I had to opportunity to speak with Denise Kaigler, the VP of Corp.
Affairs for Nintendo of America on a press call to find out about 3
announcements Nintendo has just made. Here are some key items from the
conversation:
- Nintendo Wii price decrease: Just in time for holiday shopping, the price of the Nintendo Wii will drop $50 from $250 to $199.99 – effective Sep 27.
- NEW Wii Game out Nov. 15: New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a simultaneous
multiplayer game that “offers a combination of cooperation
and competition “. - World of Nintendo – Consumer Sampling Tour starting in Oct. and ending in January: Click HERE to see full schedule.
The World of Nintendo Consumer Tours are firsthand sampling events that
will showcase the diversity and breath of unique product experience.
The tour will include Nintendo titles already launched (including the Wii Sports Resort that utilizes the Wii Motion Plus) and new Nintendo
products (including the Wii Fit Plus )and is expected to reach 1 million consumers in 35 to 40
markets. The tour will be at different larger venues like Long Beach Comic Con, VGXPO in Philly and Big Apple Comic Con in NYC on Oct 2-Oct 18.
When I asked why Nintendo decided to do the sampling tours Denise Kaigler said “50 million consumers are sitting on sidelines, want to play, but have
not been convinced. They are waiting for that reason. Reducing price of
the Wii, continuing to come out with fun games and then showcasing
these titles will help the consumers
experience.”
Click HERE to see Press Release included at the bottom of this post:
PRESS RELEASE:
Wii AT $199.99
BEGINNING SEPT. 27 World of Nintendo Events, Key Software Releases
Further Demonstrate System’s Incomparable Value
REDMOND,
Wash., Sept. 23, 2009 – Beginning Sunday, Sept. 27, the world’s most
popular home video game system gets even more appealing. On that day,
Nintendo’s suggested retail price for its record-setting Wii™ drops by
$50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point delivers the full
iconic Wii gaming experience, including the motion-sensing Wii Remote™
controller, Nunchuk™ controller and Wii Sports™ software, and furthers
Nintendo’s mission to expand the gaming universe by making video games
accessible to more and more consumers.
Wii ownership also opens an
avenue for players to the industry’s most diverse and unique collection
of home console games. Key upcoming releases include Wii Fit™ Plus,
launching on Oct. 4, and the first truly multiplayer Mario™ title ever,
New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii.
Both new and veteran players in America can jump into this new Mario action when it arrives on Nov. 15. And
beginning Oct. 2, consumers in select cities will have a new,
convenient way to decide which Nintendo adventure to tackle next. On
that day, a novel series of sampling events called “World of Nintendo”
kicks off in Long Beach, Calif.
“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.”
The inherent social nature of Wii is fully demonstrated
in a groundbreaking way with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the first Mario
game ever to allow four players to take part in the action at the same
time. That same dynamic is propelling the enthusiastic response for Wii
Sports Resort™, while the release of Wii Fit Plus includes everything
you love about Wii Fit™, along with new multiplayer elements and the
ability to customize workouts to fit individual needs.
See below for
full details on the World of Nintendo events that are scheduled to take
place in Long Beach, Philadelphia and New York throughout the month of
October.
Remember that Wii features parental controls that let
adults manage the content their children can access.
For more
information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about New Super Mario Bros. Wii, visit www.MarioBrosWii.com.
Disclosure: This is NOT a paid post – it was a press briefing.
Original post to TechMamas.com
Cool!
I love my Wii and Wii fit, but I admit I’m TEMPTED by the Wii sports resort and Wii fit plus! It sounds like the Wii fit plus might address some of my major gripes … like the time wasted between routines, while maintaining the high responsiveness not seen in the EA Sports.
I wonder if they’re planning any events or parties in the Washington, DC area….