E3 2006: Wii to launch in Q4, 2006

Wii News | "More fun for less money", promises Reggie.

Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference has just this moment finished, and though Ninty has yet to commit to a precise launch date and price for the next-gen Wii, we do now know that it'll be launched in the final quarter of 2006, around the same time as the launch of Sony's PlayStation 3. We shouldn't expect a Wii launch before September either, says Nintendo. Speaking at the conference, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime was the very definition of cryptic, stating that, "We believe it's in our interest to keep the details private. More fun for less money, in Q4 2006."

Exactly where the Q4 launch will be taking place is also still a mystery, though Japan is seemingly a no-brainer, and there's still every chance that Nintendo may follow the lead of Microsoft and Sony and conduct a simultaneous global launch. Europe and Australia were - quelle surprise! - not mentioned. What we do know is that there'll be a total of 27 Wii games on the E3 showfloor over the next three days, which means James and Lahiru are going to be busy boys.

More details as we get them - keep checking back, folks.

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22 Comments

tullyano7

6 years ago

i thought they might not announce the date yet because they will work it out around Sony, but maybe its because of Zelda.
Its meant to only be 80% finished and will be there on launch day 1, so they probably cant say a date as they dont know when the game will be finished

ZNMS

6 years ago

What we do know is that there'll be a total of 27 Nintendo Wii games on the E3 showfloor over the next three days.

Now, if Nintendo could release that many games in time for the launch of the Nintendo Wii, that would be something hard to pass by.

Cerebral

6 years ago

I sincerely hope Nintendo take their turn to knock off Sony and get theirs out in Australia by Chrissy.

~DESTROY~

6 years ago

Cmon with a Release date already

admeister

6 years ago

I'm expecting that it will be around the same time as the PS3, they need to get their console out, give no advantages to Sony.

NismoR34

6 years ago

Wouldn't it be bloody nice of Nintendo if they released the Wii here before they did America, just like a certain handheld that hits next month?

EvilHayama

6 years ago

NismoR34 wrote

Wouldn't it be bloody nice of Nintendo if they released the Wii here before they did America, just like a certain handheld that hits next month?

Dreaming is lovely innit?

I'm betting on no worldwide launch for Wii, especially in Australia, where Nintendo consoles go to die.

~DESTROY~

6 years ago

EvilHayama wrote

NismoR34 wrote

Wouldn't it be bloody nice of Nintendo if they released the Wii here before they did America, just like a certain handheld that hits next month?

Dreaming is lovely innit?

I'm betting on no worldwide launch for Wii, especially in Australia, where Nintendo consoles go to die.

If you build it they will come???

ugh the boot

6 years ago

It's kinda true....too much commercialism here so Nintendo stuff can get overlooked. If the Wii launches before the PS3 Nintendo will have an awesome chance though.....so they really need to concentrate on that!

*in his best rob schneider voice* Come on Nintendo....you can do iiitttt!!

Jellyfish

6 years ago

Nintendo just need to get the Newspapers and TV shows to give accurate reports on the Wii can actually do. Put up tv and magazine ads. If they get their marketing right and release a whole bunch of "gimmicky" games such as a Singstar clone and such they could beat Sony and possibly Microsoft.

NismoR34

6 years ago

EvilHayama wrote

NismoR34 wrote

Wouldn't it be bloody nice of Nintendo if they released the Wii here before they did America, just like a certain handheld that hits next month?

Dreaming is lovely innit?

Hell yeah. Why else would I do it?

Chris-Leigh

6 years ago

nikack wrote

Only...Nintendo has proven time and time again that they're not willing to stump up the funds needed to successfully market their console in Australia, a country with a population as small as 20 million. Sony and Microsoft have shown far more interest in succeeding in Oz, and it means that Nintendo, in Australia at least, already look like finishing third yet again. I'm not even sure how we can criticise them for it though; Australia is a small market, after all.

Bitchacho

6 years ago

THIS IS ****!

Nintendo are ripping off QANTAS!!

QANTAS pioneered the 'remote control' gaming device. It has sophisticated clone games, as well as the classics: Chess and Checkers. Not only were these games multiplayer, they also gave you a random alias. Sick of being called by your real name? Here, play as "Richard."

Nintendo completely ripped off the design of the QANTAS remote. I want **** answers!!

admeister

6 years ago

"and it means that Nintendo, in Australia at least, already look like finishing third yet again."
Don't count on it, have you seen the 10 anticipated games thread? Wii is going to sell.

DancesInUnderwear

6 years ago

admeister wrote

"and it means that Nintendo, in Australia at least, already look like finishing third yet again."
Don't count on it, have you seen the 10 anticipated games thread? Wii is going to sell.

There is a gigiantic difference between the opinions of 100-or-so gaming forum members and the general population. Unless everyone on this forum plans to buy 100 Wiis, its not gonna effect anything.

admeister

6 years ago

Oh well, it'll certainly help anyway. We'll buy multiple games for it in any case, which WILL count a lot more than just buying the actual console. And at least we'll be able to help each other out, if we get stuck in games, and we can fight it out to our heart's content online!

~DESTROY~

6 years ago

And World peace will be declared and we will all get free spacesuits and be given our own free waterfront homes by the government.... For FREE!!! Qtr pounder and fries with that Please

troublemaker

6 years ago

Woot spacesuits!

Yeah have to agree with the sentiments expressed ... Nintendo have historically been pretty poor at putting $ into ads in Australia.

Given the the Wii is backward compatible ain't much help to people new to Nintendo as there are bugger all distributors of GC software and those that do charge heaps for it (generally).

Looks like Wii will be the ideal console to import.

Crono

6 years ago

If it's region free, it'll be even better.

troublemaker

6 years ago

If its not region free, you'd definitely have to import really ... based on Nintendo's previous level of supporting the Australian user base

?oe?oe

6 years ago

I hope it's region free... Nintendo has always done it with the Game Boy.

rodvcpetrie

6 years ago

Ugh the Boot said:

"*in his best rob schneider voice* Come on Nintendo....you can do iiitttt!!"

Will this suffice - http://media.putfile.com/Nintendo-You-can-do-it

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