It's almost time, fanboys and girls, for the big announcement that is almost certain to bring us the launch details on the Wii. What does that mean for Wii Fanboy?
Rumor roundup time! Yee-haw!
After the jump, we not only bring you a rumor compendium, but we also offer the official (!) Wii Fanboy predictions on launch and release date.
This week, the big discussions have centered around a few key things: launch package, price, and of course, release date. We've already told you that it looks like Wii Sports is going to make it into the box, but what else will you cradle lovingly on launch day?
What we know:
- Well, there'll be the Wii and at least one Wiimote, as well as a sensor bar in the box.
- The console will have an online service dedicated to playing older titles from Sega and Hudson, as well as games on past Nintendo consoles called Virtual Console.
- We could see many different bundles, or SKUS, from Nintendo, varying hardware and software included as well as price.
- All of the above, plus two Wiimotes and an SD card, as well as Wii Sports.
- A lengthy list of Virtual Console titles.
- We want it all! And perhaps a slick Red Steel or Twilight Princess bundle. We think Wii Sports will be bundled, and that the launch package will include enough coins to purchase a game or two.
What we know:
- The Wii will not cost more than $250.
- What haven't we heard at this point? The most likely range has the price falling anywhere between $170 and $249, and some rumors have even gone as low as $99.
- Vibe magazine recently reported a $150 price point.
- EA says $170.
- IGN shoots for $229.
- A 7-Eleven contest lists the console's worth at $299.
- There are a bevy of predictions for Europe, Australia, and Japan.
- Out of all the rumors, hopes, prayers, and abject speculation, we like a price of about $200 - $230. Our lord and master, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, told us not to count on the $250 price (it's a cap, not a price tag), and we listen when he speaks.
What we know:
- Not a damned thing! Except that we can expect the console in the 4th quarter of this year.
- The ballsiest idea for launch date is November 17 -- the same day as the PS3.
- A trade mag "confirmed" a release date of November 24.
- EA slips and says Need for Speed: Carbon will street November 10. Was it a clue? They later corrected themselves and said November 3. Curiouser and curiouser.
- Nintendo's Fusion Tour will be promoting the Wii until November 11, when it ends. Will the release date come after that?
- Sports Illustrated for Kids claimed that November 6 was the big day.
- IGN speculated that November 2 or November 12 seemed likely.
- Leaked game lists from various sources point to October.
- CNN says October.
- 4th quarter starts October 1, so why not October 2?
- After putting our heads together (our shackles reach that far here in the Fanboy "offices"), we're going to call it for late October, though the idea of Ninty taking Sony head-on with a November 17th launch date is just delicious. What with the Wii being ready to go, however, we think an early launch is more likely. Our money is on October 23. You heard that one here, fanfolk!
[Update 1: Incorporating some additions and minor cosmetic changes.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-13-2006 @ 5:01PM
DocGonzo said...
I'm still thinking they're going to 'pull an Apple' and announce the launch is this Friday. Let the Sony fanboys have their juicy bit of 'Nintendo broke its promises, omglol' because it drops two weeks before Q4 officially starts. And I can't see it being anything other than $200, with 2 Wiimotes and Wii Sports bundled - I can easily see an SD card and some Virtual Console credit included, too.
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9-13-2006 @ 5:04PM
Cosmos said...
The anticipation is killing me! I must know the release date! I don't even care about the price, I just want to PLAY!
*cough* Sorry, I have to let the Nintendo fanboy in me get some fresh air every now and then.
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9-13-2006 @ 5:25PM
TheDave said...
*in a Johnny Carson voice*
$229.
Oct 10.
Reggie's favorite food.
What is going to be at tomorrow's press conference?
(at least I wish)
*rimshot*
Ok, back to reality. Nice update, Fanboy. I do like when things are nice and neatly laid out so I don't have to dig through 30 posts to find out what we know for sure about the Wii.
Keep up the good work, I'll be checking in every few minutes tomorrow for the big press event.
TheDave
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9-13-2006 @ 5:30PM
heemz said...
i agree with the oct 20ish range to give time for some pre-orders. any earlier would make it hard to get ahold of unless there was bountiful amounts of Wii's running around.
O.o
$219
yar'ly
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9-13-2006 @ 5:37PM
Nik said...
@DocGonzo
I don't see a big bundle priced at $200 as realistic. I think that for around $170 we'd get just a plain old Wii and a Wiimote/Nunchuk. Then a "bundle" for $250. Hopefully, that bundle would include another Wiimote/Nunchuk, some VC credit and WiiSports (in some shape or form).
While we're on the topic of WiiSports, I've got some opinion on that as well. There are over 30 games rumored to fall under the "WiiSports" brand. I doubt they're all finished as we've only seen 3 of them, so Nintendo can't just throw them all on a disc and call it WiiSports. More likely they'll distribute it over VC or pack in some sort of "Launch Edition" with the Wii. They could release other versions later on in the consoles life cycle as budget titles or something of that nature. Such as WiiSports: Airborne, WiiSports: MotoSports or WiiSports: Team Sports.
On the topic of the SD cards. Is it really that important? I think that the 512MB of onboard memory will tide people over for a while. If it came down to it, wouldn't you rather Nintendo gave you some extra VC credit instead? Game saves take up little room, the Wii isn't a media device so you shouldn't be playing movies through it and even N64 games were only 32MB or so. That's just what would work for me though, not everyone.
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9-13-2006 @ 5:58PM
mykie said...
Let's not forget that there's still one more BIG SECRET about the Wii, according to Perrin Kaplan (at E3).
This is gunna be fun, 2 more hours!
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9-13-2006 @ 6:00PM
vidGuy said...
US Launch
October 20-22
$199
2 Remotes, 2 Nunchuks, Wii Sports on Wii-DVD
Semi-Megaton: All VC retro downloads will be $1 to $5; new content will be $5 to $10. System launches with 30 - 40 retro games available.
Megaton: Wii has visual capabilities at "80% XBOX360 quality". This, of course, is equated to 160% XBOX quality visuals.
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9-13-2006 @ 6:03PM
Ben said...
I think that the Wii will come with 2 wii motes and 2 nunchuk attachments considering that the Wii is all about playing with others. The price will be in the $170-$200 range. It might launch on October 2nd. It could very well come with 5 Wii Sports titles and maybe some VC credit or at least a VC game.
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9-13-2006 @ 6:19PM
ben said...
well my opinion is if they want to be like apple (secretive release date, white styling, small, creative) they should come out tomorrow, pull a steve j. and just say "here's the specs [...] here's the price [...] oh, and one more thing....... it's shipping out of our warehouses today, expect it to be available and on the shelves some time next week"
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9-13-2006 @ 6:44PM
Nodnetni said...
The GameCube was released on September 14, 2001 in Japan; Sunday November 18, 2001 in North America at $199.95
The N64 was released on June 23, 1996 in Japan; Sunday September 29, 1996 in North America at $199
The Super Nintendo was released on November 21, 1990 in Japan; Tuesday August 13, 1991(uncontrolled) in North America at $199
The NES was released July 15, 1983 in Japan; Friday October 18, 1985 in North America at $199
I think the $199 base package almost a sure thing, I do beleive there will be two packages though one at $249. Both will come with a Wii-mote. and Wii Sports, but the $249 package will also come with Duck hunt, a zapper adapter, and an extra Wii-mote. Nintendo will limit games at launch to 20, and have weekly releases to follow (sell more games + looks like more games are continuely being made). Release date I am Hoping for is Oct. 2, 2006, morelikely October 29th just to piss me off.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!Let the Wii-volution begin!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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9-13-2006 @ 6:50PM
Andy M. said...
My guess for US of A:
Price: 200, "bare bones"(console, sensor bar, and 1 controller w/ nunchaku)
Colors: White, Black, and Silver
VC Price: NES $2 max, SNES $3 max, N64 $5 max, Genesis $3 max, and TurboGrafx-16 $2 max. New content $5 max.
Release date: October 2
Virtual Console Titles: 40 to start with, then add more each week
I'll probably be horribly wrong.
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9-13-2006 @ 6:52PM
Anticrawl said...
$199.99 like every other Nintendo console and released on either October 11th or 13th, those dates based on some general information Nintendo has let us know a long while ago.
Anticrawl
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9-13-2006 @ 6:53PM
zach said...
ok....the wii will be launched in early november or late october, there will be 2 bundles, both come with the console obviously, 1 for $170 that comes with the remote, nunchuck, and the "classic" controller. A $250 dollar pack will be offered with 2 remotes and nunchucks, a classic contoller, wii sports, and a 256 MB or so SD memory card and maybe a couple virtual console "coins". Soo to recap, $170=4 things $250=9 things, think something like how the PSP is available in two forms or something like that and you got the wii....this is all a huge guess of course..lol..
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9-13-2006 @ 6:57PM
danjo1 said...
futureshop.ca and bestbuy.ca have the wii games releasing on November 30th...
as for price, i'm looking for $179USD and $199CAD
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9-13-2006 @ 6:58PM
Warp the frenchie said...
3/11 (european style date), remember this date
3 is the W and 11 is the ii
3/11 is a Friday and this day is traditionnaly a lauch day for games and systems of Nintendo
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9-13-2006 @ 7:08PM
FroggyGuy said...
Sorry for being ignorant, but what time is this conference, Central time?
Thanks!
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9-13-2006 @ 7:11PM
bumpi said...
They better release it at the same time in europe as in the USA. Other than that I reall y don't care :).
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9-13-2006 @ 7:21PM
Tequila Mockingbird said...
Also 3/11 is a killer band. :D
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9-13-2006 @ 7:56PM
hmmmmmmmmmm.... said...
No. Your best bet is that it's launching tomorrow, will cost exactly $50.00, include four nunchucks, wiimotes, and that other controller. Plus it will come with 2 SD cards, 1,000 coins, Red Steel, Twilight Princess, and Wii Sports. Stop speculating and think for two seconds. I'm sure it will release with the PS3 in NOVEMBER, Cost around $240, include a wiimote, and MAYBE wii sports.
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9-13-2006 @ 8:24PM
ThebigL said...
Anyone know if any sites are going to post live what happens at the press release?
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9-13-2006 @ 8:25PM
Alisha Karabinus said...
The conference in Japan is at 7 pm central time -- so NOW!
-Alisha
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9-13-2006 @ 8:34PM
Shogan said...
I hard IGN was going to cover the event, but I see absolutely nothing on any American gaming site. >_
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9-14-2006 @ 12:50AM
Korexz said...
I still think the BIG secret is DREAMCAST games will be available in the Virtual Console.
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