Wii officially $250 on Nov. 19

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:36 am

Man all this talk about the Wii has me thinking of getting one on Christmas.

I am a bit worried about how it would look on my 23"LCD HDTV, I remember how bad Xbox 1.0 games looked on it, even 480p ones using component cables.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:45 am

Just got back from my early morning trip to Gamestop. They opened at 7am. I got there at 6:30 and was the 14th person in line. A couple of guys were there at 10pm the night before. One guy tried to sell his sopt in line for a PS3. He got a few laughs, but no takers.

They only got in 5 Wiis and 2 PS3s, so I left empty handed. Even the Wii is going to be a treasure hunt this season. MS has to be feeling very good right now. I'd bet a lot of 360s will be sold just based on it being there on the store shelf after people get sick of striking out with the other 2.

I still wantone, but I am a little worried about developer support. I don't want this to become another GC. There just wasn't enough support for the GC for a lot of serious sports and racing games.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:11 pm

matthewk wrote:

I still wantone, but I am a little worried about developer support. I don't want this to become another GC. There just wasn't enough support for the GC for a lot of serious sports and racing games.

If you're looking to get a Wii for serious sports and racing gaming, you might want to re-think a purchase. For the majority of us here at DSP, the Wii is going to be a perfect "2nd system". A nice compliment to a 360 or PS3. If you are looking to have one as your only console and are a serious sports and racing gamer. then it will probably not pan out for you.

I agree with you first part of that statement though around developer support. I am a bit worried about that too. I have a feeling that the Wii will not become quite as unsupported as the GC, but may have it's ups and downs. I don't know...the only titles I am really looking forward to for the Wii are Nintendo games anyway. Yeah it would be great to see some original titles from some other developers/publishers, but the thought of all the fun Mario titles with the Wii-Mote alone is enough to warrant my purchase.

I know they are all rehashes of the same thing, Mario Baseball, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, ect... but those have always been the most fun and I assume will be even more so with the new control scheme and online possibilities. Mario Galaxy looks freakin' phenomenal. Super Smash Brothers looks awesome. Metroid will be cool. Wii Sports has already given us a great, albeit simplified taste of what we can expect from the Nintendo/Mario sports world. Mario Bowling anyone?!?!

I am not looking for the next Gears of War, Winning Eleven, Ghost Recon, NBA 2K, College Hoops, ect...from my Wii. If you want those things and want only one console, it ain't gonna be a Wii. But to be able to switch from my 360 online sessions of shooting and racing to a world of cartoony, somewhat simplistic fun with innovative controls is the sh*t (and will hopefully continue to be)!

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:22 pm

I still want one, but I am a little worried about developer support. I don't want this to become another GC. There just wasn't enough support for the GC for a lot of serious sports and racing games.

The last thing I would worry about is 3rd party support.

This system is already huge, close to a million sold.

I would worry more about to much support with to many craptacular games.

The system is much cheaper and easier to develop for then the PS3, the install base will be much larger for at least 2007, and developers don't have try and make the next great "epic".

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:53 pm

The developer support question for the Wii is an odd one. For as easy as it is to develop for (based on 'last-generation technology) and it's solid sales, there is the concern that EA and some of the other big studios made MASSIVE investments in staff, hardware, software etc. to build games for the PS3 (and 360). Many of them simply won't want to help make the Wii popular as is might threaten the investments they made in the true 'next-gen' consoles.

I think we'll see strong support, but it'll take a year from now since ONLY NOW, at launch, is it evident that the Wii can/will be a hit.

For the record, I had some friends over for Thanksgiving, none of whom were gamers, and the response was amazing.

People LOVE this thing. They got really competitive playing tennis with one-another etc.

The one thing I noticed is that NONE of them knew anything about the Wii, while they were well-aware of the hype surrounding the PS3. Nintendo got overlooked a bit by the main-stream media's coverage of the PS3. The Wii is going to spread via a grass-roots 'play it at a friend's house' campaign.

My fingers are crossed for more SPORTS games. Even though the 360 will be my primary system, a lot of sports can be done very well on the Wii. The Wii Sports Tennis game has incredible depth (once you get good), as I've now started to really be able to control my shots, adding foreward, back, and side spins with regularity.

I want to see Virtua Tennis, Tiger Woods, and MVP Baseball on this sucker. I want a full-fledged Bowling game, and PUNCH OUT 2007. I want a Star Wars light-saber game.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:48 pm

We started tallying the # of Wii inquires we are getting at the store vs. the # of PS3 ones.

So far (starting Wednesday) it's something like 50 Wii inquiries to 7 PS3 ones. The buzz is getting out there.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:52 pm

The Wii bringing people together on Thanksgiving;

I had the same experience many others here have expressed; gamers and nongamers alike having a great time with Wii Sports, and by the end of the day asking me where to buy and how much it is.

Oh, and if you add me to your address book (in the code thread), you may see these people again.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:59 pm

Great pics! The Wii is the epitome of multi-player gaming.

JLP,

If you weren't overly enthused about the DS Lite, I don't honestly think you'll be that happy with the Wii. Yes, the innovative controller is fantastic, but it's still the same kind of Nintendo quality games. Just forewarning you.

Darkbandit · Post by **Darkbandit** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:51 pm

Yesterday, the store I work at had about 30 phone calls looking for Wii's and none looking for a PS3. Also today during the morning rush, there were about 25 more phone calls looking for the system.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:50 am

Anyone get one on Blakc Friday?? I really want one now...and have not found one yet!!

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:41 am

sportdan30 wrote:Great pics! The Wii is the epitome of multi-player gaming.

JLP,

If you weren't overly enthused about the DS Lite, I don't honestly think you'll be that happy with the Wii. Yes, the innovative controller is fantastic, but it's still the same kind of Nintendo quality games. Just forewarning you.

I really enjoyed the DS the couple of says I had it.

I think it's the fact that I already had a mobile console(PSP) that just made me felt that I has wasted my money in someway. I was really enjoying Super Mario Bros.

I don't own a home gaming console anymore, so I guess the Wii can fill that niche in a way that the 360 ended up not doing it.

I'll tell you what, if the DS had the media capabilities the PSP has, phew....

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:29 pm

Well, I brought the Wii to Chicago for Thanksgiving. I didn't really play it too much the first couple days I was there. However, last night we had the in-laws over for dinner to my sister-in-laws where were staying while on our trip. Well, after about thirty or so minutes, my father-in-law stumbles in to the room to see what all the hub bub is about.

This is a guy who could care less about video games and has never shown any kind of interest in them. Well, I explain the bowling how to's to him, and he's instantly hooked! He bowls one game for a score of 109. He says he can easily bowl a 170, and I can see in his eyes and hear in his voice he wants to play again. I challenge him to a game, and we're having a ball battling one another. Just for those 20-30 minute, the Wii made him feel like a kid again.

I should also mention my mother-in-law and brother-in-law both took to the system as well, and they're not gamers either really. Just another success story for the Wii.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:57 pm

Zlax45 wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:...the Wii is all the sudden the last system I want.
why is that?

My curiosity about this one is still eating me up! So curious. "Enquiring minds want to know."

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:21 pm

Anyone else having trouble connecting to the Wii Shopping channel? I think I want to taking the plunge on Mario 64, but that thought could pass if I continue to have problems getting into the shop.

Finally opened up Trauma Center--very cool game. In some ways it is harder than the DS version due to the control, but in other ways it is better, specifically the tool selection process. Definitely a unique experience unavailable on other systems.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:33 pm

Dave wrote:Anyone else having trouble connecting to the Wii Shopping channel? I think I want to taking the plunge on Mario 64, but that thought could pass if I continue to have problems getting into the shop.

Finally opened up Trauma Center--very cool game. In some ways it is harder than the DS version due to the control, but in other ways it is better, specifically the tool selection process. Definitely a unique experience unavailable on other systems.

Absolutely loving Trauma Center!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:38 pm

Just a follow-up to my own connection problems with the Wii Shopping Channel--I changed my wireless settings to operate on channel 11 instead of 9 and that solved the problem. Saw that solution posted in a few different places and it seems to be the cure to most connection problems.

Wow, just read through a thread on CAG about Best Buy selling Wiis today--looks like stores received between 15-60 units and they all sold out right after they opened with people lining up again for them. It'll be interesting to see the NPD results for November to see just how many systems Nintendo got on the shelf.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:02 pm

Struck out again.

I got in line at Best Buy around 9:20 (10am opening) and was about 10th in line. At about 9:45 the line started getting really long.

What those of us in front (and a lot in back) did not know, was that they had already handed out tickets at 9am. Some of those in line had their tickets from earlier and were coming back. So after waiting inline for almost 30 minutes, we find out from other customers that we were wasting our time in line. Of course, the BB employees did not leave any sort of sign that they did this, nor did they tell anyone as they went in and out of the store.

I'm done playing the Willy Wonka lottery game for this thing. When I happen across one, I'll get one. Until then I'm just going to have to ignore all the hype and impressions and just not worry about it.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:31 pm

Pretty funny article about people coming down with "Wii elbow", and other Wii conditioning problems (not a problem with the Wii as much as couch potato gamers). It makes you wonder if Nintendo or some third party could develop some games where the actual intention is to get some tubby kids moving a bit, as that has long been one of parents' big beefs with video games.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB ... in_tff_top

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:56 pm

Boy, if people are hurting all over playing the Wii, it just tells you how out of shape this new generation is.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:51 am

I had posted months ago that it was cool Nintendo is making the kids get off their butts to play videogames and PK laughed at me.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:03 am

Inuyasha wrote:I had posted months ago that it was cool Nintendo is making the kids get off their butts to play videogames and PK laughed at me.

I think I laughed because it was pathetic that a videogame console is actually considered a fitness activity for some. Even Dance Dance Revolution, which I played with my nieces and nephews Friday night, really isn't a workout.

Then again, we live in a nation where walking around the yard for 15 minutes is considered a workout, so I'm not surprised.

Take care,
PK

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:45 pm

Just bowled a 113 after bowling a high of 145. But, it was a blast because I played against my son. He bowled a 92, a new record for him.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:04 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Just bowled a 113 after bowling a high of 145. But, it was a blast because I played against my son. He bowled a 92, a new record for him.

Anyone play that new Fishing game?

http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=230046

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:38 pm

Nintendo issued a press release proclaiming the Wii sold ~600,000 units in the first week; that's actually less than I expected them to ship.

More interesting is the attach rate for Zelda, which sold 454,000 copies. It will be interesting to see how other games sold.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:42 pm

Dave wrote:Nintendo issued a press release proclaiming the Wii sold ~600,000 units in the first week; that's actually less than I expected them to ship.

More interesting is the attach rate for Zelda, which sold 454,000 copies. It will be interesting to see how other games sold.

Gotta remember they did sell out almost immediately. If they'd had more, I'm sure the number would be much higher. I think they'll be close to a one million by the end of the year if they replenish the inventory.