That slghtly shiny Japanese lady in the picture is holding in a wee.

No, wait a minute... What I meant to say was that she's holding a Wii - the new games console from Nintendo.

Now, you'd think that, with Sony ballsing up the launch of the latest Playstation, Nintendo would be falling over itself to get their new machine onto shop shelves in time for Christmas.

Not so, unfortunately.

At a press conference yesterday, the company announced it would start selling its Wii from 2 December in Japan. The US gets it on November 18. Which probably means Europe won't see one until 2007 (unless we use special long distance glasses to gaze across the ocean).

But there is some good news. The Wii still looks supercool, and there'll be 16 games available on launch day, at least half of which seem decent. The price is pretty good, too - around £113 or less. No, that's not a typo. You can buy five Wiis for the price of one Playstation 3.

Not only that, but the console will have a fully operational internet browser, and you'll be able to download old Nintendo games for as little as £2. Crikey.

The launch line-up includes a new Zelda game, a new Super Monkey Ball, and a compilation of sports titles using the Wii's magic wireless remote control waving-your-hands-around-like-a-goon wand thingummy.

And, in a break with Nintendo tradition, there are also a whole slew of games about shooting people due for the console. They include launch title Red Steel and a new Resident Evil Game from Capcom.

Sega has also (accidentally) revealed it'll be releasing some of its best ever games for the Nintendo download service - including Sonic The Hedgehog, Toe jam & Earl, Ecco The Dolphin and Golden Axe - classics one an all. No sign of Alex Kidd in Miracle World, though. Bah.

Clearly, I'm gushing a bit here (perhaps 'gushing with wii' could be an advertising slogan?). The console has even stopped me from thinking about music for 10 seconds - although I notice Nintendo is releasing a drum kit simulator. This is a product that will undoubtedly lead to a discopop divorce.

So don't look at this video, don't get excited about this console, and certainly don't go out and buy one. My marriage depends on it.

Official Wii website

Launch line-up at Wii fanboy

Press conference coverage at 4 Color Rebellion: Japan / New York

Labels: Nintendo, Wii