Nintendo confirms Wii price: $unannounced

by Christopher Grant { May 9th 2006 at 11:43AM }

Now we have the official word. At the E3 2006 Nintendo press conference (that we're live blogging here), Reggie announced Nintendo Wii will cost... wait, he didn't announce the cost. He did say "We will give you more fun for less money." Well, duh! You mean it'll be cheaper than the PS3(s)?

Stay tuned for more information.

Tags: E32006, Price

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jason @ May 9th 2006 1:42PM

199.99, please!

Aaron @ May 9th 2006 1:43PM

Nintedo wants to disrupt things, so they are gonna put some "WiiDS" in your garden.

Bob @ May 9th 2006 1:48PM

Please ask how the 'spatial location' sensor bar would work with a projector screen. I think it could really add to the immersion.

Ben Goddard @ May 9th 2006 1:48PM

$99.99 would be perfect.

Pretty Obvious @ May 9th 2006 1:51PM

No price, no date, underwhelming video clips. Controller is aight but not enough to justify a price tag above $200. I wouldnt even pay that actually, $150 sounds about right.

No announcement of a new Gameboy, Zelda TP launching with 2 versions. So in the end Sony still has this E3 in the bag.

Next up Microsoft.

lordbug_scs @ May 9th 2006 1:53PM

No price or launch date announcement was an absolute mistake. They needed to do both of these after Sony did it with the PS3.

So now we have two shot feet after two press conferences. Can Microsoft make it a trifecta?

epobirs @ May 9th 2006 1:53PM

I'm expecting $249.

This gives them the claim on lowest cost of entry while letting them recoup their development investment in the shortest time frame. An everyone wins scenario.

$199 is possible but any less would seem contrary to both economics and the company's history in pricing.

RevJonathan @ May 9th 2006 1:56PM

"So in the end Sony has e3 in the bag."

Yeah not so much. Nintendo has managed to dismiss Sony and Microsoft as Tech Giants who don't know how to get in touch with gamers without even mentioning them.

I agree that we didn't learn much from Nintendo, but Sony bombed horribly. That is the worst e3 showing second to the Sega Saturn debut. I'll bet they didn't announce because they saw Sony's price and realized they could go up. Sucks for us, but I'd still buy one at 250.

Dale @ May 9th 2006 1:59PM

I think Nintendo decided to re-evaluate their price strategy after Sony announced that the PS3 will cost you an arm, a leg and your first-born. Maybe Nintendo is thinking "Maybe we can charge a little more for our system now that Sony has given us a higher bracket to work with." This would not surprise me, afterall, the name of their game is $$$$!

Henry G Wolf VII @ May 9th 2006 2:00PM

I just got it!

WiiDS!

Nintendo says, "Do Drugs and You'll Love Us!"

WTG!

DG @ May 9th 2006 2:01PM

I was kind of underwhelmed by Nintendo too, and believe me, I would have been one of the first to declare a home run.

Oh well. I'm not sure what Microsoft can possibly do, but I will be interested hear reports of Wii gameplay.

Mat @ May 9th 2006 2:01PM

I was sitting here wondering why they didn't announce price, but then I read your comment Rev and I bet you're right. Man, I wanted to know now :(

Kevin Larrabee @ May 9th 2006 2:03PM

"So in the end Sony has e3 in the bag."

Umm not really. From all the comments from everyone on tuesday it seems like many were disapointed and mad ast Sony. The PS3 costs too much, the $500 version is so stripped down its rediculous and many of the "innovations" they made were taken from Xbox Live and the Wii remote.

So I, along with many others would have to say that Nintendo beat out Sony this round (E3) and Microsoft still has their presentation later today.

Sergio @ May 9th 2006 2:03PM

"So in the end Sony still has this E3 in the bag."

I enjoyed Nintendo's conference more than Sony's. Unfortunately, that's not the best of complements, considering Sony's completely sucked. We need price and launch date!

sketcher @ May 9th 2006 2:04PM

Nintendo had the chance to come out on top but they did nothing. Top things I was waiting for was Price, Release Date and information and price on backwards compatibility. It's E3 06, this is the last chance they get to announce everything. What the hell are you waiting for Nintendo!

Henry G Wolf VII @ May 9th 2006 2:07PM

#8 -

Wrong. Nintendo showed the Sony and Microsoft don't know how to get in touch with NON-gamers. Good job failing your target market.

mr. reason @ May 9th 2006 2:07PM

Nintendo Wii official price = $249
nes downloads = a few dollars
snes downloads = $5
N64 downloads = $10
not only is there a speaker on the controler, but a mic as well.
also the controler has limited memory capacity

portorikan @ May 9th 2006 2:08PM

Didn't Nintendo already officially announce the release of the system before year's end?

iceatcs @ May 9th 2006 2:10PM

I bet they will accounce the prices and release date on next year E3 2007 not this year.

mike @ May 9th 2006 2:14PM

No launch or price, for shame Nintendo
Graphics look kiddie once again
3rd Party support is few - WOW new sonic game, now I can play sonic for the 12th time.
Nintendo could of blown the doors open with this press conference.
Announce a summer launch, a $250 price point that includes free net access 1 wii controller, gamecube adaptor controller, multi color systems, DS connectivity, and credit for virtual wii games.
I know Nintendo always tries to be different but sometimes they should listen to their consumers. The gamecube is dead. Release the info already!

Jeff @ May 9th 2006 2:14PM

Nintendo *said* a lot of things about "the other guys" not knowing how to get in touch with non-gamers.

What they *showed*, though, didn't demonstrate to me that they really have much idea either.

And what they *didn't* say (namely, price) was no less of a mistake. They could have seriously blown Sony and MS away by announcing a $199 price point. If they'd done that, it's all we'd be talking about. Instead, we're arguing about whether Sony's or Nintendo's conference was worse, and about how bad the Wii's graphics are.

I think so far we've got two press conferences and two feet in mouths. The problem for MS is they've really got nothing to top either of their competitors this year - they've already blown their load.

My guess is we're gonna be 0 for 3 after today and from at least the major announcement standpoint, this will go down as a pretty disappointing E3 after all that promise. But the tide could still be turned by the actual games on display on the show floor.

RevJonathan @ May 9th 2006 2:17PM

17-
That'd be too much of a killer for the Wii. They need to launch it before Sony so that the people who saved up can't buy a ridiculously expensive ps3. If they have to go after the ps3 then they'd better do it soon, otherwise ps3 can drop in price. There's the REAL killer for Nintendo. While I doubt it'd be as fun, a lot of people would buy a ps3 loooooooong before a Wii if they were similarly priced. But they aren't, so Nintendo will probably come out ahead this round.

TravistyOJ @ May 9th 2006 2:21PM

OK, I got say I was disappointed. Nintendo has been doing this whole "Wait till E3, You'll really be impressed at E3, We haven't dropped the bomb yet" stuff, only to not give any facts. I love Nintendo more than any other company. But now is the freakin time to give some facts, not show unpolished GCN-esque graphic games, with no information. That press conference was all fluff. Actual new facts: Speaker in the controller, Zelda TP on two consoles, and a list of games. No actual information as to: Release date, price, actual launch titles (The 27 playable are not launch).

I guess I'm disappointed because Nintendo really had a chance to bury Sony, but continued to play the "wait and see" card, which is beginning to annoy the heck out of me. No worries though, Q4 2006, a Wii will be mine.

iceatcs @ May 9th 2006 2:26PM

If Wii is cheaper and sooner than PS3, why not announce it because it will killing PS3. But sound like they couldn't get to reach, it might be mean that Wii is massive delaying or the price might be have changed to increase last min from new official PS3 prices.

Evan @ May 9th 2006 2:27PM

They clearly said the Wii will launch Q4 of 2006, that's October to December. I'm betting on a release date a few days before Halloween. You guys need to learn to read.

Evan @ May 9th 2006 2:29PM

Also, I kind of liked the whole "Wii standby mode will allow for automatic downloads". Imagine all the holiday gift opportunities through games like Animal Crossing.

Alex @ May 9th 2006 3:23PM

I find it kind of funny that everyone is mad/surprised that Nintendo is holding back information espically after the whole jank "DualShake" thing.

TRICKASSP @ May 9th 2006 3:30PM

TGS is in September. Im sure the rest of the details will come out then. Im pissed cause there was no mention of Zelda TP for Cube coming out soon, just that there will be two versions. Most people I know wanted to play once through on Cube then on Wii for the added stuff. Now, if I have it right you would have to buy 2 copies of the game (one for each system)? Seems pretty rediculous to me.

Marc @ May 9th 2006 3:55PM

epobirs

sorry but didn't they say it'd be less than the PSP?

I'm just curious.

Cloud @ May 9th 2006 4:23PM

to #27

I can buy a car for less than the PSP... oh wait, I mean the PS3 >_> I keep my predictions to $249.96. It's been that way since last E3 and now lets hope it is that cheap. Any cheaper and it will just be looked at as of it were a toy.

Marc @ May 9th 2006 5:41PM

HEY PEOPLE LISTEN TO ME!!!!

Now that I have your attention, to ALL of u, stop bitching about Nintendo not letting the price or release date out. If you all haven't noticed...

THEY HAVE A WHOLE WEEK TO ANNOUNCE A PRICE!!!!

so all of you stop bitching until the week is over.

Lionel @ May 9th 2006 6:14PM

I say whatever price the PS3 is minus a hundred bucks would be about right.

Wii-lcome to shirry Wak u wan Shirry beef @ May 10th 2006 12:04PM

1.The Wii in terms of performance is Last-Gen!
2.Wii know how much the PS3 & Xbox 360 cost, why not Wii? Because maybe it wont be as cheap as we all have been led to believe.
3.Same old games, Zelda, Metroid Prim, urmm Mario cart, oh wait...no urr Mario, Mario.

Wii-off Nintendo & stop trying to sell that repackaged Gamecube, Nintendo fanboys are not that stupid........are they?

How different inside is the Wii from the Gamecube? I wander????

Vladd @ May 11th 2006 5:42PM

I dont see why everybody is bitching about nintendo not releasing its price or release date or that it has bad graphics. For one there is still a week left and TGS for them to release that info and two they said 4th quater so its probobly gonna be released in october. 3rd nintendo said its gonna cost less than the psp which is only 219.94$ right now so its gonna be probobly only 200$. 4th, why do you say its not that powerful, so what if its only a notch up from the GC its way more effecient which means that it uses less power to do more that and have you seen red steel? That has graphics equal to the ps3 and 360! so quit bitching people!!!!

Aidan @ May 12th 2006 1:25AM

The Wii may be Last-Gen in terms of graphics GPU and CPU power, but it represents something much more exciting I think. Everything in video games lately has been representing nothing new except for longer hours, more pixels, and flashier graphics. Movies are made from games more now, and games are being made to copy the narrative and cinematic style of movies. The new format of Blue-Ray is what's replacing DVD, but all it is, is high-definition audio and video. The functionality is still the same.

The Wii may be forced later on [like the 360] to upgrade to an HD drive, but the point is, possibilities for games are huge. Not just more complex gameplay, but new ways to interact physically with the games can be made.

Rawb @ May 13th 2006 12:17PM

Better resolution, more polygons, more realistic, etc, these are the trends of the video game industry of the past ten years, and honestly it's bored me to all hell. There's something about cartoony games that I just love. It reminds me that it's just a game. It keeps it fun.

I think the wii is absolutely ingenious and I hope it succeeds. I'm tired of more sports games where the only difference is the year after the title and which sports professionals are included.

And while it's true that right now Nintendo is only releasing the "same old games", the hope, the desire, is that such a different type of system THEN encourages different types of games. There's always a lag time between when a new interface is developed to when it's adopted by programmers. What we see right now is people making their old games to work with the new controller.

After the initial release, we'll start seeing programmers / gaming companies coming up with *NEW* ideas, inspired by the new interface. There's always a lag time, and sometimes you just have to vote for change, vote for something new and different...

benhayz @ May 13th 2006 3:07PM

Price... = 299.99
Release Date = 12/10/06

Duh....

kieran devlin @ May 14th 2006 12:39PM

what the games dont have to look like crysis on the pc as im happy with the super mario galaxy grapihcs it had good oil detail and good ground detail infact it sort of gleamed a bit and so what sony had nothing at e3 basicaly it didnt have killzone 2 it had a goofy price thats like prob a 360 and a wii put together remeber the ds it retailed at around �100 here in britain psp retails at �180 i think that the ds was cheap for it launch and so the wii might be $150 but it wont come down in price for ages and even at that maybe only $10 or $20 and sony stole both the 2 single reasons to buy a wii and 360 the x box live and controler for wii look guys it had the crapest ever year and although nintendo didnt show a price it did say it would be cheap so be happy and the ps3 what just buy a pc for the graphics i mean hello crysis nintendo aimed at everyone this year wii sports up to red steel and then to exicte truck and then its mascot mario who cares if it didnt have a lot of supporst from 3rd party who need millions of ea games anyway theyd ruin the wii

kieran devlin @ May 14th 2006 12:46PM

remember that game called resident evil 4 on the gamecube look at it it was amazingly detailed and built from the ground up for the gamecube and not at at all is the wii another gamecube it makes it self different with the new type of customers it will bring with games like wii sports up to red steel for those who want some more action and it needs mascots like mario and samus from metroid prime who does sony have a car from grand turismo or stinking ratchet and clank as mascots even masterchief from x box was a cooler mascot and DUH SONIC IS ON THE PS3 AND THE X BOX 360 SO SHUT YER TRAP

V @ May 14th 2006 1:37PM

Sony has nothing at this year's E3. They have nice graphics w/ no good franchises, all new games that ppl won't pay $600 for. There was no Killzone 2, and I don't think they even showed a new Devil May Cry. Nintendo, on the other hand, has Zelda, Mario, Wario, and Smash Bros. And btw, Joystiq writers, please don't beguile us with your promises of confirmed prices. I got all excited for nothing.

Chris @ May 15th 2006 11:35AM

I think, like a lot of people, that Nintendo did show a lot. If you think about it, what games did PS3 and Xbox show? Halo 3, God of war, oh wait PS2, and a few others like Metal Gear 4. Big whoop! Take it from me who has owned every Nintendo system created, the idea that Nintendo will bring back what we loved, the simplicity and the ability to sit down and play right off the bat is something very rare. The most Microsoft and PS3 can claim is they cost so much, yes high def is great but when I?m not planning to buy a new TV for umm 3 years? yeah not so great? Relax people all things have a way of working out there?s no reason for people to freak out or get hurt feelings.

zeb @ May 15th 2006 10:48PM

I think that $99 would be a perfect price. In nintendos press confrence he said that they wanted everybody to play video games. Lots of people would be able to afford a fun system for $99. I think that the xbox 360 and the ps3 are way expensive for most of the people in the world to buy that is why if nintendo realy wanted to sell alot of consoles then they would sell them for $99

jono @ May 16th 2006 12:16PM

one thing nintendo has always had was better gameplay. so many of the classic NES games are my fave. I think the only way to improve thos classics would be to update the music. posibly the graphics but some of the old music is painful to listen too at times but sounds badass like when the minibosses cover them. other consoles focus so much on top notch graphics and then so much playability and story is lost. my favorite game of all time is castlevania: SOTN (which happens to be for playstation) but that game blows all others out of the water. I'm really hoping for some new badass 2d games with the wii
-Jono-

cern @ May 16th 2006 11:58PM

my guess is $250 but then again it is a guess i think it wont go higher than 250 dollars

cern @ May 17th 2006 12:04AM

hey pretty obvious i think ur full of ballony there is no way the ps3 or the 360 can even compare to the gaming style of the nintendo wii nor to the games themselfs wii hasnt even come out yet and already it has better games than the other 2 consoles put together and i think that nintendo is selling their wii for a very low price if they sell it at 200$ if it was me ill sell it for 100 dollars more.

Slag601 @ May 19th 2006 4:12PM

I'm tired of playing the same old thing over and over again. I've said it before and I'll say it again, even if it is the most beautiful game in the world, I won't play it if the gameplay sucks. Its true with any game or gamer for that matter... If its not fun to play, do we really care if it has bump-mapping or dynamic lighting and shadowing or anything like that? If it sucks, it will collect dust, no question. Practically every video game genre has been played out almost to the point where i can't differentiate one game from another. And I really don't care what everyone says, NO ONE has been able to recreate the awe I first felt when I saw Super Mario 64 for the first time. Nintendo has the right idea this time, and I doubt it will debut for more than $199.

Holy_Guacamole @ May 23rd 2006 3:58PM

33-
Nintendo Fanboys (and Fangirls) are not that stupid--You are.

Just because there are new games based on the same characters doesn't mean its a recycled GameCube. Nintendo keeps its fans because of its SERIES. You ever hear of that word?

And in case you havn't noticed, all the PS3 and the 360 are just the same old things with beefed up graphics and memory space. Nintendo came up with a new way to play--the Wiimote.

And just because Nintendo hasn't released their price yet doesn't mean they're going to charge as much as Sony and Microsoft. They could be determining how low it can go for all we know.
(That ryhme was completely unintentional.)

Hellfish @ May 26th 2006 3:40AM

OMG! SHUT UP about Sony "stealing" ideas. All that the PS3's controller has is a tilt sensor. It's not anything like the Nintendo Wii.
And, "stealing" x-box live idea? BS. If anything they got it from Nintendo, which has had free Wi-Fi for DS games for quite a while.

And, "kiddie graphics"?? Are you kidding me? Nintendo announced that it is publishing its own FPS game (Red Steel). Also, Nintendo is using a graphics card and processor VERY similar to the 360's, but slightly less powerful.

And who are you to call the Wii a repackaged Gamecube (which it in no way is)?? Are the 360 and PS3 not repackaged XBox's and PS2's? There is no way I'm getting a PS3 or a 360. I'm damned bored of this style of games. There hasn't been a new game genre invented for forever. The PS3 and 360 are just going to have the same games that we've played on two other consoles before, but with updated graphics, and in the PS3's case, a tilt sensor.

So, unless if you know what you're talking about, PLEASE just SHUT UP and do some RESEARCH before you start bashing stuff.