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WiiU

Placing Bets on the Wii U Launch Lineup

by Neal Ronaghan - August 16, 2012, 2:22 pm EDT
Total comments: 37

Can we channel Nostradamus? No, probably not, but damn it, we can try!

At some point over the next few weeks, Nintendo will drop a substantial amount of knowledge regarding the Wii U and its launch. It might come as early as next week, possibly during a Nintendo Direct, or it might come around Tokyo Game Show in September, which was around the time the Wii launch details were revealed back in 2006.

That means that doesn't give us much time to make some launch bets. Right after this gets posted, I'm going haul ass to the bookie and place these bets. They might look at me weird because I think most bookies don't deal with video games, but I digress. So, here's what I think might be the launch details for the Wii U.

Wii U Launch Date: November 18, 2012
Launch Price: $299.99, with no pack-in (but some sort of built-in software a la 3DS)

Launch Day Games:

  • Nintendo Land (Nintendo)
  • New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo)
  • Ninja Gaiden III: Razor's Edge (Nintendo)
  • Sing (Nintendo)
  • NBA 2K13 (2K Sports)
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Activision)
  • Skylanders Giants (Activision)
  • Ben 10: Omniverse (D3 Publisher)
  • Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game (D3 Publisher)
  • FIFA 13 (EA)
  • Madden NFL 13 (EA)
  • Mass Effect 3 (EA)
  • Tank! Tank! Tank! (Namco Bandai)
  • Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed (Sega)
  • Darksiders II (THQ)
  • Assassin's Creed III (Ubisoft)
  • Just Dance 4 (Ubisoft)
  • Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth (Ubisoft)
  • Rabbids Land (Ubisoft)
  • Sports Connection (Ubisoft)
  • ZombiU (Ubisoft)
  • Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (Warner Bros.)
  • LEGO Lord of the Rings (Warner Bros.)
  • Scribblenauts Unlimited (Warner Bros.)

That's what I think will be there at launch. 24 games in total, and while there might not be a must-have sure-fire hit, that looks like a pretty fantastic launch line-up.

Now, there are some notable omissions. Nintendo-wise, I think Pikmin 3 will be out this year, just not on launch day. I think that Pikmin 3 will come out around the same time it did when the GameCube came out. To go ballsy and pick a specific day, I'll say December 2, exactly two weeks after the system's launch. Still in time for Christmas, but not right at launch.

I think of the other Nintendo projects, such as Project P-100 and LEGO City Undercover will come out in early 2013. Project P-100 just seems like it would fare better then, and LEGO City did not look ready for primetime at E3. I feel Wii Fit U, unless it's built-in with the system, will be a spring 2013 release. Though, it makes sense to me to include some basic Wii Fit U features with the system, with maybe some sort of Balance Board Bundle for people who don't already have the peripheral. Lastly, if Nintendo's smart, they'll make Game & Wario an eShop launch title.

As for third-party games, I believe Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will be a 2013 release. I think Rayman Legends will be a December release, possibly something like December 4.

As for eShop? While, I don't know. Trine 2 will be there at launch. Anything else? It depends on if Nintendo is going to trickle out releases like they do on 3DS. If so, I'd say one release every week or so until the end of the year with stuff like Runner 2 and Cloudberry Kingdom populating the environment.

Do you agree with my predictive list? Do you think Pikmin 3 will make launch? Do you think ZombiU will get pushed back? Let us know in the Talkback thread below.

Talkback

Date: November 18
Price: $299.99
Packins: Pad, Wiimote+, Nintendoland
Game predictions: Mass Effect 3 gets pushed to January. Just 'cause.

SorenAugust 16, 2012

November 18
$299.99
System + 1 GamePad + Nintendo Land


The launch lineup looks about right.

I have a suspicion I might get burned on the no pack-in prediction. I do have the later caveat of basic Wii Fit U features being integrated, but my sticking point is no Nintendo Land in NA. I also could see the price being anywhere from $250 w/o pack-in and $350 w/ pack-in.

Whatever, I hope I'm wrong and the thing is $250-300 with Nintendo Land. I just think it will be $300 w/o NLand.

Darkurai the Oracle PonyAugust 16, 2012

Twenty-four games at launch? I think that's a bit ridiculous.

rialopabloAugust 16, 2012

How about Black and White Wii versions at launch?

I'll be quite surprised if they have Madden '13 available at launch day. It was conspicuous as the only Wii U game at EA's Summer Showcase that they did NOT have a playable demo for, and that they did NOT promise for launch.

However, yeah, I'll agree on the no pack-in prediction.

November 18
$299
Nintendo Land sold separately but bundled with a Wii Remote+
Pikmin 3 will be there at launch.

Kytim89August 16, 2012

Resident Evil 6 will be a launch title.

21 Wii games at launch says 24 at Wii U launch isn't absurd. Just sayin'.

LudicrousDa3veAugust 16, 2012

It all sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Glad0sAugust 16, 2012

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say something a bit ballsy........the thing launches November 18, with two different bundles. One is a "casual" bundle, packed with NintendoLand and the base system, at 250$. The other is a "hardcore" bundle which includes Pikmin 3, a Wiimote +, and the base system, at 300$. Whadaya think?

Quote from: Glad0s

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say something a bit ballsy........the thing launches November 18, with two different bundles. One is a "casual" bundle, packed with NintendoLand and the base system, at 250$. The other is a "hardcore" bundle which includes Pikmin 3, a Wiimote +, and the base system, at 300$. Whadaya think?

Makes sense, but I don't see Pikmin 3 making launch day.

Glad0sAugust 16, 2012

Alrighty then, hardcore bundle comes with 40 dollars of eShop credit AND the eShop is launched with the entire virtual console lineup, Trine 2, some other games we don't know about, and 3 or 4 GameCube games. In the words of Greg Leahy......boom.

That would be so damn rad it's not even funny.

Aren't people thinking Zombi U could make a great pack-in game for a "hardcore" bundle?

Vrgin XAugust 16, 2012

November 18, $300 w/Nintendo Land.
I'm buying 8 titles for it between launch and christmas, hopefully.
ZombiU out in 2013.

Glad0sAugust 16, 2012

Nintendo would never pack in a non-first party game, especially an "M" one.

ShyGuyAugust 16, 2012

Ban bets? Ban bets.

NeoThunderAugust 16, 2012

Do you think it'll have an SD card packed in like 3DS's

The photos of the box posted in one of the threads in Console Discussion showed it saying that there was an unspecified amount of internal storage and that it supports SD cards, seeming to indicate that one is not included.

Quote from: ShyGuy

Ban bets? Ban bets.

I had a neat idea where the staff sort of entered a sort of "over-under" gamble on the Wii U's launch date... it'd be horribly ironic if half the staff ended up getting banned from the forums.

CericAugust 16, 2012

Quote from: Shaymin

Date: November 18
Price: $299.99
Packins: Pad, Wiimote+, Nintendoland
Game predictions: Mass Effect 3 gets pushed to January. Just 'cause.

You Mean February 2013 right?

The real question is what game(s) will pull a Crystal Bearers and come out after Christmas but before New Years?

CericAugust 16, 2012

Part of Nintendo Land at the very least should be packed in.  The Wii Sport audience will not do a no game system sell easily.

SarailAugust 16, 2012

Quote from: Kairon

The real question is what game(s) will pull a Crystal Bearers and come out after Christmas but before New Years?

Gah. That was such a weird and strange release. I remember it quite well. :/

HeyItsMeAugust 16, 2012

System : 300 with a pack-in
system + gamepad + Nintendo Land

I can't wait for the launch price. This will be my first Nintendo home console system that I buy at launch. MY BODY IS READY.

PicoliAugust 16, 2012

I seriously hope this thing doesn't come with a wiimote+. It would only add to development costs, and most of the core fans that would be buying the system on launch day already have at least one wiimotion+, if not more. I'd prefer a cheaper option with just the gamepad. That being said, my prediction:


October 30 release in both black and white
Bundled with gamepad, Nintendoland, various built-in software (much like the 3DS... perhaps an AR card-style application, using NFC functionality?)
US $299

Something to show off the NFC is a decent possibility for onboard software. Also, the thing's got a camera, why not Face Raiders 2, with some TV-GamePad asynchronous co-op. And that Panorama View thing from E3 is sure to be there.

TeaHeeAugust 17, 2012

I will be disappointed if Nintendoland is not a pack in and they try and sell the system with only Panoramic View and AR games.  However, some kind of classic board game bundle preloaded would be cool.  Something like checkers, chess, mahjong, card games etc.  We have seen some indication of this with the early gamepad footage, but I am guessing it will be unlikely.  Parlor games on your TV would not sell a lot of systems, but I would enjoy it.

We recorded a similar prediction discussion for the upcoming RFN, and it was a lot longer and more active than I expected. I'm not far from Neal on most of this, but I do think the system will be $250 due to the competition with established (and more affordable) Xbox and PS3, plus a reduced lack of interest in the console market. Rather than a pack-in game, Nintendo will include a download code to encourage people to visit the eShop.

Quote from: TeaHee

However, some kind of classic board game bundle preloaded would be cool.  Something like checkers, chess, mahjong, card games etc.  We have seen some indication of this with the early gamepad footage, but I am guessing it will be unlikely.  Parlor games on your TV would not sell a lot of systems, but I would enjoy it.

Free Reversi for everybody!

TeaHeeAugust 17, 2012

Yeah!!!! 

LouieturkeyAugust 17, 2012

No way this thing launches for less than $300.  It'll probably be 11/18 as others have said, though 11/11 has a nice ring to it.  Pikmin 3 is not gonna be ready for 2012 and it'll come out in January of 2013.  ZombiU will still make launch even if it's buggy as all get go.

soberanalystAugust 18, 2012

Canada:

$269 - WiiU System, 1 Gamepad, 1 Wiimote, Nintendoland

slightly less than the cost of the Wii at launch

Anth0nyAugust 20, 2012

$299 will get you:

-Wii U Console
-Wii U Gamepad
-Nintendoland

On November 18th.

Unfortunately, I'm not expecting Pikmin 3 or P-100 at launch. Mario will be there.

hibern81August 20, 2012

Though I do agree with most of the predictions on here, I wanted to change it up a little.


The system will launch at midnight on 11-23-12
The price will be set at $329.99 w/ white being the only option at first
It will come bundled with the Wii U Console, a Wii U Gamepad, a demo disk, and preloaded software
I'll leave the launch line up alone at this point.

TJ SpykeAugust 20, 2012

I see very little chance of them launching it on Black Friday.

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