It’s not a price drop, but it’s definitely a value add for anyone still thinking about getting a Nintendo Wii console: Nintendo has announced it will be bundling the Wii MotionPlus accessory and the MotionPlus-enabled Wii Sports Resort game title with every new Wii console sold beginning May 9. The company will also for the first time be making a black version of the Wii console and remote available in the United States.
“Nintendo leads the way in delivering rich motion-control gaming experiences at an accessible price point,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, in a statement. “By including even more of our top-quality hardware and software in the basic Wii system package, we’re extending that commitment to entertainment and value.”
The Wii MotionPlus accessory improves the sensitivity and accuracy of the original Wii remote, enabling a higher degree of control and improved game design. The game titles in Wii Sports Resort are specifically designed to leverage the enhanced Wii MotionPlus control. The accessory is fully backward compatible with games that don’t require the MotionPlus accessory.
The price for a base Wii system—with one remote—will remain at $199.99. That’s not the price drop some industry watchers had been expecting Nintendo to introduce, but the addition of the Wii MotionPlus and Sports Resort title does roll another $40 retail value into the base Wii package. The black version of the Wii console will also no doubt appeal to gamers looking to have their Wii’s seem a little more bad-ass next to their other AV and gaming gear—Nintendo also plans to sell black Wii remotes and accessories separately.
