On Sunday, Nintendo dropped its suggested retail price for the Wii by $50 to $199.99. The $199.99 package includes the Wii console, the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller, Nunchuk controller and Wii Sports software. The company claimed that the goal of the price reduction was to make video games accessible to more consumers. This price reduction will be followed on October 12 with the release of a limited-edition bundle of Nintendo’s Wii Sports Resort game that will come with two Wii MotionPlus accessories instead of one. The bundle will retail at $59.99 — a savings of $10.
Furthering Nintendo’s bid for domination of the upcoming year-end holiday season, the company will launch Wii Fit Plus on Oct. 4 and the first truly multiplayer Mario title ever, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, on Nov. 15. Wii Fit Plus includes new multiplayer elements and the ability to customize workouts to fit individual needs. New Super Mario Bros. Wii will allow four players to take part in the action at the same time. For more information about the game, visit www.MarioBrosWii.com. Other key Wii software releases in the coming months include Dead Space Extraction (EA) on Sept. 29, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (Konami) on Nov. 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex (Activision) on Nov. 10 and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Capcom) on Nov. 17.
If you’re wondering what the gaming future beyond the Wii might hold, check out the site of the just concluded Tokyo Game Show 2009 at http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/english. The event is the largest computer entertainment show in the world and included exhibitions by 180 individuals and entities from 18 countries and regions, with a whopping 758 gaming titles on display. According to numerous visitors to the event, the hottest game was Final Fantasy XIII.
For local gamers, the Games Alliance Middle East Show (GAMES09) kicks off at Dubai Festival City from Oct. 1-3. The event is sponsored by Microsoft, Pluto Games, Red Entertainment Distribution and the PlayStation Division of Sony Gulf. The three day event will see new games being showcased for the first time in the Middle East. Gaming fans are advised to pre-register at www.megamers.com/games for a chance to win prizes and be the first in the region to play such titles as Assassin’s Creed 2, DJ hero, FIFA 10, Forza 3 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.
