Wii released before PS3?

[cablekiller]

Nintendo's Wii may get early launch
Industry observers expect company's new video game machine to launch before the PlayStation 3 - perhaps by a month or more.
Game Over is a weekly column by Chris Morris
July 5 2006: 11:32 AM EDT


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Nintendo has stated numerous times that its next generation video game machine will be less expensive than the competition. Now it appears that it might be on store shelves considerably earlier than many were expecting as well.

While Nintendo has not made any formal announcements about the launch date for the Wii, most of the industry has expected the machine to hit retail at approximately the same time as Sony's PlayStation 3 (which is set for November 17). Now, industry observers - and insiders - say they expect the system to be available in October, with late September a dark horse candidate.


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Indeed, the company appears to be already manufacturing final retail units of the Wii, according to a June 21st analyst's note from P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research. That would give it a significant head start over Sony (Charts), which has yet to begin final manufacturing of the PlayStation 3. Microsoft's first Xbox 360 did not roll off the assembly line last year until 69 days before the on sale date of Nov. 22. (That late start in production is the root cause behind last holiday's shortages.)

"October is a reasonable timeframe," wrote McNealy.

Nintendo has downplayed any suggested dates. Other industry insiders, who asked not to be named, though, said they, too, are expecting a September or October launch for the Wii.

Early manufacturing will certainly help Nintendo do a better job of meeting consumer demand. New console launches traditionally sell out fast. Because of manufacturing problems, Microsoft (Charts) was not able to come anywhere close to meeting worldwide demand. Widespread shortages of the PlayStation 3 are also expected. Nintendo, like Sony, has given guidance that it expects to ship 6 million units by March 2007.

A pre-November launch wouldn't be an unusual move for the company. In fact, it was only with the GameCube that the company opted for a November release for a home system. The NES, which established the company as a force in the gaming space, was released in the U.S. on Oct. 18, 1985. The Nintendo 64 dropped on Sept. 29, 1996.

Pricing for the Wii remains a question mark, but the most likely price points are $199 or $249. That would put it considerably below the PS3, which will sell two versions for $499 and $599. Microsoft is not expected to cut the prices of the two versions of the Xbox 360, which currently cost $299 and $399.

That price would also be closer to the sweet spot for mainstream consumers, which the company has said is its primary target this generation. The Wii breaks many of the video game industry's traditional rules for a "next generation" console. Graphics on games that have been shown to media are not dramatically better than those found on GameCube games - and the system will not support high definition video, unlike its competitors who are using the move to HDTVs as a major part of their system. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has also vowed to keep game prices lower than the $60 price tag for many Xbox 360 games (a price that's expected to be mirrored for many PS3 titles).

The most unusual aspect of the Wii, however, is its controller, which resembles a television remote-control. Instead of worrying about which button or which thumbstick corresponds to which action, Wii players will simply move their hands and wrists. That movement is then translated into onscreen movements. The remote also features two prominent buttons where the player's thumb and forefinger will rest.

Nintendo also has yet to announce the full list of games that will launch alongside the Wii, though it has confirmed "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption" - the latest installments in two of the company's premier franchises - will be available on day one. A new Mario game - "Super Mario Galaxy" - is deep in development, but will most likely come out after the Wii has launched.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/05/comm...ming/index.htm

[Enola Bomber]

yeah, i read to that it was in production already, which is way ahead of the ps3's release. it was in a financial blog, dont remember which though, but it did say to be release in oct this year, which will be somewhere like 6 millions units shipped. that gives them time to counter ps3 in a big way. seems like everyone is looking to shut the giant down, but will it? i dont know what i want to happen. many pros/cons about it that are all alot to think about before saying yes or no. i guess well see one way or the other.

[Grindstone]

Last I heard it was launching on the November 6th, but quite frankly, the sooner the console is released, the harder it will be for Sony to gain market share. Obviously they've been the leader, but then, the same was true for Nintendo and Atari at one point.

Should be interesting.

[Wingman1977]

I've never hear of a Wii launch date being announced. I only know that the PS3 will launch on 11/17/06.

[m3_gerbs]

I dont care about when the Wii launches becuase im gettin a ps3 for my second console

[ozzythedog]

it would be nice if the wii was released earlier, i always thought of nintendo as the cool friend that everybody has kind of like

"what your wii broke, not only will we fix it for you but we'll send you a free stripper back with it, enjoy"

[oli]

cool , had not heard anything on the wii release date until now..

[Gregg]

is there an official release date for the wii?

[camwilson04]

i dont think so, i know i def getting 1 though

[TurkeyRap]

yea y not come out before. Gives them a better chance to sell more units.
Im getting one.

[Scotracer]

Could that be the final nail in the coffin for the PS3? I doubt people would hold out (parents getting their kids consoles for xmas too), because there is less chance of getting any console closer to xmas and also there is that massive price difference between the two (PS3 and Wii).
The 360 already has it's market share and shouldn't really be concerned of the console launch and just make sure they market the 360 well too further increase sales.

[Grindstone]

The most recent news on the launch of the Wii is that it will debut on October 2. This is based more on speculation, although one Wii fan was so bold as to explain that "Wii" was actually roman numerals; VVII, or V V I I, which would be 5 + 5 and 1 + 1. If you have not already guessed, that makes it 10,2. Or 10/2! October 2! *gasp!* It's a conspiracy! Why didn't any PX360 members figure this out? Grrr, I'm working with amatures!

Meh, here's your link:

Press release decoder says Wii to launch October 2 - Joystiq

[Scotracer]

Grind, if you work with real date systems, that works out as 10/2, the 10th of February. So, your theory has just been disproved!

[Grindstone]

Wasn't my theory. I wish you could use your reading comprehension skills better. It would make my life easier...

P.S. Do you smell that? Smells like something or someone being burned. I hope they are okay...

[Scotracer]

Happy now, Mr Grammarian?

[Grindstone]

Heh, no. Again, it's not my theory. So you could say, "Ergo, this disproves the rabid Wii fanboy assumptions you so graciously provided to us to nit-pick."

I think that might make me happy. But you would have to cite a source for "real date systems", as October 2, 2006 is written 10/2/06 by our standard.

Nintendo Encodes Wii Launch Date?
It's time to put those cryptology skills you learned from The Da Vinci Code to work.

July 25, 2006 - A mysterious press release from Nintendo today teases that a message detailing the Wii launch date may be hidden within its text. Now, as the release says, it may all be a rouse to get us to read about Nintendo's other games, but we just can't help ourselves.

The release reads: "Perhaps the secret to the launch information for Wii is somehow encoded in the text of this news item. You might want to pore over it for a few hours before staying up all night to debate phraseology and comma placement with your friends online."

Take a look for yourself and see if you can decode anything from it. What we can tell after a good thirty seconds or so of scrutiny is that a game is releasing every Monday except October 2, November 20, and November 27. Nintendo has hinted that the Wii would launch sooner than later, so that points to... October 2nd?

Separate rumors have suggested that Nintendo could be planning to launch Wii directly after the Tokyo Game Show, which takes place in late September.

Of course, none of this is confirmed, but that shouldn't stop you from speculating.

Get to work.......

[Shane360]

Originally Posted by m3_gerbs

I dont care about when the Wii launches becuase im gettin a ps3 for my second console

man you are lucky because they just gone up 27 pound know it is £427.00 plus the games are like £60.00 it is a total rippoff and the wii is going to be better i think!

I cant see the Wii doing bad, It has to be succesfull: good price, fun original games.
Its going to sitting snug next to my 360, its little good looking sister if you will...

Originally Posted by m3_gerbs
I dont care about when the Wii launches becuase im gettin a ps3 for my second console

Well thats good for you,but you realise the PS3 and 360 are going to be getting the same games? Its the Wii that will have the games no other console will have.

Shane360 :
man you are lucky because they just gone up 27 pound know it is £427.00

Its more than that bucko!