Note: This is an attempted recreation of an earlier post that was lost. If it seems out of the flow of conversation by the time it is posted, that is why.
People pay - without whining - the same price for the PS3 controller, which has very little difference to the DualShock on the PS1, which is about twelve years old. The only reason it's considered a "premium" price here is because it's a Nintendo console.
I think the Wii U Pro Controller pricing just put a spotlight on a pricing scheme everyone thought was terrible but had just learned to live with after all these years. I've actually been needing to pick up a new Dualshock 3 for my PS3 lately, as my original controller now refuses to sync with my PS3 and my backup DS3 has been rapidly draining its battery lately. I've been reticent to pull the trigger (pun intended) on the purchase, though, because for the price of that
one controller I could almost buy a new game, and I
could buy 1-2 less-new games with it. This pricing sucked with the PS3, it sucked with the 360, and it still sucks
now with the Wii U Pro Controller. The pricing here just seems less excusable because of the previous Pro Controller cost on the Wii, as well as this new controller probably using 5-6 year old technology.
Of course, I think the Wii U is overpriced in
general for the same reason.
:
The outrage over Bayonetta 2 along with this just proves that people think Nintendo isn't allowed to compete with Sony or Microsoft.
I meant to go into this controversy further in our recent Nintendo Free Radio Ep. 4.5 discussion of the Wii U launch conference, but we were running very short on time and it didn't seem necessary. Suffice it to say that I don't think the outrage has much to do with an "OMG! Nintendo isn't allowed to have exclusives!" mentality, so much as 1 or both of 2 things:
1. The original Bayonetta was a multi-platform game that appealed to a very vocal niche audience, and now its sequel is going exclusive to an entirely new platform that isn't an iteration of the previous platforms. This kind of outrage isn't that uncommon, though, as it happened fairly frequently earlier this generation when certain previously-Sony-exclusive franchises went multi-platform. I remember well the whining from Sony fans when Final Fantasy XIII and Devil May Cry 4 were announced they were headed to the 360 as well. Heaven knows
I've complained time and time again about Valkyria Chronicles 2 and 3 becoming exclusive to the PSP. As like is not, we would have seen a similar (though perhaps not as vocal) reaction from the Bayonetta fans if Bayonetta 2 was announced as a 360 or PS3 exclusive.
2. If the Wii U was a console that had a more attractive lineup of new and exclusive games, I don't think the reaction from that niche audience would have been nearly as virulent because most of those folks would probably be buying a Wii U
anyway. I think it speaks to a general lack of interest that the Wii U
has that is more widespread than the pre-order numbers would indicate (many of which are probably Ebay scalpers, as happens every console launch). As someone on my Twitter feed wrote: "Remember, the 3DS
AND Vita sold-out their pre-order numbers, and look at how
that worked out."
There. Now hopefully
THIS post won't need a
Would Have Been Posted, If Not For Kairon tag.
Topic: Wii U Pro Controller to Retail for $49.99 in North America (Read 17567 times)
