Rumors on Wii pricing, launch dates, console coloring and other information scatters the Internet. Is any of it correct? Many "rumors" come from 3rd party developers.
News sites continue to try to find dates for the Wii launch and as much details as possible. Hardware specificiations alter weekly and prices move from $200 USD to $250 USD. Is any of this correct? And why do we care?
Lets face it, we care. Why? Because we don't know the real answer and humans, by nature, are curious little mammals that want to know everything. The highest priority of knowledge is that which we know exists but we just do not have control over yet. The Wii is no different.
IGN posted multiple estimations on prices, dates, and features, and continually get removed and reposted with less information. Is this because of "legal reasons" as they state -or- is it because they find that some details are just too fuzzy to post real values for?
What is the latest information that we've heard on the Net? The Wii cost will be $229 USD, have a black console version and a white console version (woah, like the PSP?) and Nintendo expects more then 5 million units to be available, worldwide, by the end of this year.
Nintendo has publically stated that these final details will not be available until September 2006. Why so secret?
Nintendo is smart, if they give dates now and those dates change (even by a day) people will "ooh" and "ahhh" about the "slip" and probably make more false Internet rumors than we see today. If the dates are not finalized by the "high ups" at Nintendo it would be wise for them to not say anything publically. Even color selection, hardware specifications and other details are best kept secret because it helps keep the competition wondering and builds the huge Internet rumor mill about Nintendo.
Are these rumors good? You bet! People continue to throw around keywords like "Wii," "revolution" and "Nintendo." It is free marketing and all gamers have those words in their head, fanboys or not, because of these unknown details. Nintendo doesn't have to pay a dime to keep their name in the spotlight - all they have to do is shut their mouths.
But, how long can all their partners and third parties do the same? There are other non-Nintendo folks that have this hardware and a good deal of details. All it takes is a developer to leak information and another developer in another studio confirm the details with their own account and the news sites will go crazy with Wii-based information. Can Nintendo hold the secrets until September or will enough leaks corroborate these rumors?
A note about Brazilian Wii prices. The prices have been estimated at $640 USD to $690 USD. This is due to a high import tax and a rampid piracy issue in Brazil. Interesting data point: The Nintendo DS sells for $367.00 USD in Brazil. So, as you can see, these Brazilian US dollar conversions are high for a reason - and do not equate in any real way to the Wii (USD) costs in America.
News sites continue to try to find dates for the Wii launch and as much details as possible. Hardware specificiations alter weekly and prices move from $200 USD to $250 USD. Is any of this correct? And why do we care?
Lets face it, we care. Why? Because we don't know the real answer and humans, by nature, are curious little mammals that want to know everything. The highest priority of knowledge is that which we know exists but we just do not have control over yet. The Wii is no different.
IGN posted multiple estimations on prices, dates, and features, and continually get removed and reposted with less information. Is this because of "legal reasons" as they state -or- is it because they find that some details are just too fuzzy to post real values for?
What is the latest information that we've heard on the Net? The Wii cost will be $229 USD, have a black console version and a white console version (woah, like the PSP?) and Nintendo expects more then 5 million units to be available, worldwide, by the end of this year.
Nintendo has publically stated that these final details will not be available until September 2006. Why so secret?
Nintendo is smart, if they give dates now and those dates change (even by a day) people will "ooh" and "ahhh" about the "slip" and probably make more false Internet rumors than we see today. If the dates are not finalized by the "high ups" at Nintendo it would be wise for them to not say anything publically. Even color selection, hardware specifications and other details are best kept secret because it helps keep the competition wondering and builds the huge Internet rumor mill about Nintendo.
Are these rumors good? You bet! People continue to throw around keywords like "Wii," "revolution" and "Nintendo." It is free marketing and all gamers have those words in their head, fanboys or not, because of these unknown details. Nintendo doesn't have to pay a dime to keep their name in the spotlight - all they have to do is shut their mouths.
But, how long can all their partners and third parties do the same? There are other non-Nintendo folks that have this hardware and a good deal of details. All it takes is a developer to leak information and another developer in another studio confirm the details with their own account and the news sites will go crazy with Wii-based information. Can Nintendo hold the secrets until September or will enough leaks corroborate these rumors?
A note about Brazilian Wii prices. The prices have been estimated at $640 USD to $690 USD. This is due to a high import tax and a rampid piracy issue in Brazil. Interesting data point: The Nintendo DS sells for $367.00 USD in Brazil. So, as you can see, these Brazilian US dollar conversions are high for a reason - and do not equate in any real way to the Wii (USD) costs in America.
