Nintendo Announces Nov. 18 Launch Date and Details for Revolutionary Wii U Console
More Than 50 Games Confirmed for Launch Window, Including Super Mario Bros., Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed Titles
New Nintendo TVii Application to Change the Way Viewers Experience TV and Video Content Using Wii U GamePad Controller
VANCOUVER, Sept. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Nintendo today revealed full details about how the new Wii U™ home console and its groundbreaking touch-screen Wii U GamePad controller can revolutionize not only video game play but also the way people find and watch TV and video content. The new HD system will offer entirely new ways for consumers to play games and enjoy their favourite programming when it launches in North America on Nov. 18. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.
At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favourite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources - including live TV and video-on-demand services such as Netflix - all in one easy-to-use interface.
Additionally, Nintendo shared new information about dozens of games on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros.™ U, LEGO® City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101™, Capcom's Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate and Activision's Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario's world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo's greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Mario™, Animal Crossing™ and Donkey Kong™. As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.
"The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history," said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. "With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations."
The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI® cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.
Both configurations offer a wealth of one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences, including an online gaming community called Miiverse™ and the new Nintendo TVii application. Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix and more - all from a single starting point. More details about Nintendo TVii services available in Canada will come at a later date.
The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry's biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS PRIME™. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin's Creed® III, ZombiU™, Rayman Legends® and Just Dance® 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect™ 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts™ Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.
"The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U," said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing's CEO. "We're excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U."
Below is a list of upcoming Wii U games that will be available on launch day or during the launch window*. (For information about third-party games, check with the individual publishers.)
| Publisher | Title |
| 505 Games | Funky Barn |
| 2K Sports | NBA 2K13 |
| Activision Publishing, Inc. | 007™ Legends |
| Call of Duty®: Black Ops II | |
| TRANSFORMERS PRIME™ | |
| Wipeout 3 | |
| Skylanders Giants™ | |
| Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 | |
| Rapala Pro Bass Fishing | |
| Capcom | Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate |
| D3Publisher | Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game |
| Ben 10: Omniverse™ | |
| Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade | |
| Disney Interactive | Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two |
| Electronic Arts | Mass Effect™ 3 |
| Madden NFL 13 | |
| EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 13 | |
| Frozenbyte | Trine 2™: Director's Cut |
| Gaijin Games | Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien |
| Majesco Entertainment | Zumba® Fitness Core |
| Maximum Games | Jett Tailfin™ |
| NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. | TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT™ 2 Wii U Edition |
| TANK! TANK! TANK!™ | |
| Nintendo | Nintendo Land™ |
| New Super Mario Bros.™ U | |
| NINJA GAIDEN™ 3: Razor's Edge | |
| SiNG PARTY™ | |
| LEGO® City: Undercover | |
| Wii Fit™ U | |
| Game & Wario™ | |
| Pikmin™ 3 | |
| The Wonderful 101™ | |
| SEGA | Aliens: Colonial Marines™ |
| Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | |
| Shin'en | Nano Assault Neo |
| Tecmo Koei America Corporation | WARRIORS OROCHI® 3 Hyper |
| THQ | Darksiders® II |
| Wheel of Fortune® | |
| JEOPARDY! ® | |
| Two Tribes | Toki Tori 2 |
| Ubisoft | Assassin's Creed® III |
| Just Dance® 4 | |
| Marvel Avengers™: Battle for Earth | |
| Rabbids® Land | |
| Sports Connection™ | |
| Your Shape®: Fitness Evolved 2013 | |
| ZombiU™ | |
| Rayman Legends® | |
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | Scribblenauts™ Unlimited |
| Game Party Champions | |
| Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition |
* Launch window is defined as the period beginning Nov. 18, 2012, and ending March 31, 2013.
Broadband Internet access is required for online features. For more information, go to http://support.nintendo.com.
Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.
For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.ca.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.9 billion video games and more than 630 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at http://www.nintendo.ca.
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SOURCE: Nintendo of Canada Ltd.
Cohn & Wolfe
Samantha Eng
647-259-3290
[email protected]
Maximilian Nchama
647-259-3269
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