Wii Info released for Japan, US

[David J.]

As I've been saying a LOT lately... this applies to Sony of America, Nintendo of America, Microsoft, etc: Corprate America (and Japan to a lesser extent) is greedy!

They don't give two shits about the customer, thus overpricing a system by coming with some hackneyed excuse for charging why they do, and they know damn well that a few people complaning won't stop their new systems from like hotcakes.

[Psy]

But Opera has advantages over Firefox, especially its smaller footprint. Those advantages are surely more important than the browser becoming outdated when the system is outdated.

Sony slapped Linux and Firefox onto the PS2 (see here and the Wii is has far more resources then the PS2 plus we are just talking the browser not a full blown desktop Operating System like Sony shoehorned onto the PS2.

I doubt on the Wii people would be playing games with the brower in memory thus since the browser will probably have most of the system resources for itself I don't think a small footprint matters.

Besides, if the open source community wants to maintain a Wii browser, they can port it themselves.

We are still waiting for Dreamcast ports as it is pretty clear there is going to be no updates to the Planetweb browser. What are Wii users going to do if Nintendo stops paying for browser updates for the Wii?

[j_factor]

There have been DC homebrew browsers, and a homebrew browser for DS is already in the works. I don't think one for Wii is out of the question.

Besides, Wii Opera won't be outdated until the system is coming off the market. When that time comes, who will really care about the lack of a fully up-to-date web browser for Wii?

[Psy]

There have been DC homebrew browsers,

I was talking about Firefox that currently only can be run on Dreamcast via the port of BSD or Linux, no Firefox port exists that runs directly on the Dreamcasts hardware.

and a homebrew browser for DS is already in the works. I don't think one for Wii is out of the question.

That's more like it

Besides, Wii Opera won't be outdated until the system is coming off the market. When that time comes, who will really care about the lack of a fully up-to-date web browser for Wii?

Well the C64 stayed on the market from 1982 till 1994 (was planned to be retired from production in 1995 but Commodore went bankrupt), with diminishing returns on new hardware (progress in hardware shows less end results to the gamers for their money) Nintendo could in theory sell the Wii till 2018 if Nintendo can get gammers to focus on content instead of hardware, which Nintendo is trying to do with the Wii (not have the Wii last long but get gamers to focus on content).

As for who really cares well if the community doesn't get a up-to-date browser programers will have reason to start unlocking the Wii secrets, and it could be the like the Dreamcast that they could find out how to bypass the security and if EA sees the open source community bypassing the security of the Wii (without the need of modifying the hardware), what is to stop EA from doing the same and releasing Wii games without paying Nintendo. It is just smart to not give programers a good reason (like them wanting a up-to-date browser) to spend their days reverse engineering the Wii to fix their problem. "Cool I got Firefox onto the Wii" could by wanting to use in on a disc turn to "Cool I learned how to bypass the security without a mod chip".

[j_factor]

I was talking about Firefox that currently only can be run on Dreamcast via the port of BSD or Linux, no Firefox port exists that runs directly on the Dreamcasts hardware.

No Firefox port exists, but other, non-Firefox browsers do.

Well the C64 stayed on the market from 1982 till 1994 (was planned to be retired from production in 1995 but Commodore went bankrupt), with diminishing returns on new hardware (progress in hardware shows less end results to the gamers for their money) Nintendo could in theory sell the Wii till 2018 if Nintendo can get gammers to focus on content instead of hardware, which Nintendo is trying to do with the Wii (not have the Wii last long but get gamers to focus on content).

As for who really cares well if the community doesn't get a up-to-date browser programers will have reason to start unlocking the Wii secrets, and it could be the like the Dreamcast that they could find out how to bypass the security and if EA sees the open source community bypassing the security of the Wii (without the need of modifying the hardware), what is to stop EA from doing the same and releasing Wii games without paying Nintendo. It is just smart to not give programers a good reason (like them wanting a up-to-date browser) to spend their days reverse engineering the Wii to fix their problem. "Cool I got Firefox onto the Wii" could by wanting to use in on a disc turn to "Cool I learned how to bypass the security without a mod chip".

I highly doubt Wii will be on the market for years and years. But if it is, as long as it's supported it will get browser updates. When it stops getting browser updates, it will be an unsupported system, old and crusty, and if someone bypasses the security at that point, it would be like someone bypassing the security of Gamecube next year -- not really a huge concern for Nintendo.

[Psy]

I highly doubt Wii will be on the market for years and years.

We do have diminish returns for gamers invenstment in new hardware, the PS2 might crush the PS3 in the market like the Atari 2600 crushed the Atari 5200 which could trigger a longer life span for gaming systems.

But if it is, as long as it's supported it will get browser updates. When it stops getting browser updates, it will be an unsupported system, old and crusty, and if someone bypasses the security at that point, it would be like someone bypassing the security of Gamecube next year -- not really a huge concern for Nintendo.

Unless after 5 years Nintendo tries to kill the Wii to make room for its next system but fails leaving the system still being devloped for by major devlopers despite Nintendo having pulled the plug on the system (Hey Nintendo now expects profits on its hardware so I wouldn't put it past them screwing their userbase by doing what Sega did to the Genesis and tring to pull the Wii under the users feet in order to increase sales for its next system).

[Drixxel]

As I've been saying a LOT lately... this applies to Sony of America, Nintendo of America, Microsoft, etc: Corprate America (and Japan to a lesser extent) is greedy!

They don't give two shits about the customer, thus overpricing a system by coming with some hackneyed excuse for charging why they do, and they know damn well that a few people complaning won't stop their new systems from like hotcakes.

There are many reasons why companies choose the pricing strategies that they do. In a sense, you're right that a company such as Sony doesn't give a shit about the customer. ...certain customers, that is. Sony is not hoping to seduce the price-sensitive consumer with the PS3's launch price. At this introductory stage of their new console, Sony is after a different demographic.

There is a lot more behind "the price" than just an attempt to properly gouge the consumer. I assure you that the big three of the next gen have performed extensive market research and sales forecasting to decide on a price that will not only foster good sales numbers, but make the most of the hype and excitement surrounding new technology. It would be a wasted opportunity on the part of these companies to, at launch, sell their consoles at the lowest they possibly could without risking certain financial meltdown. They might sell more units, but there's far more to profitability and corporate survival than sales alone.

These companies do care about the customer, very much. They just don't necessarily care about you quite yet. You'll become Sony's target after a few strategic price drops designed to mop up more of the market later on in the console's lifespan to bolster software sales, but for now, Sony and co. are confident that there are enough customers out there willing to be among the first to adopt fancy and expensive new technology at the decided launch prices. No one is forcing you to pay $600 for a PS3; we all know the price will eventually drop, and in a year, that $200 Wii can be yours. However, if you really, really want one now, as a consumer you know perfectly well what has to be done.

I get the impression that with the Wii people have let themselves believe in some syrupy gaming ideal, and they have made the frankly reasonable launch price out to be something deceiptful and a breach of trust. To say that a $250 Wii is an act of legendary greed on the part of Nintendo is bullshit, as it is perfectly within the bounds of expectations. It's more the Vitrual Console and controller pricing that took me by surprise, and I feel there should be far more of an upset over that than the launch price.

[j_factor]

Few would be upset at the $250 launch price if Nintendo hadn't previously hyped their supposed cheapness to high heaven. Also the price on the controllers, and the unexpected detail that you only get one in the box (Wii? More like "I"), seems like a rip. The hue and cry is Nintendo's own fault.

[Drixxel]

Few would be upset at the $250 launch price if Nintendo hadn't previously hyped their supposed cheapness to high heaven. Also the price on the controllers, and the unexpected detail that you only get one in the box (Wii? More like "I"), seems like a rip. The hue and cry is Nintendo's own fault.

Fair enough. As far as dollar value is concerned, a second Wii-mote included in the $250 launch bundle would be seen as a way cool thing, especially considering what the remotes retail for individually and the smiley social gaming philosophy Nintendo has been pumping out. I personally do feel that it would have been a far classier move on Nintendo's part to have gone reasonably below the $249.95 mark given the "under $250" hoopla, but whatever.. the Wii launch bundle is still more complete than the Xbox 360 and PS3.

[j_factor]

I agree that it's still better than 360 and PS3, and I'm still definitely looking forward to the great-looking Wii lineup, but this gen, no one's doing all the right things. It saddens me a bit more for Nintendo, because I saw them as having had the position to do everything just right, and they've mildly blown it.

[Drixxel]

It may be a bit early yet to say whether or not Nintendo has "blown it," mildly or not. I am sure that the Wii, software, VC titles and accessories will sell fabulously through Christmas, even with the pricing what it is.

My idea of the perfect Wii launch, one that would best appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike, would look a bit like this:

1) Wii consoles come bundled with two remotes, two nunchuks & Wii Sports

2) The launch bundle retails for $225

3) Individual remotes come packaged with a nunchuk

4) Wii Remote prices are halved, even if it means taking a bit of a loss at this point.

5) Virtual Console controllers come packaged with a coupon for enough free VC credits to buy two or three VC games.

6) New Wii software retails for no more than $40


Something just occured to me about Nintendo's pricing of the Wii. The "non-gamer" market is at this point mostly unproven to be a viable one. Nintendo is aiming to attract the attention of good ol' fashioned "gamers" with the immediate launch, rather than focusing outright on both non-gamers and gamers alike. See, the mysterious "non-gamer" would look at the price of a Wii in relation to other sources of entertainment, whereas those kooky "gamers" naturally think of price related to competing consoles. I expect that Nintendo plans to attract more non-gamers as the Wii becomes more economical in its pricing, as in, NOT at launch, but after a price drop, when the Wii pricing structure looks a bit more like my idealized 6 points above.

Point being, if Nintendo can get the gamers on its side right away, then a steady stream of non-gamer purchases will help keep console sales up as the generation races onward. The Gamecube lost a lot of steam after its first years.. this infusion of non-gamers into the Nintendo fold will hopefully prevent that from happening with the Wii. In a sense, it almost looks like Nintendo is trying to pace Wii sales to last the breadth of the generation.

[j_factor]

The price of the controllers is the biggest rip-off. You know, in Japan the cost of buying a remote and nunchuck combined is $13 less than in the US. That's pretty significant, especially considering that controllers have almost always been cheaper in the US compared to Japan.

[Vicman]

http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exere...6a8e79bd84.htm

Gamecube version of Zelda: Twilight Princess, in Japan, will only be available online.


veryone cheered (and people even cried) when Nintendo revealed The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the first time at E3 2004. But if people really knew that it would take this long for the game to be released, many would have screamed. Delays, delays, and more delays, and after more denials that the GameCube title would be pushed to the Wii (then Revolution) Nintendo finally revealed at E3 2006 that the game would be released on Wii and GameCube.
Today Famitsu.com reports that the GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would only be available through Nintendo's online store in Japan. The store will begin pre-orders on November 6th, and ship on December 2nd. The GameCube version will retail in Japan for the usual 6,800 yen (US $57).
Nintendo of America has yet to respond whether or not the game will be sold in retail stores, or if NOA will follow in Japan's footsteps and only release the title via their online store as well.

[j_factor]

Monkey ball uses the analogue stick. Most games, both single and multiplayer, will use the analogue stick.

I'd just like to note now that the game is out, Monkey Ball does indeed use the nunchuk, but to a limited extent. The bulk of multiplayer games in Monkey Ball use just the remotes.