iEntry 10th Anniversary
Home
Reviews
Following Nintendo’s press conference today in New York City, more information has surfaced detailing the launch of the Wii in North America.
First and foremost, NOA’s Perrin Kaplan confirmed that the console will not support DVD playback. According to Kaplan, Nintendo opted to remove this functionality, which has yet to feature in a Nintendo console, in order to keep the cost of the new system down. However, users will be able to upload and play videos through an SD card. Most interesting however, is the fact the Wii will be region free on all first party titles, although third partys can choose to apply a regional lock at their discretion.
Finally, we have a selection of confirmed US software line-up for launch:
Excite Truck
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Wii Sports (bundled with Wii console)
Activision
Call of Duty 3
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
Elebits
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Far Cry: Vengeance
GT Pro Series
Monster 4×4: World Circuit
Open Season
Rayman: Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Expect full details of Nintendo’s plans for the Euro launch of Wii tomorrow afternoon.
Nintendo showcased the upcoming Biohazard [Resident Evil to us common folk]: Umbrella Chronicles at the company’s Wii press conference earlier today in Japan for the first time.
As expected, the game chronicles the events from Biohazard 1 through Code Veronica, and early screens depict the infamous Spencer Mansion in a visual quality matching the gorgeous pre-rendered environments of the Gamecube REmake.
A rough translation of the new Famitsu article reads “The setting is a somehow familiar mansion?” “Shoot the doors and destry ‘em. By doing so you wont spend time opening-closing doors. Moving around will become more easy. However this could bring about a demerit: enemies might not be contained anymore”.
The first images of the game [unknown at this point to be in-game or FMV], can be seen here.
Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicles will hopefully rear its bloody features at the Tokyo Games Show next week.
After months of anticipation and almost endless speculation, Nintendo have finally unveiled its launch plans for the company’s next-gen console, the Wii.
While European launch details will arrive tomorrow, US and JAP details have been revealed after a press conference in Japan and an article originally published in the New York Times.
Wii Blog can reveal that Nintendo Wii will be released in North America on November 19th, 2006 priced at just $250. In addition to the console and Wii-mote w/nunchuck attatchment, the package will also ship with a copy of Wii Sports. In a surprise move, the Wii will also incorporate several media channels allowing gamers to exchange photos among other things. One of the channels, named ‘Mii’, enables the user to produce customizable avaters which can then be stored on the console or Wii-mote memory.
Over in the land of the rising sun, the Japanese will see a later console launch on December 2nd for a price of 25,000 yen (around $250) Zelda is confirmed as a launch title for Japan priced at 6800 yen. Full launch details for North America are expected today at a press conference in New York, while PAL gamers can expect details tomorrow from London.
Japan’s prestigious Famitsu magazine have published a number of rumours concerning Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Wii.
According to the publication, we can expect news on Sega and Hideo Kojima’s future Wii projects some time next week, along with a Wii iteration of Gundam.
Not only that, but legendary developer Yuji Naka is allegedly hared at work on a title for the Virtual Console, which should be unveiled shortly. Additionally, support for the Virtual Console has shifted up a gear, with more titles to be announced soon.
Stay tuned for more information as we approach the unanimous ‘thursdayton’ press conference.
Cubed3 recently obtained an exclusive interview with Quake creators id Software.
Speaking with company boss Todd Hollenshead, the website asked what he thought of Nintendo’s next-gen console, the Wii, and how it would stand up to the competition.
“I don’t know much about the Wii other than just what I’ve read, so it wouldn’t really be fair for me to make comparisons”, Hollenshead stated.
“I think the Wii has a lot of cool potential and Nintendo always makes awesome games for their console, so I bet its going to be successful even if it lacks the raw power of the 360 or PS3.”
The interviewer then added how the Wii-mote’s unique functionality would be well suited to a FPS suck as Quake or Doom, although Hollenshead refused to be drawn into any speculative ramblings that may follow, adding:-
“We don’t have any dev kits that we’re working with so answering at this point would just be speculation, and I’d rather avoid that. If the UI really ends up being an awesome fit for FPS games then we will certainly pay attention to it.”
Rumours are suggesting that a follow up to Sega’s bizarre Dreamcast hit, Seaman, will be heading to Nintendo Wii.
The company last year stated that a sequel to the game was in development, although it quickly disappeared off the radar. Smells a little fishy. However, Sega recently opened a website for the game stating an announcement would be made at the end of the week.
Speculation has since thrived, suggesting that such a game would be well suited to both the Wii and DS, utilizing both systems unique features. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
