Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Nintendo's "early 2008" prediction for the launch of WiiWare might seem like a lifetime away, but we're still not convinced that the company has given itself enough time to turn the Shopping Channel into a vehicle for new downloadable game content. Nintendo isn't exactly known for its punctuality -- one need only look to the DS's delayed WiFi Connection implementation or the GameCube's nearly-nonexistent online service for examples of stalled promises.

What're your thoughts on the possibilities of WiiWare arriving on schedule? Does early 2008 really sound feasible? Or does it sound like a bunch of duck tales (a-woo-woo!)?

When do you expect WiiWare to launch?
	Early -- 2007 holiday season!
	Early 2008, as promised.
	Slight delay to summer 2008.
	Delayed to 2008 holiday season.
	A 2009 launch, with little fanfare.
	When monkeys fly out of my butt.

NoE put out a list of their upcoming games for the European market, and while it may not be quite as filled-to-bursting as the DS list there's certainly plenty to be excited about. Upcoming with a quickness is the exquisite Wario Ware and -- ooh! we're jealous -- colorful Kororinpa. Loads of titles undated as well. Check after the jump for the full list.

IGN's Matt Cassamassina seems to think so. In a recent entry on his IGN blog, he said, "I believe Wii is $50 too expensive and three weeks too late." It's too expensive, he says, for the mainstream consumer to really pick it up and run with it, and gamers think it's too expensive because it's not enough for them.

So what do you think? Set aside the fanboy love for a moment and consider the grand scheme of things. Is it wrong for Nintendo to sell their console for a profit just because Sony and Microsoft choose to take a hit? And considering everything the Wii can do -- instead of focusing on what it cannot -- is it really priced too high? The mainstream media doesn't seem to think so; the console has been called the bargain choice for the holiday season already. And what is really important in gaming? Is it about power -- or is it about functionality? Look at the DS and the PSP. The PSP is incredibly powerful, and it's incredibly powerfully collecting dust for many gamers, while their DS enjoys a healthy workout.

And while we would love it if the Wii were to come out earlier, but is it really too late? Or will the Wii be there, bright and shining, when the PS3 sells out? Tell us what you think.

Just before the Japanese press event started in earnest, an article surfaced at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that declared the Wii would launch November 19 at $250. Chat rooms and forums exploded as gamers debated the legitimacy of the story, which listed the New York Times as its source.

Since no one could find the information anywhere else -- not on Reuters, the AP, or the NYT itself, we called both the New York Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to attempt to verify the story. Though we could not reach anyone at the NYT, we did speak with the city desk at the Seattle P-I, and they verified that the story was indeed pulled from the NYT's wire and that it was not altered by the Seattle publication. Less than an hour later, the link disappeared from the main business page -- though the article was still available via direct link and still listed as the "most read" on the RSS feed. Minutes later, even the direct link disappeared, and was replaced with the following information:

The page you have requested was not found. The link is either incorrect or the page no longer exists. If you believe there is a problem, please send a message to newmedia@seattlepi.com.

Did the Seattle P-I slip up and release the information early?

Since the article disappeared, we will be reproducing it almost in its entirety after the jump. Please note that we are not claiming credit for this article -- we are just working to bring you the most accurate news possible.


[Update 2: Apparently the article reappeared. Once the cat's out of the bag .... However, as of 2:15 Eastern, the headline has not reappeared on the business page at the Seattle paper. We are working to compare the copy to see if changes have been made. Also fixed coding error.]

Call in the rumor patrol, 'cause the triumvirate is complete. Nintendo has scheduled press events for Japan and the United States for September 14, and Europe the following day. Three major regions, three events -- there's little doubt that this, finally, will be the information we've been waiting for. In just two weeks, we should finally find out when we'll all be lining up on Wii-volution day.

The trio of press events comes a week before the Tokyo Game Show. As anticipated, it seems Nintendo wants their announcement to stand out, rather than have it come as just part of the announcements from another show. So here it is, folks! Last chance to make your predictions. The clock is ticking.

[Thanks, DerekJ!]

At last, it looks like this could be it. Nintendo announced a second press conference in the middle of September, a day after the New York event. The only thing that's missing is an announcement for Japan, but if this is the real deal -- when we'll learn release dates and pricing -- then surely we'll hear about a Japanese event soon.

Of course, there's always the possibility that these events could be about something different. Nintendo seems to be enjoying keeping us on the edge of our seats. But if the system is going to make a splash this holiday season, something has to come soon.

Yesterday, we told you about a nasty, nasty rumor concerning the graphics of the Wii games we've seen so far. Could it be true that the "real" versions of some of the most anticipated games were being withheld so that the Wii, when revealed in full at last, could make a bigger splash than even we could hope for?

Seems silly ... but according to an IGN blog, that could be the case. After they posted videos of Red Steel from Leipzig, Ubisoft apparently contacted IGN to let them know that the footage still didn't reflect the latest build of the game. What we saw at E3 was version 1.0. Let's call LGC v1.5, then, with the amorphous v2.0 still unseen. Why haven't we seen it?

If this is true -- and according to the same post, other tweaks are being considered for Activision's Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam as well -- then this begs the question of what, exactly, is going on with the Wii? Here, in the tag end of August, with Nintendo's Fusion Tour just around the corner, and the event on the 14th, as well as the release date coming in November at the latest ... isn't it time to let us know what the real deal is?

[Thanks, vidGuy!]

So, how 'bout that keynote at Leipzig? Wasn't it exciting to hear about the release date for the Wii, and the pricing, and the ponies ... no, no, that didn't happen at all. The hugely anticipated speech revealed none of the details rabid Nintendo fans have been dying to learn. Y'know, the tough questions, like "when's the console being released, and how much will it cost?"

We know. Sometimes it's hard to open up. There, there.

So now the hearts and minds of Nintendo fans turn toward September 14, when Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime will be on hand at a media event in New York. Forget celebration of video games -- Wii want to celebrate some news.

The meta-speculation about all things Wii is reaching a fever pitch lately. People are freaking out over fine print and creating complicated mathematical equations in an attempt to figure out the release date. We're excited, too -- we die a little inside on every day that isn't launch day -- but really, all this six degrees of the Wii is getting a little out of control. To wit: in today's round of Let's Speculate About Speculation, a Spanish Nintendo magazine called Nintendo Accion apparently revealed that details on the Wii would come "soon."

Yes, these days, soon is big news. Frantic fans are arguing whether or not that means the information will come around September 15th (the magazine's street date, though of course, the printed date usually has no connection with the actual release date of a magazine), or if we'll get the Wii details we're frothing for before September 15th. Or after. Or perhaps even on that fated date. So many possibilities when you're working with "soon."

The upcoming Need for Speed: Carbon is being released on just about every platform known to man. A few days ago, EA released a press statement stating that the game would be released on November 10th for the PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Gamecube, PC, Nintendo DS, PSP, GBA, and PC. (The PS3 version will likely be delayed in America till November 17th, PS3's official NA release date.) But what about the Wii version? We knew it was coming, but it was odd that it wasn't included in the statement.

As it turns out, EA has issued another press release, this time giving the Wii release date as November 3rd. Not only does the Wii get the game a full week earlier than any system, but this is strong evidence for a possible launch date. Not that we haven't had any other possible launch dates, but having a specialized release preceding every other version is certainly peculiar...

[Thanks, Rob!]

Chris Morris' famed "Game Over" column over at CNN Money depicts a tantalizing future...well, a closer one, anyway. Morris states that industry insiders and other various information dealers, lurking in the dark alleys of Kyoto, all point to an early Wii launch in October...or possibly even late September. The biggest shred of proof?

"Indeed, the company appears to be already manufacturing final retail units of the Wii, according to a June 21st analyst's note from P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research."

If true, this is good news indeed. Not only would allow the Wii this possibly early launch, but supply will certainly be more prolific then the generally bungled Xbox 360 launch. In addition, it would allow Nintendo a heck of a jump start on rival-who-isn't-really-a-rival-but-who-are-you-trying-to-kid Sony, launching in the US on November 17th. Still, can we really expect this? Many assume that Nintendo is going to release final launch information at the Tokyo Game Show, which takes place from September 22nd-24th. Such a short window may not be enough time to build a large marketing campaign and momentum going into the launch. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Thanks, Eric!]

Finally, an excuse to put a ravishingly beautiful, veritably naked woman on the front page of this blog. According to the newest issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids (we, uh, tried really hard to find an image of that magazine's cover, but alas, we failed), the Wii has a confirmed U.S. release date of November 6th.

All right. We know. It's freaking Sports Illustrated for Kids. However, it's quite possible that they got away with marketing murder due to the absence of the professionally trained verbal ninjas Nintendo likes to throw at the major gaming media outlets. Even if this is mere speculation, I mean, come on. It's gotta come out somewhere around then, right?

(Can't ... stop staring ...)

[Update 1: Silly us, we meant the sixth of November, not the seventh. Thanks, trusty commenters.]

[Update 2: This article has been debunked by Nintendo. Alas!]