Nintendo set to drop Wii to $149 next month?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Nintendo, Rumors, Wii,
To help push dusty Nintendo Wii's off the shelves, Nintendo is reportedly dropping the price of its console to $149, down from $199.
Citing an unnamed source, Engadget reported on Monday that the new price will take effect on May 15.
A spokesman for Nintendo said, "Nintendo does not comment on speculation or rumor." Engadget pointed to a March interview between Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime and Gamasutra, in which Fils-Aime discussed re-pricing the console.
"The Wii has a long life in front of it," Fils-Aime said. "We're still sitting at $199. There are a variety of marketing tools at our disposal."
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Gallery: Nintendo set to drop Wii to $149 next month?
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Wii successor not a top priority for Nintendo…yet
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Nintendo, Rumors, Wii,
The Nintendo Wii has done well. Really well. Though, sales of the hit console peaked in its third year, and have since been waning. This kind of shift in sales is what usually prompts a successor to be named. Not to mention that the Wii now faces an uphill battle against the motion technologies of both Sony and Microsoft, the latter of which is taking off into American homes like hot cakes. However, Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime believes that the original Wii still has a lot of fight left in it, even against the transformed market strategies of Sony and Microsoft.
In an interview with Kotaku journalist Stephen Totilo, Reggie stated:
"As we sit here today we're saying the Wii has many, many more units to sell. After we've reached an installed base of 45 million here in the U.S., we can have a conversation about the next generation. "
As of now the Wii has an installed base of more than 30 million in North America. Looks like it's going to be at least another two years before we Nintendo even thinks about a new console. Or at least that's what they want us to think, wink wink.
Read More | Kotaku
Gallery: Wii successor not a top priority for Nintendo…yet
Wii shortages continue, Nintendo partners with GameStop on rain check program
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Hardware, Nintendo, Wii,
I just got off a press call with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime where the focus was on the availability of the Wii console. Reggie made it clear that Nintendo never expected the success that Wii has been enjoying since launch, and therefore has remained hard to find despite ramped up production. Nintendo is hoping to help out just a bit with a couple of short-term initiatives.
Gallery: Wii shortages continue, Nintendo partners with GameStop on rain check program
According To Reggie, No Wii Fit In US In 2007
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Casual, Nintendo, Release Dates, Wii,
Chris Kohler of Wired’s Game | Life had a chat with Reggie Fils-Aime about Wii Fit during E3, and two details came out of it – one of which was particularly noteworthy. As we all expect, the game will cost more than the traditional $50 price point for Wii titles. Research is still being done on the cost of the Wii Balance Board, so that will be what helps dictate the final price. Nintendo knows how well Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360 did at $89.99, so don’t be too surprised if Wii Fitness fell into that ballpark.
The other tidbit was that Wii Fit won’t be seeing a release in the United States this year. Japan will be seeing it by year’s end, but not in the states. Understandable, considering that Super Smash Bros. Brawl is coming in December and Super Mario Galaxy in November. But isn’t Nintendo missing out on a tremendous amount of sales during the holiday shopping season by releasing it in ’08?
Read More | Game | Life
Gallery: According To Reggie, No Wii Fit In US In 2007
E3 2007: Check Mii Out Channel Announced By Nintendo
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Nintendo, Wii,
While no specific release date was given, Nintendo once again made mention of their new popularity channel for Miis, Check Mii Out, during their E3 2007 press conference. Giving a bit more detail than they did when Takeshi Shimada gave back in March, you’ll be able to rate user-submitted Miis, and even import the ones you like onto your Wii console. Slick. Reggie also mentioned that there will be contests held with this channel as well, such as best recreation of a real life celebrity. This one should be available soon.
Gallery: E3 2007: Check Mii Out Channel Announced By Nintendo
E3 2007: Nintendo’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Action, Adventure, CAPCOM, Casual, Corporate News, Driving, E3, Electronic Arts, First Person Shooters, Internet, Music, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Party Games, Puzzle, Release Dates, Retro, Sports, Trailers, Virtual Console, Wii,
As with the Microsoft conference before it, I was confined to my hotel Wi-Fi to take in Nintendo’s E3 press conference. But, unlike Microsoft’s, I’m walking away thoroughly and utterly disappointed. I’m going to go ahead and spoil part of the full story from after the break: there was no mention of Smash Bros. being online. Me = worried much.
Set your expectations low before you view the rest after the break.
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Gallery: E3 2007: Nintendo’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
More Than 5 Million Gamers Have Used DS’ Wi-Fi Service
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Wireless,
Since its launch in November 2005, over five million DS owners have connected to the dual-screened system’s online gaming service. More than 60 games make use of it, some even featuring VoIP communication – most notably, the recent Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is excited with the news, stating, “The milestones represent millions of hours of fun and camaraderie despite miles between players.”
Reggie also went on to tout the fact that it’s a free service that allows for global competition. He didn’t happen to mention the inevitable frustration the system’s friend codes have caused, but we’ll let that slide for now, especially when you look at the figure for total number games played: more than 200 million.
Read More | GamesIndustry.biz
Gallery: More Than 5 Million Gamers Have Used DS’ Wi-Fi Service
Reggie Talks Wii, DS At D.I.C.E.
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Wii,
Dean Takahashi of Mercury News was able to talk with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas. Post-holiday, Fils-Aime seems to be confident about Nintendo’s success with both the Wii and the DS, and he discusses everything from sales figures, to those who label the Wii as merely a novelty, and the culture that is surrounding the Wii. According to Reggie, DS sales continue to grow beyond Nintendo’s ability to make more handhelds, “making millions a month, but the demand is above that.” He also believes that the Wii has the staying power to grow beyond the Xbox 360 user base, and that the upcoming release of Wii Play will drive sales further. Given that Nintendo still can’t seem to supply enough Wii consoles for the channel, this seems like a hard thing to judge. Reggie loves the inroads that the Wii has been making into pop culture, such as the Conan O’Brien / Serena Williams Wii Tennis battle. Apparently, online development kits have also made their way to developers at this point as well, so gamers can expect online play in the future. Overall, Reggie’s comments reflect a company that has done phenomenally well over the past holiday; Nintendo’s continued success depends on their ability to execute and stay on target.
Read More | Mercury News
Gallery: Reggie Talks Wii, DS At D.I.C.E.
Reggie Talks Wii With MTV
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Nintendo, Wii,
Nintendo seems to be all over the press lately, trumpeting their successes with the Wii and receiving generally favorable reviews for their new console. Reggie Fils-Aime recently talked to MTV about this, and their aims for the future as they try to keep moving forward with the Wii. In addition to their massive tie rate with The Legend of Zelda, Fils-Aime claims that third-party titles like Red Steel, Rayman, Madden 2007, and Trauma Center: Second Opinion have sold well with the Wii.
Reggie also talked upcoming first-party releases. January should bring a new Wario Ware title and Wii Play, with Mario Party 8 coming by March. The new Metroid and Super Mario titles will come some time after that, but before the end of next year. Third-party support was also praised, something which was somewhat problematic with the Gamecube.
Other topics covered include Reggie’s opinions of some of the reviews Wii titles have been receiving, online play (the first title will be Pokemon Battle Revolution in Japan), and Virtual Console Mondays, Nintendo’s weekly release of software titles for their Virtual Console, much like Microsoft’s Live Arcade Wednesdays. While the interview doesn’t give a whole lot away on Nintendo’s strategies, it is interesting to see Reggie’s viewpoint on the console launch.
Read More | MTV
Gallery: Reggie Talks Wii With MTV
Reggie Fils-Aime Profiled
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Wii,
The Seattle Times has a lengthy profile of Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime and the turnaround that he is engineering at the company. Part of the profile is focused on the swagger that Fils-Aime seems to be bringing back to the company and its fanboys. Which Nintendo’s presence and influence in the videogame industry had been on the wane, their approach with their new products like the DS and the Wii appears to be turning this around.
Fils-Aime has helped Nintendo become more aggressive in the market, and part of this has been due to Reggie’s attitude and discipline, as detailed in the article. While a good part of the profile is aimed at Nintendo’s attempts to recapture and grow the video game market with the DS and the Wii, there are a number of insights into Fils-Aime’s background that led him to succeed at Nintendo of America. The next year should be an interesting one as Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony battle in the next generation of gaming.
Read More | The Seattle Times
Gallery: Reggie Fils-Aime Profiled
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