Price of Wii? [Mobile/Archive]

wbc1228

08-04-2006, 11:25 PM

Agreed. $250 sounds like a nice price for a core system. If it does go to $299 I'd also like to see something extra. An extra controller would be a nice.

Didn't the PS1, Saturn and Dreamcast both retail for $299 at launch also?

The PS1 launch price was indeed at $299.
However, the Saturn was priced $399 (There is no way I'm forgetting this one, I brought it at launch) and the Dreamcast was priced $199 when it was released.

Rodimus

08-04-2006, 11:44 PM

The PS1 launch price was indeed at $299.
However, the Saturn was priced $399 (There is no way I'm forgetting this one, I brought it at launch) and the Dreamcast was priced $199 when it was released.

I though the Dreamcast launched at $299 cause I bought a Japanese model on launch for that price. But you're right $199.

So looking back to the past, the Wii being $299 isn't too bad. But cheaper is always better.

Michaellvortega

08-05-2006, 12:02 AM

I hope it's not $299 I still have to buy a CAG a Wii. I was thinking it was going to be $200, $250 TOPS. After all it's sounds like it's just a OC'd GC with a new wiimote.

Moxio

08-05-2006, 12:41 AM

$299 is absolute bullshit. There's no reason why it should be over $249.

SilverPaw750

08-05-2006, 12:52 AM

Are people forgetting that Nintendo announced it would be less than $250? I think I trust Nintendo more then 7/11 when it comes to their own product.

Scobie

08-05-2006, 12:59 AM

I'm still holding out for $199... I have yet to find a valid reason why Nintendo couldn't move it out at this price and still make a nice profit on each system sold. I just hope they're not feeling over-confident in the positive post-E3 response.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that we're dealing with a minor upgrade power-wise, DVD play-back technology which is pretty cheap these days, and a small flash drive which is also cheap.

Rodimus

08-05-2006, 01:21 AM

Maybe they're bumping up the price just cause the compitition is gonna cost a butt-load more anyways.

megaseadramon

08-05-2006, 01:57 AM

Yeah, lets all believe 7-11. I have high hopes that it is going to be $199, hopefully Nintendo doesnt dissapoint.

GizmoGC

08-05-2006, 02:00 AM

$299 is absolute bullshit. There's no reason why it should be over $249.

Yet PS3 is $500 for a low-end version. How is $300 too much?

megaseadramon

08-05-2006, 02:02 AM

Yet PS3 is $500 for a low-end version. How is $300 too much?
$300 is to much because its an updated gamecube

whoknows

08-05-2006, 02:04 AM

Yet PS3 is $500 for a low-end version. How is $300 too much?
What does that have to do with it? Sony will be selling the PS3 at a loss, while if the Wii is $299 Nintendo will be profiting.

PenguinMaster

08-05-2006, 02:04 AM

Yet PS3 is $500 for a low-end version. How is $300 too much?

A Core 360 is far more powerful than a Wii and costs $300. Obviously a Wii doesn't have a 20GB Harddrive so there's no reason to compare it to the Premium system.

EDIT: Anything over $200 is far too much, IMO. I'm not certainly not paying more than $150 (if that).

Vinny

08-05-2006, 03:25 AM

Yeah, lets all believe 7-11. I have high hopes that it is going to be $199, hopefully Nintendo doesnt dissapoint.

Agreed.. you people are taking this too seriously. The only reliable thing from 7-11 are their Slurpee's.

I think it's safe to say that the Wii will be $199 or at least offer a $199 version. I doubt it'll go over $249 for a version with an extra Wiimote/nunchaku and maybe a game.

upstart

08-05-2006, 03:29 AM

Yeah $299 is waay too much for the way Nintendo is marketing the Wii. They basically are focusing on bringing customers in, not in wooing the hardcore gamer base with a premium product that goes with a premium price tag. Plus they would be betraying their words of a less than 250 price tag at E3.

Me thinks this is a slip-up on 7-11's part. Either that or it's a bundle deal. Hopefully not, because I was hoping on a $199 price tag, and I couldn't possibly imagine what bundle could be worth one extra benjamin. I sure can't see wii sports and an extra contoller being worth that much.

dwhelan

08-05-2006, 04:05 AM

More likely then not, Nintendo would not reveal the finalized price to 7-11, for whatever reason. So, 7-11 just based the price on current trends in system prices. The ps2 launched at 299, xbox at 299, core 360- 299.

But then again that is my opinion

TimPV3

08-05-2006, 04:21 AM

I love how people immediately say fuck the Wii once the price goes over $250.

spoo

08-05-2006, 05:30 AM

I love how people immediately say fuck the Wii once the price goes over $250.

And we have every right to say fuck the Wii. $250 for the Wii is to much let alone $300. The Wii is nothing more then an updated Gamecube with a new controller. Why should the Wii be the same price as the 360 or even only $50 less then the 360? Many of us have been burned buying the last two Nintendo home consoles at lauch and the last two handhelds at launch with only a handful of exclusives , few and far between for the home consoles and redesigns with the handhelds.

$300 is too much and I believe/hope Nintendo knows this.

Daywalker

08-05-2006, 07:34 AM

It's 7-11... and it could be a bundle. I highly doubt Nintendo wouldn't keep their word and actually make the console priced HIGHER than $249.99 when they specifically said that it would be lower.

schuerm26

08-05-2006, 07:52 AM

And we have every right to say fuck the Wii. $250 for the Wii is to much let alone $300. The Wii is nothing more then an updated Gamecube with a new controller. Why should the Wii be the same price as the 360 or even only $50 less then the 360? Many of us have been burned buying the last two Nintendo home consoles at lauch and the last two handhelds at launch with only a handful of exclusives , few and far between for the home consoles and redesigns with the handhelds.

$300 is too much and I believe/hope Nintendo knows this.

I could give two craps about completely revolutionary graphics that you are paying all that money for on the 360 and PS2 . I would rather pay $300 for the wi and a new way to play games, then the same old crap that is appearing on the 360 and more than likely on the PS3. Serioulsy what are you paying the $400 for on a 360. Graphical updates. All the games play the EXACT same. There have been no inovations. I will pay whatever they want to charge, which is sounding like $299 tops (if even that), as this will be a truly innovative system.

spoo

08-05-2006, 08:38 AM

I could give two craps about completely revolutionary graphics that you are paying all that money for on the 360 and PS2 . I would rather pay $300 for the wi and a new way to play games, then the same old crap that is appearing on the 360 and more than likely on the PS3. Serioulsy what are you paying the $400 for on a 360. Graphical updates. All the games play the EXACT same. There have been no inovations. I will pay whatever they want to charge, which is sounding like $299 tops (if even that), as this will be a truly innovative system.

Ok lets not make this a console flame war. All next gen consoles have pros and cons. I am not going to waste everyones time and post them all but I will bring one of the Wii cons, the lack of horsepower. To make a long story short, price is directly related to system specs. The DS wouldn't be selling like it is today if it had the same price as the PSP on day one.

Edit: I forgot to say that I am 95% sure that the Wii will be $199.

Scobie

08-05-2006, 08:01 PM

This should be very different from a flame war... this is about valuation of the technology. We can all sorta understand why the 360 and the PS3 are priced where they are, given the price of the components. I think it's been pretty well documented that both MS and Sony are losing a fair amount of money on the sale of each console.

From what we know about the Wii, there's been a lot of money sunk into R&D, but the components themselves are comparatively cheap.

I can't justify MSRP based on long-term "fun factor" alone, although I'm pretty certain the price-per-hour of fun I'll be getting out of the Wii would justify a $300 price tag over the liffe of the system.

I'm one of those jerks who looks at something and says "that cost $5 to make... how come you're charging $20?"

My bottom line is this: I'm *not* gonna pay a lot for that Muffler!!!

Riyonuk

08-05-2006, 08:09 PM

I'm not buying it a launch this time, Im waiting till its like $100 and comes with a game or something :)

evanft

08-05-2006, 08:46 PM

First Sports Illustrated for Kids, now 7-11. Where will our Wii news come from next???

wbc1228

08-05-2006, 08:52 PM

First Sports Illustrated for Kids, now 7-11. Where will our Wii news come from next???

humm......
my guess would be penthouse.
you heard it first from me.
:-)

CrimsonPaw

08-05-2006, 11:04 PM

Well, Nintendo has officially announced that the Wii will not be over $250, it would be marketing and corporate suicide to go back on their word. This news = bullshit. I would expect a $300 bundle, but not for the system itself. I say expect $199 for the console, wiimote, nuchuck or $250 for the same but two wiimotes or classic controller and a few VC games.

Plinko

08-06-2006, 11:23 AM

Nintendo has already publicly stated it will be less than $250, so that ends that.

whoknows

08-07-2006, 03:08 AM

First Sports Illustrated for Kids, now 7-11. Where will our Wii news come from next???
If Nintendo would say something we wouldn't have to get our news from 7-11 or Sports Illustrated for Kids, now would we?

captainfrizo

08-07-2006, 04:11 AM

If Nintendo would say something we wouldn't have to get our news from 7-11 or Sports Illustrated for Kids, now would we?

Being that no official price has been announced from Nintendo this is at best speculation and not news.

dothog

08-08-2006, 12:06 AM

furyk

08-08-2006, 12:11 AM

megaseadramon

08-08-2006, 12:51 AM

Im fine with $230 if it comes with the stuff you guys mentioned. There is no possible way they could sell wii sports seperate so they would have to bundle it.

derder

08-08-2006, 01:21 AM

It doesn't make sense that the wii would be 299 american and 399 canadian. They're just estimates.

spoo

08-08-2006, 02:41 AM

Just be glad we don't live in Brazil.
During a recent games convention in São Paulo, Brazil (pictured), a representative of Lamatel (Nintendo's Latin American distributor) announced that Wii will be released in Brazil during the first week of December to the tune of 1,400–1,500 Brazilian reais (roughly $640–$690).
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/07/wii-to-tango-with-latin-america-in-december-price-is-high/

Scobie

08-08-2006, 08:58 PM

It doesn't make sense that the wii would be 299 american and 399 canadian. They're just estimates.

We all think you're retraded, too.

alongx

08-08-2006, 09:39 PM

I am not usually given to looking at IGN, and I'm especially annoyed by the Cassamawhatsit guy, who is an incredible horse's ass, but here comes the link:
http://wii.ign.com/articles/723/723894p1.html

If the leaked specs are close to reality, $229 is IMHO a touch high.

EDIT: btw, the "touch high" comment assumes $229 is a stand-alone price. If that's a bundle price, it's a different story--that is to say, if it's $229 for a bundle that includes a console, 2 wand/nunchuck controllers, a Classic controller, and Wii Sports, I will piss myself with glee.

I couldn't agree more with the "touch high" comment.

When I saw the IGN article saying "coming sooner than expected, and for cheaper than you'd think", I assumed it was semi-confirming Oct. 2 and $199. $229, without some crazy good pack in (Wii sports, extra controllers, Virtual Console shit) isn't enough of a disparity from the Xbox 360 Core. And Nov. 2 is later than I'd have liked; I'd have expected it to be out 2 weeks or more ahead of the PS3.

dwhelan

08-09-2006, 01:59 AM

Im fine with $230 if it comes with the stuff you guys mentioned. There is no possible way they could sell wii sports seperate so they would have to bundle it.

Why could they not sell Wii Sports seperate. Nintendo would be taking a page from Sony's book. Anyone remember the near launch tite for the PS2, Fantavision.

megaseadramon

08-09-2006, 02:18 AM

Why could they not sell Wii Sports seperate. Nintendo would be taking a page from Sony's book. Anyone remember the near launch tite for the PS2, Fantavision.
Yeah, and we know how well that one sold.

Ikohn4ever

08-09-2006, 02:36 AM

well if they want people to get into the VC, they need to have the retro controller and including the 2 pieces of plastic to make the controller a zapper seems like a good idea. If they had those 2 and Wii Sports plus a VC Game included I would pay 250. Though one with only Wii sports seems reasonable at 200.

upstart

08-09-2006, 03:25 AM

The thing that bothers me is that they kept listing Wii sports as a "launch title" at E3. I really am hoping they plan to make it included in the 229 package(making an assumption that matt c isnt just talking out his ass again), but hearing nintendo rep after rep cite it as a game released on launch day bothers me. I hope they don't include the cheesy wii music package instead. The orchestra and drum demos seemed the least impressive show of what the system is capable of, not to mention boring as hell.

whoknows

08-09-2006, 04:17 AM

Being that no official price has been announced from Nintendo this is at best speculation and not news.
You completely missed my point or are trying to avoid it. If Nintendo would release some news people wouldnt be "speculating" from second rate sources like we're doing now.

schuerm26

08-09-2006, 09:39 AM

Well i can go 2 ways with this. We are speculatiing normally between $200 and $299 which is listed.

If most people are speculating $250 or so and it comes in cheaper, Goldmine for Nintendo publicity wise.

If it does come in at $299, well that's not good, but it wouldn't be from completely out of nowhere.

I Highly Highly doubt that it would be $299, so i don't see the harm in allowing people to speculate at that price point and then "surprise" them when it comes in cheaper.

furyk

08-09-2006, 09:59 AM

If it does come in at $299, well that's not good, but it wouldn't be from completely out of nowhere.

I disagree, a $299.99 price tag comes completely out of left field (7/11 "news" aside). It would be a PR nightmare for Nintendo if the Wii costs $299.99. They pubically came out and said the system wouldn't be more then $249.99. Most of us think the Wii will cost $200 because every previously released home console at launch by Nintendo cost $200. Furthermore, at $299.99 the new generation system is the same price as a next generation system. It doesn't matter how spectacular the games are at that point.

The Wii is an underpowered system compared to the 360 and the PS3, it doesn't come with a comparable hard drvie, and the system relies on what has to be proven as not a gimmick. At $299, Nintendo prices themselves right into the handheld market because the Wii would not and will not sell at that price. Most of us think $249 in a non-bundle since that's a Wii and a game away from being a Core 360.

Nintendo is banking on two things this generation. They think gamers will pick innovative gameplay over better graphics, and they think gamers will trust them. Half of that equation falls apart if Mario takes out his fire flower dildo and proceeds to rape that trust in the ass for 1ups.

dwhelan

08-09-2006, 10:41 AM

I disagree, a $299.99 price tag comes completely out of left field (7/11 "news" aside). It would be a PR nightmare for Nintendo if the Wii costs $299.99. They pubically came out and said the system wouldn't be more then $249.99. Most of us think the Wii will cost $200 because every previously released home console at launch by Nintendo cost $200. Furthermore, at $299.99 the new generation system is the same price as a next generation system. It doesn't matter how spectacular the games are at that point.

The Wii is an underpowered system compared to the 360 and the PS3, it doesn't come with a comparable hard drvie, and the system relies on what has to be proven as not a gimmick. At $299, Nintendo prices themselves right into the handheld market because the Wii would not and will not sell at that price. Most of us think $249 in a non-bundle since that's a Wii and a game away from being a Core 360.

Nintendo is banking on two things this generation. They think gamers will pick innovative gameplay over better graphics, and they think gamers will trust them. Half of that equation falls apart if Mario takes out his fire flower dildo and proceeds to rape that trust in the ass for 1ups.

Yeah, because we have not see other companies do this and be successful. Oh wait, Apple was doing this same tactic for years. Selling hardware that was way below PC spec for twice as much as a equally equipped PC would cost.

Why you ask?

Because people will by what works for them, what is interesting and different, and what they have grown used too. Nintendo wants to be the Apple of the Gaming world. Hell, the redesign of the DS is essentially a Mac Book.
There is alot more to the expereince then just raw computing power and if you just looking for that, why not just go out and by a CORE DUO Extreme, 4 GIGs of Ram, a SLi Capable MoBo, and 2 Nividia 7950s. It will do everything you want.

P.S. Fantavision did not sell terribly, because it was one of a few games out for the PS2. You want an impressive, there are 7 titles confirmed for the Wii launch, that is almost 2.5 times how many games launched with the PS2

-Never4ever-

08-09-2006, 11:07 AM

What's wrong with speculation? I personally find this whole ordeal kinda fun :)

$229.99 is a little more than what I expected ($199.99 like everyone else), but if it encludes wii sports and/or some VC downloads I'll be happy. Honestly I was hoping for a $249.99 bundle that included the following:

-Wii
-Wii Wand
-VC Controller
-Wii Sports
-Duck Hunt (new version)
-VC download of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt (together)

I would have no problem shelling out $249.99+tx. if that was the deal.

furyk

08-09-2006, 01:23 PM

Yeah, because we have not see other companies do this and be successful. Oh wait, Apple was doing this same tactic for years. Selling hardware that was way below PC spec for twice as much as a equally equipped PC would cost.

Why you ask?

Because people will by what works for them, what is interesting and different, and what they have grown used too. Nintendo wants to be the Apple of the Gaming world. Hell, the redesign of the DS is essentially a Mac Book.
There is alot more to the expereince then just raw computing power and if you just looking for that, why not just go out and by a CORE DUO Extreme, 4 GIGs of Ram, a SLi Capable MoBo, and 2 Nividia 7950s. It will do everything you want.

P.S. Fantavision did not sell terribly, because it was one of a few games out for the PS2. You want an impressive, there are 7 titles confirmed for the Wii launch, that is almost 2.5 times how many games launched with the PS2

I think you mean 27 titles, not 7. Regardless, the recent explosion in growth from Apple came from two things. They ditched the ancient code that they had constantly been building on since the inception of Apple for OSX and the iPod which allowed you to download your songs from either a Mac or a Windows machine. The simple fact of the matter is that you can be ahead of the game and cool for so long. Furthermore, who used to buy Apple computers back in the day? As far as I know, the vast majority of Macs were bought as educational tools, an outlet that Nintendo obviously cannot enter into unless there is a major cultural swing towards video games.

Eventually you have to place yourself back into the market and not ignore what most consumers want. Nintendo, believe it or not, wants to win this generation. Apple has resigned itself to second place, third if you count Linux, and is simply ok with trying to win converts. Personally, I love my Powerbook, but once I left film school, there was very little I wanted to do with it. Following the Apple business model is a way to send Nintendo to designing games for the other big 2 while still floating out Pokemon games for their handheld.

elwood731

08-09-2006, 03:50 PM

Apple has traditionally been sold to two markets--education and creative professionals. In the past ten years or so PCs finally started making big strides into both markets, luckily about the time Jobs came back to Apple and has set them on a better course. Apple is still the preferred format of most creative professionals.

upstart

08-09-2006, 05:26 PM

Back OT about the price of the wii....Call me a conspiracy freak, but I keep thinking that the 229 price is true. I always take rumors in with a grain of salt, but when suspicious stuff happens because of a rumor, I take it more seriously. And there is alot of suspicious stuff happening with this one. Just take a look at 1UP's page about it: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152727 Now the part that got cut out was fairly obvious, but if you read thru the different versions, you will see many other changes to make it sound more generic, 5 million from 5.5 million...november 2nd instead of tuesday november 2nd. So you tell me, why all these changes? I can't see IGN or an editor going back and changing a small rumor article unless there is a reason outside of their control.

Anyways besides all that it is highly believable-under $250 like they promised and still leaving room for a little price drop that wont kill profits if sales slow. So I am pretty much counting on 229. I just wish what is coming inside the box would get leaked too...it is killing me not knowing what all I am gonna get for my wii savings fund.

Oh, and another thing I am now speculating is that there will be no bundle...if this is in fact the price, I think it pretty much kills hopes of a 199 system and 250 bundle deal. Plus I am not totally sure, but I don't remember Nintendo ever launching several different skus on launch day of console. Seems like they always release one package until much later in the console's life, when they start bundling it. If I am wrong about this though, feel free to correct me.

dothog

08-09-2006, 07:34 PM

A stand-alone price of $229 and a release date of November 12th are seeming more and more likely in that they are respectively more expensive and later than I'd like them to be. And I figure I'm a lock to be disappointed by something to do with the release.

I'm going to reserve my bitching and moaning (e.g. "$230 for a grown-up GC???! OMGWTF") until after the late August thing in Germany. Maybe this 12 Nov/$229 thing is just one last misinformation "leak" to set us up for a happy surprise. [/optimism] Because I'll be damned if mid-October and $199 wouldn't make me giddy.