is the wii really too expensive?

[Guest]

personally, i think it's pretty much perfectly priced. i tried not to put a price on it before nintendo announced one and when i heard i was totally happy with it.

the problem is, the day it was announced i wasn't on the forum but since being back and looking through the wii thread it seems that a lot of you are slagging nintendo off for the price. there are many reasons that i've noticed like, it's costing more than america and europe, the peripherals are expensive, etc, etc.

i just find it strange really as being a gamer i'll end up with all 3 next gen consoles and not worry too much about the cost, especially when it's something as different as nintendo are trying with the wii, although i truly wonder if this will have any impact on the masses.

so what are your views? is it really too expensive or is this just something else for the forum to slag off?

[DC]

No.

[Guest]

No.

good lad.

maybe i should have made this a poll. can i change it to one now?

[Alex W.]

Console: NO. Two GameCubes stapled together = £160. So with the free game that pretty much covers it.

Controllers: YES. I realise it can't be that cheap to build a controller with a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer, and camera, but it'll take a long time to get used to the price. It's good to see that the big multiplayer games are pointer-only, meaning I'll only need a nunchuk for my own controller (I reckon).

[Stroker Ace]

It's too expensive over here. It's just right in America. It's a bloody miracle from God's own hand in Japan.

It's only too expensive over here at all because it's so much cheaper elsewhere. I'd say £180 is a more than fair price for that console + a game.

[Beertiger]

It's far too expensive for it's target market. Which is funny because you have people defending the price and then on the next page they'll defend the shitty cable coming with it on the ground that the people it's aimed at won't care.

Newsflash, the people it's aimed at won't care for a £180 console with £40 games.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

I think it's too expensive for what it's trying to achieve. The marketing pitch basically said: 'We're stepping out of the arms race of ever more powerful machines, higher resolutions and next-gen graphics which Sony and Microsoft are fighting. We are going to do our own thing. We are going to do something nice for everybody who was never interested in or got deluded with gaming. We want to make gaming accessable again by cutting cost on the consumer side AND the developer side. This way consumers will be able to experience our vision cheap while developers don't have to invest in huge next-gen projects. Even your gran will like it and join in the fun."

In effect we get a console which is more expensive than that of the last generations, significant investments when you want to play with more people at the same time (which was pitched as one of the main selling factors) and games that are as expensive as they ever were before, although not reaching the heights of current 360 titles.

Now I don't have THAT much of a problem with the pricing as I can easily afford it, but it's definitely NOT what Nintendo has been PR'ing around the last two years. I think that comes as a disappointment for many people. At the same time, it'll put up quite a barrier for the 'non-gamers' Nintendo is so eager to attract this time round.

[Guest]

It's too expensive over here.

but why?

and don't just say because we're getting shafted. that's already happened with the 360 and i don't doubt it'll happen with the ps3.

edit: cheers stroker, you'd already edited with your answer.

[Dandy_Sephy]

It's too expensive over here. It's just right in America. It's a bloody miracle from God's own hand in Japan.

This. £180 would be fine, but its £115 in japan. That's fricking ridiculous, vat + shipping or not (neither of which will cost £65 extra). I'll be importing my controllers regardless of which region Wii I buy. An extra 33% ? Nintendo of Europe can suck it

The nunchuck really should be in the same box as the wiimote.

[misterSquare]

It's far too expensive for it's target market. Which is funny because you have people defending the price and then on the next page they'll defend the shitty cable coming with it on the ground that the people it's aimed at won't care.

Newsflash, the people it's aimed at won't care for a £180 console with £40 games.

Just what I was going to say.

Most people on here would buy one at twice the price, but thats not who NOE need to be worrying about.

[Guest]

some fair points, but i still think £180 is fine, especially when put next to the price of a 360 (premium) or ps3.

[citation deducer]

I think we all have cogent points that could be quoted in MVC.

[scottcr]

it's the standard tactic though... nintendo can CLEARLY get away with 180 quid release. Wii will sell like hotcakes to many many many gamers.

No non-gamers will pick it up on release...

but then, they hope that over time, non-gamers will start to see the appeal of the machine - perhaps have seen it at friends houses, perhaps see it used to view photos or movies, perhaps they played that Wii sports game and some crazy cooking thing and they check the price to see how much it is... it's Christmas 2007 and it costs 130 quid - with Wii sports.

[mistermotto]

I really don't know what to make of the price, to be honest. It seems pretty steep, especially for a console with so much riding on it.

Also, isn't Europe traditionally Nintendo's toughest market? I dunno, I suppose there has to be some logic behind the pricing. Maybe they plan to screw over the early adopters and lower the price after the initial rush?

I'm gonna wait and see how it does at retail. If a steady stream of fantastic games end up getting released for it ALA Nintendo DS, then i'll happily invest £180 in one.

I was hoping for £130 though.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

some fair points, but i still think £180 is fine, especially when put next to the price of a 360 (premium) or ps3.

I don't really agree with that, as the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are powerhouses while the Wii is a Cube on steroids with a very expensive controller. The 360 and PS3 will be selling at a loss, while the Wii will be selling with a nice profit margin. If Nintendo really wanted to invest in new gamers, they'd rather sell the machine cheap and gaining revenue from games, the virtual console and a 'channels' subscription or something.

[Lorfarius]

Also, isn't Europe traditionally Nintendo's toughest market?

Thats only because NOE are so shite. If they made some sort of effort in actually marketting Nintendo products it might not be that much of a tough nut to crack.

[Guest]

it's the standard tactic though... nintendo can CLEARLY get away with 180 quid release. Wii will sell like hotcakes to many many many gamers.

No non-gamers will pick it up on release...

but then, they hope that over time, non-gamers will start to see the appeal of the machine - perhaps have seen it at friends houses, perhaps see it used to view photos or movies, perhaps they played that Wii sports game and some crazy cooking thing and they check the price to see how much it is... it's Christmas 2007 and it costs 130 quid - with Wii sports.

see, i still don't believe this. it's the cheapest of the 2 available consoles this christmas, plus if demoed right, people will get to play with the crazy new controller. i reckon those 2 points will be enough to sell a load on release.

[scottcr]

it'll sell loads at release - undoubtedly.

but that'll be to current gamers. their new market won't begin to open up for a while yet, perhaps year - when games like brain training/animal crossing etc appear, get advertised on Saga radio and - I also reckon, come this time next year, there'll be a price cut.

[Beertiger]

It'll sell a load on release because it's a Nintendo console and they have the most dedicated fans who'll defend them to the death.

However Nintendo wasn't supposed to be going just for them. It even seemed like they would be ignoring them to an extent to tap into their new found market created by the DS. Then they announce the pricing structure and it all goes out the window. All of a sudden it doesn't encourage non gamers to gather around a TV and play tennis, as that would set them back a ton of cash. We think it's acceptable but they won't.

The only thing priced correctly is the Virtual Console stuff.

[Guest]

so, what are the chance of them doing a gc and dropping the price to £130 for launch?

they've done it before…

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

see, i still don't believe this. it's the cheapest of the 2 available consoles this christmas, plus if demoed right, people will get to play with the crazy new controller. i reckon those 2 points will be enough to sell a load on release.

If people want a cheap console they get a PS2.

If people want a next-gen console they get a 360 or wait for the PS3.

I think the people Nintendo are aiming for with the Wii aren't going to pay 300 quid to play Wii Tennis with 4 persons.

[Major Britten]

It's too expensive over here. It's just right in America. It's a bloody miracle from God's own hand in Japan.

It's only too expensive over here at all because it's so much cheaper elsewhere. I'd say £180 is a more than fair price for that console + a game.

See this sort of quote I do not understand, just had a quick look on google and the american minimum wage is just $5.15 which works out at exactly 2.72876 GBP at current trading rates. Also looking at the same site (link) the minimum wage is 31% of the average hourly wage of American workers. Now our minimum wage is nearly DOUBLE that. So in terms of price, in comparison americans have to pay around about 264 GBP for the wii (converting the wii price then doubling it).

Now please tell me why we are getting the shit end of the stick and why the wii is too expensive here and 'perfectly' priced in the US. Just looking at those figures, we're getting a fucking bargain.

[Alex W.]

See this sort of quote I do not understand, just had a quick look on google and the american minimum wage is just $5.15 which works out at exactly 2.72876 GBP at current trading rates. Also looking at the same site (link) the minimum wage is 31% of the average hourly wage of American workers. Now our minimum wage is nearly DOUBLE that. So in terms of price, in comparison americans have to pay around about 264 GBP for the wii (converting the wii price then doubling it).

Now please tell me why we are getting the shit end of the stick and why the wii is too expensive here and 'perfectly' priced in the US. Just looking at those figures, we're getting a fucking bargain.

If you'd used the mean wage in each nation, or better yet the median wage, you'd have a point. Instead you've kind of crashed into a large tree. The tree of logic.

[Sng]

Considering Nintendo want to aim it at a wider audience, I'm suprised it's so expensive compared to previous console launch prices.

And considering how they're pimping playing with friends I'm suprised it just comes with one pad and extra ones cost $60. One pad? I mean, WII. Two I's! I'm sure they were meant to represent controllers. Should have been called a Wi!

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Now please tell me why we are getting the shit end of the stick and why the wii is too expensive here and 'perfectly' priced in the US. Just looking at those figures, we're getting a fucking bargain.

It's twice as expensive as a PS2.

It's three times as expensive as a GameCube.

It's only 30 quid less than a 360 core.

[Major Britten]

If you'd used the mean wage in each nation, or better yet the median wage, you'd have a point. Instead you've kind of crashed into a large tree. The tree of logic.

Almost one third of the american public is a pretty huge pecentage. And seeing how Nintendo want to target everyone my point is still valid.

[Dandy_Sephy]

It's only 30 quid less than a 360 core.

£20. Cores are only £200 now

[rundll]

For £180 i'd expect DVD playback.

Surely it's only a bit of software.

[kensei]

There is no sales tax on the US figure, and the dollar is particularly low at the moment which won't stay that way forever, it is higher, but not as excessively so as in the past.

I think Nintendo have done this because the PS3 has given it the room too. There was a problem with the GC where after Sony and MS cut prices, Nintendo really had nowehere to go, and it also harmed it's perceived value. So if they are playing this intelligently and it winds up with them able to better manage demand and have a longer lifespan for the console, I'll live with the difference.

[daveodeth]

At 180 no, but having to buy an extra controller so i can get chums involved at the price they are is a bit of a downer.