New gaming price model for Wii games?

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ananag112

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http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/iwata-bemoans-current-pricing-models/#comments

An "unhealthy product cycle," according to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, is a game that is released at a high price and then subsequently receives price drops every few months. Speaking at a corporate management policy briefing, Iwata suggested that consumers will see this universal trend and simply wait until the guaranteed price drop, and retailers will regard lower-priced games negatively.

"Each software should have its own price point depending on its volume, theme, contents or energies and ... development costs," Iwata says. Iwata further believed that publishers should stick to their suggested retail price (unless they become Player's Choice titles, of course).

What does this imply for the pricing of future Nintendo titles? Likely, while we can expect Wii games to cost less than other next-generation offerings, do not expect them to cut prices every trimester.
 
Maybe I read it wrong, but isn't what he's saying running counter to what this web site is all about?
 
[quote name='Tarsus']Maybe I read it wrong, but isn't what he's saying running counter to what this web site is all about?[/QUOTE]
It's all relative, just like how lots of people are okay now with $40 being "cheap" for a 360 game. And regardless of MSRPs and whatnot, stores will continue to have sales.

What would be nice is if this introduced a more structured tiered pricing. So instead of 90% of games being released at $50 or $20, you'll have some more $30 games, $40 games, etc. Kinda like if the games that everyone knows will plummet in price after two months just started off at that lower price to begin with.
 
[quote name='omegaweapon7']it took like 4 years for zelda WW to drop in price.

mainly because there isnt much competition on the cube.[/quote]

Wind Waker has been out in America for just over 3 years.
 
In contrast, though, when games do well they go to Player's Choice status after about a year which drops them to $20. Of course, there's few things more frustrating than waiting it out while you hear about an amazing game for an entire year.
 
If prices never dropped, then there'd be no competition. No store's going to stand for a something where they have no way of gaining an advantage over other stores.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']If prices never dropped, then there'd be no competition. No store's going to stand for a something where they have no way of gaining an advantage over other stores.[/QUOTE]
:whistle2:s Price drops from manufacturers are universal, so prices remain equal at all stores. The only competitive advantage they have from a pricing standpoint is their own sales.
 
[quote name='sevdustflyer']Nintendo has always been like this. They are not friends with the price drop.[/QUOTE]


This is why mario party 4 is $40 fucking dollars STILL.
 
[quote name='Graystone']This is why mario party 4 is $40 fucking dollars STILL.[/QUOTE]

Mario Party 4 and 5 are $20 new $15 used or so at gamecrazy.. i almost picked up 5 today.

Not to mention Mario Tennis was $15 used.

I think this means that Twilight Princess will be $50. Wii Sports might be $30. ExciteTruck or Day of Distaster( is that the title?) could be $40.

Less discrete pricing, where games are either normal $50 or budget $20.

And that those prices might be more permanent until they hit the PC $20 price point.
 
What I've learned over the years is that certain stores and chains who dabble in used merchandise (The Exchange stores in Pittsburgh, for example) are some of the best places to pick up Nintendo titles, if you don't mind them being slightly used. It was great to pick up Smash Brothers Melee for $25 when it was still going strong at $50, not to mention the Zelda Collectable Disks for $5 instead of $65 at EB (yes, FIVE dollars). That's not to say that they don't know their prices, mind you, but when you have so many of a particular used title you can't expect customers to buy all of them for $35 a pop.

As such they tend to price three at $35, two at $30, one at $25, one at $20, and one at $15 depending upon the conditions of the game. The $15 moves like wildfire and the $20 follows quickly thereafter. Someone then grabs the $25 since it's still an amazing deal, and the dwindling stock makes people run for the rest available since it's flying off the shelves.

It's sickening how often that worked, and worked well. The trade-in value was fantastic as well, but the overall value on titles that wouldn't drop for six months to...ever...was just so amazing it was worth every penny.
 
[quote name='botticus']:whistle2:s Price drops from manufacturers are universal, so prices remain equal at all stores. The only competitive advantage they have from a pricing standpoint is their own sales.[/QUOTE]

I reread my post and realized that it's one of the dumbest things I've ever said... I confused myself. I misread the OP and I mis-typed my response. I need to sleep.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']I reread my post and realized that it's one of the dumbest things I've ever said... I confused myself. I misread the OP and I mis-typed my response. I need to sleep.[/QUOTE]
:lol: Fair enough.
 
I will pay you tax plus shipping plus a little for you if you can get that for me. I can't find it for less than $45 around here.


[quote name='jer7583']
Not to mention Mario Tennis was $15 used.

[/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='ananag112']An "unhealthy product cycle," Iwata suggested that consumers will see this universal trend and simply wait until the guaranteed price drop,[/quote]
That's me.

I don't buy the new $50 games 'til they hit $19 or less. Waiting saves money. :bouncy:
 
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