Author Topic: Rumor: Wii launch price $249, VC details (Read 9154 times)

jasonditz · « **on:** May 10, 2006, 06:37:31 PM »

4 Color Rebellion has an article about someone who claims to have the next issue of EGM, and that issue reveals some stuff that we didn't hear at the press conference. Sounds a little fishy to me, or at least dubious, but here it is:

$249 launch price
VC games will be "A few dollars for NES, $5 for SNES, $10 for N64"
VC games will support progressive scan, but won't have graphical upgrades.
TG16 VC games will be first party only, at least at launch.

Again, I have to doubt the validity of this source, but the info is perfectly plausible. I suppose we'll know for sure when the next EGM hits. Seems a bit pricey for those VC games... though it's still cheap when compared to Sony's download fees for added content. There are some games I probably would eschew at these prices though.

Arbok · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2006, 06:47:42 PM »

http://www.revolutionreport.com/articles/read/440
This source mentioned a lot of the same things earlier, although some different details (like the mention of the Godzilla game).

Ceric · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2006, 06:51:58 PM »

Pricey for the VC games? That's pretty much where it needs to be. People won't buy VC games like Music. They have a much longer life span so you don't need as many. I feel that a game should be at least 2 dollars, even though it pains me to say it.

jasonditz · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2006, 06:58:03 PM »

price them right and I'd definitely be buying them like Music.

$10 for an N64 title is just too much, IMO. I can buy nearly all of those games in physical cartridges on the secondary market for less than that.

MANTI5 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2006, 07:00:51 PM »

Yeah, that's a bit too much. Especially with the availability of ROMS and like was said, you can buy the actual cartridges for little to nothing.

nickmitch · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2006, 07:15:43 PM »

And Indy games will be. . .

The Omen · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2006, 07:54:35 PM »

Quote
$10 for an N64 title is just too much, IMO. I can buy nearly all of those games in physical cartridges on the secondary market for less than that.

I think it boils down to convenience, and Nintendo knows this. If I'm home, it's 3am, and my friend tells me he's never played Hybrid Heaven for the N64, then I will by all means pay $10. It's not that outlandish a price considering I still see some N64 games go for upwards of $20. Also, as far as the business angle of things, it's the perfect price point for Nintendo-just enough to make great money, and low enough to encourage impulse 'buys'.

Oh yeah, and lets not forget convenience...CONVENIENCE! You say you can buy the physical cartridges for less, but guess what? You'll pay a measly $3 more to stay in your home and download it without having to break out your car keys, and then your N64.

Athrun Zala · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2006, 08:11:22 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Arbok
http://www.revolutionreport.com/articles/read/440
This source mentioned a lot of the same things earlier, although some different details (like the mention of the Godzilla game).

the fact that MP3 is a officialy confirmed launch game and that SSBB was pushed to 2007 makes me doubt.... although it could've been a mistake by EGM?

jasonditz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2006, 08:46:19 PM »

I can't picture a single N64 game I'm going to pay $10 for. The only thing they might've got me on was if they had Perfect Dark with some of the slowdown issues removed (a trivial matter for an emulator, it would seem). Doesn't sound like that's happening though.

If they were $0.99 for NES and SNES games I'd be downloading hundreds of games. At $5 for the SNES my list probably goes down to 6 or 7 games. And $2-3 for NES titles? I can think offhand of exactly 4 games I'd buy (Dragon Warrior 3 and 4, Genghis Khan, and Shingen the Ruler)

From a profit standpoint, and considering how little it costs Nintendo to send a sub 1 MB compressed ROM file, the per-unit cost is essentially zero, they're going to make a lot less money on me this way.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2006, 08:55:59 PM »

Somehow I doubt there will be set prices.
I mean should Mario 64 cost as much to download as Superman 64?
I think it will be more based on the demand for the title.
Like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid games will be fairly pricey while lesser known titles especially from third-parties will be MUCH cheaper.
I think the minimum price will be $1 while the absolute maximum will be $10 however.
I suspect Nintendo will also impliment some kind of rental option and subscription fee for FULL access.

MANTI5 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2006, 09:05:09 PM »

Anyone who downloads and plays Superman 64 should have their Wii taken away.

It's been tossed around that new games will come with a few free downloads, hopefully that's true.

jasonditz · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2006, 09:09:13 PM »

Superman 64 is bad enough it warrants at least a rental. I bought a copy from Target for like $5 when they were clearing out their N64 games.

BiLdItUp1 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2006, 09:33:02 PM »

Hmff...I fully expect Nintendo to drop that price to $199, N64-style. I mean, have they ever NOT launched @199 before? Nope.

Nick DiMola · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2006, 09:47:23 PM »

I just don't care anymore. The price is irrelevant, it's under $300 and thats good enough for me. Though I will agree $200 is far more likely and it would mean essentially another launch title for me instead (I'm sure I'm not the only one who would take that $50 and just blow it on another game).

Arbok · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2006, 09:51:03 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
I can't picture a single N64 game I'm going to pay $10 for.

I can: Ogre Battle 64, as I could never find the game and always wanted to play it.

The Omen · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2006, 10:19:54 PM »

Quote
Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
I can't picture a single N64 game I'm going to pay $10 for.

I can: Ogre Battle 64, as I could never find the game and always wanted to play it.

I owned it. Great game. And was a $69.99 cartridge if memory serves.

Crimm · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2006, 10:32:00 PM »

I don't recall if Ogre Battle 64 was $70, but I do know it cost more then I had ever (or have ever again) paid for a video game.

That said, it is a fantastic (and LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG) game.

Pale · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:29:17 PM »

Hey. Wanted to update you guys on some rumblings from the show floor. We were tempted to jump on this rumor too, but we have heard several different prices, all with seemingly reliable back stories, here at E3. I'm starting to wonder if Nintendo has even decided yet.

IceCold · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:36:04 PM »

Someone at Sega said that you can bet on a $200 pricepoint..

Dirk Temporo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:39:55 AM »

And EGM was just guessing. The exact quote escapes me, but it was something like "$250 would be a fair price" or something.

Rhoq · « **Reply #20 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:20:35 AM »

AMN has a "hands on" preview of the virtual console (HERE).

According to the article, prices are to be determined later and the interface is not yet final. The good news is that it looks like the VC handles emulation better than the original consoles that the games were released on. Frame rate drops seem to be nil and the upconvert to 480P make these games look better than ever.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #21 on:** May 11, 2006, 08:34:34 AM »

I'm guessing Nintendo hasn't decided yet. Hardly anybody NEEDS to know the price right now, and the marketing guys are probably arguing over what to bundle with the system and what price will sell the most units.

I've argued the Virtual Console game prices thing sooo many times it hurts. I think the prices suggested here are fine.

Chode2234 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2006, 02:59:47 PM »

Forbes analysts predict a $200 dollar price point.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/05/11/nintendo-microsoft-sony_cx_kt_0511wii.html

There is also some "Nintendo will totally pwn Sony at this pricepoint" commentary too.

Frozen Atlantic · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:42:41 PM »

The Wii plugs into a hard drive. Thus, Emulators > Virtual Console.

I'm more interested in new SNES games from indie guys than playing Super Metroid again.

Jensen · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2006, 10:05:21 PM »

I doubt we will have any new games for an specific older platform. We may get games that look like SNES games, though. But I still don't see Nintendo allowing any real indie games. I'd love to see Cave Story as a download-able game, but I don't see it happening.

If you haven't played Cave Story, you need to download it immediately. It is an excellent side-scrolling action/adventure game...Metroid and Castlevania are the closest comparisons.

News:

Author Topic: Rumor: Wii launch price $249, VC details (Read 9154 times)