X

Wii-stock: Nintendo's big show

Nintendo invited the biggest names in tech and gaming journalism to New York's West Side, where they finally answered all the questions we had about the Wii.

CNET Reviews staff
slide7-1158252835879-440_330.jpg
1 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime shows off the Wii's menu system and the channels users navigate to communicate, browse the Web, and play their favorite games.
intro_440.jpg
2 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan started the show, warming up the crowd before Reggie took the stage.
date_440.jpg
3 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
The Wii's U.S. release date is now officially November 19, just about the time the PlayStation 3 is supposed to hit stores.
price_440.jpg
4 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
The Wii will have a suggested retail price of $250. This package includes the Wii, a Wiimote with nunchuck, and a copy of Wii Sports. This is the first time a game has shipped with a Nintendo console since the Super Nintendo.
bargraph_440.jpg
5 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Reggie also talked about the Nintendo DS and how it's affecting the portable game market. According to the graph, it's doing quite well.
bowling_440.jpg
6 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
After Reggie's presentation, a Nintendo PR rep demonstrated the bowling game mode in Wii Sports.
arcade_440.jpg
7 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
After the big Wii show, visitors were invited to try the new system for themselves. This is a lonely row of Wii kiosks, just before getting swarmed by game-hungry journalists.
wii_440.jpg
8 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
The Wii itself, almost close enough to touch. With only 4 million units shipping worldwide by the holiday season, you might want to reserve yours soon.
backend_440.jpg
9 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
With only 480p resolution and no HDMI, the Wii's backside looks a bit sparse. Fortunately, the two USB ports offer the potential for future expansion.
mii_440.jpg
10 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
The Wii's Mii creation tool lets users create their own digital avatars for use within certain games on the console.
zelda_440.jpg
11 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will hit stores when the Wii itself does. Link's latest adventure is one of the Wii's biggest selling points.
metroid_440.jpg
12 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is another of the Wii's big titles. Unfortunately, it won't be released until sometime in 2007.
brainage_440.jpg
13 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
The Nintendo DS's surprisingly infectious Brain Age will see a Wii version, with numerous Wiimote-based puzzles.
madden_440.jpg
14 of 14 Photo: Jody Levine Gianni, CNET Networks
Though the Wii version of Madden '07 will lack the pumped-up graphics of the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions, the Wiimote control scheme will add an interesting aspect to the game.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos