Worldwide Wii Day (Sep 14/15): the official thread *Released Nov 19 for $250 (US)*

[PeterT]

The presentation at the japanese Nintendo site pretty much convinced me to do something I've never done before: buy a console at launch price. I didn't even know that the Wii had standard WiFi , that makes Sony's and Microsoft's squandering on that in their low-end models even more laughable (I'm still annoyed about that). I also never bought a Gamecube this gen and there are still a few games for that which I need to play, so that makes the purchase even easier to justify.

Anyway, I predict that they will sell every Wii they can build even at $250 well into 2007. I just hope the 2/12 EU release speculation is true, otherwise I may even import...

 

[ninzel]

Just to compare
Wii =$250
360 core with wireless controller,mem card and 1st party game=$440.

 

[djdev]

Just to compare
Wii =$250
360 core with wireless controller,mem card and 1st party game=$440.

You still need to buy another controller for Wii so that price comparison isn't fair. You might as well compare it to a Premium 360, and if Microsoft is smart they will pack a game in with the premium one.

 

[expletive]

The premium already comes with a game, Hexic HD!

Edit: Was DVD playback confirmed or not for the Wii? Are we going to give that feature any value?

 

[scooby_dooby]

1) I don't think so as it's got 512 MB Flash inside.
2) It uses dirt cheap SD. 512 MB for $15 maybe? .

Instore, I'm looking at about $30-40 CAD for the lowest priced SD cards
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10069934&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=20093&mfr=&logon=&langid=EN&list=&page=0&sort=3

Usually around $40 unless it's on sale, so $10 less than the 360 MC, but way more storage. 64mb is pathetic.

 

[StefanS]

The premium already comes with a game, Hexic HD!

Edit: Was DVD playback confirmed or not for the Wii? Are we going to give that feature any value?

Not confirmed as of yet. The respectable member of the VG press didn't have the brains to ask that during the Q&A session. Grrrr

Anyway, loads of screenshots can be found here: http://www.gamespot.com/events/wiilaunch/images.html

 

[djdev]

Resident Evil details coutesy of neogaf

Biohazard Wii indepth
Extensive information on the gameplay and content of RE:Wii has surfaced.

-The game consists of 4 "chapters", RE1's mansion, RE2's RPD, RE3's city areas and RE4's village (plus surrounding areas).
-Each chapter has 2 characters to choose from. RE1 has Jill and Chris, RE2 has Leon and Claire, RE3 has Jill and Carlos and RE4 has Leon and Ada.
-There are several characters that can be unlocked by playing through the game: Rebecca Chambers, Hunk and Albert Wesker.
-The gameplay of all chapters is designed around RE4's. Press the B trigger on the wiimote to go into over-the-shoulder view, aim with the pointer and press A to fire.
-The game will have QTEs, but rather than push buttons you have to make motions with the wiimote in order to get through them.
-All characters will have mêlée attacks, just like RE4.
-To encourage replayablility, each character has strengths and weaknesses, similar to how in RE4:Mercenaries Ada had the least health, Krauser was the slowest, etc.
-Just like in RE4:Mercenaries each character has a unique set of weapons. What's more players can only carry 2 weapons at any one time. Chris gets a pistol and shotgun whilst Jill gets a pistol and grenade launcher.
-You will be able to find several new weapons during each stage. For example, RE1 will have Richard's shotgun, RE2 will have the Desert Eagle, RE4 will have the Chicago Typewriter. There will also be new weapons like Krauser's anti-personnel robots.
-Similar to Devil May Cry 3, after each chapter you can save your data and any new weapons picked up will be available for use in Arcade Mode.
-Arcade Mode is like a giant Mercenaries minigame, where you pick a character and stage and blast through it. Building on the resounding success of Mercenaries seen when RE4 was released.
-Scenario mode will feature a large number of ingame cutscenes.
-New content not in the games that the chapters were based on will be added. The primary goal of this will be to link RE4 and Umbrella's status in it more closely with the rest of the series.
-Ammo conservation will play a part in the gameplay, so it's not just constant action like RE4.
-Trailer coming at TGS.

rehorror.net

 

[darkblu]

Instore, I'm looking at about $30-40 CAD for the lowest priced SD cards
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10069934&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=20093&mfr=&logon=&langid=EN&list=&page=0&sort=3

Usually around $40 unless it's on sale, so $10 less than the 360 MC, but way more storage. 64mb is pathetic.

funny. i live in toronto and i can get a 512 sd for ~20CAD. for 40CAD you can get 1 GB around here. are you in the northern territories?

and nice try there giving futureshop prices as indicative

 

[scooby_dooby]

funny. i live in toronto and i can get a 512 sd for ~20CAD. for 40CAD you can get 1 GB around here. are you in the northern territories?

and nice try there giving futureshop prices as indicative

I used futureshop and best buy, the 2 main electronics shops in Canada. I linked to the FULL product listing so go ahead an browse yourself, unless they are on sale it's $30-40 for the lowest priced card.

In store this is what people will pay, that doesn't mean you can't get better deals obviously.

Oh, and I live in edmonton, though I am originally from the northern terriroties (yukon)

Maybe walmart will suit you better?
http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...=3944&ic=12_0&ref=125875.245636&search_sort=4

Cheapest instore card = $25 USD, $15 less than the 360's MC. So for *most* people, they're looking at a $10-$15 savings on the memory card compared to 360.

 

[ninzel]

I used futureshop and best buy, the 2 main electronics shops in Canada. I linked to the FULL product listing so go ahead an browse yourself, unless they are on sale it's $30-40 for the lowest priced card.

In store this is what people will pay, that doesn't mean you can't get better deals obviously.

Oh, and I live in edmonton, though I am originally from the northern terriroties (yukon)

Maybe walmart will suit you better?
http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...=3944&ic=12_0&ref=125875.245636&search_sort=4

Cheapest instore card = $25 USD, $15 less than the 360's MC. So for *most* people, they're looking at a $10-$15 savings on the memory card compared to 360.

I'm in Mississauga,I use places Like TigerDirect and other less mainstream places for far better prices.

 

[thenefariousone]

I think there's room for advancement. Not as much, but some.

Those who keep calling it too expensive at $249: are you aware of the Wii Sports pack-in?

I knew in my heart that Nintendo would never sell it for over $199 alone, and I was proven correct. I also assumed that Wii Sports would be a pack-in, either at $199 or $249. Again, I and many others were proven correct.

What I want to know is, when can I pre-order this sumbitch?

Wii Sports is only a value added proposition if you actually want it. Otherwise, it's a waste of money.

 

[scooby_dooby]

I'm in Mississauga,I use places Like TigerDirect and other less mainstream places for far better prices.

I'm talking about what the regular consumer will pay in store, which is far more meaningful than what 'we' could get it for.

Personally, I'd just head over to memory express, Bcom, or A-computers and get something dirt cheap, but your regular consumer is just going to stroll over to the Photography section of the store and buy a SD card which are priced quite a bit higher than they should be.

 

[ninzel]

Wii Sports is only a value added proposition if you actually want it. Otherwise, it's a waste of money.

Same could be said for alot of things about other consoles.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

The launch price is fine if you want a Wii. The problem I have with it is that it seems very clunky for controlling traditional genres. I'll pick one up for the quirky Wiimote games that actually could not be done with a traditional controller, but I still can't see this being the meat and potatoes console for any serious action gamer. 18-34 year old males want Halo 3, GTA4, MGS4, EA Sports with the latest graphics, Gran Turismo, Forza, etc... and this is still the bulk of the market right now.

Nevertheless, if Nintendo manages to actually get gamer-wives, girls, and women in their 40s to buy the Wii then they will have succeeded beyond my expectations. I still think it's a niche product that will probably only do about 30-40 million over 5 years. Certainly good enough for Nintendo's bottom line, but not enough to seriously challenge MS and Sony for the mainstream casual audience.

 

[darkblu]

Biohazard Wii indepth
<snip>
rehorror.net

now you got me salivating.

it's real smart of them to develop further the mercenaries game style and merge it back into the game mainstream - that's one garantee right there for a good adreanline rush. got me excited.

btw, i'm not sure i get the 'limited ammo now' tidbit - ammo has always been a resource to manage in RE4. yes, mercenaties took it one step further ..actually make that 5 ; )

does anybody have any idea who else from campcom is working on this one, btw? anybody from the original team?

 

[Guden Oden]

You still need to buy another controller for Wii so that price comparison isn't fair.

You're right - but not because of the controllers. Wii has wifi built-in, so slap on another $90 or whatever that silly dongle sells for these days to get final price of the 360. And you only need to get another wii controller if you actually plan to use the wired 360 one.

Pretty stupid comparison if you ask me, but I didn't start it...

if Microsoft is smart they will pack a game in with the premium one.

I'm sure they'll be smart and NOT pack in any game, because it's difficult to find one that appeals to everybody. Many people would become apprehensive buying something that contains something they don't want "for free" (this is because they know they're going to end up paying for it anyway one way or another - TANSTAAFL!)

64mb is pathetic.

Should be plenty for wii game saves.

 

[Powderkeg]

That was inevitable. These are quite complex controllers. SD cards can be had for $10, plus with the inbuilt flash are they needed? Seems to me the real price comparison for entry level is $250 for Wii including a game (though I hate pack-ins. I only want to own games I choose to play) versus $400 ish for XB360 Core + Game + Memory card. Bundles with Core might be nearer $350, but I'm sure there'll be an obvious price difference, ignoring functional differences.

That works as long as you only compare price tags. (And ignore that for BC games you'll need yet another controller for the Wii, and that 360 scenario of yours let's you chose which game you want, which may be as low as $20)

Just don't compare graphics and you'll be alright.

 

[darkblu]

I used futureshop and best buy, the 2 main electronics shops in Canada. I linked to the FULL product listing so go ahead an browse yourself, unless they are on sale it's $30-40 for the lowest priced card.

why - there are almost constantly sd's on sale. why should the consumer buy the more expnsive ones if he was in for a save?

In store this is what people will pay, that doesn't mean you can't get better deals obviously.

not only that you can but it would not be a sweat either - toronto's metro and 24h (the daily free periodicals, for those who don't know how to use the 'net) regulalrly have electornics sales add insets, and guess what, flash memory of all kinds is usually there. at ridiculous prices - for 10 bucks you can easily satisfy your savegames needs for a year ahead.

Cheapest instore card = $25 USD, $15 less than the 360's MC. So for *most* people, they're looking at a $10-$15 savings on the memory card compared to 360.

give it up scooby, SDs are among the cheapest flash media these days, the only cheaper one being CF. comparing that to any proprietary mem card and trying to discard the advanages of the cheap, open standard is, well, a waste of forum space and reader's time.

 

[expletive]

http://wii.ign.com/articles/732/732730p1.html

September 14, 2006 - Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, confirmed to IGN Wii today that its forthcoming Wii console will not play Hollywood DVD movies. The decision to remove the functionality was made in order to deliver the machine at a cheaper cost and because most people today already own DVD players.

EDIT: Does anyone else see the irony that a console with a chip codenamed "Hollywood" won't play Hollywood DVDs?

 

[Angelcurio]

Personally i am a little bit annoyed at the price. I know that is not a whole lot like other consoles and that they are innovating, but that still doesn not change the fact that it has almost the same technology as a gamecube, a console that currently sells for $75, and they are making a profit from it.

People are really going to pay a premium price for it.