Revolution: If the system is wicked cheap will the games be too?

[javeryh]

Since Nintendo is boasting about low development costs and analysts are predicting the system will likely be $200 at launch do you think that any of the savings will be passed along to us? Like $30 first-party and $40 third-party prices? This could absolutely kill the competition...

[shipwreck]

Nintendo already charges $10 more for first-party titles than Sony & Microsoft sometimes do this generation. I really doubt they'd release their first-party software at $30. Expect $50. Heck, even the first-party DS games are the most expensive for that system coming in at $35. Do you really think Tetris DS is going to be more expensive than a first-party Revo title?

[javeryh]

Nintendo already charges $10 more for first-party titles than Sony & Microsoft sometimes do this generation. I really doubt they'd release their first-party software at $30. Expect $50. Heck, even the first-party DS games are the most expensive for that system coming in at $35. Do you really think Tetris DS is going to be more expensive than a first-party Revo title?

No but I can dream...

[Vinny]

Highly doubtful... I mean, sure the games will be cheaper to produce but they've made it clear that it'll be cheaper to produce than the competition.

I'm thinking that the games will probably be $50, maybe $40 for first party games.

Nintendo already charges $10 more for first-party titles than Sony & Microsoft sometimes do this generation. I really doubt they'd release their first-party software at $30. Expect $50. Heck, even the first-party DS games are the most expensive for that system coming in at $35. Do you really think Tetris DS is going to be more expensive than a first-party Revo title?

What games did they charges $10 more than MS or Sony? I can't remember any...:-k

[javeryh]

Highly doubtful... I mean, sure the games will be cheaper to produce but they've made it clear that it'll be cheaper to produce than the competition.

I'm thinking that the games will probably be $50, maybe $40 for first party games.



What games did they charges $10 more than MS or Sony? I can't remember any...:-k

Well, games like Ratchet and Jak launched at $40 (Sony first party, well second party, I guess technically) and most (all) Nintendo first party games launched at $50 (Mario, Zelda, etc.).

[Strell]

I dunno. If they talk about making a Rev game for 1-2 million is true, then they could undercut the price.

Doubtful, but it could happen.

DS vs. Rev isn't completely valid, if only because of the dual screen concept. Meh.

I still am planning to get Rev and all sorts of cool stuff for it right at launch.

[botticus]

The cheap part will be when they roll out cheaper than the $60 next-gen games retail for now. Sure, MS games are $50, but I'd have to imagine that means they're taking a loss (read: less profit) to get people to buy Microsoft games.

But 3rd party Rev games (here's lookin at you, Spiderman 3) should certainly be less than $60, making them, by comparison, cheap.

[Allnatural]

Since Nintendo is boasting about low development costs and analysts are predicting the system will likely be $200 at launch do you think that any of the savings will be passed along to us? Like $30 first-party and $40 third-party prices? This could absolutely kill the competition...
The 'cube has low development costs, and it was released at 200 USD. Despite that, many PC titles are $30 (at least, initially), ten more than the competition, and I have yet to see an official price drop on games like Pikmin 2 and Paper Mario, both released in '04.

keep dreaming...

[JSweeney]

You know, Nintendo isn't going to be the only company making games for the Revolution.

Don't forget that Nintendo is begining to roll out cheaper games developed on smaller budgets for the DS... Brain Age, and Big Brain Academy for example.
I'd imagine they're trying to push that concept across it's multiple divisions, especially if you want to win the "non-gamers".

Sure, the marquee games will still demand a premium price, but a multi-tiered pricing structure wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[Ikohn4ever]

I remember Iwata saying something along the lines of we are going to make it cheaper to make games for but the publishers have the right to charge what they want

[SpazX]

Well if they stay the same price instead of going up like the 360, that would be good, right? :-P

[Grave_Addiction]

This quote from Iwata during the GDC should tell you something:

The most important story of all is still to be told. To compete at the $50-$60 level, we'll need larger games, larger teams, license cost, and marketing cost. Our business is beginning to look like a bookstore where you can only buy expensive encyclopedias. People with good ideas often don't have a chance.

[Vinny]

This quote from Iwata during the GDC should tell you something:

Yes, it's telling us that Rev games won't cost $50-60...:)

All jokes aside, I'm thinking that he probably does mean that games could be less than they are today so something under $50. So maybe $30-40 isn't out of the range but at the same time, that's DS game range. Which would probably confuse people who think 'price=quality'.:-?

[whoknows]

I forsee the Rev launching at $249 and the games being in the $50 range...Nintendo is very stingy about 1st party titles, so I doubt we'll get a lower price on those..

[SpazX]

The cube launched at $200 right? I think the rev will launch with the same price or $249 with a game. The games won't be any lower than cube games, probably the same price, but at least not higher.

That's my half-assed uninformed guess :-P.

[TimPV3]

Well if they stay the same price instead of going up like the 360, that would be good, right? :-PYes, only gameplay wise though. We still have to realize Madden and GTA are the best selling games, and the casual gamers who buy those games want awesome graphics. They see Revolution doesn't compare to 360/PS3 so they blow it off. That's why casual gamers suck and this post went off topic.

[undyingforce5]

its up to developers to pass the savings on to us and that seems unlikey

[FriskyTanuki]

Yes, it's telling us that Rev games won't cost $50-60...:)

All jokes aside, I'm thinking that he probably does mean that games could be less than they are today so something under $50. So maybe $30-40 isn't out of the range but at the same time, that's DS game range. Which would probably confuse people who think 'price=quality'.:-?
Under $50 = $49.99

[alongx]

I forsee the Rev launching at $249 and the games being in the $50 range...Nintendo is very stingy about 1st party titles, so I doubt we'll get a lower price on those..

I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised about the console price; I'd expect it to launch for $200 or cheaper. Nintendo wants to push value, and I'm pretty sure they realize that $50 isn't enough of a gap between the core 360 to get your average consumer to jump at one. Plus, when you consider that Microsoft had said numerous times that they plan on cost-reducing the 360 hardware yearly, that could mean a price cut by Christmas (not probable, but certainly possible, especially to keep consoles jumping off shelves despite the stiff forthcoming competition), which could easily meet or beat a $250 Revolution, and Nintendo wouldn't let that happen.

Also, I'm unsure that you actually know what the word stingy means. I think the word you're looking for is greedy, since Nintendo always charges $50 for first party titles when some developers, such as Capcom, have often charged only $40. I wouldn't expect Revolution titles to be priced over $50, though - expect the same old $40-50 range for the most part.

[dmes65]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146790.html Looks like they will be cheaper and maybe a hard drive for the rev. I'm still happy with my xbox 360. Nintendo is pusing the gimmick thing way too much. I think Nintendo is gonna screw themselves this time around.

[Strell]

Nintendo is pusing the gimmick thing way too much. I think Nintendo is gonna screw themselves this time around.

Hooray for uninformed posts!

[SpazX]

I don't get gimmick comments, why is changing the controller to something new such a bad idea? Somebody's gotta be trying something different here, it can't just be the same shit over and over and over and you know Sony and MS aren't gonna do it, since Sega is out Nintendo's the only one left to do it.

[Foolman]

I agree with dmes, guys. The oh-so gimmicky DS is killing Nintendo. I wish Nintendo would be just like everyone else.

[BlaqRenaissance]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146790.html Looks like they will be cheaper and maybe a hard drive for the rev. I'm still happy with my xbox 360. Nintendo is pusing the gimmick thing way too much. I think Nintendo is gonna screw themselves this time around.

Here (http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/29/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/?cnn=yes) is the full Iwata interview with CNN Money.

[javeryh]

Nintendo is pusing the gimmick thing way too much. I think Nintendo is gonna screw themselves this time around.

Thank god someone is willing to take a chance and try something different. Nintendo does their own thing and while in the past I used to question it (carts over CDs for the N64, 1.8GB mini-discs over 4.7GB DVDs for the Gamecube, weird controllers all around, touch screen, etc.) it always works out for the best. They know what they are doing.

I can't imagine how boring it would be if all three companies just tried to outmuscle each other while not offering anything distinct. What do you think the difference is going to be between the 360 (which I own and love) and the PS3 (which I plan on buying)? Outside some first party exclusives not a whole lot.

[JSweeney]

Thank god someone is willing to take a chance and try something different. Nintendo does their own thing and while in the past I used to question it (carts over CDs for the N64, 1.8GB mini-discs over 4.7GB DVDs for the Gamecube, weird controllers all around, touch screen, etc.) it always works out for the best. They know what they are doing.

I can't imagine how boring it would be if all three companies just tried to outmuscle each other while not offering anything distinct. What do you think the difference is going to be between the 360 (which I own and love) and the PS3 (which I plan on buying)? Outside some first party exclusives not a whole lot.

Exactly. Coke and Pepsi are great, but every so often people would like a Snapple. If the market is mature enough to sustain three participants, I have no problem getting my entertainment from all three.

[jkam]

I think games will be around $40 to $50. I think Nintendo could make some headway quickly if they price everything at $40.

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ATTENTION FANBOY RANT WARNING DO NOT READ IF YOUR'E SENSITIVE
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Why does everyone want Nintendo to be like everyone else? So they could be like Sony and make crappy hardware? Or be like M$ and have 1 good franchise and not much else to offer? Everyone said the PSP would destroy the DS...did it happen?...uh nope. The gamecube's load times are non existent compared to the PS2. You could play three games of Wi-Fi tetris while waiting for a PSP game to load. The wavebird is the greatest controller ever. The gamecube has a ton of great games... if you look hard enough they are there. You know POP, BG&E, and all those 3rd party titles come out on more than 1 system right? If Nintendo didn't try new things we as a gaming community would NEVER get anything new. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER. I REPEAT NEVER.

[David85]

If a Gamecube cost $100 and the games cost $50 then what makes you think there will be cheaper games?

Is there any logic behind this or are you just pulling thoughts out of your ass?

[JSweeney]

If a Gamecube cost $100 and the games cost $50 then what makes you think there will be cheaper games?

Is there any logic behind this or are you just pulling thoughts out of your ass?

The stance which Nintendo leadership appears to be taking (per Iwata's conferences) is to offer a more cost efficient and easier to access development platform.
This could allow smaller houses to make games on smaller budgets, allowing them to sell their products at a lower price.
Thic could create the sort of environment that the GBA and PS2 enjoy, where you have a multitiered pricing structure, where marquee titles, quick and dirty ports, shovelware, and niche and small market titles can all happily play together.

That doesn't mean that Nintendo's titles won't hover around the $50 price point, but it wouldn't be all that shocking to see more of the PS2 style ports of Japanese games at an intial $20 price point.

[shipwreck]

The stance which Nintendo leadership appears to be taking (per Iwata's conferences) is to offer a more cost efficient and easier to access development platform.
This could allow smaller houses to make games on smaller budgets, allowing them to sell their products at a lower price.
Thic could create the sort of environment that the GBA and PS2 enjoy, where you have a multitiered pricing structure, where marquee titles, quick and dirty ports, shovelware, and niche and small market titles can all happily play together.

That doesn't mean that Nintendo's titles won't hover around the $50 price point, but it wouldn't be all that shocking to see more of the PS2 style ports of Japanese games at an intial $20 price point.

We pretty much already have that environment, right? Games sell at a price the publisher thinks they can make the most money at. That's pretty much all there is to it.

[Reality's Fringe]

Hooray for uninformed posts!

Goddmanit strell, they're pusing a GIMMICK! Don't you get it? Anything that's different is a gimmick, unless it has a flashy name or a cool LED. See, downloadable content is totally whimisical and idiotic when comapred to something as cutting edge and practical like Blue-Ray, or Xbox Live Achievements. Stupid Nintendo, they will be bankrupt this gen lol.

[Reality's Fringe]

Exactly. Coke and Pepsi are great, but every so often people would like a Snapple. If the market is mature enough to sustain three participants, I have no problem getting my entertainment from all three.

And since Snapple isn't too busy trying to shove Puff Daddy down our throats, they have more money(OH, THE ALLUSIONS!).

[wageslave]

I foresee myself buying the revolution at or near launch just for the download service and Gamecube games at first. A game has to be pretty damn special for me to shell out more than 30 bones for it.