Nintendo announces new Wii and DSi XL packages; release date for new controller and FlingSmash bundle nailed down.
Nintendo’s Wii hardware crossed the finish line in third place in September, reportedly selling only 254,000 units in that month in North America compared to 312,000 PlayStation 3 units and 484,000 Xbox 360 units. Now it appears the Japanese game maker is hoping to rekindle enthusiasm with two new system bundles, a fresh controller, and a game due out next month.
Nintendo today announced that on November 7 retailers will begin selling a red Nintendo Wii bundle, the Wii Remote Plus, a new DSi XL bundle, and a new game, FlingSmash.
The new Wii package–in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.–will include a red system, copies of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Sports, a Wii Remote Plus, and everything else normally associated with the system. It will debut at $200 and will be a limited edition.
Also being released on November 7 will be a new $180 DSi XL bundle. Similar to the Wii package, the DSi XL bundle is also a limited edition and is colored red in honor of the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. This package will include a DSi XL with three themed graphics on its face, a copy of Mario Kart DS, and three preinstalled titles: Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math, and Photo Clock.
Also included in today’s announcement was a release date for the Wii Remote Plus. Nintendo had previously confirmed the existence of the controller following a leaked image of the peripheral but had not specified a release date for it. It will debut on November 7 and will be sold in all-new Wii hardware packages and bundles. It will also be sold separately beginning on that date for $39.99. The Wii Remote Plus combines the original Wii Remote with the MotionPlus add-on.
Finally, Nintendo officially announced the FlingSmash bundle. The new SKU bundles a Wii Remote Plus with a copy of the game. According to Nintendo, FlingSmash “combines the hands-on fun of tennis with the nonstop action and instant gratification of pinball.” Nintendo employed a similar tactic with Wii Play when the company included a Wii Remote with the title. That game went on to become the best-selling game of all time in the United States. The FlingSmash bundle will retail for $49.99. For more on FlingSmash, check out GameSpot’s hands-on preview.
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