Update #5: GAME are now accepting pre-orders, but only if you want to shed £220 and upwards on a bundle.
Update #4: PC World is now accepting pre-orders for the Wii!
Update #3: The Wii is not going to be region-free. Damnit Nintendo, you’re making it hard for me to defend you!
Update #2: Gamestation are accepting pre-orders for the Wii via their highstreet stores!
Update #1: Play.com is now accepting pre-orders for the Wii!
Nintendo Wii
Earlier today, Nintendo announced the price and date that we can get our mittens on the Wii, and it’s not a pleasant deal. If what happened with the Xbox 360 here in the UK is anything to go by, I do hope Nintendo have thought this through – I only got my Xbox 360 in January after phoning round all the GAME, Gamestation, Argos and Tesco stores in my county!
The price will be £179.99 (€249.99). This annoys me. If we convert this to dollars, it comes out as about $337 dollars – $80 more than their paying. We’re paying an extra £43 and we’re getting it as close to Christmas as they could get it. We’re also paying about £5 more for games than the Americans are. Damn economies.
The date will be 8th December in Europe – after Australia get it. I’ve commented on some of the Engadget posts that a company needs to do a worldwide simultaneous launch, just for once. Even if people have to wait, the response would be amazing and they wouldn’t have people like me whining like I am right now. So, mark it in your diaries and start looking for pre-order links. I’m signed up to recieve updates from most major retailers and PC World is going to annouce their pre-order date soon (although I’d trust Argos because they have a very good reputation during the Xbox 360 fiasco in December/January last year).
The European console bundle will include a white Wii console, one Wii remote, one Nunchuck and Wii Sports. The browser will be at extra cost, hopefully at around £5.
Other Wii News
The other day it was announced that the Wii has lost its support for DVD playback. To be honest, I’m pleased. In my bedroom I have 5 DVD players and feel that the drop in price that has occured due to this loss is worth it. I mean, if you haven’t got a DVD player, go down to your local Argos and pick up one for less than £30! Also, it seems that the Wii will accept USB sticks as a storage media which looks good. This as well as SD cards.
Also, news that Wii games are region-free is joyus news. Personally, I’d rather import some games from America and get them cheaper. This is one of the only good things Nintendo have told us this week.
