Last week Microsoft announced a new round of price cuts for its Xbox 360 gaming console, right on the heels of Sony slashing the price of its PlayStation 3 and announcing a cheaper, slimmer model. But Nintendo, which has never budged on its Wii pricetag of $250, still refuses to play along despite flagging sales and lackluster game lineups.

Today the company announced an Oct. 4 launch date for Wii Fit Plus, the sequel to Wii Fit, as well as a black Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus bundle and a black Nunchuk. In fact, Wii Fit Plus with the Wii Balance Board accessory will actually cost $10 more than the current Wii Fit. (If you have the board already, the game alone will cost you $20.)

But no price cut, unless you count the sudden return of the Wii Internet Channel as a free download. The application, which was free for the first few months after the Wii’s debut, was priced at 500 Wii Points (or $5) until today, when it was made free again and received upgraded Adobe Flash support. Read the rest of this entry »