Wii Release Dating Dated

We don't know when the Wii's coming out, but at least we know when we will know. Sort of.

Waiting for a console to be released is frustrating enough, now Nintendo fans will experience the frustration that comes with waiting for a release date to be announced.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said at a briefing in Japan on Wednesday that it would reveal the launch date and price of its revolutionary new console by September, says a report at Japanese site Famitsu.

Timing is key for the Wii, which is probably going to arrive around the same time as the PlayStation 3. Sony has circled early November for all three major regions for its machine, but it's not clear yet if Nintendo will follow Sony and Microsoft and release the console simultaneously around the world, as it has suggested in the past it would.

Nintendo could follow a similar strategy to that of the unveiling of the Wii motion-sensing controller, which was finally revealed to a pack audience at the Tokyo Game Show last September.

The price is also a crucial matter. Nintendo has already said that it won't sell for more than ¥25,000 in Japan or $250 in the US, which means that a UK price of around £150 is within reason.

Also at the briefing, Iwata talked about the Wii as a system that uses advanced technology selectively. For instance, while the Wii won't support HD signals - 480p is the highest resolution you can expect - it does use the Wii Connect 24 feature to keep the console online 24 hours a day, letting Nintendo push content straight to you.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games