Unprecedented Level Of Pre-Orders For Wii Across Europe

US launch indicates massive rush for Wii

29th November 2006 - A huge shipment of Nintendo's new system, Wii, has now arrived in Europe ahead of launch on December 8th and with an unprecedented number of pre-orders having been taken, it is likely that there will be exceptional demand for the system when it goes on sale in Europe.

Nintendo is doing their utmost to replenish stocks and ensure that as many people as possible who want to experience Wii, can do so in time for Christmas. But the message for shoppers is clear - to play with Wii, or just to get your hands on one, you need to get moving!

"We're launching a great product and we knew that demand would be high. Nintendo's expansion of the gaming market is paying dividends and Wii really is the 'must have' item for Christmas. Obviously, we're doing everything we can to make sure that everyone who wants one, gets one."

Laurent Fischer, Marketing Director, Nintendo of Europe

Nintendo is shipping an exceptionally large number of consoles - 4 million globally by the end of 2006, the largest ever for a Nintendo console launch. Wii launched in the US on 19th November and sold over 600,000 consoles in just one week. That's a rate of nearly one per second continuously since the launch date. The European and Japanese launches follow close behind - Europe on December 8th and Japan on December 2nd.

The intuitive, motion sensitive control of Wii means that a much wider audience than traditional 'gamers' are interested in the console - hence the surge in demand as Nintendo continues to broaden the video games market. Across Europe this year, Nintendo has reached an installed base of 7 million with the handheld, touch-screen DS console - success which Wii aims to replicate in the home.

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For further information or images please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 020 7307 3103

Notes to editors:

Wii launches across Europe on 8th December 2006 at the estimated retail price of 249 Euros (£179 in the UK) and will come bundled with Wii Sports. Nintendo first party games will retail at the estimated retail price of between 49 Euros and 59 Euros (£34 to £39 in the UK). Additional controllers will also be available at launch at the estimated retail prices of: Wii Remote 39 (£29), Nunchuk 19 (£14) and the Classic Controller 19 (£14).

About Wii

Nintendo's new system, Wii, will feature a controller designed to be used with either one hand or two -- a first in the video game industry. When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself. Click onto www.Wii.com ; for all of the most up to date official information on Wii.

About Nintendo

Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 2.2 billion video games worldwide and more than 387 million hardware units globally, creating such industry icons as Mario® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda® and Pokémon. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular video game systems, including home console units such as the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, and the forthcoming revolutionary new console Wii, as well as portable handheld gaming systems such as, Nintendo DS. Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 193 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.