Topic: Wii U Launches November 18 in North America

[King Bowser Koopa]

UPDATE: The Wii U launch date has been confirmed for US region as well as bundles and prices.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31676

Nintendo's next console will launch in North America on November 18 this year, 66 days from now.

It will be available as a "Basic Set" in white with the Wii U, Wii U Gamepad, AC Adapter for each, HDMI cable, and sensor bar for $299.99. The basic Wii U will have 8 GB of internal storage. There will also be a "Deluxe Set" for $349.99 including all items in the Basic Set in black, 32 GB storage, a GamePad charger, a stand for gamepad and console, and NintendoLand included. Deluxe Set buyers get enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, with points awarded for digital purchases, for use to buy more digital content.

There will be no Wii Remotes or Nunchuks packed in as there are already so many of them out there, but Wii U-branded remotes will be appearing on store shelves.

The news comes as part of the US Nintendo Direct conference going on as of writing. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

[Adrock]

Not terribly surprising. I was hoping for November 11.

According to CNET, the basic set (white) is $299 and the deluxe set (black) is $349 and also comes with Nintendo Land. Both come with a sensor bar which seemed missing from the Japanese models.

Deluxe set = sold

[Tamazoid]

Interesting, for Europe only the deluxe set comes with a sensor bar. Europe will also get the same bundle Japan is getting, the one with a Wiimote +,numbchuck and sensor bar.

[Ian Sane]

No Wiimotes seems like an odd choice.  Yeah a lot of people have them but a dev still can't truly be comfortable making a game that requires them.  And there are two types of remotes out there.  Will devs use Motion+ or will they feel the need to stick to the lowest common denominator and go with the old remote?  The incredibly shitty motion control of the original Wiimote shouldn't even be an option anymore, except for backwards compatibility.

Though maybe this will mean less Wiimote support (ie: less waggle) and I'm all for that.  I'd prefer if the entire industry just quietly forgot that motion control ever existed.

[UncleBob]

Never gonna happen, but Nintendo really should start up a Wii Remote trade-in program.  Send in your non-Plus Wii Remotes and $10, get a Wii Remote Plus.  Send in a non-Plus Wii Remote and the Motion Plus accessory and $5, get a Wii Remote Plus.

I wouldn't use this as I have plenty of Wii Remote Pluses(?), but it seems like it would be the best way to get Wii Remote Pluses into people's hands at this point.

[Adrock]

I vaguely recall Nintendo saying that the original Wii Remote will not be compatible and that Motion Plus/Remote Plus is required for games that use the remote. Might have been a rumor though.

[Sarail]

So it looks like Europe is getting the best bundle - a Deluxe Set with ZombiU and Pro Controller along with all of the other Deluxe Set features. Fantastic. Lucky you, European fans.

I could really care less about NintendoLand, but I want the Deluxe Set in North America.

Of course, Japan beats us all (minus currency exhange) with the Monster Hunter 3G HDver. bundle.

Now... NoA, I realize you released a "launch window" list of games. But, please clarify which are launch day games, ok? Sheesh.

[ShyGuy]

Does it come in Black?

[EasyCure]

I must be easy to please, because I'm just glad they're offering the system in black from the start.

[Louieturkey]

Seems like a no brainer to get the deluxe set, especially if you want NintendoLand.  The extras that come with it alone are probably worth the $50 premium, especially with the Deluxe Online promotion.  I definitely think I will get the deluxe when I get a Wii U.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Deluxe Black edition for me.

I will place my pre-order asap.

[NeoThunder]

They never explained if I can play virtual console games with wiiU pad or WiiU pro controller

[Louieturkey]

Deluxe Black edition for me.

I will place my pre-order asap.

Utterly shocking!

[Fatty The Hutt]

Went at lunch to try and preorder from my local Gamestop. They are not taking pre-orders until tomorrow (just got an amil confirming that).
Guy said I was about the 50th person to ask. Yikes! If they only get, say, 6 to 12 in at launch and I am not soon enough on the preorder list, I could be hooped.
 
I don't want to camp outside a Toys R Us. I really don't

[Louieturkey]

Went at lunch to try and preorder from my local Gamestop. They are not taking pre-orders until tomorrow (just got an amil confirming that).
Guy said I was about the 50th person to ask. Yikes! If they only get, say, 6 to 12 in at launch and I am not soon enough on the preorder list, I could be hooped.
 
I don't want to camp outside a Toys R Us. I really don't

I'm going to be waiting to see if Amazon gets preorders.  I really don't want to deal with retail.

[tendoboy1984]

I'm going to be waiting to see if Amazon gets preorders.  I really don't want to deal with retail.

Or just buy online from any store (Best Buy, Walmart, Target, etc.). You still won't have to go to the store and wait outside.

[Louieturkey]

I'm going to be waiting to see if Amazon gets preorders.  I really don't want to deal with retail.

Or just buy online from any store (Best Buy, Walmart, Target, etc.). You still won't have to go to the store and wait outside.

I like Amazon and will get launch day delivery for no extra charge because I have Prime.  Much rather do that.

Or maybe I'll visit my friends in Oregon who one of them is a manager at a Walmart there and I can get his EE discount and get the deluxe system for $315.   If I do that, I won't get it on launch day though.  I'll set a time we can actually visit them.

[Sarail]

Deluxe Black edition for me.


I will place my pre-order asap.

Utterly shocking!

That's racist. ...I went black, too.


You know what they say...

[Louieturkey]

Deluxe Black edition for me.


I will place my pre-order asap.

Utterly shocking!

That's racist. ...I went black, too.


You know what they say...

Once you go racist, you have to buy a deluxe black Wii U?

[Shaymin]

Once you go black, you go deaf.

[Sarail]

Once you go black, you go deaf.

Bingo.

[ShyGuy]

Who takes preorders besides Gamestop? I'm looking for a midnight launch.

[TJ Spyke]

Who takes preorders besides Gamestop? I'm looking for a midnight launch.

Best Buy takes pre-orders for select games, so they might for Wii U. They also do midnight launches for some games (I know they plan to do one for Borderlands 2). Walmart also has started a pre-order program for some games, not sure they will do it for systems.

[Sarail]

I really didn't want to support the municipality, but I'm fairly certain no one else in my city will be doing a midnight launch.

EDIT: I should clarify. Fairly certain no one in my city is doing a midnight launch with preorders. Walmart, Target, and maaaaaaaaybe Best Buy (my Best Buy store is quite finicky) will be doing midnight releases, but that's going to require standing out in the cold for hours on end. I did that with the 'Cube and Wii. Playing it a little smarter this go around.

[NeoThunder]

it could have gone $399 for the premium console much like xbox. I'm happy to see it's only $50 more for a black console with 4 times the memory.  Give me USB hard drive support and i'm good