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Official Nintendo Press Release - Wii News Channel

As the options for news multiply, Nintendo is putting a simple solution for straight news right in the palm of your hand-in the form of the Wii Remote™. The News Channel, free to Wii™ owners, will debut on the console’s Wii Menu beginning tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 27. Using the international resources of the Associated Press, the News Channel gives you key stories in multiple categories from across the country and around the world.

“What Wii has done for video gaming, we hope it will also accomplish for news,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Just by pointing at your TV screen, you become your own interactive editor, instantly accessing the latest headline stories, whether they originate in Kansas City or Kyoto.”

“The Associated Press is always looking for innovative ways to expand its audience for news and information,” said Jane Seagrave, vice president and director of AP’s digital division. “The Wii News Channel extends our global reach even further, on yet another platform, offering our news to people who otherwise might not see it.”

The simple user interface allows Wii owners to spin a virtual globe and point to the location of a news event using the Wii Remote. Stories will be listed under headings including Business, Sports, Arts/Entertainment, Technology and Science/Health to allow users to quickly access information in the order they want. At any given time, dozens of stories might be available for each category. In the global view, stories can be grouped by region instead of category. Icons show which stories have been read, which stories are text-only and which ones come with news photos. Because Wii caters to all different ages, the interface allows users to change the size of the text. By using the “always-on” system functionality of WiiConnect24™, stories will be updated frequently, even while owners are sleeping.

More About: Nintendo, Press Release, Wii News Channel

Virtual Console games every Monday, News and Weather channels to become operational later, Press Reseale:

Nintendo’s new Wii™ video game system not only changes how people play games, but redefines how they interact with both the system and their televisions. With the Wii Menu, Nintendo offers a gateway to new experiences through a collection of interactive channels people can use to customize their gaming and entertainment options.

The Wii Menu serves as the main portal to the different functions of Wii, and is designed to evolve throughout the life of the system. Some functions can be used right out of the box and more will roll out during the next few weeks and into next year, with content continually changing over time. Wii goes on sale in the Americas Nov. 19 at an MSRP of $249.99.

“The diversity of the Wii Menu has something for both gamers and non-gamers,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The options exist to help introduce current non-players to Wii and help us bring gaming to the masses.”

On launch day, players who want to play a Wii game or a Nintendo GameCube™ game simply pop in the disc, aim their motion-sensitive Wii Remote™ at the Wii Menu and click on the Disc Channel to start the game. It’s that simple. But some of the real fun with the Wii Menu comes with customization. The Mii™ Channel lets users create caricatures of themselves (or anyone else) that can be used first in Wii Sports™, a collection of five sports games packed in with the Wii system. Up to 10 Mii characters can be stored in a single Wii Remote, and players can carry them to a friend’s house and populate multiple Wii systems.

Using the Photo Channel, users can explore their creative talents by developing a slide show or showing off their best shots in an easy, fun way. With an SD memory card from a digital camera, users can display their photos on their televisions and perform basic editing and manipulation.

The Wii Shop Channel serves as Wii’s online storefront, where visitors can redeem Wii Points™ to download games or other items. Users need a high-speed Internet connection to access the Wii Shop Channel and choose from at least 12 classic Virtual Console™ games that will be ready to play on launch day. Some of the games a player can download include: Donkey Kong® (NES®), based on the arcade game of the same name; SimCity® (SNES™),
where players get to build a city from the ground up, being responsible for each decision they make; Super Mario 64®, the first-ever true 3-D game, which changed the face of gaming forever; Sonic the Hedgehog® (Genesis®), the fastest blue hedgehog on Earth whips through hair-raising loop-de-loops and into dizzying dives; and Bomberman® ‘93 (TurboGrafx16™), the exciting, powered-up version that followed the original Bomberman®.

More Virtual Console games will become available weekly every Monday following launch and by year’s end, gamers will be able to pick from a library of 30 or more classic games from the Nintendo Entertainment System®, Super NES®, Nintendo® 64, Sega Genesis™ and TurboGrafx16 consoles. Users buy Wii Points at retail or with a credit card in the Wii Shop Channel and redeem their Wii Points to download the classic games. NES games start at 500 Wii
Points, Super NES games start at 800 Wii Points and Nintendo 64 games start at 1,000 Wii Points. Sega Genesis games start at 800 Wii Points and TurboGrafx16 games start at 600 Wii Points.

The Wii Shop Channel is also where users will go to download the Opera browser that will let them surf the Internet from the comfort of their couches on Wii’s Internet Channel. More information about the availability of the browser will be released in the coming weeks.

On Dec. 20, Nintendo will roll out the Forecast Channel. Users will be able to access free local weather information, which is continually updated. Users can access worldwide weather information by browsing a 3-D globe. Weather information will be supplied by Weathernews. A high-speed Internet connection is required to access the Forecast Channel.

Then on Jan. 27, the Wii Menu News Channel will make headlines with the latest news from around the world provided by the Associated Press. A high-speed Internet connection is also needed to access the News Channel.

For more information about Wii and the Wii Menu, visit Wii.com.

More About: Virtual Console games, Wii

A new game for the Nintendo Wii has been announced by 2k sports : The Bigs

NEW YORK, NY - October 31, 2006 - 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), announced today a unique, new sports title that adds more explosive excitement to baseball video games than ever before - The BIGS. This over-the-top baseball action title puts an entirely new spin on Major League Baseball as it blends outrageous visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics to bring fans a brand new MLB video game experience.

“The BIGS is sure to turn a few heads as it pioneers a completely different way of playing an MLB video game,” stated Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “2K Sports is always looking to deliver the most innovative and eye-catching sports video games to fans and The BIGS is one of 2K Sports’ most dynamic titles to date.”

Developed by Blue Castle Games, The BIGS brings blazing graphics to huge proportions with larger-than-life MLB player models and ballparks. Featuring fantastic pitching, batting, and fielding animations, gamers can also take advantage of spectacular power-ups with outrageous special effects. As a standard for all major 2K Sports titles, The BIGS features online play for up to four players, making it a grand slam for online baseball battles.

At the helm of The BIGS is Dan Brady of Blue Castle. Dan is best known as the creator of and Technical Director on the EA Sports MVP Baseball series of games. Joining Dan at Blue Castle is a number of experienced baseball developers, including Jason Leigh - the Lead Designer of MVP baseball. “This is an extremely exciting time for fans of baseball videogames, as Blue Castle Games has assembled an absolute all-star lineup for this game,” stated Greg Thomas.

The BIGS will be available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Nintendo’s Wii™ home video game console. The BIGS is slated for release in summer 2007.

More About: Nintendo Wii, 2k sports, The Bigs

A journalist from The Entertainment Wise Published The UK’s First Long Wii Play Session - Report after playing with the Nintendo Wii Console during 2 hours

Some gamers have shown concern that the activity level required to play Wii games, especially the sporty titles, may be too high.  There are concerns that you have to stand for long periods of time and use body actions such as swinging your arm above your head or at the side of your body.  After playing non stop for two hours, did this happen to me?

No.  I’m not exactly Wonder woman in terms of fitness and I can assure you, as a regular player there was enough action to warrant perhaps making sure one has access to a tap before playing (you’re going to want a drink if you play for as long as we did!) and possibly ensuring plenty of moving around space in your living room.  The key to the Wii control is that even the most active title on the launch line up, Wii Sports, doesn’t require you to make large body motions unless you want to.  You can play it moving very little if you want, and some of the games can be played sitting down.  I wouldn’t recommend trying golf sitting down, as this is a little tricky.

To test this, in terms of fitness we took along two regular gamers with average to low fitness and one gamer with ME/CFS.  He was able to play for the two hour slot with only a fractional tiredness issue and was if anything, making the largest motions with the remote controller out of all three of us and owned at Wii tennis!  If you have health related concerns that you or your friends and family suffer from a tiredness health problem, it’s not going to bar you from enjoying the Nintendo Wii.  We’ve tested it now and after two hours, it’s safe to say that it’s possible to play on the Wii launch line up for two hours and not be dripping with sweat afterwards.  Just remember that large body motions are not a requirement – they’re what players do to have fun with the game.  Playing with smaller movements or sitting down is largely possible, doable and healthy.

More About: Nintendo Wii Console

This is the list of the 101 Nintendo Wii Games Revealed by Nintendo

• Elebits / Konami Digital Entertainment / Launch
• Ennichi no Tatsujin / Bandai Namco Games / Launch
• Hajimete no Wii: Your First Step to Wii / Nintendo / Launch
• Kororinpa / Hudson / Launch
• Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess / Nintendo / Launch
• Machi-Kuru Domino (Working Title) / Success / Launch
• Necro-Nesia / Spike / Launch
• Red Steel / Ubisoft / Launch
• SD Gundam Revolution (Working Title) / Bandai Namco Games / Launch
• Super Monkey Ball: Ukiuki Party Daisuugou / Sega / Launch
• Swing Golf Pangya / Tecmo / Launch
• Tamagotchi no Pikapika Daitouryou / Bandai Namco Games / Launch
• Trauma Center: Second Opinion / Atlus / Launch
• Wario Ware: Smooth Moves / Nintendo / Launch
• Wii Sports / Nintendo / Launch
• Wing Island / Hudson / Launch
• Bleach Wii / Sega / Dec-06
• Cooking Mama: Minna to Issho ni Oryouri Taikai! / Taito / Dec-06
• Crayon Shin-chan / Banpresto / Dec-06
• Furifuri (Working Title) / Taito / Dec-06
• Mahjong Wii (Working Title) / Koei / Dec-06
• Need For Speed Carbon / EA / Dec-06
• Pokemon Battle Revolution / Pokèmon / Nintendo / Dec-06
• Rayman (Working Title) / Ubisoft / Dec-06
• Sengoku Musou Wave / Koei / Dec-06
• Sudoku / Hudson / Dec-06
• Tsuri Master (Working Title) / Hudson / Dec-06
• 3D Action game (Working Title) / Takara Tomy / TBA
• 3D Boxing Action game (Working Title) / AQ Interactive / TBA
• Action Game (Working Title) / ASNetworks / 2007
• Action Game (Working Title) / Epoch / TBA
• Action game (Working Title) / Takara Tomy / TBA
• Action Game (Working Title) / Banpresto / TBA
• Action Game (Working Title) / From Software / TBA
• Action RPG (Working Title) / From Software / TBA
• Bachindaa / Hudson / Feb-07
• Barnyard (Working Title) / THQ Japan / TBA
• Baseball Game (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• Battle Action game (Working Title) / Takara Tomy / TBA
• Biohazard Umbrella Chronicles (Working Title) / Capcom / TBA
• Bokujou Monogatari Wii (Working Title) / Marvelous Interactive / TBA
• Bomberman Land (Working Title) / Hudson / Mar-07
• Call of Duty 3 / Activision / TBA
• Cars (Working Title) / THQ Japan / TBA
• Crossword / Hudson / Mar-07
• Dairantou Smash Bros. X / Nintendo / 2007
• Densha de Go! (Working Title) / Taito / TBA
• Disaster (Working Title) / Nintendo / Spring 2007
• Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Doubutsu no Mori (Working Title) / Nintendo / TBA
• Downhill Jam (Working Title) / Activision / TBA
• Dragon Ball Z Sparking! NEO / Bandai Namco Games / Jan-07
• Dragon Quest Swords / Square Enix / Spring 2007
• Excite Truck / Nintendo / Jan-07
• Eyeshield 21 (Working Title) / Nintendo / TBA
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearer (Working Title) / Square Enix / TBA
• Fire Emblem: Akatsuki no Megami / Nintendo / Feb-07
• Fishing Game (Working Title) / ASNetworks / Summer 2007
• Forever Blue (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• GT pro series / MTO / TBA
• Gun Shooting game (Working Title) / Sega / TBA
• Harry Potter (Working Title) / EA / 2007
• Heroes / Spike / 2007
• Horce Racing Action game (Working Title) / Koei / TBA
• Hoshi no Kirby (Working Title) / Nintendo / TBA
• Java / Spike / Spring 2007
• Jigsaw Puzzle / Hudson / Mar-07
• Kawano Nushi-Tsuri Series (Working Title) / Marvelous Interactive / TBA
• Mario Party 8 (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Mario Strikers Charged (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance / Interchannel-Holon / TBA
• Metroid Prime 3 Corruption (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Mobile Suit Gundam (Working Title) / Bandai Namco Games / TBA
• Music simulation game (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• New Action Adventure Game 1 (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• New Action Adventure Game 2 (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• New RPG (Working Title) / Koei / TBA
• Noumiso Konekone Puzzle Takoron / Compile Heart / Summer 2007
• One Piece: Unlimited Adventure / Bandai Namco Games / TBA
• Original Action game (Working Title) / D3 Publisher / 2007
• Original Simulation game (Working Title) / Marvelous Interactive / TBA
• Pac-Man Carnival (Working Title) / Bandai Namco Games / TBA
• Princess Company / Starfish SD / TBA
• Project Hammer (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• RPG (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• San-X Allstar for Wii (Working Title) / MTO / TBA
• Shooting Game (Working Title) / ASNetworks / Summer 2007
• Simple series (Working Title) / D3 Publisher / 2007
• Soccer Game (Working Title) / Konami Digital Entertainment / TBA
• Sonic and the Secret Rings / Sega / 2007
• Soothing character action game (Working Title) / MTO / TBA
• Sponge Bob (Working Title) / THQ Japan / TBA
• SSX (Working Title) / EA / 2007
• Super Mario Galaxy / Nintendo / 2007
• Super Paper Mario (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Sword Fighting Action game (Working Title) / Interchannel-Holon / TBA
• Sword of Legendia (Working Title) / Bandai Namco Games / TBA
• The Dog Island (Working Title) / Yukes / 2007
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Working Title) / EA / 2007
• Totsugeki Famicom Wars W (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Wii Music (Working Title) / Nintendo / 2007
• Wii Yawaraka Atama Juku (Working Title) / Nintendo / Spring 2007

More About: Nintendo Wii Games

This are some of the Nintendo Wii domains
registered by Nintendo

• WiiActive24.com
• WiiAlive24.com
• WiiAnimation.com
• Wiiareone.com
• WiiBeauty.com
• WiiBoys.com
• WiiBreeding.com
• WiiChallenger.com
• WiiChannel.com
• WiiCooking.com
• Wiiconnect24.com
• WiiCountry.com
• WiiCreator.com
• WiiEarth.com
• WiiExecutive.com
• WiiFamily.com
• WiiFitness.com
• WiiFun.com
• WiiGeneration.com
• WiiGetTogether.com
• WiiGirls.com
• WiiHistory.com
• WiiJourney.com
• WiiKaraoke.com
• WiiLanguages.com
• WiiLife.com
• WiiLove.com
• WiiMagazine.com
• WiiManagement.com
• WiiMoney.com
• WiiMusic.com
• WiiNews.com
• WiiParents.com
• WiiPower.com
• WiiPuzzle.com
• WiiPuzzle.com
• WiiScenario.com
• WiiSchool.com
• WiiScience.com
• WiiScience.com
• WiiSports.com
• WiiStory.com
• WiiStudent.com
• WiiVC.com
• WiiVenture.com
• WiiWorld.com

More About: Nintendo Wii, domains, Nintendo