Wii're on the way: The Wii enters final retail production?

[Chad Bonin]

http://wii.ign.com/articles/716/716482p1.html

Wow, if this is true, and Nintendo's already manufacturing retail Wii units, then I doubt there'll be any sort of XBox 360/analyst-predicted-Playstation-3 shortages at launch. Nintendo really doesn't make money off the fact that Joe Gamer bought three Wiis and sold two on eBay for $1000.

Of course, I actually was considering buying two Wiis at launch, expecting a possibly rarity. Given I'd be saving 19%, I could essentially have made a few hundred off of a purchase of another.

Another thought: If final retail builds are being created, developers must have final development kids, and could easily be polishing some of their more finished games (Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, Cars, WiiSports, etc.).

ANOTHER thought: If production is this far ahead, then I'm really betting on an October launch. Gets it ahead of the PS3 by a month, and if shortages do occur, they can rack up production for the Christmas season.

[Lazyboi13]

nintendo are aiming for a september widewide launch arent they?

[Chad Bonin]

nintendo are aiming for a september widewide launch arent they?
"Fourth Quarter 2006" and "Before Sony Playstation 3". That's when the worldwide launch is planned, according to Nintendo. October, November, and December are the only months in Q4, and October 1st-November 16th are the only days that are before Sony releases it's Blu-Ray player.

Other fact? Nintendo only releases systems on Sundays, so... if these are accurate, the only days the Wii can be launched are...

October 1st
October 8th
October 15th
October 22nd
October 29th (Ironically, the Sega Megadrive's launch)
November 5th
November 12th

Nintendo has also said that we'd get "full disclosure" in September (Price plan[s], release date, final secrets, confirmation of various things, etc.).

I can honestly see Nintendo standing up mid-September and saying "You will be seeing a revolution within one month. Wii are coming."

[Lazyboi13]

"Fourth Quarter 2006" and "Before Sony Playstation 3". That's when the worldwide launch is planned, according to Nintendo. October, November, and December are the only months in Q4, and October 1st-November 16th are the only days that are before Sony releases it's Blu-Ray player.
heres the report i was refering to (LINKY (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/wii-ship-date-coming-this-sept-178969.phpp)). Defentlly looks like it was only a rumer (i honestly couldnt rember weather it was an offical annocment or not). I think an october lanuch (assuming PS3s will be in novmeber) could potentailly be better for the Wii then in september actually. If there was only two months difference, then the Wiis hype would of dyed down before the PS3 came out, but if the Wii came out just a month before the PS3, its hype could, yknow, piss on its parade so to speak http://forum.uk-anime.net/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[veemonjosh]

October 29th (Ironically, the Sega Megadrive's launch)


Part of me hopes it's released on that date for that reason. :sweat:

[Dogbert]

Wow, if this is true, and Nintendo's already manufacturing retail Wii units, then I doubt there'll be any sort of XBox 360/analyst-predicted-Playstation-3 shortages at launch.There's more than just an early start involved. Nintendo is targeting the more casual fans and their usual fans are kids not able to buy right away. Plus, the Wii probably isn't as hard to make given its less powerful design (not that I'm complaining). There will be shortages, but it will be a "man that's a hot item" shortage, not a shortage creating conspiracy theories about artificial demand. I (A) want the Wii to sell very well and (B) want to get one on launch day, so more units means a better chance of getting both my conflicting wishes.

[Demonic Raven]

Other fact? Nintendo only releases systems on Sundays, so... if these are accurate, the only days the Wii can be launched are...

October 1st
October 8th
October 15th
October 22nd
October 29th (Ironically, the Sega Megadrive's launch)
November 5th
November 12th
Hmm..didn't know that little piece of trivia. Pretty useful.

I am expecting and hoping for October 15th. That way, they have an entire month under their belt by the time Sony releases the beast.

Yeah, once again Nintendo has earned my praise. Starting production this early will ensure that everything is 100% by launch date. Not only will they be out of the gate before Sony, but they will look golden compared to the launch that's expected from Sony at this point.

[Chad Bonin]

I am expecting and hoping for October 15th. That way, they have an entire month under their belt by the time Sony releases the beast.
And how could they counter the releases of the Playstation 3?

Well, ya know, Super Mario Galaxy could come out on the same day. It has been announced by Shiggy to be available "if not at launch, within the first six months".


Yeah, once again Nintendo has earned my praise. Starting production this early will ensure that everything is 100% by launch date. Not only will they be out of the gate before Sony, but they will look golden compared to the launch that's expected from Sony at this point.
At this point, the only thing Nintendo could do to screw up would be "Surprise Launch!" like the Sega Saturn...

[Storm Eagle]

At this point, the only thing Nintendo could do to screw up would be "Surprise Launch!" like the Sega Saturn...

What was that like? (Sorry, but I've never been a Sega person.)

[Chad Bonin]

What was that like? (Sorry, but I've never been a Sega person.)
Sega said it would launch in the fall, and then chains started carrying it in May, surprising everyone. It's relatively high price ($399, compared to the Sony PlayStation's $299) and awkward launch (the Virtua Fighter game was so broken, they gave away a free "Remix" later) kinda killed it.

And back then 3D was special; the Sega Saturn could easily do 2D better than Sony (hence why some of the Capcom arcade games were actually more accurate on the Saturn than PSone [and debatably, Dreamcast]), but Sony's "No 2D" rule led to every game being fancy 3D, something Sony and Nintendo could do better.

(Although, irony, Team Ninja called the XBox 360 a "buffed-up Saturn")

[Storm Eagle]

Sega said it would launch in the fall, and then chains started carrying it in May, surprising everyone. It's relatively high price ($399, compared to the Sony PlayStation's $299) and awkward launch (the Virtua Fighter game was so broken, they gave away a free "Remix" later) kinda killed it.



Do you think that's one factor that made Sega Saturn somewhat of a failure?

[Chad Bonin]

Do you think that's one factor that made Sega Saturn somewhat of a failure?
The May launch, the high price, or the broken Virtua Fighter?

May Launch: Awkward timing. You don't have the Christmas rush, and they didn't make a Summer rush. Also, people who were saving for the fall didn't have cash yet, advertising was just kinda "missing". This definitely made it stumble out the gate, barely picking itself up by the time the Sony PlayStation came out (but picking up basic speed by the time the N64 debuted).

High Price: Oh, hell yeah. When one console is one-hundred dollars more than a comparable system (in the eyes of the consumer) released within the same year, the cheaper system will win. Same logic applies to the theory that a $399 XBox 360 will beat a $599 Playstation 3. The higher priced one may be more advanced (in some fields; I'll say the Saturn was as good at 2D as PSone was at 3D, and PSone was as good at 2D as Saturn was as good at 3D), but price is price.

Virtua Fighter: Fighters shouldn't be a headlining launch title. They tend to fall on the wayside of the popularity meter. Broken or not.

[guinaevere]

Official Street Date is still 11/1. Nice if earlier. But Nintendo and NoA are still keeping the november tag as their official line.

[veemonjosh]

Sony's "No 2D" rule led to every game being fancy 3D, something Sony and Nintendo could do better.


How could Sony do it better than Sony? :p

[guinaevere]

I think he meant Sega and Nintendo.

[peacebyanymeans]

How could Sony do it better than Sony? :p
I think he means that Sony's "No 2D" rule made developers make mostly 3D games for all the consoles in general (probably because it was more convienent), and Sony and Nintendo were better at 3D then the Saturn.

[Chad Bonin]

I think he means that Sony's "No 2D" rule made developers make mostly 3D games for all the consoles in general (probably because it was more convienent), and Sony and Nintendo were better at 3D then the Saturn.
Yeah. Sony's "No 2D" rule led to 3D games being mainstream, which is something Sony themselves and Nintendo could do better than the Saturn.

And Gwen, source, please, for 11/01/06. I'm doubting that severely because it's a Wednesday, not a traditional Nintendo day for launching a console, nor the standard "New Release Tuesday".

Actually, show me where they say November. Everything I've seen is "Fourth Quarter 2006, Before PS3".

[guinaevere]

And Gwen, source, please, for 11/01/06. I'm doubting that severely because it's a Wednesday, not a traditional Nintendo day for launching a console, nor the standard "New Release Tuesday".
My source is a person inside. I can't link to a conversation.

For a flub of a source, check a pre-release date for any wii launch game on ebgames.com (11/1).

[Chris Wood]

My source is a person inside. I can't link to a conversation.

Sigh. Still letting that inner child call the shots, huh? (No wait, maybe that's me)

[Dogbert]

Actually, show me where they say November. Everything I've seen is "Fourth Quarter 2006, Before PS3"."Before Thanksgiving in the U.S." too.

[Noukon]

Publishers are generally being told November. 11/5 seems most likely to be the winner.

[Chad Bonin]

For a flub of a source, check a pre-release date for any wii launch game on ebgames.com (11/1).
That's probably because they assume November, and can't put 11/00/06 as the date in the computer.

No, I'm not doubting that November is the likely month. It's just not confirmed.

Also, I think some retailers had October launch dates for some games for some reason, but that could also either be a fluke or, like the XBox 360, games that are released before the console.

[guinaevere]

Sigh. Still letting that inner child call the shots, huh? (No wait, maybe that's me) Hush, you. And what brings you in here, anyway?

Ahem. I'm not about to name drop because:
Aside from a fairly well known strat guide author, no one would recognize any names of friends I've made over the years, as they're just folks inside the industry doing their jobs.
I dislike name-dropping on general principal.
As you diplomatically point out, in a forum like this, I could make up all sorts of claims or contacts and who is to say what I'm saying is true or not?So there.


That's probably because they assume November, and can't put 11/00/06 as the date in the computer. Actually, retailers are given dates by distributers (granted we have a few companies like VU who have a history of marketing weasels giving blue-sky dates in attempts to increase sales, but that's getting less common-place). As production gets closer to actually going gold, dates are adjusted all along the trail. It's a little better than assumptions and complete random guessing. It isn't a perfect science, but street dates, owing to legal obligations to production, transportation and retailing industries has to be somewhere close to the mark.

[Dogbert]

Actually, retailers are given dates by distributersThat's true for most stores, but I don't think that's true of the big stores. I could be wrong, but I think stores like Wal-Mart, Gamestop, EB, and Circuit City deal directly with the publisher. They're so massive, they don't need the middle-man.

[Noukon]

Also, I think some retailers had October launch dates for some games for some reason, but that could also either be a fluke or, like the XBox 360, games that are released before the console.

It happens with most console releases. IIRC, the GameCube had a few titles out weeks before the console itself launched.

[Storm Eagle]

The May launch, the high price, or the broken Virtua Fighter?

May Launch: Awkward timing. You don't have the Christmas rush, and they didn't make a Summer rush. Also, people who were saving for the fall didn't have cash yet, advertising was just kinda "missing". This definitely made it stumble out the gate, barely picking itself up by the time the Sony PlayStation came out (but picking up basic speed by the time the N64 debuted).

High Price: Oh, hell yeah. When one console is one-hundred dollars more than a comparable system (in the eyes of the consumer) released within the same year, the cheaper system will win. Same logic applies to the theory that a $399 XBox 360 will beat a $599 Playstation 3. The higher priced one may be more advanced (in some fields; I'll say the Saturn was as good at 2D as PSone was at 3D, and PSone was as good at 2D as Saturn was as good at 3D), but price is price.

Virtua Fighter: Fighters shouldn't be a headlining launch title. They tend to fall on the wayside of the popularity meter. Broken or not.

Interesting.

I'll never be able to get over how Sega put out the Saturn just a few months after putting out the 32X either.

As far as Wii goes (Christ what a dumb name), might any of you know anything about Twilight Princess being released for it? It seems like that game will be released for both Wii and Gamecube. Now I'm really not sure what to make of that.

[Noukon]

Interesting.

I'll never be able to get over how Sega put out the Saturn just a few months after putting out the 32X either.

Oddly enough, it even came out after the Saturn in Japan. :D


As far as Wii goes (Christ what a dumb name), might any of you know anything about Twilight Princess being released for it? It seems like that game will be released for both Wii and Gamecube. Now I'm really not sure what to make of that.

Both the GameCube and Wii versions of Twilight Princess will be released on the same day as the Wii. The Wii version will offer full widescreen output and a control scheme customized to take advantage of the controller.

[Storm Eagle]

Both the GameCube and Wii versions of Twilight Princess will be released on the same day as the Wii. The Wii version will offer full widescreen output and a control scheme customized to take advantage of the controller.

So, both versions will basically have the same content, but will just be for different systems that obviously use a different control scheme?

Now I'm torn. I'd want to get the GameCube version since Nintendo owes us that, and I'd also want to get the Wii version because it's on a more advanced system. I read that Twilight Princess and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will be coming out at the same time as Wii's launch, or at least close to Wii's launch. Even if it's the latter, I'll still see about getting a Wii on its launch date.

[William C. Maune]

Something I've been wondering for awhile now... Has anyone confirmed that the two discs will actually be any different at all? The Wii version presumably has no graphical enhancements and thus the extra Wii controller features should easily fit on the GameCube disc. My theory is that you get exactly the same disc no matter which version you buy. The only difference would be whether you get GameCube packaging or Wii packaging around the disc.

[Demonic Raven]

Something I've been wondering for awhile now... Has anyone confirmed that the two discs will actually be any different at all? The Wii version presumably has no graphical enhancements and thus the extra Wii controller features should easily fit on the GameCube disc. My theory is that you get exactly the same disc no matter which version you buy. The only difference would be whether you get GameCube packaging or Wii packaging around the disc.Last I checked, Wii has full sized discs as opposed to the Gamecube's minidiscs. The Wii version will not have a Gamecube sized disc, unless Nintendo was fibbing.

The two versions will have different programming, as one is programmed to operate exclusively with the Wiimote, and one with the Gamecube remote. You won't find a disc that can do both.

[William C. Maune]

Last I checked, Wii has full sized discs as opposed to the Gamecube's minidiscs. The Wii version will not have a Gamecube sized disc, unless Nintendo was fibbing.

However, because the Wii can also play GameCube discs, they could release Wii games on GameCube sized discs in addition to full sized discs if they wanted to.


The two versions will have different programming, as one is programmed to operate exclusively with the Wiimote, and one with the Gamecube remote. You won't find a disc that can do both.

Has Nintendo specifically said that the different releases will have different programming though? Most of the talk by others has been to that effect, but I can't recall ever seeing Nintendo say that.

[Dogbert]

The two versions will have different programming, as one is programmed to operate exclusively with the Wiimote, and one with the Gamecube remote. You won't find a disc that can do both.Actually, NOA's VP, Perrin Kaplan, said that SSBB & LoZ:TP (Wii edition) would both use the GCN controller. So Twilight Princess for Wii will use both controllers (your choice of which one) unless Kaplan was lying/mistaken.

Link: The Engadget & Joystiq Interview: Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/15/the-engadget-and-joystiq-interview-nintendos-perrin-kaplan/)

[sdp]

I remember reading how they were going to be different versions not just packaging, and they said specifically you couldn't use a NGC controller on the wii version.

[Demonic Raven]

A Wii little version will be taking full use of the new system's controller capabilites.
Link. (http://wii.ign.com/articles/706/706166p1.html)

It sounds to me like on the Wii version, you'll be able to use the Wiimote, and only the Wiimote.

Eh, I'm not going to push it. Things can easily change in the next few months, and we haven't exactly been given full confirmation on all of the details.

[Dogbert]

I'm not claiming that LoZ:TP won't use the Wii Remote (nor is Kaplan for that matter), just that the Wii version gives an option to choose to use a GCN controller or Wii remote, while the GCN version is limited to just the GCN controller. Now, Kaplan could be wrong or that could change, but right now evidence points more toward it using both controllers rather than just one. It makes perfect sense too; they'll have to make it work with a GCN controller because there's a GCN version, so as long as they don't make major changes to the Wii version, there's no reason they can't use both. And, beyond widescreen and the Wii Remote (plus physical changes to the medium and packaging, of course), no one has made any claim the Wii version is different.

[Chad Bonin]

I'm not claiming that LoZ:TP won't use the Wii Remote (nor is Kaplan for that matter), just that the Wii version gives an option to choose to use a GCN controller or Wii remote, while the GCN version is limited to just the GCN controller. Now, Kaplan could be wrong or that could change, but right now evidence points more toward it using both controllers rather than just one. It makes perfect sense too; they'll have to make it work with a GCN controller because there's a GCN version, so as long as they don't make major changes to the Wii version, there's no reason they can't use both. And, beyond widescreen and the Wii Remote (plus physical changes to the medium and packaging, of course), no one has made any claim the Wii version is different.
The way I understand it, one of the big gameplay changes that the Wii version has exclusive is a new version of Navi, which is controlled by pointing the Wiimote.

[Dogbert]

The way I understand it, one of the big gameplay changes that the Wii version has exclusive is a new version of Navi, which is controlled by pointing the Wiimote.Good point. I recall hearing that as well. That could easily be disabled when not using the Wii Remote though.

[MGFanJay]

It happens with most console releases. IIRC, the GameCube had a few titles out weeks before the console itself launched.
I first saw it happen with the PS2. It's a nice way to remind people that the system is coming, while also giving launch day folks some more gaming options when they finally play their system.

[guinaevere]

Link. (http://wii.ign.com/articles/706/706166p1.html)

It sounds to me like on the Wii version, you'll be able to use the Wiimote, and only the Wiimote.
I'll be honest with y'all. After seeing the E3 press conference, and the speaker within the wiimote making the thwup sound as you release an arrow, and the arrows making a sound from your tv as it reaches its target, that's enough for me. I have never been experienced sound like that, not to mention the motion sensitive controller also having a rumble feature (I want to give a big kiss to the engineers who managed this)... I'm all over the Wii.

In a big messy way.