Nintendo Adding Netflix Video Streaming to the Wii
Nintendo and Netflix announced an agreement that will allow Netflix members to
use the Wii to steam movies and TV episodes directly to their TVs. Netflix is scheduled to go live on the Wii console this spring in the United States. It will be available at no additional cost to Netflix members who already have a Netflix plan starting at $8.99 a month. A broadband Internet connection is also required.
To enable their systems to stream content from Netflix, Wii owners will need a Netflix instant-streaming disc for the Wii console. The free disc looks and operates the same as a disc-based Wii game. Netflix members and Wii console owners can now reserve a free instant-streaming disc by going to www.netflix.com/wii. Once available in the spring, the discs will be delivered for free by first-class mail.
When the instant-streaming disc is inserted into a member's Wii system, an array of movie and TV choices will be displayed on their TV screen. These titles will be organized into categories based on members' personal preferences and will include popular genres, new arrivals and members' individual instant queues. Using the Wii Remote, members will be able to choose a movie or TV episode to watch from their instant queues or pick one directly from any of the lists. They will also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies, and will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding their selection.
The Christian Science Monitornotes that the Wii is now one of a growing number of devices offering Netflix support.
The Wii joins the PS3, Xbox 360, LG and Samsung Blu-ray players, TiVo, a set-top box from Roku, and even some TVs in offering access to Netflix's streaming catalog. Like the PS3, the Wii will require users to send away for a special disc to pop in when they want to watch streaming content.
There are also a growing number of devices that will transmit videos and movies streamed on the Internet to your HDTV.
Nintendo was able to sell more Wii units after lowering the price to $199.99 in September. The NPD Group says Nintendo sold over 500,000 Wiis in October. Sales of Sony's PlayStatoin 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 both fell compared to September. Sales really should have risen in October for these units given the holidays are getting closer.
Here are the gaming console sales for October according to data from the NPD Group. Kotaku says NPD's data ran from 10/4 to 10/31.
Wii - 506,900
Nintendo DS - 457,600
PlayStation 3 - 320,600
Xbox 360 - 249,700
PSP - 174,600
PlayStation 2 - 117,800
Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone are not included in the sales figures for gaming devices even though many now consider them a threat to the Nintendo DS.
Engadget reports that there will indeed be a price drop on the Nintendo Wii. A price cut was expected after Sony lowered its Sony PlayStation 3 price. However, a recent statement by Nintendo made the Wii price cut unclear. Now the word is the price drop will occur this month, September 27th.
The rumors were true, and Nintendo's knight in shining armor is finally about to see its first-ever price drop. For nearly three years now, the console has sold briskly at $249.99, but beginning on September 27th at Best Buy (and everywhere else, naturally), the happy-go-lucky machine will be offered for just $199.99.
A 20% price drop is significant and it will help Nintendo make sure the Wii is once again the hottest selling console this holiday season.
Nintendo Announces Black Wii Remote, Pink and White Nintendo DSi
Nintendo has announced several new products out for this holiday season. They include pink and white versions of the DSi and a black version of the Wii remote. The black Wii remote does look a lot better than the standard white version that comes with the Wii. Wii is also launching Wii Fit Plus, which includes new workouts and balance games. Here are some more details about Nintendo's new products.
Wii Fit Plus: This enhanced version of the top-selling game offers a range of new features, along with new exercises, yoga activities and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. For the first time, users can customize their workouts to target specific areas of their bodies or to fill specific intervals of time. Wii Fit Plus will replace the current Wii Fit configuration at retail, and will be bundled with the Wii Balance Board accessory at a suggested retail price of $99.99. For people who currently own Wii Fit and want to add the expanded options to their fitness regimen, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available on its own at a suggested retail price of $19.99.
White and Pink Nintendo DSi colors: The two new colors give consumers even more options to personalize their experiences. All models of the Nintendo DSi hardware come with two cameras and interactive options to let users create and manipulate pictures or sound in fun and creative ways. All versions of Nintendo DSi are available at a suggested retail price of $169.99.
Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus Black bundle: The Black bundle is the first new color for the Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus.
Black Nunchuk: The Black Nunchuk will be available as a standalone purchase.
Wii Sports Resort Includes Archery, Basketball, Frisbee
Berty F., of New York, pulls back on her virtual bow as she plays archery in Wii Sports Resort. Nintendo has been conducting a nationwide tour to promote its latest sports game, which debuted on July 26th. The game includes a Wii MotionPlus accessory that enables players to play with extra precision. The game has received favorable reviews according to GameRankings.com. The trailer below gives you idea how the archery and basketball events in the game work.
Gizmodo says police in Japan put up this wanted poster of a suspect they are pursuing. The picture of the suspect looks like a Mii avatar created with a Nintendo Wii.
How deeply does Nintendo's tendrils penetrate Japanese society? So deeply that this wanted poster was spotted in Kanagawa, and instead of a traditional composite sketch, what's that we have there? A Mii portrait??
Miis can be created using the Mii Channel on the Nintendo Wii. It looks like that's what police used in Japan to come up with a picture of the suspect. We do hope the use of the Mii leads to the suspect's apprehension but it may be difficult for the public to take the wanted poster seriously. (via Danny Choo)
Walmart.com Battles Holiday Wii Shortage With Stockpile of Wiis
Wii shortages were expected this year and Walmart.com has a plan to benefit from the shortages. Reuters says the Wii console was sold out on walmart.com, bestbuy.com and circuitcity.com on Friday night. However, Reuters also says walmart.com will start selling tens of thousands of Wii bundles on walmart.com starting Monday.
Walmart.com said it will offer the Nintendo Wii console for $249.24, and a "value bundle," which includes the console and other items like an extra set of controllers, for $329, while supplies last.
The Wii has emerged as one of the most sought-after gifts this holiday season, which has otherwise been lamented for a lack of new and hot products.
On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving which marks the start of holiday shopping, the Wii was the most searched-for product on the Yahoo Shopping site. It was also the most popular product on eBay, with 3,171 of the consoles selling for an average price of $349 that day.
As of Friday night, the Wii console was sold out on Walmart.com, bestbuy.com and circuitcity.com. Bestbuy.com listed the sold-out Wii for $249.99.
As of this writing the Wii console is listed as sold out at Bestbuy.com, not available online at GameStop.com, not available at circuitcity.cm and out-of-stock at Buy.com. Amazon.com's Wii listing shows it selling from third-party sellers with lmits on the total number of Wiis that can be purchased. Walmart.com looks to benefit if they have tens of thousands ready to ship starting tomorrow.
Holiday Shopping Deja Vu: Wii Hot as Ever but Shortages Expected
In the photograph above Santa Claus tries out the latest games for the Wii on Black Friday at the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, California. Nintendo is setting up these Wii stations at over 25 malls across the country this holiday.
The push from Nintendo is going to help make a hot product even hotter. Just like last year the Wii is a must-have item. CNET reports that the Wii topped Black Friday searches on both eBay and PriceGrabber. Over 3,000 Wii game consoles were sold on eBay on Black Friday.
The Wii game console was the most searched-for product on eBay, followed by the Wii Fit companion product. Consumers snatched up 3,171 Wiis over eBay, at an average selling price of $349, followed by the Wii Fit, with 1,059 sold at an average selling price of $140.
eBay shows over 11,000 results if you search for a Wii console.
Here were top ten Black Friday searches on PriceGrabber, a shopping comparison website. The list shows the Wii in the top spot and in the 5th spot with the Wii Fit.
Nintendo Wii console
Ugg Australia "classic short" boot
Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray disc player
Samsung LN52A650 52" LCD TV
Nintendo Wii Fit
Panasonic TH-42PX80U 42" plasma TV
Sennheiser HD 555 headphones
Canon EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR digital camera kit
Acer Aspire One AOA110-1295 notebook PC
Canon PowerShot A590 IS black digital camera
So far there seem to be plenty of Wiis but GameStop's CEO David Carlson has warned he expects to run of out Wiis before the end of the shopping season - see here, here, here and here. This is very similar to what happened with the Wii in 2006 and 2007.
Wii Supply Shortages Suspected Again this Holiday Season
You would have thought there would be plenty of Nintendo Wiis to meet demand but apparently demand for this hot game console will outstrip supply again this holiday season for the third consecutive year. PC World quotes GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo in this article as saying he expects shortages again this holiday despite the fact that Nintendo is making more Wiis.
It's the kind of problem you want to have as a retailer, but consumers looking for their first (or second) Wii console should be prepared to watch Sunday advertisements like hawks, or, dare we say it, prepare to camp out like it was November 2006 all over again.
"I've never seen this type of demand before. I know they're making more, but we're still short like everybody else. I think we'll have a continued shortage this Christmas," said GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo.
"I don't see a near-term end in sight for Wii shortages, not unless they really ramp up supply. I think they've ramped it up 20 percent or so, but Nintendo is fairly cautious by nature. They ramped it up 20 and it's still evaporating," he said.
Last year the Wii was so hot that GameStop offered Wii rainchecks to customers who would wait until after the Christmas rush to pickup the Wii. If there is going to be a similar Wii frenzy again this year it would be wise to buy your Wii early before the holiday shopping season begins in earnest.
Nintendo was able to sell more Wii units after 
Wii shortages were 
You would have thought there would be plenty of Nintendo Wiis to meet demand but apparently demand for this hot game console will outstrip supply again this holiday season for the third consecutive year. PC World quotes GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo in 
