Wii good to go?

[TiE23]

EDIT:

 

This was all a mistake, check the link again. It's not big news, it's just "a mere IBM-Nintendo PR announcement that production of chips is on schedule."

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/shipment-of-broadway-for-wii-has-been-well-underway-hint-of-pow/

 

This news broke about *Looks at clock* 2 minutes ago.

 

 

 

IBM has announced that their Broadway chip custom-designed for Nintendo's Wii console is not only already in Nintendo's hands but has been since July. "We have been shipping well within this quarter (July)," said Ron Martino, director of IBM Technology Collaboration Solutions. "In fact, we have shipped a significant volume in this quarter."

 

So what does this news mean to gamers who have been waiting patiently for a release date from Nintendo? Well, considering that Nintendo has had their hands on a large amount of the final Broadway chips since July, we can easily speculate that the Wii could feasibly be released within the next few weeks. Perhaps by the end of the month.

 

Nintendo has also confirmed their reception of IBM's chip: "The first chips are in our possession," said Genyo Takeda, Senior Managing Director/General Manager, Integrated Research & Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. "Today's milestone marks the final stage of our drive to reach both core and nontraditional gamers with an inviting, inclusive and remarkable gaming experience."

 

When I asked Martino about the power behind the Broadway chip, all he could do was compare it to the Wii's predecessor, the GameCube. "Compared to the Gekko in the GameCube, it's 20 percent more power efficient. It also performs significantly better. The key point is that it is Power Architecture-based and custom-made and optimized for Nintendo," he said. "This is a critical milestone for us at IBM. We have been very pleased with the entire development project."

 

I pressed Martino to compare Broadway to the other consoles they've had an integral part in developing for and he wouldn't budge, only commenting on what Nintendo was able to offer. With this news and Nintendo confirming the shipment of "6 million systems to retailers around the world between its launch in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the end of its fiscal year on March 31, 2007," we fully expect Nintendo to make an official announcement next week during their event in New York City. And as previously mentioned, we expect a release date far sooner than what has been projected.

 

Dang.

[coupes.]

I was just reading that...

 

This looks well for next week's announcment, they could very well announce all the final details. I'm actually hoping for a ninja launch though, It's be cool if they announced the start of Wii sales on the 14th, when everybody was only expecting a date. But you know, that's just me dreaming... the actual chances of something like that happening are next to none.

 

Edit: Apparently a new game will be announced tomorrow for Wii, as well as a new peripheral. Now, my pinky tells me it's going to be a steering wheel (or a Wiil ) to go along Ubisoft's racing game, GT Pro Series. We should know more tomorrow.

 

 

Here's an ooooooold mock-up I did, just for kicks (Note I didn't know the actual size of the controller back then )

 

[abespam]

stealing ign pics i see...

 

Yeh its good to here that the processor supplies are fine and dandy, makes the possibility of a delay all the less likely. In fact i was expecting an October release anyway since Nintendo were adamant to get into the market before Sony.

 

"Compared to the Gekko in the GameCube, it's 20 percent more power efficient. It also performs significantly better.

 

thats not very impressive. Though i guess its not saying much in terms of overall power. Still ...

[Lynk Former]

That joystiq page has been updated btw, the language they used was a little too "OMG!" sounding...

 

Wii is on track for a good October-November release, they could launch it earlier than that but I doubt it, it's best if Nintendo got their stocks of Wii's up to a good high level so they can have a good world wide release with a good amount of stock.

 

 

EDIT:

 

@ abespam: Just so you know, efficiency and power are two completely different things. 20% more efficiency is actually extremely good considering that Gekko was EXTREMLY efficient already.

 

As for how powerful it actually is, they haven't said.

[CapNColostomy]

I just hope to hell you don't have to use any of these contraptions to actually play games on the ummm...new Nintendo.

[Lynk Former]

No you don't, it's just for those who want to have em, it's just the same as buying a peripheral for traditional consoles.

[Nerd_Annhilator]

I was just reading that...

 

This looks well for next week's announcment, they could very well announce all the final details. I'm actually hoping for a ninja launch though, It's be cool if they announced the start of Wii sales on the 14th, when everybody was only expecting a date. But you know, that's just me dreaming... the actual chances of something like that happening are next to none.

 

Edit: Apparently a new game will be announced tomorrow for Wii, as well as a new peripheral. Now, my pinky tells me it's going to be a steering wheel (or a Wiil ) to go along Ubisoft's racing game, GT Pro Series. We should know more tomorrow.

 

 

Here's an ooooooold mock-up I did, just for kicks (Note I didn't know the actual size of the controller back then )

 

 

Thats..the most hilarious controller ever. I want it

[Jeff]

I'd love to see it out in the next few weeks, but I highly doubt it. But we can always hope...

[Lightsaberboy]

It doesn't matter to me when it comes out, cause i'm not getting it at launch. When I've saved up enough money, I'll prolly get it around 2007 when Brawl comes out.

[BongoBob]

I hope it doesn't come out in the next few weeks!

 

I wouldn't be able to afford one until next month or so ><

[toms]

That seems like load of joystiq's part. Nothing in that implies that they are gonna launch it next week.. though it might mean they actually have enough stocks to do a decent worldwide launch. If they were gonna launch it next week they'd have to have been shipping units out to territories already and peope would have noticed that. SOunds liek it was written by someone who got a little too overexcited..

 

That controller looks pointless. all you'd need to do would be turn the controller on it's side to use it as a steering wheel.. like people did at E3 for the ExciteTruck demo. The more peripherals you have the more you splinter your userbase and cut down potential sales.. so a peripheral that adds ZERO functionality would be very very silly indeed.

[coupes.]

thats not very impressive. Though i guess its not saying much in terms of overall power. Still ...

20% more power effective doens't mean 20% more powerful, like Lynk said the actual performance of the chip hasn't been announced.

 

stealing ign pics i see...

No, Not at all.

 

And to everyone, yes I am aware that the design of the steering wheel I posted is pretty lame. It wounld'n be very effective, it would be too small, you could simply turn the controller on it's side, etc. I know all that, so no point in saying it. I was mostly going for a low-tech, easy-to-use, cheap-to-produce kinda controller.

 

Anyways, this was made a year ago, after TGS 2005 when we knew next to nothing about the Wii (or Revolution at the time) and all we had we a bunch of promo pictures.

[narfblat]

I think this is just a taunt to Sony for PS3 being late, and maybe a reassurance to customers that the Wii will be released on time.

[BongoBob]

I don't care what it is, it's good news that we're going to be wiing by the end of the year.

[MrWally]

If it's cheap enough, I may work and earn money simply for a wii, seeing as I can't work my normal job during the school year. I'm sooo psyched to play one right now.

 

This is great news.

[TiE23]

If it's cheap enough, I may work and earn money simply for a wii. I'm sooo psyched to play one right now.

 

This s great news.

I've got a job and...

 

*Pulls out my check for $83.11 on friday*

 

Yah, money = loose juice.

[Lynk Former]

I'm buying myself a big widescreen TV and surround sound system a week or two before I get my Wii... getting a whole Wii system happening XD

[BongoBob]

I'm buying myself a big widescreen TV and surround sound system a week or two before I get my Wii... getting a whole Wii system happening XD

 

I have a nice surround sound system, but you just made me think of something. Does anyone know what connections the Wii will have out of the box, and will it support Dolby 5.1?

[Lynk Former]

Dolby ProLogic II 5.1 and 6.1... but only if the developer decides to have it in the first place. Widescreen is optional... and from what I hear, progressive scan is also optional but I think that at least should be standard on all games no matter what.

[BongoBob]

Do you know if it will support optical audio and/or s-video out of the box? Or will I need a special av pack like I did with xbox?

[St. Jimmy]

*gasp*! Bongo Bob, what the hell is that thing in you av?! It looks like a pre-historic Spartan!

[Lynk Former]

Wii will support the following...

 

Composite

S-Video

Component

...with standard audio plugs (white and red).

 

No optical since optical is used for Dolby Digital, etc... Wii only supports ProLogic II and ProLogic IIx. It's a surround format that uses the two channels of the standard audio plugs and splits them into 5.

 

 

I don't know if you will get any of the "extra" cables out of the box... you'll probably have to buy the S-Video and/or Component cable separately.

[BongoBob]

No dolby? Kind of a let down, but I'll get over it.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

And to St. Jimmy, 7 weeks until we find out. Personally, and don't quote me on this, I think it might be Dr. Halsey or Kelly. But we have to wait until October 31 to find out.

[Lynk Former]

XD There is Dolby, it's just not Dolby Digital, it's Dolby ProLogic II and IIx. It's the same as the GameCube, and to be honest, Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2 still sounded great in ProLogic II, unless you're a true audiophile it won't really matter... but then again only newer recievers support ProLogic II/IIx so if you have an older system it won't support it.

[St. Jimmy]

And to St. Jimmy, 7 weeks until we find out. Personally, and don't quote me on this, I think it might be Dr. Halsey or Kelly. But we have to wait until October 31 to find out.

The suspense!

(sorry a little off-topic.)