Nintendo Gets Chips/Production Looking Well

The IBM-designed Broadway chip, which powers Wii’s hardware, has been in production for some time.

According to IBM’s Ron Martino, director of Technology Collaboration Solutions, the first of the chips was sent to Nintendo in July. Martino didn’t give specific numbers of chips shipped, but said that it was a “significant amount.”

Nintendo’s Genyo Takada confirmed today that the company has received the chips, saying, “Today’s milestone marks the final stage of our drive to reach both core and nontraditional gamers with an inviting, inclusive and remarkable gaming experience.”

Without any hard numbers of production rolls, it’s hard to say exactly what this announcement means, but it certainly seems like a safe bet to assume that Nintendo is in a far better position regarding its hardware-manufacturing capabilities than is Sony, which recently cut launch numbers and delayed its European launch until March of next year.

Still no release date or price for Nintendo’s new console, but fans can (probably) look forward to some information in that vein next week, when the company holds near-simultaneous press conferences around the world.

http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1157688808

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