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Wii U Arrives in United States on November 18

The date is set, prices are in ($299, $349), new games have been announced (Bayonetta 2, Black Ops 2), and the road to Wii U's launch has begun.

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Nintendo of America has announced a release date for Wii U in the United States, and it's November 18. It doesn't launch in Japan until December 8, but Nintendo launched the original Wii first outside of Japan, too.

There are two sets. The basic set includes a Wii U, Game Pad, Game Pad charging cable, AC adaptor, HDMI cable, sensor bar and 8GB of memory. The "deluxe" set also includes 32GB of memory, a Game Pad charging cable, Game Pad cradle, a copy of NintendoLand, and enrollment in a premium service on Nintendo Direct, where you earn points for each purchase and can redeem them later for other purchases.

The big question? Price. It's $299 for the basic set, and $349 for the deluxe set.

As for big game announcements, Nintendo is publishing (funding?) Bayonetta 2 with Platinum Games, Monolith Soft is making a new game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is coming to the platform, and there's a new Monster Hunter. Well, "new." Monster Hunter Ultimate (Monster Hunter Tri G U in Japan) is based on the 3DS game, and the save data will be interchangeable between the two platforms. It's available at launch in Japan, and March everywhere else.

Project P-100, also from Platinum Games, was easily one of the most exciting Wii U games at E3, and that's been renamed The Wonderful 101. Spoiler: still looks awesome. Epic Mickey 2 will also be receiving a Wii U upgrade, and Activision made the clutch announcement of Skylanders Giants. Nintendo didn't discuss the NFC features baked into the Game Pad, though, so one might expect that will still have a separate device to scan the characters in.

Nintendo broke down the hilariously large "launch window" for Wii U, as well: November 18 until the end of March. Besides New Super Mario Bros. U and NintendoLand, the company wasn't confirming release dates, but since Pikmin 3 isn't coming out until next spring in Japan, I wouldn't expect it over here this year, either.

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In America, Nintendo spent the most time going over its big media initiative, Nintendo TVii. It aggregates content services--Amazon, Hulu Plus, etc.--and allows users to search, track, purchase, and play content from them on the Game Pad and the TV. There's a neat dynamic between the Game Pad and TV, too. The Game Pad takes screen captures of what's happening on TV, and allows users to comment and share on Facebook and Twitter. You also have access to your DVR through the Game Pad, though right now, that seems to mean TiVO-only devices.

Nintendo TVii launches alongside the device this year, but only in the United States and Canada.

The company also unveiled a strange interface for Nintendo TVii. Maybe it'll make more sense in our hands?

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Over in Japan, there were some big announcements that should guarantee some folks on day one (like, say, 8-4). In addition to an even more deluxe package that comes with a Pro controller and a copy of Monster Hunter Ultimate, anyone who buys the premium version of the console also gains an invite to the upcoming beta for Dragon Quest X.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

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@DeF

Other than the same series N has put out for 30 years, & other than ports from PS360.. I only see Bayonetta 2 & Zombi U, & neither one really isn't anything special. It needs alot more than that, if it wants others onboard, now it only has N fans intrested.

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Edited By LordAndrew

@SpartanHoplite: Well, a lot of people think Bayonetta 2 is special. And some of them are getting angry that it's not on their console of choice. Some were uninteresed but are now sold on the Wii U thanks to Bayonetta. I accept your opinion as opinion, but your claim about it only interesting Nintendo fans is wrong.

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DeF

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Edited By DeF

@SpartanHoplite: So a first person survival horror/roguelike game with permadeath, a persistent world, seamless online integration with players from your friend list spawning in your world if they die, a multiplayer CTF-mode with a spin that has two players interacting with the game in completely different ways (one plays FPS style, the other controls the zombie spawns, strategy game style) is "nothing special" to you? How many games like that have you seen?

Then add to that what LordAndrew said about Bayonetta 2. I don't care about that franchise but it's a pretty nice get for Nintendo.

You're also completely ignoring The Wonderful 101. Maybe because that doesn't sound interesting enough to you but, again, a brawler where you control dozens of little people who form different objects or weapons and have crazy battles is nothing special? How many games like that have you seen?

Then there's also Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate coming. That's a pretty huge deal for some people. Then there's Pikmin 3, a potentially better ports of critically acclaimed games.

Tell me again there's nothing or only stuff for "Nintendo fans." It's factually wrong.

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johnzimmerman

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Edited By johnzimmerman

sorry nintendo but i don't care about the Wii U, I don't care about the 3DS, i don't think i will care. maybe it's time for nintendo to stop trying to make consoles and just make games for sony and microsoft.

oh one more thing nintendo, why are making/ selling TVs?

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jmood88

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Edited By jmood88

@WasabiCurry said:

I still cannot understand the purpose of the Wii U. The premise of the pad and just HD graphics are not very good selling points to me. I am just hoping that Nintendo is not shooting themselves in the foot when Microsoft and Sony will announce a next generation console. Or the mythical "Steam Box" comes into reality to push these three to a next generation platform.

I grew up with Nintendo; had fun times in my childhood and only wish them the best. Sadly, I will be saving up my money this go around for a new Gaming PC.

They waited way too long to put this out. This should've come out a year or two ago.

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel

@JohnZimmerman said:

oh one more thing nintendo, why are making/ selling TVs?

I think you're missing a a word or two there. And I'm not sure why it's relevant, anyway. If this is a crack about TVii, that's just a service Nintendo is opperating through the Wii U that's meant to help consolidate everything from streaming services like Netflix to Tivo DVR to basic cable service. As non-game-related as that is, it's actually not a bad idea in principle because it helps put the Wii U in the position of being a one-stop shop for your TV.

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MAGZine

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@SpartanHoplite said:

It does not seem to be aimed at anyone except the fans, where's the games.. i mean other than the usual N games. others might aswell wait till M$ & $ony consoles arrive.

R.I.P Nintendo

god I'm so tired of reading dumb stuff like this which only needlessly perpetuates the whole "RIP Nintendo" notion. Have you actually read or watched any news about the Wii U, or are you just looking at the Wii and saying "Yeah, basically that"? Seriously. The big blockbusters (ACIII, COD, Mass Effect + future titles), along with various exclusives (Rayman Legends, Bayonetta 2, W101, ZombiU + future titles), topped with Nintendo's 1st party, which fall into the "usual N games," I suppose.

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@ DeF

@ MAGZine

My point is, there's 3 groups as i see it:

1) N fans, are they happy, sure, i suppose they are, mostly atleast.

2) Casual, do they care? I dont think they even know what WiiU is, so, no. It's very unlikely N gets the casual again.

3) The PS360PC crowd, are they intrested, no, why would they? PS360PC crowd are the people whome follow the gaming news & are very aware of the state of things, & to most of them WiiU isnt that appealing even if it has couple intresting titles, which to masses i dont consider B2 & ZU to be. It needs alot more than that to get the PS360PC crowd, & considering next Sony/M$ consoles are just behind the corner, i see that crowd turning its eyes to those 2 by the time WiiU has bigger lineup.

So who at this point are really into WiiU, its the fans, & i dont believe WiiU can substain financial viability by being supported only by the fans of big N.

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Oginam

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Edited By Oginam

@Shaanyboi said:

@Oginam said:

One game isn't a reason to buy a console, especially with Microsoft and Sony unveiling their stuff only a few months after the "launch window".

...So... just wait until two more consoles are released with 'zero' interesting games for THEIR launch? Because if memory serves, the 360 and PS3 had fucking GARBAGE at the start. I'd say Nintendo having atleast 'acouple' pretty interesting games at launch on their system is better than most.

I'll happily wait a few months to see what Microsoft and Sony show at E3. Didn't say anything about waiting until they're released.

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Edited By jasondesante

anyone with a 360 who plays call of duty will want this because you can play cod online without using your tv, in your hands. Whats the biggest problem of the PSP? You end up playing it more on a couch. This is going to be so fun to play with.

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@jasondesante said:

anyone with a 360 who plays call of duty will want this because you can play cod online without using your tv, in your hands. Whats the biggest problem of the PSP? You end up playing it more on a couch. This is going to be so fun to play with.

That assumes that everyone wants to rid themselves of their TVs. I think at this point the Xbox 360, PS3 or PC are preferable choices; where the internet is better, there's no battery life to worry about and the games may perform better.

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Edited By LordAndrew

@SpartanHoplite: Those three groups exist for other consoles too.

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Hailinel

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@Zaxex

@jasondesante said:

anyone with a 360 who plays call of duty will want this because you can play cod online without using your tv, in your hands. Whats the biggest problem of the PSP? You end up playing it more on a couch. This is going to be so fun to play with.

That assumes that everyone wants to rid themselves of their TVs. I think at this point the Xbox 360, PS3 or PC are preferable choices; where the internet is better, there's no battery life to worry about and the games may perform better.

No battery life in the PS3 or 360? What?
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Of course they do, but at the moment its N who i see to be in thin ice. PS3 & 360 have sold 66 & 68 million, so i would say the majority of those people are the type of gamers who follow gaming [meaning not your parents, granny or GF]. & they are most likely to get PS4 or 720, or both. But the majority of Wii's 96 million buyers are your parents, granny, GF or PS360PC, who buyed it, played for awhile & got bored of it, plus the fans of course. So who are coming back to PS720, majority of those who bought PS3 & 360. Who are coming back to WiiU, sure not the casuals, they've moved on, nor the PS360PC crowd, who got burned with the Wii.

So what does it leave to WiiU, just the fans, which is not enough.

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@Hailinel said:

@Zaxex

@jasondesante said:

anyone with a 360 who plays call of duty will want this because you can play cod online without using your tv, in your hands. Whats the biggest problem of the PSP? You end up playing it more on a couch. This is going to be so fun to play with.

That assumes that everyone wants to rid themselves of their TVs. I think at this point the Xbox 360, PS3 or PC are preferable choices; where the internet is better, there's no battery life to worry about and the games may perform better.

No battery life in the PS3 or 360? What?

I'm saying you have to concern yourself with battery life on a handheld, as opposed to the consoles.

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel

@Zaxex said:

@Hailinel said:

@Zaxex

@jasondesante said:

anyone with a 360 who plays call of duty will want this because you can play cod online without using your tv, in your hands. Whats the biggest problem of the PSP? You end up playing it more on a couch. This is going to be so fun to play with.

That assumes that everyone wants to rid themselves of their TVs. I think at this point the Xbox 360, PS3 or PC are preferable choices; where the internet is better, there's no battery life to worry about and the games may perform better.

No battery life in the PS3 or 360? What?

I'm saying you have to concern yourself with battery life on a handheld, as opposed to the consoles.

You do know that the controllers do need to be recharged every so often, I assume?

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MAGZine

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Edited By MAGZine

@SpartanHoplite: By that logic, how did the group you refer to "casuals" latch onto the Wii? It was just some mystic conincidence that they happened to end up with one in their hands?

Again. If someone has mutual interest in the Wii U, NXB, NPS and PC, the logical combination is Wii U and PC. The only reason to buy a NPS or NXB over a PC is exclusives. Wii U would take care of all of the console exclusives.

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@ MAGZine

casual latched onto it for the reason they latch onto ipad, facebook games, angry birds etc... it offered easy to use gaming with simple enough games to understand for them, wiisports.. and had a cool new way of playing those sports games with family and friends. and got alot of publicy from the likes of oprah. now that the casual have moved on, i dont see wiiu replicating that success.

"If someone has mutual interest in the Wii U, NXB, NPS and PC"

but thats the thing , i dont see majority of people having intrest in all of those. i see sony and m$ having enough core gamers intrested in their platforms so that they could generate enough sales for the consoles to be financially viable through software sales. they could sell the same amount and even more that they've sold this gen. and the only ones who are more proune to pick wiiu over ps4 and 720 are the fans of nintendo, which would make it sales most likely around 20 million or so, which was the sales of GC, console mostly bought by the fans. maybe it can do 30 million lifetime, but sill, at this day and age its not enough. its more expensive business than ever before and nintendo is the only one who has no other revenue than videogames, so it hits hardest them if they dont start to gain more profit from software sales.