At this weekend’s eGame Expo in Melbourne, the Wii booth was a hub of activity, as gamers of all breed lined up to get their hands on the unique Wiimote and the new opportunities for gaming that are introduced by it. 

Couple that with a strong line-up of launch titles - surprisingly including a bunch of the more hard-core gaming experiences, Call of Duty 3, Splinter Cell:Double Agent.  As well as an impressive grown up Zelda game, in The Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess.

Ubisoft, in particular is putting a great deal behind Nintendos little gaming box.  Providing Eight of the Twenty Nine titles on offer at console launch.  Most of these are safely also available on other platforms, Red Steel is a Wii only title that will make great use of the controller, enabling gun and sword play that will bring immersion like never before.

Wii sports offers purchases of the basic Wii package a grin broadening indulgence, straight out of the box.  And the Wii channels internet hookup gives those looking for new content as well as nostalgic downloads a simple, best of both worlds approach.

Classic SNES (or Super Nintendo Entertainment System for those under twenty) games will be available for download from around A$7.50 to A$12.00  with N64 games going for around A$15.00.  For Nintendo fans this will be fantastic, for me this still seems a little pricey when compared even to Microsofts Live Arcade offering.

Nintendo’s stated demographic for the Wii is to bring not only existing game players to the Wii experience but also target lapsed gamers and the supposed curious casual or non gamer into the fold.  The WiFing of the popular handheld, the DS was their first step, now the Wii continues the Nintendo ambition.

I believe, and we have already seen, that Nintendo are on a winner with this console. It will be a long couple of weeks before the launch locally in Australia on the 7th of December.

Nintendo will snaffle market share from Sony, and Microsoft with there latest offerings, but not giving the Hi-Def content the other boys do, will mean that the Wii will be competing in a slightly different market.  Wii’s biggest hurdle will be overcoming the PS2.Yep, the PS2 will continue to sell a large amount of hardware to Nintendo’s target audience. 

With a cheaper price point and a focus on Social/Party gaming with titles like Guitar Hero II.  Sony’s’ aging little battler will provide the Wii with some stiff opposition for sometime to come.{moscomment}