Australian Wii launch details revealed

Wii News | AU$399.95, December 7th.

Moments ago, we received a press release from Nintendo that contains the official launch details for the Wii in Australia. We now know that the console will be launching in Australia for AU$399.95 on December 7th. As in the US, the Australian launch package will automatically include the five Wii Sports games on one disc as part of the bundle. One wireless Wii Remote controller and one Nunchuk controller will also be included.

The Wii will be launching in the United States at US$250 (AU$333) and Japan at ¥25,000 (AU$283), so this is a considerable price increase. Despite this, Rose Lappin, Director of Sales and Marketing at Nintendo Australia has this to say; “At such an affordable price, we see Wii as being a true product of everybody [sic].”

Nintendo Australia anticipates that we'll see around 20 titles come launch. These include The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and the aforementioned Wii Sports.

However, the pricing structure of the Virtual Console (VC) in Australia was not revealed. The VC allows users to download games from previous Nintendo systems to play on the Wii. We do know that in the US prices for VC games will range from US$5 (AU$6.65) to US$10 (AU$13.30), so we can expect a slightly inflated conversion from these.

We’ll bring you more news on the Australian Wii launch as it breaks.

Global Wii launch details:

November 19th - North America - US$250 (excludes sales tax) (AU$333 / £133 / €197 / ¥30,000) [article]
December 2nd - Japan - ¥25,000 (AU$283 / £113 / €167 / US$212) [article]
December 7th - Australia - AU$399.95 (£160 / €238 / US$300 / ¥35,000) [article]
December 8th - Europe - €249 / £179 (AU$419 / US$315 / ¥37,000) [article]

Related Content

Japanese Wii launch details
14 Sep, 2006 ¥25,000, December 2nd.

North American Wii release date and price confirmed
14 Sep, 2006 US$250, November 19. Update: confirmed.

THQ loves the Wii
18 Jul, 2006 They're having a lot of fun with it, apparently.

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197 Comments

Spanca

5 years ago

I can't help but feel that's far too expensive. I assume you guys will be chasing up the region free info and bringing us the full deal on that?

Speedy work as always

Frozencry

5 years ago

Damn, you guys are faster than every other site. Well done.

And that price is much higher than expected.

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

$400?!

See you next year, Wii.

Spanca

5 years ago

Many places are selling the 360 for sub $600 now, and I'm sure it'll dive more as we close in on Christmas...

I don't think $400 is cheap enough for Nintendo to play the affordability card with the hardware they have. They'll need to promote the crap out of this to the Singstar crowd.

EvilHayama

5 years ago

Ugh, that's $US50 more than the american version... Time to look for someone to import one from japan for me

Joseph

5 years ago

It comes with a game. That's why it's been put at that price. I wish a price of $350 was picked. All well, $400 will have to do.

Samboy

5 years ago

EvilHayama wrote

Ugh, that's $US50 more than the american version... Time to look for someone to import one from japan for me

DancesInUnderwear wrote

$400?!

See you next year, Wii.

one of the above for me lol...

Michael Kontoudis

5 years ago

Darn it, Nintendo.

Too expensive! 329.95 or 349.95 would have been far better than this, especially considering there is no HD cables (or capability), and only one controller. Hmmm.

Quite disappointed to be honest. Still, it's far better value than that PSP 400 buck nonsense.

Oh well, I sense consumer ambivalence.

Spanca

5 years ago

Joseph wrote

It comes with a game. That's why it's been put at that price. I wish a price of $350 was picked. All well, $400 will have to do.

So why are US gamers able to buy the console with Wii Sports and then another game for less than what we pay for the console package + sports?

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Unfortunately its a game I could really care less for.

Hope Nintendo is bringing the Cube version of Twilight Princess here still, otherwise I won't be getting it for quite a while.

Frozencry

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

Joseph wrote

It comes with a game. That's why it's been put at that price. I wish a price of $350 was picked. All well, $400 will have to do.

So why are US gamers able to buy the console with Wii Sports and then another game for less than what we pay for the console package + sports?

I agree. This is quite frankly bulls**t if you ask me. We get screwed over with pricing for the PS3, and now the Wii also. Gah.

838 La

5 years ago

Not too bad, might as well take advantage of the preordering & get a free game with this price though.

Bitchacho

5 years ago

to all the complainers: you have had a very long time to save your money for this so stop complaining. get a job ffs. so what if there is a $70 mark up? that was to be expected...

Joseph

5 years ago

Okay the US people get a cheaper price, what I'm saying is, look at the GCN price before Xbox was lowered. $400. It was bound to happen.

Spanca

5 years ago

Mitchacho wrote

to all the complainers: you have had a very long time to save your money for this so stop complaining. get a job ffs. so what if there is a $70 mark up? that was to be expected...

For $500 (need a game, and Wii sports isn't one I would have bought) I'd rather a weekend away with the girlfriend over summer. If it was closer to the $300 entry mark I could more easily justify a splurge on myself

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Yeah, how dare we complain when we are getting screwed with a price that is about $70 higher than the US price, which, as I've said in other places, is already about $70 too high?

We must bow down to the aweosme might that is Nintendo!

Joseph

5 years ago

Mitchacho wrote

to all the complainers: you have had a very long time to save your money for this so stop complaining. get a job ffs. so what if there is a $70 mark up? that was to be expected...

I'm with you. I'm regaurding it as a $50 mark up though due to tax and fees and all. Yes, we've had ages to save up for it. I'm ahead of my saving up for it too. I planned to save $300 towards games, and I've saved $400. My mum's getting me Wii as present.

James

5 years ago

Lots of updating. Everything we know is in there now. Pretty badly written press release.

Michael Kontoudis

5 years ago

At least if you order at Toys r Us you get a free launch game, so i s'pose if you look at it like that it's more like 299.95 with a pack-in, plus Zelda or whatever else you'll be buying.

Yes.

Just keep telling yourself that *simmers a little*

Re: the badly-written press release - Nintendo Australia always seem a little gimpy. Their website is utter bull, and they never seem to be able to keep up.

It sucks to be a Ninty fan in Oz, methinks.

At least we'll all be able to import a lot of cheaper US first party games this time around.

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Well cmon boys, silver lining to ever blah blah.......at least we're getting before chrissie.That's gotta count for something.

Cro

5 years ago

Mitchacho wrote

to all the complainers: you have had a very long time to save your money for this so stop complaining. get a job ffs. so what if there is a $70 mark up? that was to be expected...

For me I don't see how it is a justified price, I have been saving for this and sure I get close to $300 a month, but $400 is way to high, especially with out the choice of that game, the only possible way it would work out is doin what La said with getting the pre-order free game.

I don't know about others but I have others things I'm saving for and had worked $400 to include two controllers and a game of choice.

See, if I can do a deal with the 'rents and get this for X-mas I guess.

Matt Bassos

5 years ago

Man F*** that price, that is far to expensive for a console that pushes Gamecube graphics. Sure the games look hella fun, but 400 bucks may as well just go the extra mile and get a 360 for that price.

Wiisports meh could care less... you don't even get a second controller. Stuff you nintendo, I didn't expect to have to pay over $300, considering i can get a cube cheaper then $99.

Spanca

5 years ago

I thought price was a very important part of the Wii strategy (and even highlighted by the Director of Sales and Marketing), yet I don't see the justification for a $70 additional margin, just for being downunder.

It's not cheap enough for people to look at and go "hey that's cheap, yeah I will give it a go". I mean earlier on Mitch raised the counterargument to price whingers like myself, that we've had plenty of time to save etc. But the people Nintendo want to "expand" the gaming industry are certainly not those who have been saving for Wiis for months.

The Japanese price does do that. $283 is easily verging into impulse purchase territory. Who cares if it doesn't have Wii Sports packed in, the psychological game has already been one when they can sport that price tag (excuse the pun).

Joseph

5 years ago

Just remember guys, Australia has a higher tax rate. Look at Japan also, they DON'T get Wii Sports.

I think you'll all be okay about the price once it's been released and you've got your hands all over your Wii controller (no pun intended, still sounds wrong).

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