Wii will cost $200 say spectators

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { May 17th 2006 at 12:25PM }

Nintendo Wii will launch at $200 in an attempt to undercut the competition, says an analyst at Merrill Lynch. An executive from SEGA goes further, suggesting that Wii will launch for under $200. This latest estimate sits in the middle of previous ones, but taken in the context of past console releases a $200 launch price wouldn't be out of character for Nintendo. The NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and GameCube all launched at a price point of $200, so we wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo throws up their hands and says "why mess with tradition?"

With the PS3's price confirmed, Nintendo's console is the last of the next-generation consoles to get a solid release price so it's natural that fans and analysts alike will continue the guessing game. As for the other type of price guessing game -- how much the Wii (PS3, Xbox 360) costs to make -- no-one has stepped up to the task just yet.

[Via /.]

Tags: $200, Analyst, Console prices, ConsolePrices, Games Industry, GamesIndustry, Merril Lynch, Merrill Lynch, MerrillLynch, MerrilLynch, Nintendo Wii, NintendoWii, Pricing, PS3, Wii, Wii price, WiiPrice, Xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

GlitchCog @ May 17th 2006 12:29PM

Under $200... by a penny.

Footlong! @ May 17th 2006 12:31PM

Sweet. I wouldn't pay another footlong for it.

Timmi T @ May 17th 2006 12:32PM

I'd say about a footlong over $200

Art Guy @ May 17th 2006 12:34PM

Cool beans. $200 sounds about right.

Now they just need to get third parties to make as many games for the Wii as they are planning for the 360/PS3. Good times.

Clint @ May 17th 2006 12:35PM

Why doesn't Sony just make a Wii-type controller for the PS2...It's just as powerful as the wii wii and it's cheaper!

Momus @ May 17th 2006 12:37PM

I paid $200 for my SNES, sure, but I also got Super Mario World and a second controller with it.

I thought 4cr reported a while ago that Nintendo felt $250 "just seems right." For that price, it ought to come with, at least, a second remote. Some of the game ideas Nintendo was putting out there included using two for each hand, and then there's the multiplayer they like to push, so why not?

~M

Crosswayboy @ May 17th 2006 12:38PM

Please let this be true...

funkonaut @ May 17th 2006 12:41PM

I'm buying at launch as long as it's under $300.

akram @ May 17th 2006 12:42PM

$200 for the N64!!! are you fricking kidding me! Over here in the UK it was �399 GBP...thats like $750.
And you guys complain consoles are too much!

Zach @ May 17th 2006 12:43PM

1/2 the price of Xbox 360.
1/3 the price of PS3.

They're gonna be expensive as hell on eBay.

isuma @ May 17th 2006 12:46PM

Haha .. its cheaper than the 360 HD-DVD add-on. It also has a smaller form factor and looks a heck of a lot nicer.

Jeff @ May 17th 2006 12:47PM

$200 is probably wishful thinking. $250 sounds more likely.

The R&D costs for the Wii were no doubt much higher than they were for GameCube or their past systems (add inflation on top of that). Add on the fact that, whether or not the system's as advanced as the PS3 or X360 (which we know it isn't), it's still got tech in there that's new for Nintendo - wireless, two-part controllers, the virtual console. All of this costs money.

Add on to *that* the fact that all Nintendo really needs to do to meaningfully "undercut" their competition is to sell the system for less money. They could sell it for $289 and they'd still be undercutting even the cheapest Xbox 360.

They'll sell it for less than that, but $199 just seems unlikely. Like the GameCube, it'll come in somewhere between what we'd wish they'd sell it for and what the competition is selling their systems for. A lot of people predicted a shocking $99 price point for the GameCube initially, based on the fact that it only had two main chips on its motherboard and the fact that it was using off-the-shelf tech. Combined with Nintendo's statements about how cheap the system would be, some people dared to dream. But the reality was a debut with a price point $100 higher than hoped.

$250 seems like a safer bet for the Wii.

greg @ May 17th 2006 12:51PM

do we know if the classic controller will ship with the console or is that something that the retailers may bundle in?

also i reckon us brits'll pay the usual $=� and see it for �199

Ryan @ May 17th 2006 12:51PM

$200 or $250. I don't care as long as it comes with two controller, each w/nunchuks, at least one classic controller and a crap load of downloads as well as a Wii game.

Jedi Master @ May 17th 2006 12:53PM

Wii60 on the way..

gameclu @ May 17th 2006 12:54PM

I agree with Jeff about the $250 price tag. There appears to be more than enough support from Nintendo fans and recent converts for an initial price of $250. By the following xmas, I can see it selling for $200.

VOODOO85 @ May 17th 2006 12:54PM

$200 and i'll be getting one on launch

Anthony @ May 17th 2006 12:55PM

Nintendo is reporting that there are 78 games currently in development for the Wii, and about 1/5 of these are first party titles.

White Rose Duelist @ May 17th 2006 12:56PM

Ryan - would you also like the attachment that lets you make toast with it?

Isn't this about the thousandth article speculating about the cost of the Wii? With something like a range of $100-$300 for the starting price? Until Nintendo says something about the price (and inclusions), all the guesswork is a nonentity to me.

Canadian Geese @ May 17th 2006 12:56PM

I thought we knew how much the PS3 costs to make. $8000-$900...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/18/playstation-3-costs-900-sez-merrill-lynch-mob/

GFDGDZ @ May 17th 2006 12:56PM

It's going to be $179.99

Matt Rix @ May 17th 2006 12:58PM

"Why doesn't Sony just make a Wii-type controller for the PS2...It's just as powerful as the wii wii and it's cheaper!"

The GameCube has better graphics than the PS2... There's no way the PS2 graphics come even close to Wii

crono141 @ May 17th 2006 12:59PM

I friend of mine, working for EB Games, tells me their Nintendo rep says it will sell for 250.

I honestly had hoped 150, THAT would have been freakin sweet. 200 is perfectly reasonable, 250 is pushing it. 300 is RIGHT OUT!

Zell @ May 17th 2006 1:00PM

I might be alone on this one but I feel it's a tad greedy to expect a game AND a second controller for $250 when all other new consoles are at least $300 for the minimum.

32_footsteps @ May 17th 2006 1:01PM

"Please let this be true..."

It's true... analysts really do think the Wii will be around $200.

Oh, you meant whether or not the console will actually be that cheap. That, I can't say.

But for the price... while the R&D for the system may be more expensive, from what I understand, it's using much cheaper components. That would tend to drive the price down... Plus, while it's always assumed that Nintendo will go for an immediate profit for the hardware, I'd be willing to bet they could suck down a $50 loss per console (if the hardware cost them exactly $250 to produce) if they felt it would give them a significant advantage in the marketplace.

I mean, it's not like they're rumored to be losing $400 per console or anything...

Adam @ May 17th 2006 1:08PM

I'd like to see it launch for $179.00. Hopefully the tech costs will be low enough to make that a possiblity.

NintyGamer @ May 17th 2006 1:13PM

The Wii needs to come in at 149.99. If it comes in at 199.99 or 249 that is way to high for a couple of different reasons. One problem is that the Wii is nothing more than a suped up Gamecube graphically. Bottomline. Not every gamer in fact hardly anyone is convinced that this controller is going to change gaming let alone revolutionalize it.

People were lined up at E3 to try it out however everyone that came away from it said maybe/maybe not.

It is not the same as when people first played Mario 64 with the analog stick. Everyone knew that Nintendo changed gaming.

Secondly nongamers will not pick up a console to for $200.00 - 249. Non gamers will be much more inclined to pick a product they are non familiar with but find interesting for the $99 - $149 price plan.

I believe this was Nintendo's original plan (at least it should of been) and they should not alter it though they are tempted by Sony's ridiculously high price point.

The last reason is that you can expect Microsoft to drop the Xbox 360 price point by the time the Wii hits this holiday season. If the Wii comes out at $249.00 then expect the Xbox 360 base model to drop to $229 with the harddrive bundle to drop to a much more inline $299.

Therefore the Nintendo Wii would actually not be the least expensive console upon release. After all the Xbox 360 by this time will have hit its ten million unit sold mark by then. Afterall the Xbox 360 has already eclipsed 4 Million units and sales are being made as fast as Microsoft can make them. Not once have you heard of a retailer complain that Microsoft consoles arent selling. Retailers keep on complaining that they do not have enough.

With more stellar titles on the way and the fact that the Xbox 360 titles when compared to the PS3 at E3 looked far better (granted it was PS3 first generation titles) the Xbox 360 looks to be the dominant console of this generation.

This is coming from a person who use to be a Nintendo Fanboy but have opened up my eyes and realize that I still certain Nintendo games however realize that Nintendo has stopped focusing on appealing to gamers like me as a priority and has begun to focus more on people who dont game.

I think Nintendo will make a profit with Wii however in terms of marketshare I dont see it lasting if it comes in at anything higher than $149.

Aaron @ May 17th 2006 1:13PM

The cost of manufacturing the Nintendo Wii goes as follows:

$10 - for the plastic used to case the controllers and console

That's it, $10, since all the other parts are so dope that they must come from another planet, therefore have no Earth value.

Pretty Obvious @ May 17th 2006 1:16PM

I guess $200 is alright. I dont know how some people would be willing to pay $250 for this, they must be extremely stupid. Look at what the system consists of and come up with a decent price point.

The controller is probably costing them more to make this then the actually console and at $150 I think Nintendo would still make a profit. Like somebody stated above $179. He prob hit it on the nail there. A core 360 is $299, so $250 for a Wii?? Come on, use some damn common sense and dont aimlessly throw your money at Nintendo.

Ianc02 @ May 17th 2006 1:21PM

Taking into consideration $ to � at �200 the Wii will sell out in the UK guaranteed. Even if the launch costs creep to �249.99 then it will fly off the shelf. I wonder this time though, will Nintendoeuropes marketing get it right. The DS marketing is second to none here so lets hope this crosses to Wii. It would be beneficial to have a true 3 horse race in the UK playstation dominated arena for once.

In the launch pack i would like to see 2 split controllers, 1 classic controller, console and some free d/loads to get started. �200-�249 would be imo, a very fair price to pay when compared to the higher tech of the X360 and Ps3 consoles.

riffgod @ May 17th 2006 1:24PM

I think that most people would easily pay $200 for a Wii at launch. I figured that Nintendo knew this and would try launchin at $250, just to see if they can get the extra $50 a unit on hardcore Nintendo fanboys at launch.

However, seeing as Nintendo's target gemographic here is people who don't play, it is more likely that they will try to launch it at $200. Although it may be difficult for non-gamers to get their hands on one, because I'm sure the fanboys will be the ones to find out about that budget price tag first. And there ain't no stoppin' a hungry Nintendo fanboy.

The other reason would be that Nintendo is trying to be true to their established fan base and a big corporation like them doesn't care as much about money as they do the fans...

..."Playing is believing" and I'll believe the under $200 price tag when I see it but for now, we can all hope.

Ike @ May 17th 2006 1:26PM

Nintendo GameCube launched at $250.

maxx @ May 17th 2006 1:27PM

All I know is that this information didn't come from "Spectators." If anything, the word is "Speculators."

digital firefly @ May 17th 2006 1:30PM

Gamecube was $199. I bought one on day 1.

Edmund @ May 17th 2006 1:30PM

Clint: "Why doesn't Sony just make a Wii-type controller for the PS2...It's just as powerful as the wii wii and it's cheaper!"

I like the PS2 and all, but that machine isn't even as powerful as a Gamecube much less a Wii.

As for the price, I think that depends a lot on what they decide to ship with the system. Obviously at the very least it will have one Wiimote and one left handed controller. But Nintendo is pushing the idea of people playing together. Will they ship it with multiple controllers? What about the classic controller shell? Will it have that too or will it be separate?

blogger @ May 17th 2006 1:34PM

I believe it will be $199. Even at $249 though, I would still be happy.

http://ibloggedthis.com/2006/05/12/a-brief-history-of-nintendo-consoles-and-why-nintendo-wii-should-be-199/

There is another quick history referrence.

jrm @ May 17th 2006 1:40PM

I half expect to see a really sweet launch package along the lines of System, Remote/Nunchuk Controller, Classic Controller, Packed-In Game (WiiSports?) or at least a demo disc to show off the new controller, plus some $15-25 credit for Virtual Console, all for about US$250. Kinda something along the lines of the old NES/SNES core packages. I mean what's the point of marketing your console to non-gamers, if it's not gonna be playable out of the box. Followed sometime in Q1 or Q2 2007 with a bare-bones System&Remote version for under $200.
Microsoft will likely counter by offering the XBox Core for $250, Pro for $350 and an HDDVD Bundle for $500.
Sony will counter by saying that the PS3 is a bargain for $600, complain about more supply shortages, all the while watching their systems gather dust in warehouses and on shelves.

idiots @ May 17th 2006 1:43PM

I love the spin on this board...

"Wii will cost $10!!!"

"Wii needs to cost $5, and have 30 games, and a ps4 or I'm not buying it! and no one else will either, and the lines at e3 were just because they wanted to see it, it didn't mean that they were really interested"

listen to yourselves folks. $200 OR $250 with a controller + nunchuck is a great price and will sell like hotcakes. If you don't agree, feel free to drop $600 on your suped up blue ray drive.

pablorg @ May 17th 2006 1:46PM

" Why doesn't Sony just make a Wii-type controller for the PS2...It's just as powerful as the wii wii and it's cheaper"

LOL what a good joke. poor kid.

wii = DirectX 9.0 + Shader Model 3.0 + NEx GeN ATI GPU

ps2 = crap

also...

dont forget about

standard wireless

revolutionary wiimote

WI-FI

bluetooth

standard flash storage

LOL 360 core dsnt even save your games!

Ike @ May 17th 2006 1:49PM

Wii is definately worth the $250 price point. Sony already charged $250 for an overpriced handheld.

J B Cougar @ May 17th 2006 1:49PM

Oh i get it, the "idiots" handle is in reference to the people on the board. Chuckle.

Anyway, I agree. 200,250.. anything below 300 sounds like a breath of fresh air to me. Anything below 600 sound like a happy ending.

J B Cougar @ May 17th 2006 1:49PM

jonat3 @ May 17th 2006 1:58PM

200 dollars for not seeming too cheap. That's the price they should go for if they want to appeal to gamers.
150 dollars would be ideal if they want to appeal to non gamers.

Personally, i think the best combo is the 200 dollar price, but with an added wiimote.

Master Phu @ May 17th 2006 2:01PM

If we're talking just the system with one set of controllers (Remote and Nunchuk) I'm gonna go with $149. You figure Nintendo is selling the gamecube for $99 and if the price drop to $79 is true, then it costs them less than that to manufacture. The Wii is not that big a jump over the GC so it's not going to cost that much more to manufacture, maybe an extra $20. The controller will be cheap to mass manufacturer. Controllers are at a 40% profit margin for the retailer, that doesn't even include the markup that Nintendo makes from what they can make it for versus what they sell it to EB/Gamestop, Best Buy for.

If they decide to pack in a game or extra controllers then I can see a $200 price point but a base system with one controller I don't see going for more than $150.

Paul P. @ May 17th 2006 2:05PM

It had better not be anywhere above $200. If it is I will be mad, because I bet my favorite forum account on this one.

mis @ May 17th 2006 2:05PM

PRESS ALERT!!

"how much the Wii (PS3, Xbox 360) costs to make -- no-one has stepped up to the task just yet." --Joystiq

I, of Michigan Institute of Securities (MIS for short), hereby stepup to the plate to annouce that Wii costs...(drumroll please) just $10 to manufacture.

You may now resume "normal" joystiq comments.

:o)

MosquitoControl @ May 17th 2006 2:07PM

They'd be better off going $250 and including more controllers.

Specifically the old-style controllers. If they include them, 3rd parties are more likely to support them.

Consider it covering their asses. And making the virtual console more attractive.

Miles Teg @ May 17th 2006 2:13PM

$200 converts to �106, now wouldn't that be sweet! But I have to agree with previous comments that it will be more like �199 - still cheap though :) I think Nintendo's innovation of power stratagy might just work, the only problem is I will have to pre-order one as I fear they will be all sold-out in stores.