Wii U release date and price leaked?

[Steve]

New details have leaked about potential SKUs, prices and dates for the release of the Wii U which seem to conflict with what we’ve previously heard.

While we’ve heard multiple reports in the past that suggest Nintendo’s console will arrive in North America on November 18, today’s listing suggests it’ll actually be on November 11.

That's according to a listing spotted on Video Product Distributors, which is a distribution company that supplies Amazon, Blockbuster and Overstock.

According to an entry on the site, the Wii U will become available in North America on November 11. Three SKUs are listed:

• WIIU SYSTEM - GM - 11/11/12 $249.99
  
• WIIU SYSTEM W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $299.99
  
• WIIU SYSTEM 349 W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $349.99
  

While we don't know precisely what each one involves, presumably the $299.99 and $349.99 versions will contain either some extra games or other peripherals like an additional GamePad to justify the beefed up price.

Source: http://www.ign.com/a...-details-appear

Daaamn, 250 for the wii u? that's a smart, smart move if this is true.

[Redeemer]

If it's only $250 then consider it sold to me, Nintendo. I played one at GamesCom, with R3d, and we decided that it would be fun to have one in our own place, in the not-too-far-away future. I honestly think the WiiU is good for social and family gaming because it's so very interactive.

[Steve]

While the price is amazing, I seriously would spend 100 more dollars to have a more future friendly console. The wii was great, but halfway through its cycle, it started to decline pretty fast. While I have no doubt the Wii u will have a good start, I fear it will suffer from the same "Wii" syndrome.

[DZComposer]

Quality titles will make WiiU. Shovelware will make it fail. There are too many iOS and Android games out there now to rely on the casual market. Nintendo must know this. I hope they do.

Also, Nintendo, why are you so STFU about this? We know nothing coming out next year, and next year is three months away. My biggest fear is that lack of presentation of upcoming big titles is going to kill WiiU before it gets off the ground.

[Ellanie]

That's my worry. I have no reason for a WiiU as there are no WiiU games that look like they are worth getting.

Also, I hope Nintendo doesn't short stock everywhere like they kept doing the first couple years the Wii was out.

[CrypticQuery]

Quality titles will make WiiU. Shovelware will make it fail. There are too many iOS and Android games out there now to rely on the casual market. Nintendo must know this. I hope they do.

Also, Nintendo, why are you so STFU about this? We know nothing coming out next year, and next year is three months away. My biggest fear is that lack of presentation of upcoming big titles is going to kill WiiU before it gets off the ground.

If Nintendo would just come out and announce the official price and specs it would put quite a bit of negative press and speculation to rest.

[Icy]

Sounds about right... Was thinking it'd be November 18, but 11 also sounds right, and this seems like a legitimate source to figure it from, so who knows. Could be true.

9 more days, regardless, and we'll know.

[Mr. Krystal]

Nintendo is second-to-none in quality of gameplay. They will make sure to have games that are fun to play and everyone has to have. The question is whether or not 3rd parties will pick up the torch and try and do the same. I think many will. Several have said they were not going to make the same mistake they made with the Wii (releasing mostly shovelware). Even then, there were some real 3rd party gems on Wii. I always found it kind of strange the commentary about how the Wii is mostly kiddy or shovel games. From my perspective, the PS2 had about the same ratio of good games to shovel, but I guess back then the PlayStation fanboys were satisfied with it so long as it wasn't Nintendo.

[CrypticQuery]

but I guess back then the PlayStation fanboys were satisfied with it so long as it wasn't Nintendo.

I'm inclined to disagree just slightly here. Where the PS2 did have an incredible [and I mean -incredible-] amount of shovelware, key third parties did indeed support the console very well. That support just hasn't quite been there with the original Wii, though judging by the devs that have agreed to work on it, it doesn't seem like that same problem will crop up with the Wii-U so severely.

[Redeemer]

To give the WiiU more support, the game that R3d and I played was ZombieU, and that was so much goddamn fun. I would buy a WiiU for this game, and if more titles like this were released. It was different from anything I've ever played, and I did nothing but laugh the whole time. It's really an awesome idea for parties or gatherings or whatever.

But at the same time, I'd also like titles for when I feel like playing something alone. And btw, if Nintendo short-stock that shit, I'ma be pissed.

[Mr. Krystal]

I'm inclined to disagree just slightly here. Where the PS2 did have an incredible [and I mean -incredible-] amount of shovelware, key third parties did indeed support the console very well. That support just hasn't quite been there with the original Wii, though judging by the devs that have agreed to work on it, it doesn't seem like that same problem will crop up with the Wii-U so severely.

Glad to finally have that personal mystery solved. Thanks! What you say sounds about right: key third parties not supporting the Wii.

[sroberson]

That's my worry. I have no reason for a WiiU as there are no WiiU games that look like they are worth getting.

Also, I hope Nintendo doesn't short stock everywhere like they kept doing the first couple years the Wii was out.

While I have some faith that the WiiU will start to take Nintendo down a slightly better road than the Wii, I am with Ellanie about the lack of interesting sounding titles. I will admit, I was not and am still not able to give the titles for the Wii a fair shot because I am not willing to go out on a limb (but mostly because there is nobody out there talking about the 'latest greatest game that you just gotta gotta gotta try!' for the Wii), but if I can go through the entire list of games and each one of them makes me grimace a bit more...that's trouble.

I will probably buy a WiiU, as there could very well be a Star Fox game for it (NO JINXING!) and that's good enough reason for me. The return to a standard controller is a good thing and raises my hopes as well...but whether or not I really use it will depend upon the games that are released.