendo confirms US and Japanese Wii launch details

[Lazybones]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19675

The Nintendo Wii will launch in the US November 19th, priced just under US$ 250 (197 euros / GBP 133) and will come bundled with a copy of the game Wii Sports.

Japanese consumers will have to wait an extra two weeks for the launch on December 2nd, but the console will retail slightly cheaper, at 25,000 Yen (167 euros / GBP 113), without a copy of Wii Sports.

Japan will see 16 titles at launch and will range in price from 4800 Yen (32 euro / GBP 22) to 6800 Yen (46 euro / GBP 31). 25 titles are purported to be available at launch in the US, priced around US$ 50 (39 euro / GBP 27)

At a press event, Nintendo of Japan president Satoru Iwata also revealed the pricing structure for downloadable games via the WiiConnect24 service.

NES games will sell for 500 Yen (3 euro / GBP 2), SNES titles will cost 800 Yen (5 euro / GBP 4) and N64 games will retail for 1000 Yen (7 euro / GBP 5).

[TheDruid]

Yeah, but is it in High Definition

I must say that i am intrigued by the Wii, and i will probably end up owning one within the next year. Can't say the same for that *other* evil company... no the other one... you know who i mean 

[CowGirl]

The amount my hubby has been talking about the Wii, I can see it under our tree at christmas.

[Shayne]

"Nintendo confirms final version of its next-gen console will only play "12-centimeter optical discs for the Wii console," and it has abandoned original plans for DVD peripheral."

THat sucks

[Shayne]

"But is the Wii really such a good deal? As one commenter on Joystiq put it, when you factor in the cost of an extra controller ($40), extra nunchuck attachment ($20), a non-bundled game ($50), and the obligatory SD card ($20 to $50), you're looking at a package that costs over $400 -- and over $500 if you want to equip everyone in a four-person family with their own input devices."

[Thorin]

"But is the Wii really such a good deal? As one commenter on Joystiq put it, when you factor in the cost of an extra controller ($40), extra nunchuck attachment ($20), a non-bundled game ($50), and the obligatory SD card ($20 to $50), you're looking at a package that costs over $400 -- and over $500 if you want to equip everyone in a four-person family with their own input devices."

So...  What would the math be for a 360 or PS3, given the same parameters?  Box, non-bundled game, and a total of four controllers?

If we're going for a cheap toy, maybe we should just buy the family a couple of Logs:

[Thorin]

Yeah, but is it in High Definition

I must say that i am intrigued by the Wii, and i will probably end up owning one within the next year. Can't say the same for that *other* evil company... no the other one... you know who i mean 

High definition TVs are still in the minority, although that's sure to change now that the technology companies have figured out they can force us to pay more for a TV if they simply stop producing the cheap tube models.  But for those of us who bought Classic TVs (tm) in the last five to ten years, whether or not a console has HD doesn't matter.  Given that those tube TVs will continue working for years to come, and given that a lot of people who buy consoles are parents who *don't* have oodles of money to spend, I'm sure the Wii will do fine without HD support.

At the same time, having seen what HD games look like on an HD screen, I can see the attraction.  But I'd still rather pay for a year of hockey for all the kids than buy a new TV just so we can sit at home, in the house, on the couch, playing video games.

[Adams]

I agree, everyone get your pail skinned butts outside on the double (Feel that pain, thats fresh air ). But if that new TV gives me 10 minutes of rest and relaxation, distraction from the real world, then it's worth it. But for R&R you don't need HDTV

[Mr. Analog]

Ha!

[Shayne]

Im with ya Thorin, the 360 set me back about $800   I just never thought about it, the Wii is a party platform i would imagine a second Wiimote and a second nun-chuck is basically requried, and if you own a gamecube I think the memory cards for it work.  So ya you can shave a lot of cash from the cost.  (i was expecting $199 USD though, seems that was the hot number being floated around for months).

To discount HD because its not popular now is rather naive.  I would imagine the growth is on a curve and people are buying them and will continue to buy them as the price between HD and non-HD narrows (27" LCD Viewsonic at Costco for $700 is pretty damn tight).  While im sure the Wii will still sell well, its gonna look butt-ass-ugly on my 50" as does my previous gen Xbox.  An EA guy recently commented on how Madden on the Wii competes head to head with the 360 and PS3 in terms of graphics, however the guys over at 1UP added in the "between the lines" comment of "on standard definition".

Good to see Thorin getting his kids outside, however in the middle of f'n winter the last thing (i a grown 26 (almost 3y ) year old) wants to do is run around in the -40C.  Winter is really the only change I get to game hardcore.  I look forward to it in many respects.  I also think kids should be given the chance to relax and enjoy some "own time", and a good video game in HD is pretty sweet.

Back to the point, the Wii is very well priced, but i wouldn't consider it cheap, you basically are getting what you are paying for, I see that for all 3 consoles for the most part.

[Adams]

One positive it does do is gets people moving with the controller style.
I know most people who don't play video games usually like to move the controller now they can get a bit of a work out too.
Maybe some of those "larger" children who don't like going outside can get a bit of much needed exercise.

One thing I must point out is when I was told no I could not have it... (a chocolate bar or etc...) I did not get it and if I kept up the wining I would be taken home. Now I saw a mom say no the larger, little girl said I want it and started wining. The mother said oh fine here you go. We would be a much better place if parents took a better stand on those types of things. (aka spankings, and actual punishment)

-- I will now leave the podium open to nay sayers.

[Thorin]

Back to the point, the Wii is very well priced, but i wouldn't consider it cheap, you basically are getting what you are paying for, I see that for all 3 consoles for the most part.

In the case of the 360 and the Wii, I agree.  In the case of the PS3, I think it's overpriced given that you get basically the same functionality as the 360.  What's extra, the Blu-Ray player?  Does it work?  Jury's still out on that...  Maybe I just don't know enough about the advantages of the PS3 over the 360.  If I were considering a high-end game console I'd pick the 360, but that's probably because I'm terribly unimpressed with Sony offerings; have been for years.

One positive it does do is gets people moving with the controller style. [...]
Maybe some of those "larger" children who don't like going outside can get a bit of much needed exercise.

That's like saying kids get more vegetables now because French Fries are considered a vegetable.

One thing I must point out is when I was told no I could not have it... (a chocolate bar or etc...) I did not get it and if I kept up the wining I would be taken home. Now I saw a mom say no the larger, little girl said I want it and started wining. The mother said oh fine here you go. We would be a much better place if parents took a better stand on those types of things. (aka spankings, and actual punishment)

There's nothing more I'd like to do sometimes than smack those little @%&#s as hard as I can to show them who's boss.  Problem is, at that point I'm not trying to teach my kids to be responsible members of society, I'm just looking for a way to take out my frustrations.

That being said, for every parent that you have observed giving in to their child I've observed one being firm with their child.  Saying "if parents took a better stand" lumps all people who children into one group and places the blame neatly on their shoulders.  It's human nature to want to judge people, and judging them on their children's behaviour is convenient and easy.  Instead, we should avoid the easy route and take the hard route - think about why that particular person might give in to their child at that time.  Could it be that there was a death in the family and the mother was emotionally exhausted?  Could it be that the mother is overwhelmed with all the stories about unique and strange dangers to their children and so has lost the ability to see the every-day threats to her child?  Could it be that this little girl has been headstrong and stubborn since birth, refusing to sleep, refusing to eat, refusing to go outside, and the mother is at her wits' end?  Could it be that this little girl has been working hard at losing weight for over a month, and she finally really wants a treat because she hasn't gotten one in a long time, so the mom gives in because she realizes its been so long?  Those are all alternate reasons besides the one you imply, that the mother's too lazy to bother standing firm on the rule.

Yeah, I think it's important to stand fast on rules you make as a parent.  Until you have a couple of snarky kids talking back at you, though, I'll just nod my head and say, "Sure, of course, you'd do the right thing".  Because until you've been there, you won't know how you'll *really* act.

[Shayne]

I'm not sure that flicking your wrist would be considered exercise

[Adams]

Well all I can say is well said. I definitely don't have kids but I can say I want to and I hope I don't take my frustration out on them but punish fairly and justly.

I forgot the reason why the little girl got her way... The mother was saying no to the chocolate bar but was buying a pack of cigarettes and the child being smart put in a low blow and said well you don't need those. Let me stop you right there I did this to my mom and instead of telling me OK dear pick out a chocolate bar she said, grown-ups get to do things that children don't get to do.

I do understand your points but I have watched a friend of mine raise her child, it is frustrating because he will act very well with my wife and I because he knows he cannot get away with it but in-front of his mother he is a spoiled brat. I see how she raises him instead of taking a stand she started with counting and of course children want to test the boundaries she would get to 3 and he would wait because instead of acting on that and taking him to his room she would count to 4 then say mommy is not going to give you any more hugs... that i think was when I realized that my parents may have been strict but man do I appreciate that.

Anyways I figure Nintendo is perhaps going to use this movement as a marketing ploy in America to say get your fat kids moving with Nintendo.

-- end rant

[Thorin]

I figure Nintendo is perhaps going to use this movement as a marketing ploy in America to say get your fat kids moving with Nintendo.

I think Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix would be a much better pick.  Yes, we have the dance mat at home.  Yes, on the higher setting it does actually make you sweat a bit