Late Night Consoling (Constant Updates)

Nintendo is currently in the midst of a Japanese press conference at which it is revealing many of the final details about its upcoming Wii console. Known information will be updated here as it is reported.

- Latest: Nintendo is launching websites left and right. Here's a list that will be updated accordingly:

- Wii.com: Contains videos of the Wii interface, avatar functionality, and weather and news channels.
- Wii Preview teaser trailer: Consists of footage of various games that have been announced as well as some that have not previously been shown.
- Wii Preview coverage: Twelve-page compilation of slides and trailers from Nintendo's presentation. Notable: Zelda trailer, Virtual Console footage, Opera browser footage, photo browsing.

- Nintendo has released a teaser reel on its official site showing, among other titles, the previously unannounced boxing and bowling Wii Sports games. It also demonstrates new environments from Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, previously unseen footage from Atlus' Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Intelligent Systems' upcoming Fire Emblem game, the Resident Evil game for Wii, and others.

- Nintendo has launched Wii.com, currently containing the first video footage of the system's interface, as well as clips of its news and weather channels and web browser, as described below.

- Update: All information regarding the system's North and South American launch should currently be considered unconfirmed. News from the New York Times as relayed by the Seattle Post-Intelligence has been retracted and may not be accurate. In several hours, Nintendo will be holding an event in New York, at which time final information will be released. Update 2: The article has been reissued and is being confirmed by other news sources. The North and South American launch information is likely correct.

- According to the New York Times, the system will launch in North and South America on November 19 with a suggested retail price of $250. This will be packed in with Wii Sports, a collection of accessible multiplayer sports titles including baseball, tennis, golf, boxing and bowling. Update: The New York Times Article has apparently been pulled. More as it develops. Update 2: The article has been reissued.
- Famitsu is reporting a Japanese launch date of December 2, with a retail price of 25,000 yen ($212.50).
- Nintendo plans to ship some 4 million Wii units to retail channels within 2006.
- Virtual Console games will run between $5 and $10 each, putting them largely in the range of Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade titles. Approximately 30 Virtual Console games will be available at launch. Among these may be the six Genesis titles revealed by the ESRB earlier this week.
- Retail games are expected to retain the current generation pricing of $50. About 25 games are planned for the system's launch.
- According to the New York Times, the already much-delayed The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess may not be launching alongside Wii, but will instead appear later in 2006. Update: This information is currently in question. Twilight Princess is apparently set for a Japanese launch at least. More as it develops. Update 2: The New York Times does not explicitly list the game as missing launch or making it.
- Wii will include various "channels" allowing the system to serve as a living room centerpiece, though it has a different slant than the media hub-oriented features being pushed by competitors Sony and Microsoft. The console will include a channel for users to display digital photos, and will also feature weather and news channels. Opera's custom web browser will be included with the system.
- Confirmed Japanese launch titles so far are The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Wii Sports, and Pokemon: Battle Revolution.

Speaking at the Merrill Lynch Media and Entertainment Conference, Activision CEO Robert Kotick laid out the upcoming launch titles the publisher will be providing for PlayStation 3 and Wii, with three games coming to each system. Both PS3 and Wii will be receiving Treyarch's Call of Duty 3 and Raven's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance on their respective launch days, as well as one Tony Hawk game. PS3 will get Neversoft s Tony Hawk's Project 8, while Wii will get Toys for Bob's Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam.

Kotick noted that, as many have anticipated, most PlayStation 3 titles will be priced at $59.99, following in line with Xbox 360's game pricing. He also revealed the company's upcoming Spider-Man 3 game has surpassed a staggering budget of $35M across its various platforms.