Nintendo Wii: Release Date, Price and Features Announced!

The much-anticipated new console from Nintendo, the Wii, is almost available in stores. Nintendo finally announced the release date as November 19th, 2006, at a price of roughly $250 USD. Although this is significantly more expensive than any of their consoles to date, it is much cheaper than the wildly popular X-Box 360. In addition, each of its new games are expected to run at an average of $10 less than a new X-Box 360 game. Nintendo has also promised to release more than twenty-five unique games this year alone. Among the most eagerly-anticipated new games will be the newest installment in the Legend of Zelda series, entitled Twilight Princess.

Included with a new console will be one remote (a second one will cost approximately $40 USD), one nunchuck attachment (a second one will retail for approximately $20 USD), A/V cables, an AC adapter, a sensor bar and stand, the stand for the console, and two batteries. A classic controller will also be available for separate purchase for roughly $20 USD. The US package will also include a copy of Wii Sports, which includes classic sports games such as tennis and baseball, as well as some newer games such as bowling and boxing. This game allegedly will showcase the mechanics of the revolutionary design of their controller (remote).

In addition to being a game console, the Wii also boasts a photo channel, through which owners can load,edit and display their digital photos, as well as news and weather channels. The Internet will also be available, utilizing the Opera browser. The Wii will also have a channel through which the entire system can be customized, called the Mii Channel. Among other features, it allows users to create unique avatars, store them in their remotes, and easily utilize that data (their personal characters) on any Wii console.

The Wii will also include a Virtual Console download service, through which classic games can be purchased at very reasonable prices (roughly $5-$10 USD each). Nintendo promises to have roughly thirty titles available by the end of the year, including versions of the Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong games.

The full details on the system, including information about where to find videos demonstrating all of the features, can be found here.