A portion of a GameSpot interview with Nintendo’s Denise Kaigler…
GS: Microsoft and Sony just lowered the prices on their consoles. How big a factor were those cuts in bringing the price of the Wii down now?
DK: Not at all. We were not driven by any other factors but our own business decision to do this. As I mentioned, this was timed to take place exactly when we’re executing it. The holiday period is the best time for us to offer this great incentive for these consumers on the sidelines.
Another key factor for our decision is the timing of what we also announced yesterday, what we’re calling the World of Nintendo consumer sampling tour. It’s an opportunity for consumers around the country to experience for themselves what all the excitement is about.
From October through the end of the year, we hope to put our games in the hands of at least 1 million consumers in about 35 or 40 markets throughout the country. We’re going to be showcasing most of our holiday products–those already on the market, like Wii Sports Resort and those that haven’t launched, like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS.
GS: By the end of this year, Wii Fit and the Balance Board will have been out for a year and a half in the US, with Nintendo developing a total of three compatible games–one (Wii Music) that uses the board in a limited fashion, and another (Wii Fit Plus) that is an enhanced version of the board’s pack-in game. Can we expect Nintendo to step up support for the Balance Board?
DK: The Balance Board is a remarkable accessory, and there is a tremendous amount of potential for games to be developed using that truly fun interface. As you know, there are numerous third-party titles on the market that utilize the Wii Balance Board. Certainly, our designers are always looking at ways that we continue to utilize our accessories, and the Wii Balance Board is certainly one of those accessories developers are looking at leveraging to further enhance gameplay.
GS: With the Wii MotionPlus, can we expect more robust first-party support than the Wii Balance Board has received?
DK: I don’t want to do a comparison of Wii MotionPlus to the Balance Board, but I will say Wii MotionPlus has tremendous potential. The response we’ve gotten from consumers has been fabulous and phenomenal, so we definitely recognize it’s a very powerful, engaging accessory that completely transports you right into the heart of the game you’re playing. There’s no other motion-sensing controller like it on the market, so we’re excited to look at incorporating that experience into other titles.
So just like with the Wii Balance Board, yes, our developers are working at leveraging that technology into other games. And as I mentioned with the Balance Board, we also have third parties that are incorporating that technology into many games.
Full interview here
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Wii Sports Resort™ is all about getting multiple people involved in friendly sporting competitions. Starting Oct. 12, consumers will have even more incentive to get in on the fun when Nintendo releases a special, limited-edition bundle of the Wii Sports Resort game and not one but two Wii MotionPlus™ accessories, which bring enhanced precision to games.
The bundle will be available at a suggested retail price of .99. Typically, Wii Sports Resort comes with a single Wii MotionPlus unit at a suggested retail price of .99, and additional Wii MotionPlus units are available at a suggested retail price of .99.
“Shoppers are looking for value as we head into the holiday season, and this Wii Sports Resort bundle is a gift that players of all ages and experience levels can enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Best of all, it instantly gets multiple members of the household engaged in playing as soon as the package is opened.”
The new bundle will be available while supplies last at most major retailers.
Through the end of August, Wii Sports Resort has already sold more than 1.25 million units in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group. Nearly 2.9 million Wii MotionPlus accessories are in the hands of the public. That includes all those sold with Wii Sports Resort, standalone sales of 1.36 million and an additional 257,000 bundled with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 10.
For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com.
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Good news…Crash Time III is coming to DS. Bad news…there’s no footage of that version. All we have is the announcement trailer, which features the 360/PS3/PC versions.
Direct link here
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Looks like the hectic times of TGS are making some of the IGN team crack!
I’d love to get some Valkyria Chronicles action on Wii, but I don’t think that’ll happen.
Link and Link
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A portion of a Vooks review…
One of the best games that the Wii has to offer and one of the best spin-offs that feels like a complete standalone experience, rather than a rushed downgraded port. Those who don’t enjoy on-rail shooters or at least, don’t want to give them a shot – don’t kid yourselves, try this one out.
Full review here
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Set before the first game, this Dead Space light-gun adventure takes place as the Ishimura’s spaceship crew falls into chaos and destruction.
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