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With the recent announcement of Microsoft's Xbox 360 priced at $400 and Sony already stating the PS3 is going to cost a lot of money, does anyone else see this as a perfect opportunity for Nintendo to really steal alot of sales from Microsoft and Sony?

If Nintendo can come in with a unit priced at $199, it will be a huge advantage, in my opinion. Nintendo has already stated they are using older technology to cut down costs of the console, and they've said it will be the cheapest console out there.

I don't have numbers, but I think it really helped Nintendo early on this generation when they only had a $100 difference. Could you think what a $200 difference could make?

Personally, I just don't have the extra cash to throw down $500 on launch day for an Xbox 360 or PS3 with a game and extra controller.

Can you imagine if the Revo launched at $200, Nintendo keeps all its first-party games at $50 and has a lot of the same third-party games that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have? And that's not even taking into account the ability to emulate all of Nintendo's back log of video games and the Revo's mysterious controller!

Nintendo is trying to cater more to third parties than ever before with dev kits that are extremely easy to use and games that should cost less to make than their competitors.

Also, if Nintendo keeps its earlier promise of free online gameplay, it will only further distance itself from their way higher-priced competitors.

I really hope Nintendo sees the opportunity they've been given by Sony and Microsoft. The Revolution is going to be a gamer's system. It won't do all the extra things that really have nothing to do with gaming. I applaud Nintendo for sticking with the gaming-first mentality and not getting swooped up in the multimedia hype that Microsoft and Sony have been saying is so important.

With a price difference of more than $200, free online gameplay, hundreds of classic Nintendo games to emulate, Gamecube backwards compatibility and a unique controller, it seems Nintendo could really sneak up on Sony and Microsoft this generation.

i personally think the $199 price point is too low. probably $249 or something would be sweeter. an average unknowledgable consumer sees the price difference and automatically deduce that there's something missing on the revo versus the xbox 360 or ps3. i think even better would be the same price ($299 or so), but throw in a pack in game. this would not lead them to the same thought.

Never underestimate the amount of money parents will spend to shut their spoiled children up.

I will be the cheapest,but so was the gamecube. The Gc had great graphics but no games. The revelution will have great graphics but no games. The revolution will be good but will go the same rout of the gamecube.

$200 range
3rd party support (really need this, even if the 1st party stuff rocks)
Nintendo's whole library of games
and a friggin controller they will not even show

They do have a very good chance at grabbing some market share with the main stream consumers. I know alot of people would love to have next gen without breaking the bank. Even though it is less powerful than the other 2, Nintendo has always done well with less. I love to have all the bells and whistles, but I'm happy they are sticking to a gaming console. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to buy the 360 and PS3. That's the gamer in me.

Originally Posted by maxflight i personally think the $199 price point is too low. probably $249 or something would be sweeter. an average unknowledgable consumer sees the price difference and automatically deduce that there's something missing on the revo versus the xbox 360 or ps3. i think even better would be the same price ($299 or so), but throw in a pack in game. this would not lead them to the same thought.

But when you're talking about ignorant consumers, which is more than likely going to be parents and not the majority of gamers, Nintendo still has a lot of credibility.

If you see three systems sitting on the shelves with the same third party games, but one system is $200 cheaper, which one do you think most ignorant consumers are going to want? Personally, I think it will be the cheaper one.

I think Nintendo has a great shot of being everyone's second console. For me it's going to be PS3 or 360 (neither at launch and they will fight it out until I make my decision) but I know for sure I will be buying a Revolution probably at launch.

The ONLY thing they need to do to ensure success is to package the console with 2 controllers - one fancy new one for all of the first-party games and for developers looking to innovate and the other a modified SNES pad/dual shock with 6 face buttons, 4 shoulder buttons, 2 analog sticks and a d-pad for playing all the third party games. If it adds $20-$30 to the overall cost of the console so what? They will be pleasing third parties (and us consumers) right out of the gate...

The weird thing is I will be purchasing a Revolution.

Originally Posted by Grave_Addiction With the recent announcement of Microsoft's Xbox 360 priced at $400 and Sony already stating the PS3 is going to cost a lot of money, does anyone else see this as a perfect opportunity for Nintendo to really steal alot of sales from Microsoft and Sony? If Nintendo can come in with a unit priced at $199, it will be a huge advantage, in my opinion. Nintendo has already stated they are using older technology to cut down costs of the console, and they've said it will be the cheapest console out there. I don't have numbers, but I think it really helped Nintendo early on this generation when they only had a $100 difference. Could you think what a $200 difference could make? Personally, I just don't have the extra cash to throw down $500 on launch day for an Xbox 360 or PS3 with a game and extra controller. Can you imagine if the Revo launched at $200, Nintendo keeps all its first-party games at $50 and has a lot of the same third-party games that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have? And that's not even taking into account the ability to emulate all of Nintendo's back log of video games and the Revo's mysterious controller! Nintendo is trying to cater more to third parties than ever before with dev kits that are extremely easy to use and games that should cost less to make than their competitors. Also, if Nintendo keeps its earlier promise of free online gameplay, it will only further distance itself from their way higher-priced competitors. I really hope Nintendo sees the opportunity they've been given by Sony and Microsoft. The Revolution is going to be a gamer's system. It won't do all the extra things that really have nothing to do with gaming. I applaud Nintendo for sticking with the gaming-first mentality and not getting swooped up in the multimedia hype that Microsoft and Sony have been saying is so important. With a price difference of more than $200, free online gameplay, hundreds of classic Nintendo games to emulate, Gamecube backwards compatibility and a unique controller, it seems Nintendo could really sneak up on Sony and Microsoft this generation.

The biggest problem about this theory is that you have to think of the Revo as not just being (approx) $200 cheaper than the competition. The BIG question right now is, WHY upgrade to the revolution? That is just something we don't know yet. So while it may be a lot cheaper than PS3 and Xbox 360, they still need to find a way to convince people to shell out cash for a new system that will not offer a large graphical leap from the gamecube. But if Nintendo really does pull off the revolutionary aspect of the system, and price it along the lines we've been discussing, then they might very well have a winner on their hands.

Originally Posted by basketkase543 The biggest problem about this theory is that you have to think of the Revo as not just being (approx) $200 cheaper than the competition. The BIG question right now is, WHY upgrade to the revolution? That is just something we don't know yet. So while it may be a lot cheaper than PS3 and Xbox 360, they still need to find a way to convince people to shell out cash for a new system that will not offer a large graphical leap from the gamecube. But if Nintendo really does pull off the revolutionary aspect of the system, and price it along the lines we've been discussing, then they might very well have a winner on their hands.

Very good point.

Originally Posted by MrFriday18 I will be the cheapest,but so was the gamecube. The Gc had great graphics but no games. The revelution will have great graphics but no games. The revolution will be good but will go the same rout of the gamecube.

I don't think that's true at all. With everything I've read, Nintendo realizes it lost a substantial amount of third-party support with the N64 and Gamecube. They are taking the measures so that won't happen this time around.

I think, with dev kits that are cheap, fast and easy to use, Nintendo can get a lot of support from the smaller third-parties out there.

I think the Revo will be very profitable for Nintendo and for Nintendo to take back some market share this generation.

I am in on the revolution also...

Now here I go with the Eb employee said line... I understand most the time thye dont know whats even up.

But in a short convo yesterday the guy was talking about how he was really excited for the revolution. (It go t brought up during the Zelda delay) and he told me he has had quite a few people in the store already asking about the revolution and it playing all the previous games.

that came as a shock to me as I didnt figure it would have that much hype this early on for that feature alone.

This could turn out to be a closer race. The only company i see that stands to lose is Sony. Not because they are bad but because they were so far ahead this time around. So it will be closer all around.

I think it is Nintendos time to be Nintendo. Release great games every couple years for the console and make kick ass handheld games.

Originally Posted by basketkase543 The biggest problem about this theory is that you have to think of the Revo as not just being (approx) $200 cheaper than the competition. The BIG question right now is, WHY upgrade to the revolution? That is just something we don't know yet. So while it may be a lot cheaper than PS3 and Xbox 360, they still need to find a way to convince people to shell out cash for a new system that will not offer a large graphical leap from the gamecube. But if Nintendo really does pull off the revolutionary aspect of the system, and price it along the lines we've been discussing, then they might very well have a winner on their hands.

You're basing the only reason for people to purchase a new system on how large a graphical leap it makes over its predecessor. While that may have been the case in the past, we're not going to see a huge leap like we have before.

Nintendo has stated the Revo to be about two to three times more powerful than the Gamecube. That's a very honest assessment, while Sony and Microsoft have been talking behind inflated numbers and trying outpower each other.

But the important thing this generation is going to be what the console can do for the gamer, not just about the grapics, in my opinion. Sony and Microsoft think gamers want multimedia, while Nintendo wants to broaden its system's game-playing abilities.

All three companies know the importance of community this time around, so we can all bet to see highly advanced and deep online services, but Nintendo's is going to be the only one that's free.

While we're still waiting with bated breath on what the Revolution is going to revolutionize, I think Nintendo has already built a very powerful machine that is going to do a helluva lot for a very reasonable price.

Originally Posted by Grave_Addiction Nintendo has stated the Revo to be about two to three times more powerful than the Gamecube. That's a very honest assessment, while Sony and Microsoft have been talking behind inflated numbers and trying outpower each other.

yeah but both the 360 and PS3 will support 16x9 and high definition. That puts Nintendo at a significant disadvantageright from the start, IMO. Ultimately, when deciding to jump into the next generation - especially the early adopters - graphics are really all that matter (well maybe 80% graphics and 20% gameplay) to the average consumer.

Well price point is a very difficult thing to decide. If you have a name brand item like a TV, and a "generic" brand that is the exact same thing, but cheaper....people will always assume the name brand thing is better. It's just the way the mind works. If nintendo goes too cheap on the console people will think it sucks, or maybe fanboys will...parents might like it as they can get it for gifts/xmas etc. They have to price it at a point where they are in good competition without artifically degrading the value/worth of their console.

Originally Posted by javeryh yeah but both the 360 and PS3 will support 16x9 and high definition. That puts Nintendo at a significant disadvantageright from the start, IMO. Ultimately, when deciding to jump into the next generation - especially the early adopters - graphics are really all that matter (well maybe 80% graphics and 20% gameplay) to the average consumer.

I don't think it's important as everyone is making it out to be. How many people truly have HD televisions? I'd be willing to wager it is a small fraction of the people who have highspeed internet, which is a relatively small fraction of people buying videogames.

Originally Posted by Tromack I don't think it's important as everyone is making it out to be. How many people truly have HD televisions? I'd be willing to wager it is a small fraction of the people who have highspeed internet, which is a relatively small fraction of people buying videogames.

I know that's the case right now but the PS3 isn't shipping until next year and HDTVs are getting cheaper and cheaper. They aren't only for people with extra cash laying around anymore. I'm willing to bet that more people are buying HD sets than any other kind because a TV is at least a 5 year investment and everyone is saying 5 years from now HD will be the standard. I think you are right in the short term for the next 2 years or so but I bet by the mid to end of the next gen Revolution games are going to be laughable to most people compared to what Microsoft and especially Sony are putting out there...

Originally Posted by javeryh yeah but both the 360 and PS3 will support 16x9 and high definition. That puts Nintendo at a significant disadvantageright from the start, IMO. Ultimately, when deciding to jump into the next generation - especially the early adopters - graphics are really all that matter (well maybe 80% graphics and 20% gameplay) to the average consumer.

I don't think it's as significant as you might think. HDTV owners are still a very small percentage right now. In several years, that might change, but I don't think it's going to cause someone to not buy the system.

Originally Posted by daschrier Well price point is a very difficult thing to decide. If you have a name brand item like a TV, and a "generic" brand that is the exact same thing, but cheaper....people will always assume the name brand thing is better. It's just the way the mind works. If nintendo goes too cheap on the console people will think it sucks, or maybe fanboys will...parents might like it as they can get it for gifts/xmas etc. They have to price it at a point where they are in good competition without artifically degrading the value/worth of their console.

The problem with your theory is Nintendo is not a generic brand, but a name brand.

Originally Posted by Grave_Addiction I don't think that's true at all. With everything I've read, Nintendo realizes it lost a substantial amount of third-party support with the N64 and Gamecube. They are taking the measures so that won't happen this time around.

They say that EVERY year at their investor's meetings. They've been saying since midway through the N64s lifespan.

Nintendo does not have the market appeal that it once did and there's no way it finishes higher than 3rd this time around in the US unless Microsoft truly flames out. There are plenty of recovering-Nintendo fanboys (myself included) who were hugely disappointed in the GCN. GCN is the only console I've ever bought on launch day. Now I own all 3 and have far, far fewer GCN titles than I do for the other 2.

Nintendo has to prove that they can do online, they have to prove they can do 3rd parties and they have to prove they won't rip me off by charging me $20 to play Super Mario Bros off a freaking memory card. I'd say Nintendo can redeem themselves and set up for 6 years from now with the Revo but they aren't retaking the market.