Is the Wii too much, too late?

I don't care what anyone says. The last console I bought was the N64 and the only other game aside from Mario64 I purchased was Zelda. I never bought an extra controller, memory pack or anything other accessory.

This console and its remote is "the only" reason I am getting back into consoles!!!

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I don't know about you guys but I used to dream of the day I could "virtualy" play a game such as tennis by swinging my arm around!!!

The Wii and the remote is a 'dream come true' for me.

I can't f*cking wait for it!!!

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p.s Going to Zellers tonight to make a pre-order! $450 WOOT!

I'll be honest, I agree, to an extent with Matt. I was really hoping for it to hit the $200 mark, and if it came with a second wii-mote, or even one classic remote, I might not complain, but the configuration as is, seems a bit much. Also, it frustrates me that a) the controllers are so expensive and b) you can't use the gamecube controller as the Classic controller. There is no excuse for point b, other than they want to sell more controllers, which, in my book, is bs

I don't think the date will effect it much. Yeah, I wanted it earlier, but I don't think that it's a deal break, or that the masses care...

I'm still buying on release day, but I'll be buying at least one less game than i would have because of the cost, and probably am playing alone until I can afford another controller, which negates Nintendo's plurality design. I still think the thing will sell like hotcakes, and I don't feel its doomed as Matt seems to, but thats not to say that I'm not a bit frustrated with it.

Personally, I don't care I just want a Wii. "$50 dollars expensive. I am a causal gamer an I think its right. For $250 I'm getting exactly what I want: fun in a tiny package. Three weeks late. More like right on time for the holidays. Holidays= more profit. "Yeah lets launch around Halloween." ........right. Nov. 19th is a good date. I'm sorry, but I'm tired of nerds complaining its too expensive. You can say the 360/PS3 isn't overpriced, but the Wii is. I'm done ranting. Where is my flammage?

Too late? For us fans, yes, but only because I want to be playing it now. Too late for Nintendo's goals? Absolutely not. It's out before the holiday shopping season. It'll have many more units available for sale. It'll launch when PS3 is scarce. Perfect for sales.

Too expensive? Depends. For mainstream appeal, a $199 pricetag would have been ideal. "Under $200" is very powerful. But this comes packaged with a GAME and an EXPENSIVE controller setup. The price won't hinder any sales for at least the first year, more likely the first 18 months. THEN, they can drop the price to sub-$200 to capitilize on more of the market. As long as Wii stays a better value (cheaper, more packaged in the bundle) than its competitors, it will not be at a bad price point.

The Wii's only more expensive and later than we want it to be, not more expensive or later than it needs to be to take the number one spot this generation. If Nintendo delivers, these won't be considered mistakes at all.

I'm really tired of the whole 50$ more is so expensive. You get a free game with it. The price of that game is less that the tax you will pay on a 360 or ps3 in most countries.

And controllers? Most of the multiplayer party games can be played with just the remote. That's the one that costs 10 dollars less than the competition. If you need the nuchuck it is 10 dollars more, but again, that is a negligible amount and mostly a one time expense.

I, for one, always expected a $250 price tag. In fact, before Nintendo announced that as the price ceiling, I was anticipating a $300 bundle with Wii Sports.

By the way, David Thomas from Buzzcut hit the price exactly, and his justification makes a lot of sense.

http://buzzcut.com/

You raise the price of the console because you can. The demand is there and the competition is allowing you to increase your profit.

The main reason the price is $250 is Wii Sports. The game has to be packaged with the system because it shows off the Mii avatars, it shows off the controller (in both configurations) and it's multiplayer. That game needs to be with the system for the mainstream audience to be able to start playing as soon as they open the box.

Plus, if it wasn't bundled with the system, it wouldn't sell as well in North America. The big-headed characters is a very Japanese style, and that audience will enjoy it on its own. However, I doubt it'd be as successful here.

hes right you know. and he's the biggest nintendo fanboy out there. im sure you all heard him take shots at the 360 when he was playing with the wii.

like it our not hes right. pedro van faulk, i disagree with you, getting a wii with twilight princess for 250 is a free game, getting wii sports no. who would pay 50 dollars for it when they can get all the other games. wii sports was put there just so people like you can say 'its a bargain because you get a free game'

As a Nintendo fanatic (I refuse to use 'fanboy' seeing that I'm a girl) I cannot wait for the Wii!

But in the reality of things, I set myself up big time - expecting a $200 price tag and an October release date. So when all the real launch details came out, I was disappointed. Nintendo delivered, and proved their promise. It just was not the way fans hoped it would be. Hype is causing so much speculation about whether or not the Wii will do its thing. The launch date is great, before the holidays (and my birthday). The price is good: the cheapest next-gen console on the market. The controller and entire system is new, fresh, and revolutionary. Can you really ask for better? Functionality beats power ever time. That's like asking "brawn or brains"? Sure the PSP is power, with better graphics, and M rated games...but does any of this matter if it's boring and not fun to play?

Gameplay is what sells games. Not just graphics. And great game play is what makes the Wii. Along with the wiimote & much more affordable price compared to all the rest, there's no stopping it.

Besides, all the game play is worth the price anyway....not to mention the extra game & controller included with the Wii, it is a bargin.

I think it's priced perfectly. Who cares if Sony and Microshaft are selling te systems at a loss! Their crap is still too expensive. Where the heck do people get off saying The Wii is overpriced in the wake of the gargantuan price of the BS3!! It's insanity.

Either way, I'm getting a Wii - and if the other two systems Drop under 250, I might (just might) consider entertaining the idea of getting one - but I'll probably be too busy with the Wii.

$250 expensive? No, considering I get WiFi, a good online system (about the friend code thing, if it isn't 1 per console, use the Wii message board), a free game, and the controller. Also, games are cheaper on the Wii, and the Opera browser is free until June (it will be more $$$ for those that don't adopt early, but not for me, I'm preordering as soon as my GameStop gets them ready). I think $250 is a good price. Yeah, I expected $200, but I'm not disappointed at all.

Also, when saying that the Wii+nunchuck is expensive, consider that it's more controller for $10 more than a wireless 360 controller. Compared to the 360 and PS3, the Wii is still considerably less expensive for most of the package.

The Wii will sell out this holiday season. And it will do so despite the 250 price tag. Plus, this launch window is really about all us fanatical gamers and kids on Christmas who haven't anticipated something like this since who knows when.

Nintendo will save early next year to woo non-gamers and non-traditional demographic.

Well, the price and the release have shown that Nintendo IS really focused on the non gamers. Non gamers could care less about when the PS3 is coming out, or how much the PS3 will cost. They will be either shopping for their children (and get the only thing they can, and for a cheaper price), or be intrigued by the family entertainment aspect. They will sell to many of the same people that bought the DS.

The fanboys would buy it no matter what. $200 would've been nice, but no matter how you look at it, it's still waaaaay less than the PS3.

Nothing wrong with making profit, but you need to also look at comparatives. The 360 is months old now, so they can have some good deals to compete. Any reasonably hardcore/medium core gamer WILL look at graphics, that's a given. You have to be pretty fucking awesome to make them overlook that and I'm not sure the Wii is that.

In NZ there is a NZ$50 (~US$30) difference between 360 core and Wii. It will need some good marketting in my land.

Date wise, I think it's fine.


I think the problems are that Nintendo have sort of let us down with a group of things. All small but added up they hurt.

Price is 1 cent under $250
Only 1 Wiimote included in a system with Wii Sports included and that's touted as a "family" machine
No decent online play in titles from launch
No wired ethernet built in
NO DVD playback
NO HD
Controller->screen is laggy
Wiimote IS NOT a direct pointing device (Or, in all the videos I've seen it hasn't been) it's a relatavistic device

I can forget all those things when looked at individually but when adding them up, I feel a little ripped off when you hear they're making a good profit off the bat.

Thing is, I think nintendo know these things, but they don't care cause us fanboys (I am one) will buy it in droves. Then later they can have the bundles, price drops, online support etc for the masses.

Case closed after #11. $200 (or lower) in the spring/summer, though Wii Sports will no longer be bundled.

The price is fine seeing as how you get a tech demo bundled with it (cuz isn't that what Wii Sports really is? To show off what the Wii can do?).

The release date is fine by me (seeing as how I'll get a Wii after Christmas when all the stores have those "after Christmas sales").




The only disappointing thing for me was that it launches in one color. That leaves me with two choices.
1). Wait for the Wii longer than all of you, while hoping Black comes out within 3 to 4 months after Launch (Revolution?) Day.

or

2). Get a white Wii at launch, say goodbye to that beautiful high gloss, and break out the spray paint.




Oh well, Here's to After Christmas Sales!

Nintendo can't afford NOT to turn a profit. Sony and Microsoft are huge global juggernauts with other continuous streams of revenue, Nintendo just has video games.

Too late? I don't really think so, though Nintendo DID say they were trying to release it before PS3. Meh, I don't really think the "lateness" will really affect Wii's performance.

The price though... I'm not too worried about the console's price as the box includes the sensor bar, stand, one Wiimote, and one Nunchuck (Oh, and I bet that even when they STOP bundling Wii Sports that it will still come at $250).

In any case, what I really don't like is the price of the controllers. The Wiimote being $40... eh, I can live with it. I mean, it DOES have an accelerometer, Bluetooth, and whatever technology the pointer function uses, which I don't think any are cheap.

Now the Nunchuck... $20 for 2 buttons, an analog stick, and an accelerometer... SERIOUSLY... One question for anyone in the electronics industry... Does an accelerometer REALLY cost THAT much? I don't think 2 buttons, an analog stick, and a circuit board, would cost that much, so I'm assuming that it's the accelerometer that boosts the price so much.

Oh, I'm getting the Wii (Twilight Princess should have been out by now)... but I have to say goodbye to a second controller for a while.

@metayoshi,

The nunchuk is rumored to have a rumble, too. But yeah, $20 sucks for the nunchuk. I wish it was $14.99 or, better yet, bundle with the remote for a total controller package at $49.99.

@AzaMcWazza,

I agree with most of your points, but I don't think no HD and no DVD is a problem whatsoever, and I'm very thankful the remote is NOT a pointing device. Pointing devices, ala lightguns, require you to line up shots. This causes the player to lock their shoulders and always play with the remote/gun at eye/shoulder level. This leads to strain. Since the remote acts more like a mouse, you can play with the remote in your lap and still be able to aim precisely. This is the sole reason why I think the remote is genious.

metayoshi:
I believe that accelerometers cost somewhere in the ballpark of fifty cents to make, so yeah, the Nunchuck is a ripoff. But whatever.

He is exactly right. The Wii ia $50.00 too expensive. Additional controller price is ridiculous. It an investment now, not in impulse buy.

". I'll be honest, I agree, to an extent with Matt. I was really hoping for it to hit the $200 mark, and if it came with a second wii-mote, or even one classic remote, I might not complain, but the configuration as is, seems a bit much. Also, it frustrates me that a) the controllers are so expensive and b) you can't use the gamecube controller as the Classic controller. There is no excuse for point b, other than they want to sell more controllers, which, in my book, is bs

I don't think the date will effect it much. Yeah, I wanted it earlier, but I don't think that it's a deal break, or that the masses care...

I'm still buying on release day, but I'll be buying at least one less game than i would have because of the cost, and probably am playing alone until I can afford another controller, which negates Nintendo's plurality design. I still think the thing will sell like hotcakes, and I don't feel its doomed as Matt seems to, but thats not to say that I'm not a bit frustrated with it."

you can use wave birds so aparently you havent been reading too much or are misinformed.

Then again, consider what's included and see if it justifies the $250 price tag. I figure...

Wii and Wiimote + Nunchuck = $200.00
Wii Sports = $30.00
Opera Browser = $20.00 (Based on cost after after the early adopter promotion runs out)

With that in mind, I don't think it's that bad a deal. We still get the core system for 200, and the added bonuses to add up to 250. Sure, it's perhaps a little more than I (or some of us) wanted to spend right out of the box, but we're not just getting a Wii and the controller, either.

That, and I figure, after the first year, Nintendo can sell the system seperately for 200 without Wii Sports and the Opera browser, for instance, when the other colors start coming out.

nintendo reps have said "you will be very happy with the price" and that they are aiming for non-gamers. $250, while fair, does not make me very happy. also, it is $50 too much to be an impulse buy, like Mark G said above. non-gamers are not going to buy a Wii at this price.

i feel nintendo has let us down with this pricing seeing as it does not match up with their stated intentions for the console. i will still buy a wii at launch (and trade it in for a black one whenever they come out), but i think it should be cheaper.

Nintendos a business, the prime goal of any business is to maximise profits.

I know that they are targeting non gamers and that $250 is to expensive for a non gamers to give the Wii a try, but very few non gamers even know about the Wii. It'll take 6 months to a year before word of the Wii travels to people who dont play games. Its around this time that it'd make perfect sense for Nintendo to do a price drop and advertise the shit of that fact.

Yes it unfortunante that we as fans get hit with a higher price tag after so many years of loyalty, but again it makes perfect business sense for Nintendo to do this to maximise profits

Personally I am not a gaming freak. I haven't bought a console since Super Nintendo came out, and that was when I was 12. I'm now 21 and bought a DS, and I am absolutley in love with it, and was really looking forward to the Wii.....now that's I know it's going to cost me $250 (plus a game so let's say $300 for starters) I won't be buying it right when it comes out....maybe 6 months or a year later....but it's just a little too much for me to splurge on when I'm not sure I will use it all that much. With that in mind I may cave in just for Twilight Princess!

Personally I am not a gaming freak. I haven't bought a console since Super Nintendo came out, and that was when I was 12. I'm now 21 and bought a DS, and I am absolutley in love with it, and was really looking forward to the Wii.....now that's I know it's going to cost me $250 (plus a game so let's say $300 for starters) I won't be buying it right when it comes out....maybe 6 months or a year later....but it's just a little too much for me to splurge on when I'm not sure I will use it all that much. With that in mind I may cave in just for Twilight Princess!

I think everyone kept saying "too expensive" for the PS3 for so long that they couldn't think of anything else when the Wii price was announced.

My own reasoning for why we should have expected $249? (I was hoping for $200 myself) -- MS didn't drop the Xbox price. Nintendo wanted to be $50 cheaper. MS thinks they're better and Sony's sticker shock gave them a lot of false breathing room. Nintendo's confident that their systems is just as worthwhile as the 360, and everyone should know that Nintendo is most definitely not the FMV brand of gaming. There's nothing 2nd place about their games, experience, or quality.

Last thing, bman, that line about maximizing profits gets quoted a lot, but the truth is that Nintendo's majority owners are invested in long term, thus they'll take a hit now to make sure there IS a game industry in 20 years. It's mostly companies that are majority public owned that have the leash of stock price around their necks, and sometimes get run-by-committedied into the can.

The Wii comes with a $50(possibly, I can't confirm) game and a $60 controller combo. Lets see: $250 - $50 - $60 (carry the one add the three) come out to be, OMG!!! $140(+-) BUCKS!! That's a deal to me. It is really hard to say that this price-point is too much to pay for what we all will eventually get.

Oh, and sorry to everyone who made this point as well, didn't read first. I'm just so darned mad!

Moogle, but they arn't taking a hit know, every Wii sold is going to generate profit...unlike its competitors.

TBH, I dont really care much it will cost at launch and when it launches. I never buy consoles at launch, and prolly not now. (Although it looks pretty awesome.) The console's lifespan is not just the launch, u know ;)

I just wait about half an year to collect the money for it and for few games.

That dude Matt from Ign seems to hate the Wii.

Discussed here with links and topic links to prove his apparent lies this poster believe. I didn't post this but someone else took quite a bit of time.

http://boards.ign.com/nintendo_ds_lobby/b7594/128382052/p1/?0

Yes, I also agree the Wii is $50 too expensive. Congrats to Nintendo for pricing high for profits.. and all.. and you know what, Sony should bump up the cost of the PS3 to $1k so they can say "We're making a profit"

I look at the Wii, and it's technical abilities, it's hardware... and I see me buying a $99 gamecube, with a $150 controller. It's running the same tech as a console that launched for $50 less 5 years ago. I feel over charged. It's like being charged $5 for a McDonalds cheeseburger because Chilli's sells theirs for $7. And then i have to add in the cost of the Wired ethernet adapter. And so I get Wii Sports... that's like getting a DS packaged with PingPals.

Cheapest games go to the PS2 though. $20 bucks for some great games, like God Of War, that looks as good as most Wii launch titles.

And to everybody drawing comparisons between PSP/DS, look at the console market. GC was weaker then the Xbox, and had Nintendo backing it, and lost to the newcomer. N64 lost to Sega Saturn in Japan.

People.. People.. Stop whining about the cost, just turn around then, and DON'T buy a Wii! You've known the Wii was coming for over a year now, in that time you've could've saved those $50 by now!
I think it's a great pricing, which I will gladly be paying for it.

@Duscrom

"to everybody drawing comparisons between PSP/DS, look at the console market. GC was weaker then the Xbox, and had Nintendo backing it, and lost to the newcomer."

But both the Xbox and GC were losing to the PS2, a older machine with less power. So how do you explain that one?

"N64 lost to Sega Saturn in Japan."

Wrong! Sega Saturn units sold: 10 million. N64 units sold: 32 million. Besides, Playstation dominated THAT generation as well, with over 100 million units sold, which partially explains the subsequent success of the PS2.

But I mean come on, you KNOW the DS is absolutely destroying the PSP in sales right now. If you don't recognize that you must be a blind Sony fanboy.

In regards to the price of the Wii, yes I do believe $250 is a fair price, for the many reasons stated above (built-in wifi, motion controls, browser, etc)... but remember for $250 you're also buying a Gamecube, N64, SNES, NES, Sega Genesis, TG16, and whatever the hell else Nintendo decides to add to the virtual console.

On competition: I own an Xbox 360. There are a lot of great games coming out for it that just aren't going to be available on any other console. I just watched the trailer for Bioshock on XBL. Wow! And Lost Odyssey, and oh man I really hope Trusty Bell gets an American release! Of course that's not to say I won't be standing in line for the Wii. I certainly plan on taking one home on launch day, along with Twilight Princess.

Whichever company or companies you support, one thing's for sure: this holiday will present a lot of fresh and amazing gaming experiences... unless you're buying a PS3, of course.

Those griping about the $250 launch price aren't paying attention.

If you've bought ANY Nintendo system on launch since 1996 you've been paying at LEAST $250.

*Nintendo 64 (1996) = $200.
Console, one controller, needed hookups, papers & promotions.

No game however. Are you gonna just look at a lit black screen? No. You had to buy Super Mario 64 or Pilotwings 64 to get any use out of the system. And that cost at the time, I think, $50 or $60. So just to get playing that's $250 or EVEN $260 right from jump.
Never mind the later games that needed the Controller Pak.
So you had to buy that separately too for about 20 bones.
$260 ~> $280.

*Nintendo Gamecube (2001) = $200
Console, one controller, needed hookups, papers & promotions.

Once again, no game. Sure it can be fun to hear the ambient sounds of the Gamecube loadup screen but that'll get old real fast. How many times can you set the internal clock or change the sound settings from Stereo to Mono?
You had to buy a game, right?

So Luigi's Mansion or Star Wars Rogue Leader would set you back another 50 bones (pronounced 'fiddy bohnz').
$200 PLUS $50 EQUALS $250.

Nope wait. In the Gamecube era of DVD discs instead of N64's notorious cartridges, there was a need for memory paks/cards since you could not save to game cartridges anymore. So it was a must buy unless you intended on reunlocking all the secrets & redoing all the work you did everytime you played your game.

So if I remember correctly that was another 20 Washingtons on the barbie.

$250 TRANSFORMS INTO $270.

And remember all this was SIMPLY the console, ONE controller, ONE game, and/or Memory/Controller Pak & that's it.
No free online, no Wii Channels, none of that other goodness Nintendo packed into the Wii setup.

Wii REALLY hasn't broken the USA $200 launch tradition.
If you take away the Wii Sports pack in you're looking at $200. Actually that's wrong. Also included in that price is initial fees for the whole free online/Wii Channels setup. A small little token gesture for buying the product.
Remember Nintendo is running this whole setup from themselves. To get it for free throughout your usage at anytime NEEDS some kind of monerary fuel to keep server costs down. And seeing how costly that can be it's no thing to put that in with the package cost.

The original NES Deluxe Set sold for $250. That's the one with R.O.B. & company. The alternate Control Deck set sold for the magic $200 as did the subsequent packages like the Action Set & Power Set in the NES heyday.

Yeah I grumbled about this price too at first until I used my head for a second & thought a little.
They haven't changed a thing & besides the package is well worth it.

People have been lulled into thinking Nintendo should just GIVE their stuff away based on the rockbottom prices the Gamecube packages have been selling for.

It SEEMS like Nintendo has gone higher when actually the $200 tradition is still intact. Only difference is they made a mandatory bundle which would naturally put it up $50. I know there'll be a barebones Wii deal for $200 very soon. I agree with their inclusion of Wii Sports because that will be our gateway & training ground for this new control design. Not just that but it represents what the Wii project is all about. So I understand the pack-in.

I don't get all the griping when Nintendo is STILL giving you the best quality for the most reasonable prices. After decades of doing it this way when others WOULDN'T. That's right. Others WOULDN'T. But no one gives THEM grief over that.

Read the histories of Sega, Atari, Sony & other console makers & see how THEY did their prices. Before success and AFTER success. Nintendo is the only one who tries to keep it economical & reasonable considering their well-made craftsmanship & design.

Matt & others need to quit griping because we're getting the Future of Gaming for basically a steal. And it will earn its cost back plenty of times over. You'll play it & use it far more than the $250 you put out for it. And you'll realize how 'worth it' it all was to say the LEAST.

Only because of bundle deal does the Wii break the magic $200 on face. But it's really the same thing if you remember what you paid for N64 & GC.

The only REAL problem with this whole deal is Nintendo didn't pack *TWO* controller combos in the box to emphasize the 'WE' of Wii. And those combos ARE costly so I think it shoulda been put in.
That's really all that's wrong. Everything else is skipping right along just fine. And it's STILL a minor point compared to what the competition is pricing for their products & accessories.

Some people just like to complain.
They need to start appreciating.
John Lucas

What's the issue with the pricing? First I see them get knocked for making a profit on the system, and now I see them getting knocked for a price. They said, right off the bat, what the system would cost in yen, and I'm pretty sure that it translated to just above $200. When you factor in shipping and distribution in a country as large as the US, you can see where the rest comes from.

I, for one, planned for the system to have a $250 price tag. Yes, it forced me to make a few choices about my addiction this season (in which we need no reminder that there're "primo" "goods" being put out on the "streets), but hey, you can't always get what you want. That's what we call life.

Now, you can certainly argue that they're making a profit, but, and I can't stress this question enough, WHAT THE HELL DO PEOPLE THINK BUSINESS IS ABOUT? Nothing further is needed for that bloody stupid argument about profit.

It's still the cheapest system out there, and it's got innovative controls. That, for me, makes it the first buy this season. And yes, I am saving for a 360 and a PS3. White Knight sold me on a $600 machine. Christ. It certainly doesn't mean that my deicsion is what everyone else should go by, but for the sake of all things holy and pure, stop knocking them for making money. It makes you look like a whining 5 year old.

bman: I meant making less than theoretical maximum short term profit. They're fine with earning smaller profits, not taking loss. It's a healthy company, and has been pretty much constantly for over 100 years.

Too expensive by far in the UK, to say the least, I feel Nintendo are raping my wallet.

Without doubt I'll buy one on launch day though. But I have two friends who went from "definately will buy one immediately" to "no way man". So I can't help but feel Nintendo are missing an opportunity.

Why did everyone expect two controllers? No console, ever, has launched with more than one. And no, Nintendo was not emphasizing multiplayer as much as people seem to think.

http://tinyurl.com/foab3
/plug

Also, what launch window games have multiplayer that would *require* an extra controller? Whenever someone factors the game into the price, they just say "game", regardless of if it even has multiplayer.

I would call myself a pre-Sony fanboy, but PS3 with it's HIGH price and same old stuff gameplay mad me disappointed... WIth Wii I get new experiences I've never been able to get before and in my opinion it's cheap...

Jonn Wood from Msg #39:
[[39. Why did everyone expect two controllers? No console, ever, has launched with more than one...]]

That's wrong, Jonn Wood.
I'll let you read excerpts from Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES

"...The first of these sets, the Control Deck, retailed from US$199.99, and included the console itself, **TWO GAME CONTROLLERS**, and a Super Mario Bros. game pak..."

The SNES was the same.
Sega's systems were the same at one time.
I believe Sony lauched with two controllers as well with the PS1.
I'm not gonna even go into the systems BEFORE Nintendo's like the Ataris, Colecovision, Intellivision & the Odysseys.

Nintendo stopped doing two controllers at launch (as well as game pack-ins *until now*) with the N64.

The second Wii controller SHOULD have been added in because the combined price of the combo will scare some people but it's not a major weakness.
Plus it'll get people playing right from the start together which is what part of Wii is all about.

But none of that will really matter in the end.
Wii's gonna rock the competition the next 5 years straight.
And the game industry will never be the same again.
The codename Revolution is right.

John Lucas

Yeah like Microsoft and Sony wouldn't sell their console for a profit if they really thought they could get away with it. Nintendo's doing the right thing for any company: making money. Now, I'm no expert in economics but I'm fairly sure that profit is what keeps companies going. The thing is, even though Nintendo has a lot of money in the bank, they still don't have hundreds of products to keep any risky ventures afloat.

Yes, the Wii should only be $200 dollars, with the box containing 2 controllers… but what are ya gonna do? I know dam well that I’ll buy one anyway, because I LOVE Nintendo – it’s a sickness, and there’s no cure.

Too expensive for mass market here in Europe. 200€ hardly hurts a rich not-yet-gamer, 250€ do more.

200€ would have been great, 250€ disappointed all the fanboys.

Sony and MS sell their consoles loosing money, so why can't Nintendo do so? Controllers are expensive enough

$250 is too expensive for the mainstream customer? Tell that to the 100,000,000+ people who bought the PS2, which started out at $300.

"Sony and MS sell their consoles loosing money, so why can't Nintendo do so?"

Because Nintendo can't take nearly as big of a hit as Sony or Microsoft. They don't have enough money to risk losing all of it on a failed console that didn't make them a cent on any of the units they actually managed to sale, or actually making a successful console and then losing even more cash because weak software sales don't manage to cover the losses on the actual hardware. It's really just much too risky. Besides, why would they sell their hardware at a loss when selling it at a gain makes them one of the most profitable video game companies on the planet (behind EA and EA alone as far as profit made solely on games and consoles goes)?

I was thinking about buying one i am not sure. Not a fanboy of the gamecube. Soley on issues with the controller being too small for one thing.Also they are behind as far astechnology is concerned. I like they have some kind of internet access but will it be supported. 250.00 is a bit high imho. $200.00 would be a fair deal. Considering you are buying dated technology. The other case buy a ps3 spend a fortune go fig. But you have way better game and tech specs.Blue ray though i dont know much wow is so far ahead.Nintendo needs to step-up to the plate and do a little more. Though i am gonna have to rent the system to see if i like it for a fair decision. Nintendo is a big enough name they wont go under either.