Diablo III to be Announced This Week Gaming Steve Review: Keep on the Shadowfell GCA and ESA Fight Over E3 Awards Maxis Responds to the Spore DRM Controversy Vivendi, Activision-Blizzard Snub ESA, E3 Grand Theft Auto IV Quick Observations How to Sell a Grand Theft Auto Clone: Gary Busey Ubisoft Announces a New Prince of Persia Game So Who Isn't Buying GTA IV? And Why? Gaming Steve Members Featured in Latest Spore Update Interview with Will Wright, Part One Interview with Will Wright, Part Two Pictures and Podcast from GDC Spore Archives Will Wright's Spore Forum Podcast Episode Archives What is Podcasting? Subscribe to the Show (using iTunes) Subscribe to the Show (using another podcasting software program)
Business Classic Culture DS Feature GameCube Interview MMORPG PC PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 Podcast Poll Portable Preview PSP Random Review Rumor Spore Stuff Wii Xbox June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 September 2007 March 2007 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005February 20, 2008
Nintendo Dates Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii for Europe
Today, Nintendo has revealed the dates for two of their most anticipated Wii games in Europe. Mario Kart Wii will be released on April 11th, with Wii Fit slated to be released later on April 25th.
That Mario Kart Wii European release date is good, as it’s a day after the Japanese release, and a US release date hasn’t been confirmed yet. Perhaps Nintendo is feeling guilty about the Smash wait and wants to make amends to their loyal European fans. This could also be a tactic they are adopting that stops fans from importing consoles, as people are so fed up of the delays that they are just simply getting a US Wii and a small power transformer, and reaping the rewards.
The fact that Wii Fit is coming out a month before the US release in Europe is also a very good move by Nintendo, as it allows them to test what the US reaction to the game will be in a “lesser” territory, and thus prepare accordingly. Such an obscure title could go either way in terms of sales, so this idea of a “first-run” will help them in pitching to the right market.
Nintendo is showing Europe that it can have some games before or around the same time as the US, and this is extremely encouraging for the foreseeable future. If this trend can continue, then perhaps there is hope for this unfortunately unlucky region.
Wii Fit is considered obscure? Ok weird because last I checked, it was a first party game, spiritual successor to the pack-in Wii Sports and immensely successful in the casual crowd Wii Play, came with a new peripheral, is selling like hotcakes in Japan, and cashes in on the health craze.
BUT WHAD DU I NO LUL?
Posted by Malt at February 20, 2008 5:51 PMIsn't the entire concept of health and fitness obscure in the US?
I kid, I kid!
Posted by Asdf at February 20, 2008 7:48 PMEurope a 'lesser territory'...?
Well, either way, us getting stuff first is always good news. April 11th for Mario Kart Wii is much earlier than I anticipated!
Posted by Beatnuki at February 21, 2008 10:41 AMPlease keep your comments relevant to this entry: inappropriate or purely promotional comments may be removed. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.