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Nintendo Reveals Tentative Release Time for Next-Generation Console

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 May 2006, 12:07 CDT

By Mandy Willingham, Kyodo News International, Tokyo

May 10--LOS ANGELES -- Japan's Nintendo Co. confirmed Tuesday its anticipated next-generation game console Wii will launch worldwide in the fourth quarter of this year.

Reggie Fils-Aime, executive vice president in charge of sales and marketing at Nintendo of America Inc., declined to give a specific release date or price during a press conference in Los Angeles, but said the console will be "more fun for less money." More than 2,000 press and game enthusiasts gathered in Hollywood to watch demonstrations of the system, pronounced "we," a day before the start of the annual electronic gaming trade show E3.

"Regardless of age, gender and game experience, anyone can instantly understand Wii," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, who stressed the importance of generating interest among both core-gamers and non-game players.

First revealed last September at the Tokyo Game Show, Wii features an innovative motion sensing wireless controller and remote system with built-in speakers, which applies the real-time movement of console players to a variety of on-screen actions.

The sleek white console will have 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and Bluetooth technology.

Iwata described how its WiiConnect24 feature will keep the console constantly connected to the Internet and capable of receiving online software updates even when the power is off.

Nintendo Director and General Manager Shigeru Miyamoto opened the conference by demonstrating the versatility of the Wii controller.

The famed creator of "Zelda" and "Super Mario Bros." maneuvered the device as a baton to direct a virtual orchestra, the steering wheel of a racing truck and the weapon of a skilled swordsman.

Additional previews of some of the 27 Wii games Nintendo will feature at E3 included "Super Mario Galaxy,""Wii Sports," and "Metroid Prime 3 Corruption." Enthusiastic attendees cheered the demonstration of the Wii addition to the popular "The Legend of Zelda" franchise. "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," will launch on the same date as the Wii console.

Rival console maker Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. previewed its motion sensing controller for the highly-anticipated PS3, and announced the specific dates of its delayed November launch in a press conference Monday.

In their news conference Tuesday, Microsoft Corp. announced an HD DVD player for its Xbox 360 console will be available for the 2006 holiday season.

As one of the world's largest electronic gaming expos, E3 runs from Wednesday through Friday in downtown Los Angeles.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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NTDOF, NTDOY, 7974,

Source: Kyodo News International, Tokyo

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