Price and date confirmed
Take a deep breath and compose yourselves. Today is the day that the UK and Europe finally find out the launch date and price for Nintendo's latest console.
The Nintendo UK press conference has just finished, we can reveal that December 8th will be the date when we'll be unpacking our Wii's and getting to grips with that crazy wii-mote and the dozens of quirky games that are planned.
We can almost hear you screaming at your monitors, "how much?" Well, Wii is going to set you back £179.00 or 249 Euros and games will be priced at 34-39 pounds sterling or 49-59 Euros. Most people, pre-conference, were guessing at a price around the £150 mark, so the £179.00 is slightly more expensive then we'd hoped, but hey an extra £30 is only a night down the boozer and a bag of chips on the way home. We're happy enough.
Tim Henman and Greg Rusedki (reknown British/Canadian losers) were there to advertise Wii Tennis as well (ooh the excitment, Tim lost against Greg in a tense match by the way). Why Nintendo want to be associated with them we'll never know. Anyhow, the news is in, and despite the UK being last again (even the Aussies get it before us), we're happy and now we're off to blag oursleves a free Wii or two.
Oh...and Wii sports will come with the bundle as we'd previously expected and we'll be getting the controller and the nunchuck.
Additional controllers will also be available from launch at the estimated retail prices of: Wii Remote - 39 Euros (£29 in UK), Nunchuk – 19 Euros (£14 in UK) and the Classic Controller – 19 Euros (£14 in UK)
The price and launch date in Australia has already been announced today as 7th December priced $399.95.
If you haven't already stumbled across it before, check out the time we had hands-on with some of the Wii games, then get those pre-orders sorted out! We've got not idea how many units will be available for the UK, but we'll let you know as soon as possible.
You can pre-order Wii from : Play.com
In the meantime, cast your eye over some the games that we can look forward to:
Brace yourself, it's an exhausting line-up!
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Publisher: THQ
Set in a fantastic, Asian-influenced world of martial arts and elemental magic, Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the adventures of Aang, the successor to a long line of Avatars, and his friends Katara, Sokka and later Toph, and their two animal companions Appa and Momo in their quest to save the world from the merciless Fire Nation, while avoiding capture from pursuers including Prince Zuko and other hunters from the Fire Nation.
Click for larger imageBlazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Publisher: Ubisoft
Experience the most gripping and famous battles of WWII through the eyes of a squadron commander and ace fighter pilot. From the Battle of Britain, through the dramatic air combat of Pearl Harbor, the Midway fierce fighting, and way back to Europe, to the battle of Berlin, your pilot skills will create WWII history. Dominate the skies of Western Europe, and the Pacific and bring back alive your squadron of Blazing Angels.
Click for larger imageBlitz: The League
Publisher: Midway
Playing in The League is your dream but you've paid the price. Your arms ache from weight-room reps and painkillers are blurring your vision. The dirty hits you've laid on QBs are career-enders but they also keep you employed. Two more sacks and you get your bonus, paying for your fast cars and faster lifestyle. Its 4th and 3 and you are up by 7. Stuff the offense, beat your opponents bloody and win at any cost!
Click for larger imageCall of Duty 3
Publisher: Activision
The follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, Call of Duty 3 delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the Normandy Breakout, the historic campaign that made the liberation of Paris possible and brought the Allies a step closer to Berlin. Through a seamless narrative that delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action, players assume the roles of four ordinary Allied soldiers—American, British, Canadian and Polish—and are thrust onto an authentic, living battlefield for an unprecedented variety of combat, with advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character animations and explosive on-screen action, delivering the most immersive and cinematically intense war experience ever.
Click for larger imageCars
Publisher: THQ
Race to the finish line as you live all the fun and excitement of the next Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film, “Cars.” Play as all your favourite characters as you help Lightening McQueen capture the coveted Piston Cup Championship.
Click for larger image
