Wii officially $250 on Nov. 19

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:30 am

According to gamespot who got the news from the NY Times.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6157572.ht ... ws;title;1

Um, kind of surprised they went to $250. I was so ready to get this thing at launch if it was $200 or less but now i'm seriously reconsidering. Unexpected expenses and some appealing 360 titles (gears of war, viva pinata) have me second guessing the Wii. Really, how can they charge $250 for a console about as powerful as an xbox? If Nintendo are really serious about gaining some market share they would lower the price to $200. It may only be a $50 difference but it sure looks a lot more appealing to me.

I do like the pricing of classic NES, SNES, and N64 games which range from $5 to $10. I would gladly pay $5 for Tecmo Super Bowl. I still have my old NES but it works when it feels like it. They also say that the Wii can be used for web browsing. kind of nice feature.

Oh well, i guess i'll just wait it out and see which games are the most appealing before picking up the system.

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:48 am

Yeah, I think the general consensus was $50 dollars too much but even with that being I'm still going to get one since it's a lot less than PS3 obviously. Unfortunately I think they lost some initial casual fans they said they wanted with that price. We'll see how it goes.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:29 am

Yeah, I'll wait for the first price drop. I certainly have enough quality games to keep me busy for a long time. It would have been a tough decision at $200.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:10 am

$250 is a good idea for launch. With the Christmas shopping season in full frenzy, and extra $50 won't make much difference. The more important factors in the first couple of months will be the availability of the PS3, and the price compared to the 360 and PS3. It is still $150 less than a 360, and maybe a significant percentage of people who bought a 360 last year will buy a Wii this year as a complimentary system. The PS3 will be impossible to find, so at $250 and on the shelf I'm sure a lot of parents will get it for no other reason than it is there to buy.

I like the idea of bundling it with a game, and the browsing capabilities (Although I'd never use it myself). If I get one, I will count the days until I can download WWF No Mercy and play it on the Wii.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:15 am

Don't forget that it's likely that Nintendo will have some trouble producing huge quantities of their console in 2006. If they're going to sell out they may as well sell out at $250 rather than $200.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:19 am

Feanor wrote:Don't forget that it's likely that Nintendo will have some trouble producing huge quantities of their console in 2006. If they're going to sell out they may as well sell out at $250 rather than $200.

I don't believe N will have any trouble producing mass quantities because they simply are not pushing the hardware envelope like $ony and M$. I read an article the other day that stated N is already in production of Wii and has been for some time, so if true, then I see availability as a non-issue for the launch....

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:25 am

They're pushing the technology with the remote control.

The dollar signs in your post are very clever. Well done.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:58 am

Feanor wrote:The dollar signs in your post are very clever. Well done.

Sarcasm? lol... it can be hard to tell sometimes.

I guess I can't say I expected any different, but it looks like the pricing for retro games is going to be as dumb as Nintendo's pricing for the classic series on GBA. I can get an original and new game for download at $5-10 on Xbox Live Arcade. Old ass Castlevania for the NES should be 99 cents, not $5-10. I think they would be better served with a subscription for unlimited access to the catalog (streaming, play in RAM only) than trying to nickel and dime me for a bunch of old ass games that mostly don't hold up.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:03 am

Kazuya wrote:I think they would be better served with a subscription for unlimited access to the catalog (streaming, play in RAM only) than trying to nickel and dime me for a bunch of old ass games that mostly don't hold up.

I completely agree about the subscription services. After recently looking at a synopsis of the TuboGrafix 16 library, I can't say there would be more than one or two games I'd be willing to buy for $5. But I'd gladly pay $20/month to have access to an old Bonk or Bomberman game. Hell, if I had friends over, it'd be fun just to look through the catalog and have some "oh sh*t, I remember that game, let's try it out" moments if it didn't cost me any extra for it.

As for the cost of the console, no surprise there. $200 would be awesome, but $250 isn't a surprise. The launch date itself is the biggest disappointment to me...probably a month later than I expected.

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:04 am

Kazuya wrote:
Feanor wrote:The dollar signs in your post are very clever. Well done.
Sarcasm? lol... it can be hard to tell sometimes.

I guess I can't say I expected any different, but it looks like the pricing for retro games is going to be as dumb as Nintendo's pricing for the classic series on GBA. I can get an original and new game for download at $5-10 on Xbox Live Arcade. Old ass Castlevania for the NES should be 99 cents, not $5-10. I think they would be better served with a subscription for unlimited access to the catalog (streaming, play in RAM only) than trying to nickel and dime me for a bunch of old ass games that mostly don't hold up.

I agree, the roms should be very cheap, like a MP3 download. 99 cents with no physical media/manual, Nintendo would still be making money. But then again, people will still pay for it so they of course know what they are doing. I myself don't really care about this feature, and the remote is a gimmick until developers learn how to use all of its features/better implementation so there is absolutely no reason to buy Wii this year.

The thing is, when there are some compelling games out, the Wii might be too far behind in the graphical curve when PS3/360 really show what it can do with the 2nd/3rd generation games...

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:20 am

Feanor wrote:They're pushing the technology with the remote control.

The dollar signs in your post are very clever. Well done.

I understand the technology with the remote control, but that is very different from the hardware technology of CPU's and GPU's and pushing the limits on those pieces of silicon, especially considering the limitations imposed by the lack of efficient cooling in the cramped confines of the console packaging (case).

As far as the $, I have been ragging on $ony ever since they started marketing the PS3. I will continue to do so as each day passes, we hear of more and more features, launch dates, etc... being changed. What is even more ironic is how $ony criticized M$ at E3 for a myriad of launch issues with the 360 and how some of those very same criticisms are now coming home to roost with the PS3 launch. I also used the $ for M$ because at the end of the day, they are also in this for th "$" and not immune to criticism when deserved....

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:34 am

No Wii...for me likely...Too rich for my blood

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:55 am

matthewk wrote:I like the idea of bundling it with a game, and the browsing capabilities (Although I'd never use it myself). If I get one, I will count the days until I can download WWF No Mercy and play it on the Wii.

Will we seriously be able to do that? No Mercy was the best wrestler ever made.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:25 pm

DivotMaker wrote:
Feanor wrote:They're pushing the technology with the remote control.

The dollar signs in your post are very clever. Well done.
I understand the technology with the remote control, but that is very different from the hardware technology of CPU's and GPU's and pushing the limits on those pieces of silicon, especially considering the limitations imposed by the lack of efficient cooling in the cramped confines of the console packaging (case).

As far as the $, I have been ragging on $ony ever since they started marketing the PS3. I will continue to do so as each day passes, we hear of more and more features, launch dates, etc... being changed. What is even more ironic is how $ony criticized M$ at E3 for a myriad of launch issues with the 360 and how some of those very same criticisms are now coming home to roost with the PS3 launch. I also used the $ for M$ because at the end of the day, they are also in this for th "$" and not immune to criticism when deserved....

So Nintendo isn't trying to make money? Or Nintendo is less scary because of its not as powerful as Sony or MS. Or Nintendo is soft because its main symbol is Mario not Bill Gates?

How can the Wii survive when its graphics engine is already dated before its launched. I don't see it holding up to the 4 or 5 year cycle consoles are it right now. Maybe the console cycles will be shorter next go around.

I think MS is looking better and better and their strategy is paying off. Other than the lack of support for busted 360s, I think they have pulled off a coup, one that Sony and Nintendo will not recover from.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:27 pm

I am starting to think the 360 might end up in my house by Jan.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:29 pm

I would not be surprised if Nintendo released another console in a period shorter than five years.

Would the WiiAdvance, WIIsp, or DoubleFunMiniBriteWII surprise anyone?

(Actually, I kinda like WIIsp...)

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:48 pm

I'm pretty sure I won't be running out to get one. I am very happy with my 360.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:25 pm

JRod wrote:
So Nintendo isn't trying to make money? Or Nintendo is less scary because of its not as powerful as Sony or MS. Or Nintendo is soft because its main symbol is Mario not Bill Gates?

I am pretty sure that I never stated such a thing. I was responding to someone's comments about my use of the $ sign in place of an "S". I never said that N was not in this for the money. Hell, they all are. If they aren't, this is an extremely expensive business to be in. I also don't feel N has misrepresented their product like $ony has (backtracking on specific claims made at E3) and to some extent M$ (BC for example).

JRod wrote:How can the Wii survive when its graphics engine is already dated before its launched. I don't see it holding up to the 4 or 5 year cycle consoles are it right now. Maybe the console cycles will be shorter next go around.

Look at the Wii's target market. The demographic is certainly younger than the PS3/360. N has always marketed to the younger users and in this particular case, N is banking on the gameplay and controller to offset lack of graphic prowess. We'll see soon how the market reacts to Wii.

JRod wrote:I think MS is looking better and better and their strategy is paying off. Other than the lack of support for busted 360s, I think they have pulled off a coup, one that Sony and Nintendo will not recover from.

Agreed.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:50 pm

I think it's going to flop. Hard. The GameCube was up to date, had some pretty impressive exclusive titles, and still got buried in the third slot. Now they're going to release a less powerful console for only $50 less than a 360 Core? Yeah, the controller is pretty interesting and could lead to some unique game experiences, but I don't see enough here to give them a big marketing edge. MS can say the 360 isn't much more expensive and Sony can make fun of the idiotic name

I'd like to see it succeed, it just seems like a screwy approach to me. $50 may not seem like much but the marketing difference between $199 and $249 is much more significant than the difference between $249 and $299.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:11 pm

Brando70 wrote:I think it's going to flop. Hard. The GameCube was up to date, had some pretty impressive exclusive titles, and still got buried in the third slot. Now they're going to release a less powerful console for only $50 less than a 360 Core? Yeah, the controller is pretty interesting and could lead to some unique game experiences, but I don't see enough here to give them a big marketing edge. MS can say the 360 isn't much more expensive and Sony can make fun of the idiotic name

I'd like to see it succeed, it just seems like a screwy approach to me. $50 may not seem like much but the marketing difference between $199 and $249 is much more significant than the difference between $249 and $299.

I agree, I think there is a legitimate chance this thing could flop harder than Bruce Bowen. First off, people are not going to stop playing traditional games like Splinter Cell, Halo, Metal Gear or Tekken, and if the reports are true the Wii is not even going to be competitive in this arena. This basically guarantees that they have to hit a home run on the whole controller gimmick. I was just reading the long Wii Madden 07 interview on IGN and it basically confirms a lot of my fears for the Wii. For me, the Wii needs to have unique games with unique gameplay, aided by the remote. I don't want to be shaking controllers to run on a football field, or flicking it up to jump, when traditional controllers already do that fine. I mean do you *really* want to swing every swing in a five-set tennis match? On your couch? s*** you may as well go out and play real tennis. The controller needs to be used to control games that we have never seen/played before. If they try to fit it into existing games (with a few exceptions) I think it will have problems, because those games are going to be so much better on the competition.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:16 pm

DivotMaker wrote:As far as the $, I have been ragging on $ony ever since they started marketing the PS3. I will continue to do so as each day passes, we hear of more and more features, launch dates, etc... being changed. What is even more ironic is how $ony criticized M$ at E3 for a myriad of launch issues with the 360 and how some of those very same criticisms are now coming home to roost with the PS3 launch. I also used the $ for M$ because at the end of the day, they are also in this for th "$" and not immune to criticism when deserved....

Come on now. Every company is in it for the dollars or the Yen or whatever currency you care to use. Putting $ signs in the company's name is just silly.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:28 pm

To offer a different opinion in this thread, I am still very excited for the Wii. I was hoping for $200, but $250 is hardly the end of the world.

To some extent, for people on this board, aka hardcore sports gamers, the Wii is not the most attractive console. However, for the other 90% of the market, it has a lot of very attractive features. Almost every casual gamer I've spoken too is far more interested in playing the Wii then the 360 or PS3. Maybe I'm an in the minority in getting bored with the current crop of sports games, but the Wii is a breath of fresh air and I am really looking forward to playing it. I know none of these points are new, but I still feel they are true.

Nintendo is going to be shipping this thing out in far greater quantities than the PS3 with 25-30 launch titles. With the competely new control scheme and all those gaming choices, I don't see how anyone who considers themselves a video game fan can't be at least intrigued by that.

Lastly, it's not like all the sports games will be a disaster either. I am actually planning on buying Wii Madden, which will be my first Madden since 2003. Golf games should also be very fun as well. Third, just the idea of EA transferring the new NHL 07 stick controls to the Wiimote gives me goosebumps. EA has also said they are putting more money into development for Wii than any Nintendo console since SNES.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:33 pm

A few months ago during E3 the talk was all bout the Wei and how great it was going to be. Now, people are wanting to call it a flop b/c it cost 50 bucks more than they had hoped. I find that odd, espec since most people here will go out and blow 50-60 on a game they will only play for a couple of hours. Yet, they will pass on a console that will last them 4 years b/c it costs 50 more than they had hoped.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:43 pm

Naples39 wrote:
Lastly, it's not like all the sports games will be a disaster either. I am actually planning on buying Wii Madden, which will be my first Madden since 2003. Golf games should also be very fun as well. Third, just the idea of EA transferring the new NHL 07 stick controls to the Wiimote gives me goosebumps. EA has also said they are putting more money into development for Wii than any Nintendo console since SNES.

To each his own... I still say that after a couple hours in of flailing your limbs about in dramatic fashion, you will catch a glimpse in a mirror and realize there was nothing wrong with pressing "x" to snap the ball. They are going to have to deliver on some non-gimmick stuff to have a chance.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:43 pm

Danimal wrote:
matthewk wrote:I like the idea of bundling it with a game, and the browsing capabilities (Although I'd never use it myself). If I get one, I will count the days until I can download WWF No Mercy and play it on the Wii.
Will we seriously be able to do that? No Mercy was the best wrestler ever made.

I'm just hoping and speculating. I haven't seen it mentioned as one of the titles. Of course, knowing licensing issues, it probably won't be released.

I still have an N64 hooked up for the sole purpose of playing No Mercy

You can alsso get it as a ROM for play on a PC, but I like the feel of the original better.