Topic: What's going to be packed in with the Wii U?

[Ian Sane]

I figure Nintendo will cheap out on the cables because that's how Nintendo rolls.

- A/V cables (possibly same exact one the Wii had)
- System
- Power Cord
- Nintendo Land (not free, the price will be higher to accomodate it)
- Gamepad
- 1 Wii Remote Plus
- 1 Nunchuk
- Manuals and lots of warning messages everywhere

[Kairon]

I don't get where everyone is thinking Nintendo will pack in a Wii Remote. They'll pack in the GamePad and be done with it. Wii Remotes are right there next to it on the shelf for $40, unless you already have all the Wii Remotes you need.

[NWR_insanolord]

I think they'll include a remote to try to justify the $350 price I'm convinced they're going with. They sell for $40, but I'm sure Nintendo's making a pretty nice profit on that at this point, and some of the games in Nintendo Land require one anyway.

[Chozo Ghost]

I think they'll include a remote to try to justify the $350 price I'm convinced they're going with. They sell for $40, but I'm sure Nintendo's making a pretty nice profit on that at this point, and some of the games in Nintendo Land require one anyway.

Is there a need to though? The Wii U's market will be almost entirely the same as those who already own a Wii. There will be very, very few people who buy a Wii U who don't already own a Wii to begin with, and as Kairon pointed out for these very few people the Wiimotes are available on shelves right next to the Wii U. There's no need to bundle it when so many people either already have it or can easily get it separately.

I think a slightly more reasonable alternative might be if the Nintendo Land game comes bundled with a wiimote just like Wii Play or Wii Sports Resort did. This is of course assuming Nintendo Land is sold as a separate retail game and not bundled with the console. But once again, there's so many wiimotes in circulation that bundling more really isn't necessary. I suppose it might be a good way for Nintendo to clear out any excess stock they might have... if they have a bunch of unsold wiimotes they need to get rid of? Sure, might as well toss them in. But I don't think they would want to manufacture more if its going to increase costs.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm not arguing it's necessary, because you're right, it isn't. I'm merely arguing that it's what they're going to do

[Uncle_Optimus]

I don't get where everyone is thinking Nintendo will pack in a Wii Remote. They'll pack in the GamePad and be done with it. Wii Remotes are right there next to it on the shelf for $40, unless you already have all the Wii Remotes you need.

I would like to see them pack in a remote because:

a) it increases the perceived value of the retail package with all the zany 'net sources seem to tab at around $300 (from a range of $250-350; note that based on financial projections Nintendo seems confident that each unit will be profitable out of the gate or soon after)

b) the cost to produce a remote, now in 2012, should be comfortably below $10

c) it drives home a major selling point and marketing message for the Wii U of in-person multiplayer, especially important if Nintendo Land indeed ends up as a pack-in

d) two controllers (different types, but still) could serve as another differentiator as its been ages since a console provided this. I can see it playing out positively in marketing as well.

e) it would further expand the options for enterprising developers and encourage them to pursue multiplayer options

f) it would show that the promise of motion control gaming was not just a red-herring gimmick and that Nintendo remains invested in these concepts (this one is the most sentimental on this list as I still believe the controls have some untapped potential)


Else, I see the rest of the packaging playing out close to what Ian Sane posited above...note that HDMI cables are really highly unlikely. Nintendo values their retail partnerships and those guys, every one of 'em, will be demanding that profit opportunity from such a popular peripheral. Helps to keep Nintys's costs down too, so they won't complain.

One thing no one has mentioned yet...why not New Super Mario Bros. 2 as a potential pack-in? If Nintendo is seriously worried about the Wii U's market reception (and given the general sentiment following E3 they just might be) their best play would be to turn to the man in the M hat. That dude carried their first console and carried its big brother the SNES

[Chozo Ghost]

I'm not arguing it's necessary, because you're right, it isn't. I'm merely arguing that it's what they're going to do

That could be what they will do, but we don't know that for sure. We both agree its not necessary, and on top of that I'd rather whatever it costs them to bundle it would just get shaved off the MSRP and the savings passed on to consumers. So if the MSRP of the Wii U is let's say $349.99 and the Wiimote accounts for $10 of that, I'd rather they leave it out and then drop the MSRP to $339.99. See what I'm saying? Or instead of the Wiimote they could include something of equal value which would have greater utility, such as an SD card or HDMI cable or whatever.

[Plugabugz]

I really hope they pack in the console itself. I really could do with that.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm not arguing it's necessary, because you're right, it isn't. I'm merely arguing that it's what they're going to do

That could be what they will do, but we don't know that for sure. We both agree its not necessary, and on top of that I'd rather whatever it costs them to bundle it would just get shaved off the MSRP and the savings passed on to consumers. So if the MSRP of the Wii U is let's say $349.99 and the Wiimote accounts for $10 of that, I'd rather they leave it out and then drop the MSRP to $339.99. See what I'm saying? Or instead of the Wiimote they could include something of equal value which would have greater utility, such as an SD card or HDMI cable or whatever.

Dropping the remote and shaving $10 off the MSRP doesn't make sense from Nintendo's perspective, though. The remote provides more perceived value than it actually costs Nintendo to put it in there. Charging $350 an packing in Nintendo Land and a remote could make them more money than selling the system for $300 and the others separately, which is why I think they'll do it.

[Chozo Ghost]

But keep in mind this is the same company who refused to license DVD playback for the Wii, even though that would have only cost them about $5 per unit for the licensing. If $5 was too much for DVD playback, even though that added value (or perceived value) to the console, then surely $10 for a remote that over 90% of Wii U buyers will already have must be too.

Come to think of it, wasn't the argument against including DVD playback in the Wii something along the lines of everyone having DVD players by now so it no longer mattered? I'm sure the real reason was the licensing fees, but this was what they told consumers to explain why they weren't including it. That same logic goes for the Wiimote, almost everyone who is buying the Wii U will already have at least one Wiimote, and in many cases people will already have 4 of them and won't need another one.

[UncleBob]

If you only have four Wii remotes by now, you're doing it wrong.

[ShyGuy]

What if they bundled a plain Wiimote and not a Wiimotion+? I would looooool

[rlse9]

One thing no one has mentioned yet...why not New Super Mario Bros. 2 as a potential pack-in? If Nintendo is seriously worried about the Wii U's market reception (and given the general sentiment following E3 they just might be) their best play would be to turn to the man in the M hat. That dude carried their first console and carried its big brother the SNES

I think there's two reasons New Super Mario Bros U won't be packed in.  First, they know it's a game that will sell millions and millions of copies as a separate release.  Second, I think they'd want a pack in that really shows off the Gamepad in the way that Wii Sports showed off the possibilities of motion controls.  Something like Nintendo Land seems like a better fit.

[BranDonk Kong]

I'm pretty sure Reggie accidentally (may have been Iwata) said that Nintendo Land will be a pack-in.

[Ceric]

In general I think Nintendoland as part of the system would be a great call for Nintendo.  Allow them to do little events on it for game promotions.  Expand the park with new attractions as things go along.  It really would be a an interesting place.  Especially adding in your friends Mii's as attendies and leaderboards with them.

[NWR_insanolord]

Eguchi hinted at it quite a bit at the developer roundtable.

But keep in mind this is the same company who refused to license DVD playback for the Wii, even though that would have only cost them about $5 per unit for the licensing. If $5 was too much for DVD playback, even though that added value (or perceived value) to the console, then surely $10 for a remote that over 90% of Wii U buyers will already have must be too.

Come to think of it, wasn't the argument against including DVD playback in the Wii something along the lines of everyone having DVD players by now so it no longer mattered? I'm sure the real reason was the licensing fees, but this was what they told consumers to explain why they weren't including it. That same logic goes for the Wiimote, almost everyone who is buying the Wii U will already have at least one Wiimote, and in many cases people will already have 4 of them and won't need another one.

I don't think DVD playback would have added much in the way of perceived value. Even in 2006, who didn't have more than enough devices capable of playing DVDs? And most people have remotes, but I'd argue far fewer have that many Motion+ capable remotes. I'd bet a lot of people have at least one, whether from Wii Sports Resort or Zelda, but even Nintendo Land uses two of them at times.

[Uncle_Optimus]

I'm pretty sure Reggie accidentally (may have been Iwata) said that Nintendo Land will be a pack-in.

From all the articles I have been perusing, I honestly don't remember any of the top brass saying something definitive like this.
That said, in the West, I do expect a pack-in to boost their initial value proposition and I agree with rlse9 that NintendoLand is the more logical choice given how they messaged it at the show.
About launch price, analysts like Pach (waits for booing and hissing to die down) have stated that their market research suggests launching above $300 would be a colossal mistake. Combined with their rhetoric about learning from the 3DS fiasco I expect them to go aggressive at $299 MAX (w/ pack-in) but I think they are strongly considering $250 again as well.

[lolmonade]

In general I think Nintendoland as part of the system would be a great call for Nintendo.  Allow them to do little events on it for game promotions.  Expand the park with new attractions as things go along.  It really would be a an interesting place.  Especially adding in your friends Mii's as attendies and leaderboards with them.

I'm going along with the notion that Nintendoland will be packed-in.  I also believe this will be Nintendo's first Wii U foray into free-to-play gaming, where the game will be free (pack-in Nintendoland), but there will be microtransactions available for people who want to have the "premium" experience.
 
I assume the package will contain the console, gamepad, Nintendoland, A/V cable, and power cord.  I think Nintendo will go under the assumption that the majority of people buying Wii U will have purchased a Wii, therefore having plenty of Wii Remotes/Nunchucks.  I don't think Nintendo will include an HDMI cable so the retailers can continue to talk people into buying $5 cords for $30-50.

[Ian Sane]

If Nintendo doesn't include a Wiimote Plus then how can they assume a Wii U owner has one?  And remember this is the Remote PLUS we're talking about.  Not every Wii owner has one of those.  I assume Nintendo wants to assume that the player has Motion+ or we're sticking to some pretty archaic motion control.  They didn't push Motion+ that much on the Wii.  I had to get one with Skyward Sword.  If they want it to be standard issue, where they can assume every Wii U owner has one, they need to include it.

[Kairon]

When's the last time Nintendo's packed in TWO controllers in a console at launch?

[Louieturkey]

SNES

[BranDonk Kong]

Wii. Wiimote and Nunchuck =(

[Sarail]

SNES

Yup. I remember picking up the SuperNES "Super Set" one holiday, and grabbing Super Mario Kart, too. 2-player split-screen mayhem with my younger brother followed for months on end.

Man, those were the days.

[Mop it up]

If the price is $300 then I'm thinking:

1 system
1 Game Pad
1 power AC adapter
1 A/V cable (possibly a combo component/composite cable)
1 SD card (if no internal flash)

If it is $350 then take those and add:
1 Nintendo Land disc
1 Wiimote +

I don't think there will be an HDMI cable since the HDMI port on the Wii U is standard issue, whereas the A/V port is specialised and only Nintendo's own cables are compatible. So they will include their own composite/component cable and anyone can go get a $5 HDMI cable if they don't already have one.

When's the last time Nintendo's packed in TWO controllers in a console at launch?

This has been answered, but I'll add that the last time a system had a two-controller bundle in general was the Nintendo 64. I don't recall there being any bundles for the GameCube and Wii that had two controllers, unless you count the Wiimote, Nunchuk, or Wii Wheel as a separate controller.

That said, I do think it would be a good idea to include a Wiimote + so that it can be a standard controller for the Wii U. At this point it can't cost much to manufacture this thing, so tossing it in shouldn't raise costs much at all.

[Kairon]

SNES

Just to be clear, was that at launch?