Topic: That $250 price tag again...

[slacker]

For a system that rely on localized multiplayer family oriented fun, the price of the console package (which contains a game with multiplayer fun) results in a price that is quite high, in my opinion.  You add the second remote without the nunchuck and it reaches the $300 mark with taxes. I find this unacceptable unless the console can seriously dish out some powerful graphics.  Because the price of the remote is in the $40 range, what 3rd party is going to make a game that requires 2 remote.  I think Nintendo knows that they will sell out the system at launch regardless of price. All hardcore gamers will snatch one up on launch day. Parents after seeing the price of a complete XBOX360 and the price of the PS3 will balk and choose the Wii for their kids. You get a sell out regardless. I'm hoping the controllers drop in price after the holidays, but I doubt it.  I'm disappointed in the price. It should be at $200. I think Nintendo is making a serious killing on the margins. Since we haven't seen the full Wii specs and based on rumors that its really an upgraded GC, I think Nintendo can afford to lower the price. Of course launch is a few months away, and they can claim to have a manufacturing break through that will lower the cost of the package to $200 by then. Here's hoping...

[Kairon]

The tech is in the controller. Why do you think the darn things cost so much?

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: slacker
For a system that rely on localized multiplayer family oriented fun, the price of the console package (which contains a game with multiplayer fun) results in a price that is quite high, in my opinion.  You add the second remote without the nunchuck and it reaches the $300 mark with taxes.

Yeah, this is the kicker for me.

I'll likely still buy 3 extra Wiimotes with nunchucks because I want Red Steel multiplayer, but I ain't gonna be happy about it.

Given the price of a full controller, I guess it's all about "Mii" after all.

[Adrock]

Wii Sports had to be there to appeal to the non-gamer, but the game begs to be played mutliplayer and hence practically requires a second controller. Selling the controller separately and charging $40 pushes non-gamers away. My mom is a non-gamer (though she plays a mean game of Tetris). There's no way in hell she'd spend $40 on a controller for herself. I think that's the biggest problem with the console package and Nintendo's philosophy. When they announced the name, they had that video of the i's playing together and representing controllers. Then they released picture after picture of people playing Wii Sports together. Now after all is said and done, they're releasing the console with one controller.

My problem with Nintendo making money on consoles is that they make most of their money on software and licensing fees. If Nintendo released Wii with  2 controllers thoughout its life, they could:

1. Sell more consoles.
2. Reach non-gamers with greater ease.
3. Sell more software across the board, 1st and 3rd,  thus making Nintendo even more money by way of licensing fees and proprietary Wii discs/kits as well as profits of their own titles.

$249.99 is a decent price, but when you think about what they could've done at that price, it doesn't really make sense.

[Kairon]

Yeah, I really think that maybe Nintendo looked at the $600 PS3 and decided that they had some breathing room. Don't forget, the Wii is $215 in Japan w/o Wii Sports.

We might have actually seen a $229 price or lower if Sony hadn't made as many missteps as they have recently, but as of now I think Nintendo believes it's safe to milk us early adopters for moolah... as is any console's right at launch.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Mario]

Hey I just realised we wont have to buy a memory card. This does work out cheaper than GC, making Wii the cheapest system of all time.

[Kairon]

Built-in Wi-fi makes me happy.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
Hey I just realised we wont have to buy a memory card. This does work out cheaper than GC, making Wii the cheapest system of all time.

Not if you have other people you want to play with...

GC $200
Game $50
3 controllers 3x$30= $90
Memory card $15

Total: $355

Wii $250 (game bundled)
3 Controllers 3x$40 = $120

Total: $370

And that's if you're willing to only play Wiisports, which I sure as hell ain't.

Rather, this is my deal:

Wii $250
3 controllers with chucks $180
Red Steel $50

Total: $480

I spent less on my cube with 2 games.

[Adrock]

What if Nintendo was losing money per freehand controller at $40 because of all the tech in there? Wouldn't that just blow your mind? I think if that was true, the price wouldn't be as much of an issue. This isn't Blu-Ray being forced into your living room at a high yet technically low price. No one wants Blu-Ray that badly. Wii revolves around its controller technology. The price of the controllers is a hard pill to swallow, but it's still in the realm of reasonability. Going in, you know what you're paying for and that's the whole reason you're paying. With PS3 and 360, I know what I'm paying for, I just don't think its worth the price of entry or really what I want from a gaming machine.

[AnyoneEB]

Smash_Brother: I thought I paid $35 for GCN controllers at launch? (+4*$5 for controller extensions, but most people don't need those)

Adrock: I'm pretty sure that none of the tech in the controller is not actually that expensive, just no one had put it in a game controller before. I assume there is a _LARGE_ profit on the controllers for Nintendo (same for every other console ever).

That said, I still plan on getting extra 3 WiiMotes at launch (no nunchuks, yet).

[GoldenPhoenix]

I wasn't sure which topic to post this in but I guess this is the best one and it is in response to the ridiculouse statements that Xbox 360 core has HD while Wii does not. Let's turn this argument around and approach it from the Wii's point of view. With Wii are getting a new way to play games, integrated Wifi, web brower, ability to upload movies (I do not believe this is possible with Xbox 360). Not only that but you get a compact system leaving open room for other items etc etc. Guess what you get NONE of that on Xbox 360 and for only 250$. See there is a much different way of looking at things other than "Wii doesn't have HD while Xbox 360 does".

[SixthAngel]

When did the xbox360 core, dubbed the tard pack because it was such a waste, suddenly become worth picking up, ever?  

[Athrun Zala]

when some people thought that by $50 more they could get HD REVOLUTION when actually they have to spend like $150 more....

[IceCold]

In Canada (since Microsoft was the only company out of the three not to adopt a 1.1 conversion ratio), the difference between a Wii and an Xbox 360 is $120 CDN. Not including a memory card. Yeah..

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: SixthAngel
When did the xbox360 core, dubbed the tard pack because it was such a waste, suddenly become worth picking up, ever?

You would be amazed how many people think that, one common argument (which spawned my response) is that people will see a Wii but will think for 50$ you can get better graphics (Specifically HD), somehow forgetting that Wii has that XBox 360 does not. I'm sure this thinking would also die out when they realize they need to spend 40$ for a component cable, 40$ for a memory card, and another 50-60$ for a game.

[AnyoneEB]

VGrevolution: As the Wii does not come with a component cable, you can leave out the $40 component cable part, but your argument still holds.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: AnyoneEB
VGrevolution: As the Wii does not come with a component cable, you can leave out the $40 component cable part, but your argument still holds.

Um I was talking about the Xbox 360 and how people say you can get the core for 50$ more with HD as that being a selling point (which is why you need to add on a 40$ component cable). The Wii's 480p is not really a big selling point which is why I didn't include that.

[AnyoneEB]

Okay, sorry, I misunderstood.

[RickPowers]

Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution

Quote
Originally posted by: SixthAngel
When did the xbox360 core, dubbed the tard pack because it was such a waste, suddenly become worth picking up, ever?

You would be amazed how many people think that, one common argument (which spawned my response) is that people will see a Wii but will think for 50$ you can get better graphics (Specifically HD), somehow forgetting that Wii has that XBox 360 does not. I'm sure this thinking would also die out when they realize they need to spend 40$ for a component cable, 40$ for a memory card, and another 50-60$ for a game.

The component cable is included with the Core.  It also has composite hookups.  I'm fairly certain it's the only cable Microsoft makes, aside from the VGA and S-Video cables.

I'd also argue that you can't include the game prices, since you could get something like Geometry Wars for $5.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: RickPowers

Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution

Quote
Originally posted by: SixthAngel
When did the xbox360 core, dubbed the tard pack because it was such a waste, suddenly become worth picking up, ever?

You would be amazed how many people think that, one common argument (which spawned my response) is that people will see a Wii but will think for 50$ you can get better graphics (Specifically HD), somehow forgetting that Wii has that XBox 360 does not. I'm sure this thinking would also die out when they realize they need to spend 40$ for a component cable, 40$ for a memory card, and another 50-60$ for a game.

The component cable is included with the Core.  It also has composite hookups.  I'm fairly certain it's the only cable Microsoft makes, aside from the VGA and S-Video cables.

I'd also argue that you can't include the game prices, since you could get something like Geometry Wars for $5.

I'm going by realistically since realistically people are not going to play Xbox Live games ONLY, not only that but one Xbox Live game will probaly take up half of your memory card. BTW Rick you only get the AV cable with the core package (at least in the U.S.) so you get no HD out of the box. This is according to Eb games. Not only that but from what I've read you cannot do any Marketplace stuff (Or if you can it is very limited) with the memory card, but then again I'm not sure since I own the premium system.

Anyway this is what the core system includes:
* Contains:
- Microsoft XBOX 360 console
- wired controller
- standard AV cable
- XBOX Live Silver Service
- White faceplate    

[Athrun Zala]

according to the X360 page, the Core comes with just a AV cable....no component

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Athrun Zala
according to the X360 page, the Core comes with just a AV cable....no component

Yep so even if you disregard the game you are still looking at 80$ to take advantage of HD along with something to save your data on!

[Athrun Zala]

funny, you buy an X360 for the HD REVOLUTION and you lack the components to actually USE IT'S SELLING POINT

they should pack Dead Rising with the Core XD