Wii give even more Wii details
During Nintendo’s conference today, many details were spilled regarding probably the most eagerly awaited Nintendo console in a long time. And also some sales numbers were given, comparing Nintendo’s console sales compared to Sony’s. Obviously the big N is winning on all fronts with the DS showing a specially strong rise in sales numbers.
One of the other new features is the Mii avatar service. The Mii service allows you to access a “The Sims”-like menu to create your very own avatar which will be stored on the controller. Apparently, this will be the way to virtually represent yourself in games.
Nintendo confirmed that this service will be available to all users, however, it obviously won’t be available for every game. But in online games it might prove to be fun if the avatars are able to show emotions, like in Mario Kart, if you get hit by a turtle shell perhaps your avatar would popup above the kart with a “hurt” expression. A perfect example of this is the Wii Sports game, and you can see exactly what I mean by viewing it for yourself here. Wii sports will be bundled with the Nintendo Wii console.
You can view the Mii Avatar program in action on this page.
In an attempt to bring the console to the media world, they also demonstrated a “media browser” that allows you to view your pictures and movies stored on SD cards. You’ll also be able to create slide shows with simple effects or even edit your pictures for fun.
As it’s little brother, the DS, the Nintendo Wii will also feature an Opera browser, with simple buttons for scrolling and zooming. You’ll be able to acquire the browser via the prepaid Wii points system (the same used for the virtual console games).
The Wii Connect 24 system, which is what Nintendo is calling it’s “XBox Live” online system will feature BBS, and the usual community functions, and your Mii avatar will be included in your messages instead of a regular avatar.
European users will have to wait until tomorrow to find out when the console is coming out there.
And finally, last, but not least, here is the list of all the Nintendo Wii games which will be released, or that have been announced. To read this list, click on “Read More”.
FIRST-PARTY US WII TITLES
(confirm launch titles in bold)Battalion Wars II
Big Brain Academy (temporary name)
Excite Truck
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Mario Strikers Charged
Metroid Prime 3: CorruptionSuper Mario Galaxy (temporary name)
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Wii Sports (bundled with the Wii console)THIRD-PARTY US WII TITLES DUE BY MARCH 2007
(confirmed launch titles in bold)Activision
Call of Duty 3Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Rapala Tournament Fishing
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
World Series of PokerAtari
Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2Atlus
Trauma Center: Second OpinionBuena Vista Games
Chicken Little: Ace in Action
Disney’s Meet the RobinsonsCodemasters
Dance Factory
SidewinderEA
The Godfather
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
SSX
Tiger Woods PGA TourKonami
ElebitsMajesco
Bust-A-Move RevolutionMidway
The Ant Bully
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Happy FeetMortal Kombat: Armageddon
Rampage: Total Destruction
[Missing and presumed canceled–Blitz: The League]Sega
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Super Monkey Ball: Banana BlitzSNK
Metal Slug AnthologyTHQ
Avatar: The Last Airbender
BarnyardCars
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty KrabUbisoft
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Far Cry: Vengeance
GT Pro Series
Monster 4×4: World Circuit
Open Season
Prince of Persia (working title)
Rayman Raving RabbidsRed Steel
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double AgentVivendi Games
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Via GameSpot.