Nintendo Ramping Up Press For Wii Launch

Sound revolutionized movies, color reinvigorated television and now Wii(TM) transforms video games forever. History's most interactive home video game system launches Nov. 19 in the Americas with 20 new games that reinvent and reshape the gaming experience. Wii Sports(TM), a collection of five sports games, comes with the system. A total of 33 new Wii games will be available before the end of the year, along with downloadable access to another 30 Virtual Console(TM) classics.

Pop-culture authorities already are singling out Wii as a "must-have" gift of the holiday shopping season, and Nintendo is mobilizing to meet the huge demand. At an MSRP of just $249.99, it's priced affordably, and its focus on fun brings gaming to the masses. "The most important advance for video games in the last 10 years was the introduction of Super Mario 64, which ushered in the era of true 3-D gaming," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Wii will have the same effect on how players connect to their games, and it is made for everyone. Simply said, games have never felt like this before." Wii makes use of a remarkable motion-sensitive controller called the Wii Remote(TM), which resembles a TV remote control. It's designed to be more inviting and comfortable for non-gamers to use, unlike button-heavy controllers. It contains a speaker, which makes the experience all the more real.

The Wii Remote can be swung like a racket in a tennis game or like a sword in an adventure game. One launch-day game, EXCITE TRUCK(TM), will have players using the Wii Remote like a steering wheel. The Wii package comes with a Wii Remote, a Nunchuk(TM) controller, an AC adapter, a sensor bar, a Wii AV (standard composite) cable and Wii Sports(TM), a collection of five sports games players can understand how to play instantly, even if they've never played a video game. For longtime gamers, The Legend of Zelda(R): Twilight Princess delivers an unprecedented experience. It's the first time a new game from this storied Nintendo franchise has been available on launch day. Early reviews herald this epic adventure as one of the greatest games of all time. Bryn Williams of GameSpy writes that: "Nintendo has once again crafted a video game that will be remembered for years to come. ... an instant classic," while Ryan Jones of GamePro says simply: "Zelda is freaking awesome." Third-party publishers have announced strong support for Wii on launch day and beyond. The upcoming torrent of games represents a diverse lineup, with all the classic genres -- and more than a few new ones -- represented.

In addition to the three Nintendo titles, the 17 third-party games available on Nov. 19 include Call of Duty(R) 3, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam(TM) and Marvel(TM) Ultimate Alliance from Activision; Dragon Ball Z(R): Budokai Tenkaichi(TM) 2 from Atari; Trauma Center(TM): Second Opinion from Atlus; Madden NFL '07 from Electronic Arts; Rampage(R): Total Destruction(TM), Happy Feet(TM) and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy(TM) from Midway; Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cars and SpongeBob SquarePants(TM): The Creature from the Krusty Krab from THQ; Super Monkey Ball(TM): Banana Blitz from Sega; and GT Pro Series, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Rayman Raving Rabbids(TM) and Red Steel(TM) from Ubisoft.

Additional Wii games available during the five weeks after launch include Rapala(R) Tournament Fishing and World Series of Poker(R): Tournament of Champions from Activision; Chicken Little: Ace in Action from Buena Vista Games; Need for Speed(TM): Carbon from Electronic Arts; Elebits(TM) from Konami; The Ant Bully from Midway; Metal Slug(TM) Anthology from SNK; Super Swing Golf from Tecmo; Barnyard(R) from THQ; Far Cry(R): Vengeance, Open Season(TM) and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent(TM) from Ubisoft; and Ice Age 2(TM): The Meltdown from Vivendi.

The main Wii Menu interface contains a variety of interactive and informational channels that serve as a convenient gateway to entertainment and information. They appeal to a broad range of consumers and enhance game play. Users can come here to create a Mii(TM) caricature of themselves to use in games, to download classic games from the Wii Shop Channel or to develop a photo slide show. Nintendo is shipping 4 million Wii systems globally through the end of 2006. While shipments will be sent to retailers continuously, Nintendo cautions shoppers to act early because demand is so high. As previously announced, Wii contains built-in parental controls that let adults set the system to play only games of a certain rating and lock their selection with a PIN code. More information about the new Wii system can be found at Wii.com.

Link: Wii Homepage
Link: Nintendo Homepage