Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

We’ve heard it all before. You know the story. Big console manufacturer claims a global launch for the end-of-year holiday season. Hardware shortages and manufacturing problems result in a “launch window” that ranges from November for the US (got to make that Thanksgiving holiday) to December for Japan and finally to February or March for Europe and Australia (with the rest of the world presumeably left behind).

Microsoft claimed a world-wide launch for the Xbox360. They failed. Sony claimed a world-wide launch for the PS3. They failed. Nintendo is claiming a world-wide launch for the Wii, with the “launch window” only stretched to just a few weeks. Can they do it? I think they can. Wii will be launching first in the US (on November 19 for US$249), then in Japan (on December 2 for 25,000 Yen), then in Australia (on December 7 for AU$399), and finally in Europe (on December 8 for 249 Euros).

As a resident of Australia, I’m happy that I won’t have to wait an extra 3-4 months just to get my hands on the latest console! However, I’m not too happy about paying around US$50 more than my friends in the US. On the bright side, at least I won’t be paying the US$315 the Europeans will have to shell out to get a Wii. Given that first party games are meant to be region free… it’s almost worth it for them to import their Wii’s from the US instead of buying them locally. Shipping from the US to Europe can’t be over US$65 right?

Update: First party games won’t be region free. Looks like Europeans are stuck with the higher price.

Sources: Nintendo Japan, Nintendo US, Nintendo Europe, Nintendo Australia