by Benny - 09.14.06

There was a TON of information released at the Japanese Wii conference Thursday morning. Check out this post for some things that you probably know and some things you may have missed. Including Japanese launch details, Wii Channel, Mii, Wii Photo Viewer, Opera Browser information, tons of new games shown in video form, and some good ol’ engrish to boot. This is not to be missed.

The Wii will be available in Japan on December 2nd, for 25000 yen ($213 USD). This comes directly from Nintendo Japan’s press release. Here’s the box it’ll be in.

And here is what will be in that box. Engrish by Google.

There will be 16 games from 10 different publishers at launch. Game prices will go from 4800 yen ($40 USD) to 6800 yen ($58 USD). Zelda will be hitting the upper end of the price range. Wii Sports will be a stand-alone title hitting at the lower end of the price range (4800 yen). It will contain 5 games.
On the Virtual Console. NES games will be 500 yen ($4 USD), SNES will be 800 yen ($7 USD), and N64 games will be about 1000 yen ($8.50 USD). It seems you’ll be able to either buy game directly with a credit card… or buy a “Wii Points Card” from in-store. Iwata also said that 60 games total will show up on the VC before years end, half from Nintendo and the other half from the PC Engine, Megadrive, Genesis, and Turbo-Grafx consoles. They’ll release 10 VC games a month from then on.

The Wii’s official website seems to be up. It currently contains tons of information including videos on the “Wii Channel.” Wii Channel seems to be a ton of built in services the Wii will have in order to “conquer the living room.” This stuff is unlike anything consoles have seen before. This includes a create your own Wii person (called “Mii”), the Wii Channel Weather Checker (with fully 3d globe), a news viewer (with zoom for the elderly and hard of seeing), a BBS-like message board system that can cross-post to and from cell phones, computers and other Wii consoles.
Also, don’t miss out the Wii Photo Viewer as well. Looks pretty damn spiffy… Mario Paint 2…. pfft try Photoshop-like abilities.
Wii Sports, Wario, Zelda, and a “new” title called Wii Play are all featured on the front page of the site. Wii Play looks a lot of the e3 Wii tech demos.
Check out this jam packed Wii teaser video. The video shows tons of games. Off the top of my head there was a SCUBA diving game, a Cooking Mama type game, a small shot of what look to be Resident Evil, Wii Play which seems to include Fishing, Target Shot, Air Hockey, Pool, and a Concentration type game, a coupla anime fighting games, and much MUCH more. But don’t take my word for it… watch it!

It looks like Wii’s Browser will be able to support all types of web standards. Videos from Iwata’s presentation show the Wii Browser browsing, of all things, Google Maps. Internet videos can also be seen playing in the Wii Browser videos. Videos also show what looks to be flash content. Sounds like a fully-featured browser to me.
Here is Iwata’s entire Japanese presentation if you can’t wait a couple hours for Reggie.
In a couple of hours all this info should be popping up for us English speakers. Until then folks, it’s been fun (and exhuasting).
Thanks to: Jason of WiiFanboy and Kalen, Arc, & Vinnk on Skype for all the help tonight.










the NYT article has been pulled! and the plot thickens…
zacH - 09.14.06 1:54 am
wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Zaquita - 09.14.06 1:55 am
I pray for both an earlier release date and a lower price tag than the NYT article said
SereneCrimson - 09.14.06 1:55 am
EXTRA EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!! NINTENDO DENIES EXCLUSIVES TO NY TIMES AND SEATTLE PI FROM HERE ON OUT!! EXTRA!!
KiddKalen - 09.14.06 1:56 am
i dont care if it’s 250. i just dont want to wait until nov 19th
matt - 09.14.06 1:56 am
I agree, rumors now of Japan release 25000 yen ($215.51) dec 2nd!?!?!
Zaquita - 09.14.06 1:56 am
This is the only site that functions well now. Keep up the good job and continue to update! (this is my only source now
)
DFens - 09.14.06 2:00 am
and the article is BACK UP!
GregZ - 09.14.06 2:00 am
Uhh… this isn’t a rumor, this is direct from Iwata’s mouth.
AdamBot - 09.14.06 2:01 am
Japan release..
but they want a worldwide release dont they?
So… Wii on December 2nd?
>.
SereneCrimson - 09.14.06 2:03 am
Uhh.. Nov 19th is sounding a lot better right about now. Dec. 2nd in Japan? Are you kidding me?
Lynx - 09.14.06 2:04 am
I’m with Matt. I’ll pay more than $250 if you bring it out sooner, nintendo! Gimme!
Touch FuzZy, Get DizZy - 09.14.06 2:07 am
Nov. 19 and Dec. 2 are 2 weeks apart. Think about how long you’ve been waiting for this console…
Seriously, is the release date that big a deal at this point?
Grant - 09.14.06 2:09 am
Wow that’s a lot of US love for earlier launch date, wonder if Europe will get even better treatment than us since their conference is later. I love you Reggie
jnhan.doe - 09.14.06 2:09 am
Man… The US gets it before Japan. This sucks for Vinnk, myself, and anyone else here in Japan.
At least it:s cheaper for waiting 2 weeks longer…
jd - 09.14.06 2:10 am
No Wii Sports pack-in love for Japan… only the following is included in the box:
Wii console, Wii remote (w/ strap) Nunchuck attachment, Wii AC adaptor, Wii A/V cable, Wii console stand, sensor bar, sensor bar stand and two AA batteries.
Does this mean different launch packages around the globe? Still some questions looking for answers..
GregZ - 09.14.06 2:12 am
Single Three Dry Cell Batteries X 2 ??
1 X 3 X 2 =
6 Batteries?!!! SWEEEEET!
KiddKalen - 09.14.06 2:14 am
make sense for the pricing of the Wii, too bad i wanted Wii Sports pack in, but i cry foul on NY Times if that article is false (still debating whether that was leaked or speculative article)
jnhan.doe - 09.14.06 2:16 am
I never saw that article in the NYT webpage. Did anyone see it?
Anonymous - 09.14.06 2:16 am
We are hearing about the Japan info today… I’m expecting the US to be different.
Cirden - 09.14.06 2:19 am
I suspect the NYT and Seattlepi News to be wrong. I cant imagine, Nintendo pulling of a release in the US, BEFORE in their Homeland. That would be something, they never done before.
It always was first Japan, then if at all, elswhere in the world weeks, or months later. This really could get a “Revolution”
Wait and see. I will get it first, here in Germany
)))
Tyler - 09.14.06 2:19 am
Plug server stand is a mistranslation. The Japanese is:
*センサーバースタンド
sensaabaasutando
Google is breaking it up as:
sen saabaa sutando
It should be:
sensaa baa sutando =
Sensor Bar Stand
Which all goes back to my theory: machine translation is crap.
Carl - 09.14.06 2:22 am
Tyler, just so you know, America got the DS before Japan. Also, it’s not like it matters to any of us. We were all getting this anyway.
Ian M - 09.14.06 2:27 am
Such a late date….
Touch FuzZy, Get DizZy - 09.14.06 2:27 am
$250 for an American Wii with Wii Sports on November 19th.
$215 for a Japanese Wii on December 2nd.
The NES, SNES, and N64 prices are all very affordable. The launch games are great. The prices for games and controllers are solid.
The amount of Virtual Console titles from both the Nintendo systems and the Sega/Turbo 16 consoles are excellent. 30 at launch and 30 more by the end of the year. Plus what averages out to be 1 new game every 3 days…wow, this is rocking hard.
Now let us see some new Zelda: Twilight Princess footage, Smash Bros. Brawl footage, and give us the European price and release date. Thank you Nintendo, you rock!
Paul Gale
1up.com
Paul Gale - 09.14.06 2:31 am
Japan’s big shopping season, if memory serves, is later than the United States’, so no worries there really. Oh, and I’m feeling pretty good about the NYT article being accurate. A major paper seems to always carry the big Nintendo news first.
GregZ - 09.14.06 2:31 am
This is great news. I was expecting the Wii to be $200…but I don’t care, I’m still gonna be it. Wii Sports! Woot!
Jorge - 09.14.06 2:32 am
i think it’s kinda sad that wii sports won’t just be a launch title. that, coupled with only coming with one controller (from what we know so far) seems like it will distance nintendo from the “anyone can play” mentality that we’ve all been expecting from them. once you purchase a second controller, nunchuk and wii sports, you’re almost at the 300 dollar mark… while it’s still great compared to the other systems, a 250 dollar bundle with all the extras i just mentioned would have made the purchase practically a no-brainer to even a cautious first-timer.
ah well. maybe the US will just randomly be given that package deal? that would be… odd… but not unwelcome! (please?)
zacH - 09.14.06 2:32 am
i sure hope there are a lot of extra wii remotes available on launch, because i intend to buy 3 additional ones immediately. getting spare n64 controllers was so difficult at first.
oh, don’t forget to save a lil extra money for some SD memory
simon - 09.14.06 2:38 am
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Im so flashed right now. I want a Wii NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I tell you. And Nintendo, please let us Europeans have it this Year, too!!!!!!!!! You can have all my money!
Tyler - 09.14.06 2:49 am
i live in australia. japan is getting the wii on the 2nd of december. i reckon that nintendo will release the wii in the australasian region simultaneously. so if im right im gonna have to wait until december 2nd
nerd_jacob - 09.14.06 2:49 am
I’m getting the same feeling I got after E3. I actually wouldn’t be dissapointed with a late launch, as I’ll be pretty strapped on cash as it is, with school and all. Oh well, what’s food for anyways but making me fat. Woah, I just checked Wii.com, check out the Japan section!!!
NapoleonThe12th - 09.14.06 2:56 am
The Teaser is just awesome! As said. Man am I flashed right now. This is going to be just so great! A gamer like me, who started with the old Gameboy. How awesome is it to have lived through all this? I pity those, who will start their live directly with Wii. Its just so mind boggling, to live through a complete control “revolution”
Awesome!
Tyler - 09.14.06 3:04 am
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/features/virtual_console.html
Shows a list of game companies that I take to be all signed on for Virtual Console
Cirden - 09.14.06 3:05 am
More crappy machine translation: it’s two TRIPLE-A batteries, not 6 batteries.
Carl - 09.14.06 3:07 am
NERD_JACOB, I’m worried it will be later here. Hopefully Australia will be mentioned as well at the Europe release, or news will follow soon after.
Touch FuzZy, Get DizZy - 09.14.06 3:07 am
Hmm, I just now learned that 単三形 means AA, not AAA like you’d think. Either way, y’all should fix that crappy translation.
Carl - 09.14.06 3:10 am
nerd_jacob, I wish that too, but rare is it when Australia gets a same day release as Japan
myrrhma - 09.14.06 3:33 am
machine 250
controlers x3 150
games x2 100
sd 2gigas 100
——
600
FULL!!!!
the price of ps3 with nothing!!!!!!!!
aajajajaaj
claudio - 09.14.06 3:35 am
Feels good to be a nintendo fan today.
Paulo - 09.14.06 3:40 am
The Money… Yes…
about 800 Euros for Wii related Stuff till 12.2006, then about 2000-3000 Euros for PS3 Stuff in mid 2007 (new HD-TV included).
Would someone with too much money donate me some of it?!?
PLEASE?
Tyler - 09.14.06 3:44 am
More translating fun: “はじめてのWii,” should be called “Hajimete no Wii [First Wii]”, not “Wii Play.”
Geez, did anyone else go through the slideshow on Nintendo.co.jp? That thing looks freaking awesome. Remember in the 90s how people wanted to sell you some $500 WebTV home appliance or some such? Imagine if that hadn’t sucked. That’s the Wii.
Carl - 09.14.06 3:46 am
Indeed Carl. The media on the Wii website has turned today’s show from a disappointment into something really exciting. At least for me. I didn’t think I could want Wii MORE, but now I totally do.
KiddKalen - 09.14.06 3:56 am
hack - 09.14.06 4:18 am
dont ever trust the ny slimes
evldereckx - 09.14.06 4:21 am
Ugh. Did comments bork?
Anyway,
hack - 09.14.06 4:27 am
And Microsoft was happy about the attach rate of the 360. Just wait till they see that people are spending $200 on Wii controllers: 3 remotes and nunchucks, and 4 classic controllers for the full set. Not that very many people would actually do that, but holy crap that’s a lot of accessories and they aren’t even ridiculous ones like bongos or maracas.
The message board system looks really cool, it’d be alot of fun to be getting messages from real people and Tom Nook in your inbox. The weather and photo editing is pretty nice too. This sort of stuff would actually be used in a family situation, pretty clever way of getting people used to the controller and more interested in games.
peshue - 09.14.06 4:40 am
What I love most about Wii… ALL THE GAMES ARE COLOURFUL! Serisouly, if Nintendo merged their weather globe with Google Earth, it would be heaven.
It’s fufnny how PS3 and X360 are trying to be a necessity in the living room, but the Wii “gaming machine” comes out of nowhere and becomes a living room tool without lifting a finger. People don’t want more media players, they want on demand weather, news, photoshop, slideshow viewer, whiteboard, and home/mobile messaging. Completely awesome!
beN-Philes - 09.14.06 4:48 am
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/technology/14game.html_r=1 &ref=technology&oref=slogin
robert - 09.14.06 4:50 am
I’m convinced that Australia will get it before christmas. Nintendo is releasing the Wii in time for the main shopping seasons in the US and Japan, no way would they end up missing the main shopping season of a nation with approximately 20 million people. Plus, if i don’t have a Wii before christmas you’ll hear about a massacre of 19,999,999 innocent souls on the news.
nerd_jacob - 09.14.06 5:44 am
oh an for the aussies out there who dont know yet, Channel 7 news, Friday the 15th. It’s gonna be all about the Wii. I’m not sure which news show its actually on but watch them all just in case. Channel 7 has exclusive rights to the story and they’ll be revealing the australian release date, price, etc on national T.V
Finally nintendo is gonna get the kudos they deserve.
nerd_jacob - 09.14.06 5:47 am
I live in Japan and I really was hoping that Wii wasn’t going to be another DS… US getting it first and such…
jd - 09.14.06 5:58 am
Now would you look at that?
JD, what do you think youre talking about there?!?
Just be quiet! Whining about not getting it first. YOU ALWAYS GET ALMOST EVERYTHING FIRST! Im sitting here in Germany. Guess what! Im always happy, if things get released here AT ALL!!!!!!!!!
Tyler - 09.14.06 6:11 am
“On the Virtual Console. NES games will be 500 yen ($4 USD), SNES will be 800 yen ($7 USD), and N64 games will be about 1000 yen ($8.50 USD).”
Why is 500 yen 4 USD and 1000 over twice that amount?
LSK - 09.14.06 6:45 am
Alright; in the new promo showing off all the video games; there is a clip of a game that SORTA looks like Resident Evil.
You know it’s the clip when you hear crows; and the character looks like Leon from RE.
Does anyone have any information on that clip? I’m assumeing it’s not Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicals because later in the movie you see views of the mansion; then a front door being crumbled down.
Sinnen - 09.14.06 6:50 am
Tyler, You think it’s worth living in constant fear of Godzilla just cause you can get obsure rpgs and high school girls underpants in vending machines? …Wait, actually, yeah so do I.
NERD_JACOB, thanks for that about channel 7, I didn’t know! I’m glad you’re not corroborating the “nintendo is for kiddie gamers” stereotype, but if you could refrain from committing mass genocide, well, I would be grateful. And alive.
Come on, Zelda and metroid, come on…
Touch FuzZy, Get DizZy - 09.14.06 6:57 am
Complete and utter awesomeness (if that is indeed a word). Since I have no concept of Japanese (and because I have a class in another hour or so and need to get ready) I’m still waiting for the event in NYC. I don’t believe the NYT article to be correct at all, considering Nintendo’s reputation for keeping a tight lid on ANYTHING until they deem us worthy of knowing anything.
In either case, I’m still preordering one and picking up any needed accessories for my shiny new console. I will, however, be appalled if I don’t see some kind of rechargeable battery base or something (like the one almost required for my 360). I mean, batteries are so 1999. We’re all going rechargeable now (the DS itself is rechargeable) and I’m kind of suprised that Nintendo will be using conventional batteries to power their remotes. I guess it makes the console package as a whole cheaper but…
*sigh* But I digress. I’m still picking up a console regardless of the battery issues. It just seems kind of weird to me.
Me_Izme - 09.14.06 7:01 am
Wait, let me clarify. I have no concept of the Japanese language*. There.
Me_Izme - 09.14.06 7:02 am
well, I’m sold.
Mike - 09.14.06 7:26 am
Did I completely miss that Wii Sports was to include a BOXING game, or is this new… I know the Bowling was new (Thanks NYT) but this is the first I heard (saw) about Boxing.
handofg0d - 09.14.06 7:34 am
I can promise you that Wii Sports does have a boxing and bowling feature. I have seen the footage. http://www.wii.com
mike - 09.14.06 7:56 am
Did anyone else notice that Link was RIGHT-HANDED near the end of the promo video? Looks like my assumption that he’s ambidextrous is correct.
I look forward to playing the game left-handed, though…
-LDWalker- - 09.14.06 8:14 am
Oh my god. Please don’t tell me that the Wii will have yet ANOTHER Resident Evil REMAKE.
BreakfastPills - 09.14.06 8:25 am
I too am hoping for an earlier release date. The price is not too big an issue. It would be nice if it was less than $250USD. I don’t expect it to be though, especially if they’re bundling Wii Sports in the Americas’ copies.
Means I likely won’t be buying too many games at launch. Probably just Zelda.
Basil - 09.14.06 8:26 am
I have never, ever, been more excited for the Wii than I am now.
Michael Tucker - 09.14.06 8:37 am
Wow Network TV in Austarlia actually plugging Nintendo. That has to be a first this century!
Anyway I bet Sony will be playing Roshambo with themselves for shifting the PAL release of the PS3 to March so they can sell more systems in the NA and Japan.
BAINICK - 09.14.06 8:44 am
I have NEVER been more excited about gaming in my life.
DarkTide - 09.14.06 9:06 am
Yeah, Bainick, I’m suspicious too. It’s hard to believe. The Aussie tv networks reporting on E3 pretty much tried to pretend nintendo didn’t exist, ignoring the huge lines and reporting on microsoft and sony. So who knows?
Heres hoping nerd_jacobs right though.
Touch FuzZy, Get DizZy - 09.14.06 9:18 am
@SINNEN
That clip does have Resident Evil (Biohazard) in it. That mansion shot has the title (in Japanese) of “Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicals:
Vinnk - 09.14.06 10:15 am
lots of cool stuff, but I’d rather use my computer for most of it like, photo manipulation and viewing, internet, weather, etc. Only reason to play a wii for me will be the games.
Unfortunately I don’t think I can wait until prices go down to get one… must play Zelda for wii… And although that weather earth thing was awesome, I’ll probably still check weather on my pc… maybe
Ryan - 09.14.06 11:24 am
that video was amazing can’t wait for zelda
marv - 09.14.06 12:20 pm
Wii calling Europe?
Jim - 09.14.06 4:37 pm
w00t for flash content on Wii Opera! You’ll be seeing a new game from me on it, I can tell you that much…
Captain_404 - 09.14.06 5:02 pm
this has officially convinced me to buy wii on launch day.
Vitius - 09.14.06 7:34 pm
@Vinnk
I know that; but there is a bit earlier in the video that LOOKS like resident evil; but isn’t the part where it shows the mansion.
Let me get some screens…
Sinnen - 09.14.06 8:50 pm
@Vinnk & Everyone who cares.
Alright; I’m looking up Japanese Symbols right now to make my own conclusion; but can someone tell me what the hell this game is.
It looks like Resident Evil 4; but twisted.
http://tinyurl.com/phvp5
http://tinyurl.com/qqttp
http://tinyurl.com/nnpr5
It’s driving me crazy.
Sinnen - 09.14.06 9:09 pm
Um so where was this Wii coverage on channel 7? Was it the morning “Enhancing word” they produce ’cause I didn’t see it in the 6 to 7 time slot in amongst the channel 6 word bashing (I’m an ANC/SBS man myself) non news that the Current Affairs programs of all channels spew out. Big point Self Advertisement and Plastic Surgery Advertisement isn’t news!
Sorry more angry at still not seeing Nintendo in the Media as a whole (I think I can count one Newspaper article, in small print). I think Nintendo have to up there game in Australia if they’re going to make the huge impact that the Wii deserves!
BAINICK - 09.15.06 7:10 am
Um so where was this Wii coverage on channel 7? Was it the morning “Enhancing word” they produce ’cause I didn’t see it in the 6 to 7 time slot in amongst the channel 6 word bashing (I’m an ABC/SBS man myself) non news that the Current Affairs programs of all channels spew out. Big point Self Advertisement and Plastic Surgery Advertisement isn’t news!
Sorry more angry at still not seeing Nintendo in the Media as a whole (I think I can count one Newspaper article, in small print). I think Nintendo have to up there game in Australia if they’re going to make the huge impact that the Wii deserves!
BAINICK - 09.15.06 7:11 am
@SINNEN
The game you’re looking at is Necronesia, by Spike. Don’t know about the game, but Spike are responsible for Way of the Samurai, Samurai Western, the more recent Shinobido and the Fire Pro Wrestling series.
ShoPao - 09.16.06 12:49 pm