News: No Wii Price Cut & A New Wii Channel


Posted by Nathan - Oct 26th 2007 17:16


Satoru Iwata explains his reasons for not giving the Wii a price cut, unveils a new Wii Channel, a new feature for an existing one and reveals that the Wii will come to China and South Korea next year.

Nintendo overlord Satoru Iwata recently spoke out about several Wii and DS topics at a recent conference in Japan.

Regarding a Wii price cut, Iwata said that even with 1.8 million Wii units being produced per month, Nintendo is still unable to reach global demand. A price cut is a bit unnecessary when your console continues to sell out worldwide almost a year after launch.

Iwata also added that the Wii will go on sale in China and South Korea in 2008. Nintendo of Korea launched last year, and Nintendo has been eager to increase their worldwide userbase with the release of the DS Lite early this year in South Korea and last year in China.

Iwata also stated that a new feature would be coming out for the Wii Shopping Channel this December, an option to send a present to one of your friends in the form of a WiiWare or Virtual Console game. The sender buys the game in the usual way, then sends it to someone in their address book. The recipient must then accept the present, and will then be taken to the Shopping Channel where their gift will begin downloading. Just in time for Christmas, too.

The final piece of news from Iwata is the confirmation of a new Wii Channel, the TV Program Guide Channel which allows you to check what's on TV, surprisingly. Content will be provided by G-Guide and it's set to launch in Spring 2008. The Channel is said to be 'very fun and Nintendo-esque'.

Stay tuned to N-Europe for the latest Nintendo gaming news.

Thanks to forum member Dante for the heads up!


Source: Kotaku & NeoGAF

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Comments

SR388 Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 12:29 || Total Comments: 105
Sending pressies is quite cool I s'pose.

TV guide. Chage from the AV signal you're using the Wii on and use your Sky/Freeview/Virgin/whatever.

Jeezuz
Nathan Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 12:34 || Total Comments: 130
Same could be said for weather and news, but it's something. :D
Azmol01 Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 12:37 || Total Comments: 503
Does this new channel mean that my friend who has SM64 on his Wii, can send the game to me and he still retains his copy also?
DynastyGo Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 12:43 || Total Comments: 13
No He will have to bough it for you. It is how work a present ;)
Fatnickc Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 13:11 || Total Comments: 35
Considering I don't have digital TV, and have to use Teletext or the internet to check TV listings, this is a channel I've actually wanted before.
Nintendo-master2 Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 13:20 || Total Comments: 795
good news all around, i feel like gloating and kinda sorry for china and korea! O.O
I really like the whole send a present thing! :D and the TV guide. it cant hurt i suppose! :D
Jensonb Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 16:06 || Total Comments: 14
The present idea is cool. The TV Guide can't hurt. But I want some details on the other upcoming Channels.
Solitanze Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 17:49 || Total Comments: 543
How were Sony able to get so many PS2s out, while Nintendo are struggling to get Wiis out? Its seems a just pass like scrape through reason for not having a price cut, but still, if Nintendo cannot fix their supply problems, Wii has no chance of beating PS2 as the most successful video game console of all time, which is a real shame...
Darkflame Says:
October 27th, 2007 at 14:00 || Total Comments: 155
The answer is easy; Making a ps2 is piss-easy these days. Making a Wii isnt so much.

In a few years, making Wii's will be as easy.

It all takes time.
1.8 million per month = "supply problem" is more a testiment to the wii's success then any fault at the processing end.

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