Wii
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The Nintendo Wii is a home video game console released on November 19, 2006. The Wii's main selling point was the innovative use of motion controls that its signature Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers allowed for. It became the best selling home console of its respective generation of hardware.
Not a Rumor Anymore: Wii and 'Select' Games Are About to Become Less Expensive [UPDATED x2]
UPDATE Part Deux: We can officially nix the "rumor" part of this article. Nintendo has announced that as of May 15th, the Wii system bundle will drop to $149.99 at all major retailers. Additionally, Wii Sports is officially out of the bundle, replaced by Mario Kart Wii and the Wii Steering Wheel. An elaborate mock-up of what the package may look like in real life can be seen directly to the right of this paragraph that you are reading.
Additionally, Nintendo confirmed the legitimacy of the Wii Select line of newly budget-priced titles. The lineup officially includes Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Wii Sports. Evidently, we'll have to wait a little longer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to drop in price.
UPDATE: One, Nintendo has since told us they won't comment. No real surprise there.
Two, Nintendo World Report apparently has box art for these "Wii Select" games. They look legit!
--
With the exception of the original PlayStation, I've been a fairly notorious early adopter of new console technologies. I'm guessing if you're reading a website like Giant Bomb, one so thoroughly dedicated to the gaming enthusiasts of the world, you probably don't spend a lot of time waiting around to buy your console of choice, either. That said, there are many people who wait years after a system's release to get on board. One need only look at the absurd number of PlayStation 2 systems that sold well after the PlayStation 3's debut for prime evidence.
Of course, one thing that always helps grease the late adopter's wheels a bit is a price drop, and ever since Nintendo's new console announcement came rumbling into legitimacy, people have been bandying about various rumors of a new $149 price for the now suddenly old-feeling system.
Kotaku took the story a step further last night, citing retail sources that proclaimed that, along with the system's slashed price, a new line of "Wii Select" titles would also be dropped to a price point of $19.99. Along the lines of Sony's "Greatest Hits" and Microsoft's "Platinum Hits" collections--not to mention Nintendo's old "Player's Choice" line--the Select line would be made up of particularly noteworthy titles from the console's lifespan. Kotaku states the new line will debut in May, with the initial title run consisting of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Super Sluggers, and Wii Sports.
== TEASER == Hold on, let me record scratch this story to a halt for a moment. Wii Sports? You mean the game that's been packed in with Wii consoles since jump street? Yes, apparently Nintendo plans to take that seminal sports waggler and put it on store shelves all by its lonesome. Replacing Wii Sports in the console package would be Mario Kart Wii. While that might seem odd, think of it this way: If you're a consumer and you want a Wii now, in 2011, what are you more likely to pick up alongside your console for an extra 20 bucks? Mario Kart? Or that Wii Sports game every other Wii owner on the planet currently owns? Right.
For its part, Nintendo isn't currently talking on the subject, possibly in the hopes of keeping some minuscule modicum of info from their upcoming E3 2011 press conference something even vaguely resembling a secret. We've contacted them for more details and will update if we hear anything. At the rate things are popping out ahead of the show, they may have to resort to putting Miyamoto in a Link costume and forcing him to perform a Zelda-themed musical number. Maybe something like this, only sexier?
UPDATE Part Deux: We can officially nix the "rumor" part of this article. Nintendo has announced that as of May 15th, the Wii system bundle will drop to $149.99 at all major retailers. Additionally, Wii Sports is officially out of the bundle, replaced by Mario Kart Wii and the Wii Steering Wheel. An elaborate mock-up of what the package may look like in real life can be seen directly to the right of this paragraph that you are reading.
Additionally, Nintendo confirmed the legitimacy of the Wii Select line of newly budget-priced titles. The lineup officially includes Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Wii Sports. Evidently, we'll have to wait a little longer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to drop in price.
UPDATE: One, Nintendo has since told us they won't comment. No real surprise there.
Two, Nintendo World Report apparently has box art for these "Wii Select" games. They look legit!
--
With the exception of the original PlayStation, I've been a fairly notorious early adopter of new console technologies. I'm guessing if you're reading a website like Giant Bomb, one so thoroughly dedicated to the gaming enthusiasts of the world, you probably don't spend a lot of time waiting around to buy your console of choice, either. That said, there are many people who wait years after a system's release to get on board. One need only look at the absurd number of PlayStation 2 systems that sold well after the PlayStation 3's debut for prime evidence.
Of course, one thing that always helps grease the late adopter's wheels a bit is a price drop, and ever since Nintendo's new console announcement came rumbling into legitimacy, people have been bandying about various rumors of a new $149 price for the now suddenly old-feeling system.
Kotaku took the story a step further last night, citing retail sources that proclaimed that, along with the system's slashed price, a new line of "Wii Select" titles would also be dropped to a price point of $19.99. Along the lines of Sony's "Greatest Hits" and Microsoft's "Platinum Hits" collections--not to mention Nintendo's old "Player's Choice" line--the Select line would be made up of particularly noteworthy titles from the console's lifespan. Kotaku states the new line will debut in May, with the initial title run consisting of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Super Sluggers, and Wii Sports.
== TEASER == Hold on, let me record scratch this story to a halt for a moment. Wii Sports? You mean the game that's been packed in with Wii consoles since jump street? Yes, apparently Nintendo plans to take that seminal sports waggler and put it on store shelves all by its lonesome. Replacing Wii Sports in the console package would be Mario Kart Wii. While that might seem odd, think of it this way: If you're a consumer and you want a Wii now, in 2011, what are you more likely to pick up alongside your console for an extra 20 bucks? Mario Kart? Or that Wii Sports game every other Wii owner on the planet currently owns? Right.
For its part, Nintendo isn't currently talking on the subject, possibly in the hopes of keeping some minuscule modicum of info from their upcoming E3 2011 press conference something even vaguely resembling a secret. We've contacted them for more details and will update if we hear anything. At the rate things are popping out ahead of the show, they may have to resort to putting Miyamoto in a Link costume and forcing him to perform a Zelda-themed musical number. Maybe something like this, only sexier?
Only Nintendo could charge $50 for an launch title still, oh wait gamestop is still charging $50 for king of fighters 12 lol.
It's kind of ridiculous that so many Wii exclusives have stayed full price. 'Wii Select' should've happened a while ago.
" $149.99? Shit I thought it was already that. I was all ready to finally be on board to buy a Wii for $99 so I can get Smash Brothers and a few others. Not at $150 though, waste of money. "This, only I have had all the first-party games and care more to play Deadly Creatures, Little King's Story, and their ilk.
It blows my mind that the Super Mario Galaxy games aren't on that list. I am interested in playing both of those games, but there is no way in hell I'm paying full price for a three year old game. I can kind of see why Galaxy 2 is still expensive, but the first one is just insane.
Wii select? I think you better let someone else select because who the hell wants to play mario sluggers? I would be hype for this if they were dropping price on recent games like DK and Kirby.
Nintendo has done a great job of keeping their 1st party stuff at full price since launch. I wonder how much of the large install base will just pick up this stuff because it's cheap.
hey you know what? I'd buy the wii for under £100 and get the mario games. and maybe monster hunter tri. Sadly that's about it :/
"there are many people who wait years after a system's release to get on board"
I got a PS2 in 2009: TruFax. I have been loving it and enjoying every very inexpensive game I can get for it (though there are ridiculously expensive ones, too... I'm looking at you, ZOE2).
I would be the type to be all for this, but I already have a dusty white box by my TV.
" It blows my mind that the Super Mario Galaxy games aren't on that list. I am interested in playing both of those games, but there is no way in hell I'm paying full price for a three year old game. I can kind of see why Galaxy 2 is still expensive, but the first one is just insane. "To be fair, those are the best games on the platform and well worth $50.
I can confirm at least the Wii Selects part of the story. I work at Target and we've had the Wii Sports and Twilight Princess rereleases in the new release lockup for about a week. We haven't gotten word of any console price drop, though it's been at $170 for a week or two now.
" I'll pick up Brawl and TP on teh cheap. I played the Gamecube version of Twilight Princess twice, and have never had the drive to play it by waggling my controller in front of my TV, but I'm getting that 5 year Zelda itch again, so it might be time. "I'd say wait for Skyward Sword, duder
" @phish09 said:But if they keep postponing Skyward Sword like they did Twilight Princess I might have to wait another year at least for that to come out...but you're right...I could just rip through the Gamecube TP again in the mean time." I'll pick up Brawl and TP on teh cheap. I played the Gamecube version of Twilight Princess twice, and have never had the drive to play it by waggling my controller in front of my TV, but I'm getting that 5 year Zelda itch again, so it might be time. "I'd say wait for Skyward Sword, duder "
Smart on nintendo to make wii sports separate but cheap.get every last solar from those late adopters who only want "that bowling game"
Hopefully these price drops might drive the used market into the dirt. I might bite on a bargain-bin priced New Super Mario Bros Wii. I know I'll never play it as long as it's $30+.
Wow, actually having to pay for Wii Sports is a terrible thing. Wii Sports Resort is a game. Wii Sports is a tech demo. Ugh, that's pretty scummy, Nintendo.
Going to call "lies" on the "Wii Sports 1 to be sold separately" rumour. Here in the UK, pretty much every comes with both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort. Really can't see them back peddling on that (after all, two games are better than one in the layman's opinion).
Doesn't anyone remember how excited we were for the Wii? I think people were imagining being Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader swinging around the Wiimote as a lightsaber in real time. Or Harry Potter shooting spells.
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