As Nintendo Wii U Release Date Nears, Console Pre-order Options Dwindle (11 ... - HawtWired (blog)

Nintendo Wii U Release Date, and Console Pre-order Availability!

As the highly anticipated November 18, 2012 Nintendo Wii U release date approaches, the laws of supply and demand appear to be showing up both in-store and online retailers.  Most online and in-store pre-order options are closed up and not in-stock, leaving one with dwindling options to secure the latest offering from the Big N.  Folks can camp out at release day stores in hopes of grabbing one from the first batch, or simply buying from opportunistic 3rd party sellers on eBay and the like.

With the Wii U launch, Nintendo is offering 2 models with unique options and pricing. The Wii U price for the 8GB Basic Set is $299.99 and includes the white 8GB console, GamePad (white), two AC adaptors, sensor bar and an HDMI cable.  The price for the 32GB Deluxe Set is $349.99 and includes the black 32GB console, GamePad (black), two AC adaptors, sensor bar a sensor bar, an HDMI cable, GamePad cradle, GamePad stand and console stand.

Secure your Wii U console pre-order at the following retailers:

Wii U Games:

Amazon has begun accepting pre-orders on many Wii U games including:

Release day delivery is available, and no tax in many states can save you a few bucks. 

Check it out: Amazon - Wii U Game Pre-order List

About:

The Wii U is an upcoming video game console from Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. The system was unveiled during Nintendo's press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 on June 7, 2011, and is scheduled for release on November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, and December 8, 2012 in Japan. It will be the first entry in the eighth generation of video game home consoles.

Nintendo has stated that the Wii U supports 1080p graphics and has 2 GB of memory; 1 GB as system memory and the same for game memory. This is more than 20 times the memory of the Wii. The console will be released in two versions; a basic white version with 8 GB of internal storage, and a premium black version with 32 GB of internal storage, which includes stand and docks. An HDMI cable will be included with both versions. The Wii U features a new controller, called the Wii U GamePad, with an embedded touchscreen. The controller allows a player to continue playing games by displaying the game even when the television is off. At the E3 2012 expo, a second controller, called the Pro Controller, was unveiled, which is a more traditional gamepad. It features two analog sticks.

The system will be backward compatible with Wii, and Wii U games can support compatibility with Wii peripherals, such as the Wii Remote Plus and the Nunchuk. It will not be backward compatible with Nintendo GameCube discs or peripherals, although games will become available for purchase and downloaded from Nintendo's Virtual Console service.

Wii U Specs:

Nintendo has released technical specifications of the Wii U hardware, which are listed below. These specifications are subject to change.

Processors
CPU: IBM Power Architecture-based multi-core processor.
GPU: AMD Radeon High Definition with an eDRAM cache built onto the die.

The Wii U CPU is designed by IBM. It is described by IBM as an "all-new, Power-based microprocessor", the processor is a multi-core design manufactured at 45 nm with an eDRAM cache. Neither Nintendo nor IBM has revealed detailed specifications, such as the number of cores, clock rate, or cache sizes. References have been made to the chip containing "a lot" of eDRAM and "the same processor technology found in Watson". The Wii U CPU will be produced by IBM at their 300 mm semiconductor manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, New York. Both the CPU and the GPU will be on one MCM.

RAM
2GB Total; 1GB for games and 1GB for System Software.
Storage
Basic: 8GB, Premium: 32GB Internal flash memory, expandable via SD memory cards and USB hard disk drives
Slot-loading optical disc drive compatible with 12 cm "proprietary high-density optical discs" (25 GB per layer) and 12 cm Wii optical discs
Ports and peripheral capabilities
SD memory card slot (supports SDHC cards)
USB 2.0 ports (2 at front of console, 2 at rear)
Sensor Bar power port
"AV Multi Out" port
HDMI 1.4 out port