August 15, 2006 - Nintendo's new Wii console could be yours later this year for less than expected. Tokyo-based Nikko Citigroup has issued a report on Nintendo's rising stock price, and between all the jargon is the financial institution's forecast that the Wii will carry a Japanese price point of 19,800 yen.

Current exchange rates would put an equivalent US price at $170.00. However, console prices rarely convert according to exchange rates. At most, we can probable take this report to indicate an anticipated US price of under $200.

Nikko Citigroup previously forecast a 25,000 yen price for the Wii. The firm arrived at the new, lower price point based on its expectation that Nintendo will be able to procure the Wii's CPU for less than expected.

This report is just another prediction by a financial institution and shouldn't be taken as confirmation of the Wii's price. For now, the official Nintendo word is that the system will be sold for under 25,000 yen in Japan and $250 in America. Final details are expected in September.

No GameCube Controller on Zelda Wii
And original games coming to Virtual Console.
by Patrick Klepek, 08/16/2006

In a move sure to upset the groups still not convinced of Wii's merits, George Harrison, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, stopped in a Camp Hyrule chat session moderated by Nintendo themselves and confirmed the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will only have support for the Wii's control scheme.
Many had hoped Nintendo would allow for dual Wii and GameCube support ala a number of upcoming Wii releases, but Nintendo appears confident enough in its design that hardened fans will have to pick up the GameCube release if they're that hardcore. You still have time to decide which one sways you, as both versions will be launched simultaneously during Wii's launch date this fall.

Additionally, Harrison teased about Virtual Console, which may also host all-new Nintendo games, instead of just nostalgic classics. "Remember, there are other secrets of the virtual console that we won't reveal until we get closer to launch," he said. "Virtual console offers the possibility for us to create new games, but our focus right now is in getting the Wii hardware launched and new games from Nintendo on the virtual console will be coming sometime after the launch."

Secrets, secrets are no fun; secrets, secrets make message boards whine and moan. Let's hope we hear more from Nintendo soon.

"The machine is based on GC," said Miyamoto. "We'll be upgrading the development tools, but GameCube code can be used for the most part as is. In that sense, I believe that it would be good to remake GameCube games for Wii, and that some titles would become better with the change to the Wii remote controller."

EA expects Wii to retail for $170
Matt Martin 17:50 21/08/2006
"Nintendo has come up with a very clever strategy," says David Gardner.

Electronic Arts has revealed it expects the Nintendo Wii to retail in the US for around $170.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, executive VP and COO of EA's worldwide studios David Gardner said, "I've heard in Japan that the price is about $170, but I don't know if the price has been set in Europe yet."

Discussing the key differences between Sony's PS3 and the new Nintendo console, Gardner was positive that the WII will find its niche in the market as a consumers 'second' console.

"Nintendo has come up with a very clever strategy," said Gardner. "They've made a choice which is great for the consumer. Now we're going to have a choice whereby consumers can buy a Wii plus one other console."