In a press announcement this morning in New York, Nintendo announced it would put their new Wii U console on sale on Nov 18th, a week before Thanksgiving and Black Friday. It will come in two configurations, a white one for $299 with 8 GB of memory and a black one for $349 with 32 GB. The black version will also come bundled with Nintendoland, a game I quite enjoyed playing at a recent “hands on” event.
This follows their announcement earlier today that Japan will see the Wii U on Dec 8, costing 26,250 yen ($337; £210) and the premium version 31,500 yen ($405; £251). Perhaps even more importantly, the console’s main selling point– its touch screen controller– will be available to purchase separately for households that want more than one for $169, or approximately the cost of a 3DS.
This marks a departure from the norm, where traditionally Nintendo consoles are released earlier in Japan than in the US. For instance in 2011, the 3DS was released in Japan one month earlier than the US. Obviously, Nintendo is conscious of the US holiday shopping season. Also interesting is the US versions will come with a sensor bar standard, whereas the Japanese versions they are sold separately.
As I mentioned, I had the chance to play on a Wii U at a special event here in Austin a couple of weeks ago. It was absolutely amazing and made me incredibly excited for how the Wii U was going to change gaming for the better. A disclaimer: I consider myself a moderate console gamer. Not a pro who spends hours and hours a week, usually, and someone who would get easily pwned by going up against most core gamers, but I enjoy myself and I like spending time with friends and family playing games. My first big impression was how much fun NintendoLand was. It was incredibly simple, but most of the games were pretty fun. We played a Luigi’s Mansion game and an Animal Crossing game with similar concepts: the person with the gamepad was the ghost/animal catcher, and had to get the other players and prevent them from achieving their objectives. We also played a Zelda-themed game where the folks with the Wiimotes were armed with swords and shields and the gamepad player could shoot a bow and arrow at the attacking enemies. Imagine playing the Wii Sports Resort swordfighting battle game, but on a team and with someone in charge of shooting volleys of arrows at your enemies as well. Casual gamers and families are going to love this.
Speaking of casual gamers, because I was there with my kids, we spent a lot of time playing Just Dance 4 and the new WiiSiing game. Lots of fun for the karaoke and dancing crowd. My 7 year old daughter absolutely rocked singing Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe”– and we were her “backup dancers.” Just Dance also introduced a “Puppetmaster” mode where the person using the gamepad could choose what dance moved everyone had to do next– pulling from both the library of dance moves in the fourth game but also including “classic” moves from previous Just Dance incarnations. Once again, proving the Gamepad experience as basically the “Gamemaster” for the evening and everyone else getting to play along. Yeah, fund for the casual and especially family gamers.
Nintendo is also being smart with making everything backwards compatible with Wii accessories. All of your Wiimotes will continue to work, as will your balance board. We got a chance to try out WiiUFit with some new trampoline and bobsledding games– hey, if you liked the WiiFit, it’s more of the same.
But of course the main attraction is Mario. New Super Mario Bros Wii U was a blast. Absolutely everything you want from a Mario game and then some. And, the best is how friendly it is to multiplayer. Although I can see people basically just doing it to mess up their opponents rather than help their teammates (which is probably more fun to begin with, right?). Speaking of fun, there was also a Pikmin, Scribblenauts, and a Game and Watch game which were all fun. That is the single bottom line of WiiU– high on concept and the fun factor. You might denigrate it as being only for casual gamers, but casual gamers are going to have a blast with this. So will core gamers if they just won’t be too cynical about it.
All I can say is, I’m in. I am probably the prime demographic for the WiiU– has owned a Wii and plunked down a decent chunk of change on accessories, am loyal to Nintendo and their games and IP, and not a hardcore gamer but someone who does always lament that the Wii isn’t in true hi-def and who might play Call of Duty more often if only he owned a PS3 or XBox. Also, has kids and wants to play games primarily with them but also wants the ability to connect with friends online to blow up some aliens every once in a while. Now, are there enough people like me out there to make this a successful console? I don’t care. For me and my family– we’re in. See you in line the night of Nov 17th.
Will continue to update as things go on.
UPDATE: 10:38 AM ET
Just announced is the new Nintendo TVii, a system that will work on your Gamepad as a giant interactive controller and media enhancement device. Customized for each Wii U user (you’ll have the icon of your Mii in the upper left corner), it will suggest all sorts of media based on what is available on the web, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and your dvr. These suggestions will come from what is popular, your previous choices, and also what is popular among your friends. You can also select your own favorites. While watching an episode of, say, Modern Family, the gamepad will offer you the ability to browse imdb, wikipedia, follow social media around the episode, tweet yourself about what you’re seeing, even see what has happened so far. If you’re a sports fan, it will be even more intense– sharing of stats, other scores, instant replays, and of course the social media tie-in.
This is, quite frankly, what I’ve been waiting for with TV. Thank you, Nintendo, for bringing it. And then, I’m sure, we’re going to see a ridiculous improvement when Microsoft announces integration between the new XBox and MS Surface.
UPDATE: 10:55 AM ET
Ahhhhh, the games. Nintendo has announced and demo’d even more games. They announced Bayoneta 2, which will be all online and published by Nintendo. They showed some footage from the new Bond game: 007 Legends. They also showed off how you’d be able to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 with the gamepad enhancement. From those who have been able to play Aliens: Colonial Marines, and these others, I have to ask– isn’t Nintendo making a play for the core gamers audience? Looks like it– add some extra functionality and TV interactive experience, and a not incredibly high price, I think we could see a lot of people grab one up for Christmas and play with it until the next PS and XBox come out, the same way the Wii bridged the gap between PS2 and 2 and XBox and XB360.
UPDATE: 1 PM ET
Finally, an official press release.
Nintendo Announces Nov. 18 Launch Date and Details for Revolutionary Wii U Console
More Than 50 Games Confirmed for Launch Window, Including Super Mario Bros., Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed Titles
New Nintendo TVii Application to Change the Way Viewers Experience TV and Video Content Using Wii U GamePad Controller
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo today revealed full details about how the new Wii U™ home console and its groundbreaking touch-screen Wii U GamePad controller can revolutionize not only video game play but also the way people find and watch TV and video content. The new HD system will offer entirely new ways for consumers to play games and enjoy their favorite programming when it launches in the Americas on Nov. 18. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.
At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favorite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one easy-to-use interface.
Additionally, Nintendo shared new information about dozens of games on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros.™ U, LEGO® City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101™, Capcom’s Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate and Activision’s Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario’s world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo’s greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Mario™, Animal Crossing™ and Donkey Kong™. As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.
“The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations.”
The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI® cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.
Both configurations offer a wealth of one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences, including an online gaming community called Miiverse™ and the new Nintendo TVii application. Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and even their recorded TiVo shows – all from a single starting point.
The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry’s biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS PRIME™. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin’s Creed® III, ZombiU™, Rayman Legends® and Just Dance® 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect™ 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts™ Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.
“The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U,” said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing’s CEO. “We’re excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U.”
Below is a list of upcoming Wii U games that will be available on launch day or during the launch window*. (For information about third-party games, check with the individual publishers.)
Publisher Title
505 Games Funky Barn
2K Sports NBA 2K13
Activision Publishing, Inc. 007™ Legends
Call of Duty®: Black Ops II
TRANSFORMERS PRIME™
Wipeout 3
Skylanders Giants™
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
Capcom Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate
D3Publisher Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
Ben 10: Omniverse™
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
Disney Interactive Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Electronic Arts Mass Effect™ 3
Madden NFL 13
EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 13
Frozenbyte Trine 2™: Director’s Cut
Gaijin Games Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Majesco Entertainment Zumba® Fitness Core
Maximum Games Jett Tailfin™
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT™ 2 Wii U Edition
TANK! TANK! TANK!™
Nintendo Nintendo Land™
New Super Mario Bros.™ U
NINJA GAIDEN™ 3: Razor’s Edge
SiNG PARTY™
LEGO® City: Undercover
Wii Fit™ U
Game & Wario™
Pikmin™ 3
The Wonderful 101™
SEGA Aliens: Colonial Marines™
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Shin’en Nano Assault Neo
Tecmo Koei America Corporation WARRIORS OROCHI® 3 Hyper
THQ Darksiders® II
Wheel of Fortune®
JEOPARDY! ®
Two Tribes Toki Tori 2
Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed® III
Just Dance® 4
Marvel Avengers™: Battle for Earth
Rabbids® Land
Sports Connection™
Your Shape®: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU™
Rayman Legends®
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scribblenauts™ Unlimited
Game Party Champions
Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition
* Launch window is defined as the period beginning Nov. 18, 2012, and ending March 31, 2013.
Broadband Internet access is required for online features. For more information, go to http://support.nintendo.com.
Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.
For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.9 billion video games and more than 630 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website athttp://www.nintendo.com.———————————————————————–