Topic: Revolution Bundle Ideas/Thoughts

[animecyberrat]

I was just thinking about how Microsoft and Sony are talking about different bundles and such and I was rememebring the NES/SNES days (ya know the glory days) when it occured to me, that Nintendo could do something similar to what they have done in the past instead of following thier recent trends.

I was thinking it could go like this. There would be the "CORE" unit, like in old days thsi would be the barebones essentials, 1 controller, 1 powercord/video cable, 1 system, and either a Demo disk (pleae for teh love of God includea demo disk Nintey!) and thats it, for the bottom dollar, say 150

Then a Pack In Bundle that has 2 options 1 the Action Set which could have Mario, 1 controller, all the hook ups and a free download or two. Then the Online Set which could be teh saem as action set bt instead of mario Smash Bros and 2 controllers and the same download limit as Action Set

These bundles could either be the regular 200 or the 250 price.

Then the "Ultimate Gamers" bundle which would be the same as teh other 2 ecept they would add a Shell for each control pad and a Flash Memory Card, a Demo Disk and a a couple more downloads ad maybe both Pack In games or replace the pack in with say Metroid Prime 3 if its available. The Ultimate package would be maybe 300 doallars but all options are still a better deal than the competitors no matter how you look at it.

what do you guys think? Good idea? bad idea? Got a better idea? This is one erea where Nintendo could shine if they do it right.

[Artimus]

I think a standard one-SKU product with a demodisk and like 5 free downloads is a good idea. There's a reason companies stopped doing game bundles ages ago: they'll sell the games anyway.

[nickmitch]

Yeah, a game and an extra controller a better for pricecut replacements.

[mantidor]

My dream bundle:

This console
This controller
+nunchuck+traditional shell+mario+zelda+metroid ( the originals through download) and maybe a Metroid Prime 3 demo.

Nintendo could get away with pricing this as low as $250.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
My dream bundle:

This console
This controller
+nunchuck+traditional shell+mario+zelda+metroid ( the originals through download) and maybe a Metroid Prime 3 demo.

Nintendo could get away with pricing this as low as $250.

That would be perfect, except I would want a full demo disc, that had many games on it, and not just from Nintendo, and $249.99 is a perfect price.

[wandering]

I'd prefer it if Nintendo kept things simple with just one version of the console at launch....hopefully, as others have said, with game demo and some free game downloads included.

though retailers will shove console + game bundles down our throats regardless....

[couchmonkey]

I'd sell the system normally to start, but I totally agree with including a demo disk.  Edit: A demo disk is even more important for this system than for a traditional one because it gives Nintendo the chance to show people the full range of new ideas made possible by the new interface. I'd also seriously consider a game bundle package in first half of 2007.  That seemed to work very well for Microsoft in the early days of the Xbox's life.  

[jakeOSX]

i agree with demo disk to show off the controller.

$250 may be high for a bundle though. $200 is the sweet spot, anything below that will be candy. at $99 a console, i don't know why everyone doesn't have a cube.

[Ian Sane]

When MS and Sony talk about bundles they mean forcing you to pay for crap you don't want or need.  Nintendo's strategy should be that anything that comes with the console is a free bonus or an absolute requirement so that you're not paying extra for useless junk.

I think a pack-in demo and/or free downloads is the way to go.  And the controller should include the nunchuk and the shell so that everyone had one and then third parties can developer whatever game they want and know that 100% of the userbase can play it.

[vudu]

Quote
I'd prefer it if Nintendo kept things simple with just one version of the console at launch

Do you mean just one color, too?  Or do you mean multiple colors, but all have the same contents?

[couchmonkey]

My guess is he means multiple colours...there's nothing really complicated about that, everyone knows how to choose their favourite colour and it doesn't cost extra to choose blue instead of red.  What's complicated is making people choose things that add extra features and extra cost like hard drives or alternative controllers (I agree with Ian that the traditional controller shell should be included with the system).

[wandering]

Right - I wouldn't have a problem with multiple colors. Actually, I'm really hoping they at least offer black in addition to white at lauch.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
When MS and Sony talk about bundles they mean forcing you to pay for crap you don't want or need.  Nintendo's strategy should be that anything that comes with the console is a free bonus or an absolute requirement so that you're not paying extra for useless junk.

I think a pack-in demo and/or free downloads is the way to go.  And the controller should include the nunchuk and the shell so that everyone had one and then third parties can developer whatever game they want and know that 100% of the userbase can play it.

Well Ian you have to remember that Microsoft is doing one of those stupid psychological effects to make it that you need to buy the 399.99 with some unnessessary crap in it.  And to add insult to injury if you want to make your X360 "complete"(by complete as in what the competition is making standard) guess what, your going to have to spend 500 because the Wi-Fi adapter costs 100. So thank you Microsoft for making something an accessory while your competition makes it standard and I think thats unacceptable for making it an accessory thats grossly overpriced.

I think Ian hit the nail on the head a Rev with the remote + the essentials (nunchuk and classic shell) for 199.99 and it wouldn't hurt Nintendo to throw in a demo that teaches gamers examples of game and how they will use the controller and/or a voucher for a free download.

I personally think Nintendo will do that since Nintendo is very bundle happy lately (Nintendogs best friends bundle, Mario Kart bundle, Pokemon XD bundle, Mario Party 7 bundle). EDIT: And if you count it as a free pack in bundle item the 2 face plates on each Micro.

[Switchblade Cross]

I don't think Nintendo should go the multipule packages units, like MS.  One package with all you need.  Console, Remote, Nunchuku, Standard Shell (all matching color), WiFi USB Connector, a disk with tutorial on how to setup and use Nintendo WFC and DS connection and a controller use tutuorial with a few games demos and trailers, some downloadable for DS and atleast one of which with online play to try out WFC, and finally, 5 free game downloads.  All that for $249.99.  They would stilll be cheeper then either  360 packages, and the PS3, while still giving a load of stuff with everything you need to play, right out of the box.  I imagine Nintendo would still profit, or break even from such a package.

Nintendo should throw in a copy of Twilight Princess.  That would make sales explode, especially from people whom don't currently have a gamecube and are interested in the game.  Of course, they shouldent say anything untill something like the week before release, as not to deter from pre Rev sales of Zelda.  But thats never going to happen.

[Ian Sane]

"Nintendo should throw in a copy of Twilight Princess. That would make sales explode, especially from people whom don't currently have a gamecube and are interested in the game."

I've never liked that idea because for all us Cube owners that freebie is useless and if it raised the price I'd be pretty annoyed.  I think a better option is to have it come with your choice of a free Cube game.  They promote Twilight Princess as the sort of "default" title but you can pick any first party game.  That way those interested in Zelda can get it and us existing Cube owners can get something too (unless you have every first party game).  The ad could say something like "for a limited time each Rev purchase comes with a free Gamecube game!  Choose from a wide list of titles including the new epic Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess!"

[Pale]

Actually that could be a really good campaign to push the virtual console concept too....

Choose any NES game free!
Choose any SNES game free!
Choose any N64 game free!
Choose any GCN game free!

It's like they are giving away 4 games when they are actually only giving away 1 real game and planting the seeds for future purchases.

[stevey]

I think bundles at launch is a bad idea but I'm shick of people buying last getting the color and cheep price so I wish nintendo do some kind of luanch only color maybe a zelda, metriod or mario color for the 1st few months. at least in-till the end of the year or day after x-mas so if it's sold out fanboy can still get it it when story restock.

[Ian Sane]

A launch colour's not a bad idea.  For once the early adopters could benefit instead of the latecomers.  The way it usually works it's like the hardcore are punished for buying early.

"It's like they are giving away 4 games when they are actually only giving away 1 real game and planting the seeds for future purchases."

Sounds good.  It reminds me of that old SNES commercial where they talked about how you got five Mario games free.  In reality you got Super Mario World (which came with every SNES anyway) and Super Mario All-Stars (which in terms of MSRP was only one game).  So it was really just your typical SNES with Super Mario All-Stars thrown in.  But man did that sound like a sweet deal.  So "comes with FOUR FREE GAMES!" would make a pretty good commercial.

[Artimus]

That launch colour is a GREAT idea. I went through great lengths to get both the Gold discs of Ocarina and Wind Waker, and it's something special to have them. Would be a great way to reward players. Or maybe a preorder colour.

[nemo_83]

I would want the console, the cables, one remote with sperm piece and evolved wavebird shell (see avatar), some free game downloads, downloadable demos, and downloadable videos, an SD card, and a charger piece that can be used with the remote and any controller peripheral at the same time which plugs into the GameCube controller ports on the top of the console; and I would pay $259 for that and I would also buy a launch game.

[Kairon]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
A launch colour's not a bad idea.  For once the early adopters could benefit instead of the latecomers.  The way it usually works it's like the hardcore are punished for buying early.

"It's like they are giving away 4 games when they are actually only giving away 1 real game and planting the seeds for future purchases."

Sounds good.  It reminds me of that old SNES commercial where they talked about how you got five Mario games free.  In reality you got Super Mario World (which came with every SNES anyway) and Super Mario All-Stars (which in terms of MSRP was only one game).  So it was really just your typical SNES with Super Mario All-Stars thrown in.  But man did that sound like a sweet deal.  So "comes with FOUR FREE GAMES!" would make a pretty good commercial.

Yeah, but I'd be leery of seeing, on one hand, the XBox 360 with Halo 3, ai, physics, and lens flares and on the other hand, the Revolution with FOUR FREE PIXELATED EIGHTIES GAMES!

In fact, I almost expected you Ian to be against this idea. Devoting more than 5 seconds of attention to the REV's free NES downloads would be scary against the competition's ads. I mean, I can hear the fanbois now: "Pay 200 Doolars to plai Mar!o ONE wit TEH ReMoTe! GG HF NUB!"

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[mantidor]

but thats fanboys and its not like there are a lot of them, it just seem so if you spend too much time in gaming forums , Theres a lot of nostalgia on those pixelated eighties games, I for instance didnt know my dad and my uncle back when the nes released were totally  hooked and play a ton of games, like mario, road fighter and lode runner. We even bought recently the "polystation" which is a horrible bastardized version of the famicon with the ps1 shape and controllers, and he plays this games! his words "this games are so much better, they are simple and fun, not like that zombie game you got recently" (RE4) and hes no gamer at all, he barely plays solitarie and tetris in the computer.

Of course, we shouldnt forget that next to those pixelated eighties games that basically every likes theres going to be a Super Smash Bros with graphics better than GCs, a new IP from Miyamoto and maybe even Mario, do you really think that halo 3 is going to be so above graphically over these games like say... the DS and psp? not really, not really at all, the difference will be minimal and for most, non existant.


The shell issue is complicated, bundling it could also mean that developers get lazy and the controller ends up being really a g!mmick, not including it may mean lack of ports. If Nintendo decides to include the shell, the Mario, or SSB or whatever the flagship title ends up being must be absolutly mind blowing, so much that the shell must end up looking outdated and clumsy.


EDIT: awesome, "sparkling innovation" is filtered   I had no idea.

[IceCold]

I've said this before - they should have an ad that first shows the original SMB footage with the classic music. Then that turns subtly into SNES game footage of Mario. That fades into N64 with a smooth transition, then Sunshine footage. Finally, they show a beautifully detailed Mario 128 on the Rev. Along the way, they can show how you can use the controller/shell to play all of these games. Remote for NES and maybe SNES (if they modify it), then the shell for SM64 and SMS. Then the NRC+AA for playing Mario 128. It would be the perfect way to both advertise the download service AND the controller.

[Hawkeye_a]

[Hawkeye_a]

Hey guys.
I think the NRS should come in Black and White versions. And there aught to be only one configuration available:
-Console
-controller
-Mario128

Having said that, it would be great to have a 25th NES anniversary limited edition available eventually.

http://homepage.mac.com/hawkeye_a/.Pictures/nrsnes.jpg

Cheers