Worldwide Wii Day (Sep 14/15): the official thread *Released Nov 19 for $250 (US)*

[djdev]

Microsoft should cut the core system price to $250, and make the Platinum one bundled with a game and maybe an extra controller.

The cost of the Wii controller is expensive: $60 for Wiimote ($39) and Nunchuck ($19). That is just crazy. You will be spending well over $300 just getting an extra controller and a SD memory card

 

[darkblu]

I don't know, I think the Wii will do just fine at $250, especially considering it has a game included in that price.

I don't see the core 360 as direct competition to the Wii in all honesty; if you want a Wii, then a slightly more expensive, more powerful system, isn't going to satisfy your desire for the Wii experience.

ditto. i can't see how the 'box can substitue the wii. it has neither the hw nor the sw for the purpose.

 

[Carl B]

Sure. But that works both ways.

Oh sure, I agree. Still I think as far as profit margins go, that equation is going to be to Nintendo's advantage this Christmas.
Money hand-over-fist is my prediction... hell I better buy some stock! They are in a position to drop the price rapidly if need be in the future, and still make big money on it - but now when Wii hype is so high, why not take advantage of the consumer? Plus with the development costs of these Wii games, I mean they're going to have the software margins going on as well, especially with 4 million before end of year, and especially with Christmas-shopping parents.

As for myself, I will own the Wii at some point; whether at launch or not, I don't know. But I *am* glad they announced the launch two days after PS3, because both on November 17th would have been a disaster at retail.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

The cost of the Wii controller is expensive: $60 for Wiimote ($39) and Nunchuck ($19). That is just crazy.

That was inevitable. These are quite complex controllers. SD cards can be had for $10, plus with the inbuilt flash are they needed? Seems to me the real price comparison for entry level is $250 for Wii including a game (though I hate pack-ins. I only want to own games I choose to play) versus $400 ish for XB360 Core + Game + Memory card. Bundles with Core might be nearer $350, but I'm sure there'll be an obvious price difference, ignoring functional differences.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

As for myself, I will own the Wii at some point; whether at launch or not, I don't know. But I *am* glad they announced the launch two days after PS3, because both on November 17th would have been a disaster at retail.

Plus GOW. Gaming will will never have known it so busy! I wonder what schemes they'll have to try and capitalize on all this interest?

 

[Carl B]

Plus GOW. Gaming will will never have known it so busy! I wonder what schemes they'll have to try and capitalize on all this interest?

True. Actually if people are willing to stand/camp in line for this game (please don't), then maybe there will be some f@nboy-induced fistfights yet on November 17th.

 

[expletive]

I don't know, I think the Wii will do just fine at $250, especially considering it has a game included in that price.

I don't see the core 360 as direct competition to the Wii in all honesty; if you want a Wii, then a slightly more expensive, more powerful system, isn't going to satisfy your desire for the Wii experience.

I don't see how 2 gaming consoles priced at 249 are anything but competition for each other for the mainstream consumer. I dont think we're at a point where the holiday shopper is differentiating between what each company is "shooting for" in terms of their platform's vision. Wii will have the remote, 360 will have the graphics, they'll both be the same price, but in the end they both play video games. That is the one undeniable truth and it will be a decision that customers will have to make this holiday season.

 

[Carl B]

Well, I think you give the market-appeal of Wii too little credit though. I mean, people really have gotten the message that Wii is different. I wander into the game stores every time I'm at the mall - never to shop, but just to get the 'feel' of the times. And so many times now, I've seen some mother and little kid go up, and the kid asks when the Wii is coming out. Teenagers, same thing.

These are not individuals for whom a conception of price is the driving motivator; they know what they want, or think they do, and at the moment that is squarely Wii.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't see how 2 gaming consoles priced at 249 are anything but competition for each other for the mainstream consumer.

I only see one console you can buy for $250, take home, plug in and play.

Also, the graphics we're seeing aren't too bad, but do these represent as good as it gets on Wii? On XB360 and PS3, we know there's loads of room to grow. However, Wii is supposedly working like a GC, using GC tools. It sounds like there's little room for advancement. It's all there from the beginning.

 

[Carl B]

...ok actually I'll grant though that in this era of obsession with the false and direct perceived 'value' associated with the price things are set at, some of those who think Wii was 'awesome' when it was rumored to be ~$150 might suddenly thing it's an overpriced 'gimmick.' Such are the times sadly.

The whole 'Wii60' crowd might have their world fall apart as they can no longer claim dual-ownership less expensive than a single PS3 - seemingly the rallying cry for a large swath of the Internet gaming population, and thus perhaps abandon the console outright.

For me, I think the Wii is still cool, but you're right... maybe I'm giving the pricing effect too little credit among certain groups.

 

[Blade]

I think there's room for advancement. Not as much, but some.

Those who keep calling it too expensive at $249: are you aware of the Wii Sports pack-in?

I knew in my heart that Nintendo would never sell it for over $199 alone, and I was proven correct. I also assumed that Wii Sports would be a pack-in, either at $199 or $249. Again, I and many others were proven correct.

What I want to know is, when can I pre-order this sumbitch?

 

[expletive]

Well, I think you give the market-appeal of Wii too little credit though. I mean, people really have gotten the message that Wii is different. I wander into the game stores every time I'm at the mall - never to shop, but just to get the 'feel' of the times. And so many times now, I've seen some mother and little kid go up, and the kid asks when the Wii is coming out. Teenagers, same thing.

These are not individuals for whom a conception of price is the driving motivator; they know what they want, or think they do, and at the moment that is squarely Wii.

Well i think there is always the 'core' audience that goes in and asks about stuff before there's commercials and such but i am talking about the people that buy systems once that contingent is saturated.

So there's 2 key questions before we get to my example of the 'mainstream' consumer:

1. Has Nintendo managed to generate enough 'buzz' so that their hardcore audience has grown? (i like Sis' estimate of 2 million as the default hardcore #)

2. Once the Wii is out in the wild, what will word of mouth do to it? When little Johnny (or big Johnny) plays the Wii at one friend's house and then Gears at another, what is he going to come home asking for?

I honestly, i cant answer the first but i'm more inclined to say 'no'. On the second i think it becomes a toss up. Whereas Nintendo could have had a price advantage, now theyre back to 50/50 at $249 which is a wasted opportunity imo.

I only see one console you can buy for $250, take home, plug in and play.

Yes, the 360 thing assumes a modest $50 price cut one year after launch.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Nintendo still has the same problem they've always had, 3rd party support, if they can't shore up their game library, it will still be PS3 or X360 that the majority turns too.

I think Wii's biggest chance is to attract *new* gamers, like my ex-GF who hasn't played anything since mario kart, she's looking at a Wii. I really don't think the traditional gamers are going to flock to the Wii any time soon.

 

[Farid]

$250, heh, I guess that Nintendo didn't want to price their new console too low, or else the Wii perceived value would suffer too much compared to the other new consoles.

Prices are not determined by cost and benefits only. Psychological pricing is a science on its own.

Used my last break to finish the game preview post. So enjoy

Excellent post, I added a link to it in the first post.

Edit:

And sad to see that the Crayon Shin Chan (Arguably the only japanese animated serie that I like) game is only a party game. With the serie being aired in the US, this had a chance to come to the west, but since it's a party game ...

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Yes, the 360 thing assumes a modest $50 price cut one year after launch.

Will that get XB360+Memory Card+Game down to $250?

 

[expletive]

Will that get XB360+Memory Card+Game down to $250?

Doesnt the Wii require a memory card as well?

 

[StefanS]

Doesnt the Wii require a memory card as well?

Nope 512MB flash memory internal and you can use a common SD card.

 

[ninzel]

Doesnt the Wii require a memory card as well?

The Wii comes with built in permanent storage,game,wifi and wireless controller compared to the 360 core.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Doesnt the Wii require a memory card as well?

1) I don't think so as it's got 512 MB Flash inside.
2) It uses dirt cheap SD. 512 MB for $15 maybe? I don't know what US prices are like. I can 512 MB for £7 in the UK. That's put the price for Wii at $265, and with XB360's card at a very reasonable $60, that'd be $310, excluding game.

Best case for XB360 to me seems to position it at $100 more expensive.

 

[expletive]

1) I don't think so as it's got 512 MB Flash inside.
2) It uses dirt cheap SD. 512 MB for $15 maybe? I don't know what US prices are like. I can 512 MB for £7 in the UK. That's put the price for Wii at $265, and with XB360's card at a very reasonable $60, that'd be $310, excluding game.

Best case for XB360 to me seems to position it at $100 more expensive.

That is true, i guess they would need more than a $50 price drop to get in the 'equally priced' ballpark.

And while the wifi doesnt affect everyone, $100 for that adapter is an absolute joke when youve got $150 handheld devices having it built in.

EDIT:do you think the pricing with only a $50 drop on the 360 still puts the consumer in a 50/50 wrt to price since the price on the box is $249?