The entire NWR staff predict Wii U price, date, pack-ins and other possible megatons!
The release of the Wii U is closing in fast and Nintendo is set to release more information about their next generation console this week for North America. The NWR staff has banded together and have put their best foot forward in predicting the price point, release date, pack-ins and other features or megatons that will be revealed later this week. By the end of the week, we'll definitely know tons more about the console than we do now, but how far off were we in our predictions? Is there anything that you think we forgot to mention or think about? Be sure to sound off below in the comments with predictions of your own!
Staff name: James Charlton
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad only.
Release date: November 18 (USA/JP) December 7 (EUR).
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMBU, Aliens Colonial Marines, Black Ops 2.
System features you want to see highlighted: Adding friends online, voice chat, NFC features, eShop.
Additional megatons: Burger King deal is for NFC toys that unlock content in 1st party games, download versions of games are $5 cheaper on eShop.
Staff name: Ariel Ruff
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: Yes. (Nintendo Land)
Pack-in controllers: GamePad Only
Release date: November 25. Yea it's random... Deal with it!
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMBU, ZombiU, Project P100, Pikmin 3, Super Smash Bros. (Hey we can dream)
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop, Friends List, Unknown Features, streetpass & spotpass functionality (if it exists)
Additional megatons: There is an unannounced game coming from Nintendo, Social Network is bigger than we thought, Free pro controllers for all.
Staff name: Carmine Red
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18 in the USA. As late as possible to manufacture hardware, but before the all-important Black Friday shopping craziness. November in Japan and December in most/all of PAL-land.
Games you want to see highlighted: Black Ops 2, Dragon Quest X, Sega eShop ports, 007 Legends
System features you want to see highlighted: Online friends list functionality, achievement-like system, Wii U Virtual Console
Additional megatons: Retro project teaser, Smash Brothers teaser, Monster Hunter announcement, or JRPG announcement
Staff name: Neal Ronaghan
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only (but Wii Remote Plus comes with Nintendo Land)
Release date: November 18 in NA. Release in other regions shortly after
Games you want to see highlighted: Nintendo Land, Pikmin 3, Skylanders Giants, Project P-100, ZombiU, Retro's game
System features you want to see highlighted: Wii U Virtual Console (GameCube?!?), The boot-up screen, eShop, Messaging system
Additional megatons: Retro Studios reveal, DQX Wii U tease, Smash Bros. tease
Staff name: Mike Gamin
Price: $249.99
Pack-in game: Download code for one game from Nintendo Land. (See additional megatons for more details)
Pack-in controllers: Gamepad AND pro controller
Release date: November 18 in NA
Games you want to see highlighted: Nintendo Land, Pikmin 3, NSMBU (specifically showing online features)
System features you want to see highlighted: Wii U Virtual Console and transfers from both Wii and 3DS (one purchase for all systems), Online system, specifically social stuff not necessarily online play.
Additional megatons: Nintendo Land divided into micropayments for each game.
Staff name: James Dawson
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18 US release, later in Europe, possibly earlier in Japan
Games you want to see highlighted: New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, Project P-1000, Dragon Quest X, and Pikmin 3
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop, account system, online, and friends list
Additional megatons: Online play announced for Nintendo Land, Retro's game revealed, and a new 3D Mario title announced
Staff name: Zachary Miller
Price: $349.99
Pack-in game: Nintendo Land, but downloadable.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: Pikmin 3, NSMBU
System features you want to see highlighted: Online infrastructure, eShop, Miiverse
Additional megatons: Retro's next game, a new Metroid game for eShop
Staff name: Nicholas Bray
Price: $499.99 (AUS)
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: December 6 (Aus)
Games you want to see highlighted: Nintendo Land and NSMBU
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop.
Additional megatons: eShop from day one, Virtual Console gets at least one GC game.
Staff name: Andy Goergen
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: Pikmin 3, ZombiU
System features you want to see highlighted: Account system (DRM restrictions), Friends List Interaction
Additional megatons: Gamecube games on Virtual Console.
Staff name: Minoru Yamaizumi
Price: ¥29,800 (JPN)
Pack-in game: No. Except for gimicky mini games like Face Raders.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: October 25 (JPN)
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMBU, P-100, Pikmin 3, Zombie U.
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop, Virtual Console and transfer of games you downloaded on Wii.
Additional megatons: Like early PS3 upconverts PS2 games, Wii games look better on Wii U! HD remake of Wind Waker. DQX released on the Wii U launch day.
Staff name: Danny Bivens
Price: $299.99 (US),¥29,800 (JPN)
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: NA: November 18. JPN: October 27 (Sat)
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMBU, Pikmin 3, Assassin's Creed 3
System features you want to see highlighted: Adding friends online, voice chat, NFC features, eShop, VC game transfers
Additional megatons: Smash Bros. U teaser, GCN Virtual Console
Staff name: Josh Max
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18 for NA, October 25 for JP
Games you want to see highlighted: Pikmin 3, Dragon Quest X, Nintendo Land
System features you want to see highlighted: Adding friends online and eShop
Additional megatons: Smash Bros. teaser and an easy to use/navigate eShop that holds all my beloved Nintendo games of the past
Staff name: Michael Cole
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: Nintendo Land.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 11
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMB U, rayman legends. Pikmin 3 when released (post-launch)
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop, VC, online play w/ voice chat
Additional megatons: $10 free for eShop for early adopters.
Staff name: Tyler Ohlew
Price: $279.99
Pack-in game: No.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: NSMBU, Pikmin 3, Project P-100
System features you want to see highlighted: eShop, Miiverse, Wii system transfer, Channel-based UI
Additional megatons: Retro Studios project teaser, certain Wii games playable on tablet, price drop on Wii Remote Plus and nunchuks.
Staff name: Justin Berube
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: Nintendo Land.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad, Wii Remote Plus
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, Project P-100.
System features you want to see highlighted: Wii U Interface, eShop, Miiverse, Miiverse app (3DS/Phones), full online interface.
Additional megatons: New downloadable stages/attractions for New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land coming in the future. New Nintendo Wii U eShop title. Maybe a tease for a smaller Nintendo franchises coming to Wii U before summer 2013.
Staff name: Patrick Barnett
Price: $299.99
Pack-in game: Nintendo Land.
Pack-in controllers: One GamePad Only
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, Project P-100, Assassins Creed 3
System features you want to see highlighted: Wii U Interface, eShop, Miiverse, online capabilities
Additional megatons: Retro's Game announcement and a one new character tease for Super Smash Bros. 4.
Staff name: Pedro Hernandez
Price: $299.99 (anything above that will be killing it)
Pack-in game: Yes (I am betting on Nintendoland being that game)
Pack-in controllers: I think it will have the gamepad, a Wii Remote controller and a nunchuck.
Release date: November 18
Games you want to see highlighted: The Namco developed Super Smash Bros (a stretch, but hey, a guy can dream)
System features you want to see highlighted: Their online infrastructure
Additional megatons: Third party characters in the first teaser trailer for SSB