The stage is set for Wii

Latecomer Nintendo announces release date and game bundle for its E3 dark horse, the Revolution-turned-Wii gaming console.

All packed up ready to go.
(Click for larger image)

Launch date and pricing
Nintendo has finally confirmed when its next-generation console -- the Nintendo Wii -- will land in Australia. The Wii will be on sale from 7 December 2006 for AU$399.95.

In addition to the console -- available only in white -- and Wii Sports (a compilation of games including tennis, golf, bowling, baseball, and boxing), the Wii will have power and A/V cables, one Wii Remote, one Nunchuk controller, and one remote sensor. Pricing for accessories such as extra Wii Remotes and Nunchuk controllers have not been disclosed yet.

The classic controller -- a more conventional-style gamepad designed to better control the large library of retro titles available for the system -- will be sold separately. When we asked Nintendo about the A/V hookup, Nintendo said the system would include an all-in-one composite-component cable much like the one included with the premium Xbox 360.

CNET.com.au sister site CNET.com got a good look at the console's ports and slots at Nintendo's New York press conference for the Wii, and spied an SD memory card slot in front to complement the 512MB of internal memory. There were also four GameCube controller and memory card slots on the top of the Wii. The rear panel housed inputs for the power cord, A/V cables, and the motion sensor, along with a pair of USB ports.

A screen shot of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
(Click for larger image)

Game lineup
Nintendo Australia have promised that around 20 titles will be available for the Wii between its launch and 31 December. In the US, there will be 30 Wii titles on shelves by the end of the year, with 15 available at launch. Nintendo confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and ExciteTruck will be among the titles in stores at launch. Prices for games have yet to be revealed.

A wide variety of third-party titles were confirmed, including Call of Duty 3, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, Madden NFL 07, Need For Speed: Carbon, Red Steel, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, and Far Cry: Vengeance. In addition to proving that Nintendo has a good number of companies in its corner this time around, the slate of shooters available should also serve as proof that, despite appearances, this console ain't just for kids.

In addition to Wii-specific titles available at retail, the new console is also fully backwards-compatible with all GameCube discs. Moreover, the system's "Virtual Console" will allow users to download a bevy of classic titles from past Nintendo consoles, as well as games originally released for the Sega Genesis and NEC TurboGRAFX. In the US, there will be about 30 classic games available on the Wii at launch, including such fan favourites as Donkey Kong, Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64. Approximately 10 additional backlist titles will be added every month. Games will be purchased with Wii Points, a proprietary currency that will work much like Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360. The games will run between 500 and 1,000 points.

The Wii Channel interface.
(Click for larger image)

Online and multimedia elements
The Wii's navigation will be done through a variety of pages called "Wii Channels" that take advantage of the system's "always online" capabilities. Among the channels shown at the event were a forecast channel (weather), news channel, and a message channel, which allows you to send messages to other Wii owners and e-mails to friends. The channel "home page" is the system's default gateway, which also provides access to the disc-based Wii/GameCube games and Virtual Console titles. Rounding things out is the Mii Channel, which lets you create your own digital avatar, save it to your remote, and bring it to other Wii consoles, as well as use it in games like Wii Sports.

Unlike Nintendo's previous consoles and portables, which shied away from performing multimedia functions, the Wii will have Web-surfing and photo-viewing capabilities, though the previously announced DVD playback support has been nixed. To use the photo viewer, you simply plug in an SD memory card with photos on it to view them on your television. The system will use Opera as its Web browser, which will be purchasable through the Wii by using a still undisclosed amount of Wii Points.

The Wii's Wi-Fi gaming capabilities will not be available at launch, nor will connectivity with the DS. Pokemon Battle Revolution will be the first title to utilise an online multiplayer, though no release date was set.