Wiiactions (looooool)

Thursday, September 14, 2006 » gaming thought

So the big Wii questions are finally answered: $250 on November 19. While it's nice to actually have this information, I think a lot of people, including myself, are a little disappointed.

First, $250, while cheap compared to the Xbox 360 and (definitely) PS3, is still kind of up there for basically a Gamecube with a new interface. And, based on reports that the Wii will be instantly profitable, Nintendo could probably have afforded to drop it down to the $199 many were hoping for. I don't think people are likely to buy just the console and no games, even with the Wii Sports pack-in. Still, maybe there's hope (although it's sort of a long shot) that they'll pull a Nintendo64 and cut the extra $50 right before release.

Second, not getting the Wii out of the gate before PS3 I think will be a huge blow. By launching only two days after PS3, Nintendo not only loses its potential head start but will be walking straight into the aftermath of the PS3 launch frenzy. On one hand I'm glad that the rumored early-November launch won't be cutting into my time with FF12, but the November 19 date really worries me, moreso than the price.

Finally: What's the deal with no information about online play? Are a bunch of launch games actually online-enabled, and I've just missed every time they talked about it? Is Wii Sports even online? Come on, I want to invade other people's homes with my Mii right away.

I'm still enthusiastically awaiting the launch and expect to pick one up on launch day, which is a first for me. I was just really hoping Nintendo would be able to get themselves into a really aggressive position VS the PS3, with a cheap(er) and early launch. Here's hoping their ad campaign for the next couple months comes out in full force.