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Iwata Talks About Wii U Pricing

by Danny Bivens - June 9, 2011, 3:16 am EDT
Total comments: 12 Source: (Bloomberg), http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/nintendo-...

The Nintendo President makes vague comments on the upcoming console's pricing. 

Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata stated that the Wii U is likely to be priced over 20,000 yen (roughly $250). This was revealed a recent interview with the Nikkei newspaper in Japan, where he stated that the cost of the new console is unlikely to sell for the same price as the Wii .

The Wii currently retails for 20,000 yen in Japan and originally launched for 25,000 yen.

Talkback

AdrockJune 09, 2011

I'd be willing to pay $350 at the most for WiiU. Still, they'd better have one hell of a launch because I don't particularly enjoy spending that amount of money. As cliche as it sounds, it depends on the games.

CericJune 09, 2011

See what others think in the: Wiiu Price and Release Date Guess Thread!

Chocobo_RiderJune 09, 2011

Quote from: Adrock

I'd be willing to pay $350 at the most for WiiU. Still, they'd better have one hell of a launch because I don't particularly enjoy spending that amount of money. As cliche as it sounds, it depends on the games.

First of all, like the Beastie Boy? That's cool.

Secondly, platform launches are never filled with great software.  That's why people can later excuse the shortcomings of a game by simply saying: "well, it was a launch title."

Save your money, wait a few months for better games, maybe a price drop, and then be happy.  Simple. No griping required.

Bman87301June 09, 2011

Fortunately for us, he had the Japanese market in mind when making this statement, where the Wii package excluded a packed-in game and was roughly $50 less at launch* (we paid $50 for the inclusion of Wii Sports). The purpose of bundling Wii Sports was largely to establish the Wii brand with the casual audience (and because most Westerners probably wouldn't bother buying it separately at full price anyhow). Since Wii U has the already established Wii brand, I don't see a need for a bundle this time around.

At this point, I can easily picture them pricing it at $250 worldwide with no game-- making it only $50 more than Wii for Japan, and giving the illusion of having the same price here in the West (which is a much bigger market anyway).

*Since 2006, the value of the Yen has gone up and the Dollar has gone down. Even though Wii launched at 2,500 yen, which converts closer to $300 in terms of today's yen and dollars, they converted closer to $200 by 2006's values.

AdrockJune 09, 2011

@NinSage - Def like the Beastie Boys'sesses Ad-Rock.

It really does depend on the launch and I've yet to feel buyer's remorse when buying hardware at launch generally because I know what I want and how much I want it. I happily bought Gamecube at launch because I wanted to make sure I had one for when Melee came out. I bought the Wii 2 weeks after launch because Twilight Princess and Wii Sports sold me. Considering it took Nintendo almost 3 years to drop the price, I'm satisfied having bought the console so early. Alternatively, I waited almost a year and a half to buy DS, giving in when DSLite came out near New Super Mario Bros, and I have yet to buy a 3DS and I don't plan on that changing any time soon. Nothing strikes me as "must have now" and I'm confident a revamp is coming next year.

Ian SaneJune 09, 2011

Quote:

Since Wii U has the already established Wii brand, I don't see a need for a bundle this time around.


I think it's too early to talk about a bundle.  We don't even know what games they're making for this thing so we can't even guess at what a pack-in would be in the first place.

BlackNMild2k1June 09, 2011

uFit - compatible with the Wii Balance Board

uPlay - packed in with the second uScreen
it's the only way to buy a second controller

uSports - compatible with Wiimote+

Mario Kartu - you can use your Mii as a racer and has live video chat.

NSMBMiiu - likely pack in

university - it's a Brain Age type game
play daily puzzles and quizzes on the touch screen.

uPaint - It's Mario Paint. available on the eShop for Wuu & 3DS

Super Mario universe - the followup to Galaxy
combining all elements from every Mario platformer

3rd Party
uDraw2 - self explanatory

Call of Duty 5: Future Warfare

Duke Nukem Forever

StarCraft 2: united Front

Super Street Fighter IV Turbo

Spiderman unlimited


There will be something for everyone. It will be a good launch window line up. Don't worry.

Lady MushroomJune 09, 2011

I think they'll be in trouble if they go over $300

Chocobo_RiderJune 09, 2011

@Adrock

If ya play Defender I could be your hypaspace!

Well it sounds to me like you have a very sound adoption strategy.

I'm also currently in the "holding off" phase on the 3DS.  The games I really want aren't out yet and I do fear possible future regret if they have a new model next year.  I think it was silly of Nintendo to release the DSi and the XL separately.  It has made their consumers wary.

However, if they make a "Leaf Green" color that accompanies the new "Fire Red"? I may have to snag it by Holiday season.  I think that would like purty.

CericJune 09, 2011

It's Flare red like a Jet Flare because of Star Fox 64.

Chocobo_RiderJune 09, 2011

aww, that's sad.  I kept seeing different translations and one said Fire Red.  oh well =\

Mop it upJune 09, 2011

My guess is $300 on this one. It's going to be more than the Wii simply because its components cost more to manufacture, though I don't see Nintendo overcharging for it like they did with the 3DS. Plus, systems over $300 don't typically sell very well at launch.

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