Wii price cut to $199.99 USD

Nintendo has finally decided that a price drop is in order, putting its Wii home console system in the familiar position of being the cheapest one on the market. Starting Sunday, Sept. 27, Nintendo will lower the suggested retail price for the system by $50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point includes the same content as the original including 1 Wii Remote and Nunchuck, and Wii Sports.

“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.“

This is the smartest move Nintendo could have made given that both Sony and Microsoft have already cut the price of their home consoles. 

Naturally this will open up new players to already popular franchises like Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort, Metroid Prime Trilogy - and new stuff like New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nov. 15), and Wii Fit Plus (Oct. 4). Nintendo also announced that it will run some in special events in select cities called World of Nintendo. Kicking off in Long Beach, Calif., World of Nintendo will show off the latest Nintendo Wii and DS games and give consumers hands on time with the likes of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Punch-Out!! and WiiWare titles as well as DS/ DSi games like The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box and Nintendo DSiWare titles. A full list of dates for the month of Oct. after the break.

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MotionPlus and Wii Sports Sequel to heat up Nintendo’s Summer

Earlier today, Nintendo released a statement that the new MotionPlus add-on for the Nintendo Wii will be released on June 8th. The MotionPlus accessory “redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space,” according to the product description on Nintendo’s web site. What’s more, the MotionPlus accessory comes out a month and a half before the official launch of Nintendo’s follow-up to its most popular Wii title, Wii Sports Resort.

Wii Sports Resort, a beach-romp themed game, is the follow-up to the system-selling Wii Sports title that was packed in with the system at launch. In this outing, Nintendo promises sword-fighting, frisbee and several other activities. Supposedly, the new MotionPlus will offer a greater level of control. However, we at the Crispy office still think it looks like grown-ups flailing around uncontrollably.