Wii launches Dec. 8 in Europe for GBP 179

I thought that nintendo announced that the GAMES were region free (Nintendo first party will be, it's up to the third party developers for their games), not the consoles. Which means there is a reason that the Wii would be more expensive in your territory.

Also, remember that GB has the VAT tax that adds a hefty sum.

Nextly, be happy you lot are getting it before Christmas. Honestly, what were you expecting? Nintendo is a business and they're going out to make money. They have a nice little price point 100GBP below its only competetor for this year. Hell, if PS3 ever gets over to you they may drop it again into the 'impulse buy' range.

And if you don't want it, tell Nintendo to send more to us in Canada so I can get one for sure :p

Well, the rest of the brits are moaning...so I'll bring some facts!

If Nintendo sold it less in the UK, the rest of the world would have to pay less!

Blame it on VAT ect....but really, its all the ASBOS they chuck out!

You know, over 2 million people in the uk are on ASBOS, which costs the goverment around £500,000 for each by the time its gone though court!

OK, whine over....lets kick those cunts asses!!!

Importing wouldn't make much of a difference. Here in Holland at least, we have to pay a nice import tax, which for the Wii would be about 60 euro's. And that still excludes shipping with DHL/UPS for about 40 euros. Bringing you to the grand total of 349,- euro's for a system that's only regionfree for first-party titles. Software on the other hand is valued below the import tax minimum, and should be no problem.
If you could manage to find a retailer who ships them without invoice and original packaging it would be worth the trouble.

Well...I guess not being able to please everybody is a global thing...

Everyone's mad about the price. I mean, that's not great for EU, but the US is mad about their price too. (I live in the US) We're used to getting a $200 console from Nintendo and we have to pay $250 this time. It seems that in EU, people will be paying around 30-50 Euros more than THEY hoped too also. And of course it'll be cheaper to import on from the US, our money isn't worth as much as EU's money. Euros are the "expensive" money now, for lack of a better way of putting it. ^_^* I could probably find some way to get a Wii cheaper from Japan myself.

I'm just saying that everyone's a bit upset about their prices, so there's no need for a bunch of compairison. Just import one if you can. :D

Fuck it. I couldn't be assed writing why Nintendo Europe (and to a lesser extent Nintendo) are fucking idiots.

I used to be a diehard Nintendo fanboy; owned every nintendo console, most of the handhelds, defended their every move. However, I am finally fed up of taking it up the ass from Nintendo Europe, I just can't take it any more. I have lost so much respect for them in the last few days (Twilight Princess and now this being the two major catalysts).

And to anyone who replies to this: I likely don't give two shits about what you coukd ever say (though, I will probaly read them with a semi-amused smirk).

In fact, I am completely sick of what Nintendo fanboys currently appear to be: zealots. I bought ONM the last day for the first time in a year (though I regularly get other mags such as edge, games and pc gamer), and besides their hilarious obsession with how amazing wii graphics are in every previewed game, I was appalled at the letters section. And along with comments from websites and message boards in the last few days I have rarely seen such a bunch of misinformed, brainwashed... argh... fuck it.

I am so depressed right now. I don't care how this post reads, I just have to vent my thoughts and feelings somewhere (I appreciate everyone who reads this and don't intentionally want to offend anyone, more wake up).

An Xbox and Oblivion for me and an imported Twilight Princess probaly (the real version looks like it isn't coming out in Europe). Nintendo, I only ever wanted to love you.

Paul Gale
1up.com
SHUT IT.

£45/$90 premium!

The Wii is expensive because:

1. the controller is expensive new technology. It DOES suck that they cost so much, but it's to be expected. Yes, this is a disadvantage of a controller-focused console, since you buy multiple controllers (thank goodness both the Wii itself and the controllers are so portable-- I might only buy one extra controller, but I know two other people buying one at launch, and it'll be easy to get the controllers together in one place to play.

What's more, the simpler games Nintendo expects the casual crowd to play-- Wii Sports, Brain Training, that sort of thing that sounds lame to us Joystiq-posters but sells like crazy anyway, only requires the remote. Then it's just $40.

2. They put in wireless out of the box. Note that the 360 wireless connector costs a full $100-- you think Nintendo was giving that to you in a tiny little box for free.

3. Unlike Microsoft or Sony, Nintendo has no other source of cash than videogames. Selling at a loss isn't as good a business idea for them than it is for their competitors.

4. It'll sell out the first shipment at this price. Then, sometime next fall or early winter, Nintendo will drop the price and release a pink Wii and Nintendogs or something similar, and THEN you'll have a mainstream hit. This was their business strategy with the DS, and if it succeeds this time, look for a very, very different split in the Japanese market than the last home console generation.

Wii is cheaper than its competitors. But it's more expensive at the start than last generation. If that's a problem for you, I might suggest you wait a year, see what comes out for Wii, see if the price comes down, and then reconsider.

hmm, doesn't sound too bad for the system that it is, and as a bonus it is still coming this year!

Of course you could always just buy a shirt or something until then. Maybe one of my Wii designs (Selfless promotion) at http://www.cafepress.com/wgear/

Sorry but I couldn't help it

Man... I was gonna get one if they were selling them for around £130 or so, but nah, i can't afford this kinda price.
Especially not for a souped up GameCube.
Now, if they'd shoved some actual next gen horsepower in there, it would've been really cheap, but this console was deliberately designed to be cheap, yet they STILL sell it for a pretty high price tag.
It's a shame, I really like the idea of the Wii(Except the name), but gradually the whole thing's been going downhill. Interface looks great, the new controllers are cool, it's got the most interesting game lineup... But now it has the worst name in console history(Even WonderSwan beats Wii) and the pricetag on this "budget" console is still way too high.

Wow, Europe sucks.

To all stop complaining about the price!!! Its to be expected we would get it more expensive, thank the lucky stars we didn't get it at £250 , and thank the lucky stars we get it before Christmas!

And people saying its a souped up gamecube, please take another look and you'll see the things you'll be getting for £180.

Wii, Nunchuck, Wiimote, sensor bar, cables, Wiisports, Wii channels(except Opera browser maybe) which allows to view photos and videos. Create your own lookalike characters for games etc. Check the weather/messageboard etc and send messages to in most cases anywhere.
Virtual Console(practically you are getting 6 consoles in one) with access to new and old libraries of games.
Not to mention the new style of play. Maybe who say its a souped up gamecube should actually go try the wii for themselves. And besides, its not exactly going to eat all your electricity bill up like a PC/PS3/Xbox360 would do either.

So take a look at the software and gameplay value you are getting instead of the hardware value.
Yes us British do get ripped off, we should be used to it by now. And who says PS3 isn't going to be more than £425? It could go to the £500 mark for all we know.