GameStop unveils $700 Wii-mega bundle

by Ross Miller { Nov 8th 2006 at 5:25PM }

Beginning Thursday evening (and lasting maybe a few minutes), hopeful gamers will be able to go on EB Games / GameStop's online page and pre-order Nintendo Wii. Akin to the Xbox 360 pre-orders last year, GameStop will not let you order the Wii outside of a bundle package that totals $694.88, or approximately 280% the price of the Wii console alone. The bundle, which we're dubbing Wii-mega, includes:

The Wii console ... $249.99
1GB Wii-emblazoned SD card ... $59.99
Additional Wiimote ... $39.99
Six Wii titles: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center, Red Steel, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, and Madden NFL 2007 ... 6 x $49.99 = $299.94
12-month Product Replacement Plan
Game Informer Gift Subscription

Assuming "gift" means complimentary (i.e. free), the 12-month product replacement plan values $44.97. Savvy shoppers can find 1GB SD cards for a little over $30, and those savings could be used to buy a nunchuk for the second Wiimote. And while the games listed do span a wide demographic of gamers, we can't assume all consumers are going to want to invest in every game.

The fine print is also amusing, with the safety words "contents subject to change" and "ordering this bundle does not guarantee shipment at launch." After $700, you are not guaranteed the listed contents nor a launch window assurance. We're sure these bundles will sell out, even if the store shelves don't. Our advice: if you simply have to spend $700 on Nintendo, buy the pieces a la carte on launch day, and then give the rest to Child's Play.

[Thanks Sam and everyone else who sent this in!]

Tags: bundle, game stop, GameStop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Al2x @ Jun 21st 2007 10:44PM

That is ridiculous. Why in hell would they do that?

sonofnone @ Nov 9th 2006 4:35PM

Here's a theory...

...Sony and Gamestop share PR departments.

Cosmos @ Nov 8th 2006 5:33PM

$60 for a 1GB SD card? Hahaha! I bought a 1GB Kingston SD card from www.newegg.com for $16, $20 including shipping and tax.

Mr. Khan @ Nov 9th 2006 4:06PM

I'm still waiting to read the Wii Instruction Booklet to make sure that All SD cards are compatible

Last thing i want is to plant $40-$70 on a 2 Gig SD card and figure out i just bought an expensive paperweight

Sam @ Nov 8th 2006 5:43PM

EB and Gamestop: "We don't want people selling their console preorders on Ebay, that's wrong because they're just using the hype and high demand to sell something for far more than it's worth and . . . oh, wait."

Todd @ Nov 8th 2006 5:44PM

Ahem... PURE BULLSHIT!

Fernando @ Nov 8th 2006 5:51PM

Hi... anybody know if instead an SD Card to increase the storage capacity of the Wii, can we use and External USB HardDrive or an USB Flash Memory???

Boomaga @ Nov 8th 2006 6:23PM

Hooray for Gamestop! Brightly shining a light on everything wrong with their company!

striderhayasa @ Nov 9th 2006 7:22AM

uh no...actually I just bought a 1 GB SD card from Stables three weeks ago for $19.99. Methinks that be a rip off.

Also, like Fernando mentioned...I have a 40 GB external HDD that I want to use with the Wii. Is it possible. Does anyone know?

Jackson Pritt @ Nov 8th 2006 5:55PM

Yet another reason to never, ever, EVER shop at GameStop/EB.

I mean, really, are they actively TRYING to alienate and enrage their core consumer group?

I'm going to get my Wii the same way I got my DS Lite - at Target!

Drop A Load @ Nov 9th 2006 12:37PM

This bundle makes my ass hurt.

Person @ Nov 8th 2006 6:00PM

Still, that's not bad compared to the $599 Playstation 3.

epobirs @ Nov 8th 2006 6:01PM

The $700 figure is stunning at first glance but after examination the only thing to complain about here is the $60 1GB SD card. Fry's sells a comparable unit for $10 after rebate. The retailer is enjoying a huge margin on that thing, making it the single most profitable item in the whole setup, with the additional Wiimote as runner up.

The inclusion of Madden is also dealbreaker for me as I have no use for sports sims.

What this really does is remind me why I won't be buying a Wii for at least six months. I used to buy consoles at launch but no more. Until the launch titles are deeply discounted I can wait.

Steve @ Nov 8th 2006 11:30PM

Here's another thought on data storage: don't buy anything because it's really only necessary at this time for virtual console games. Right now that library is tiny so the 512MB of onboard flash memory will probably be plenty for months. I say just wait until you need the card and then go buy one. By then they'll either be cheaper or have a higher capacity anyway.

Richard Lankford @ Nov 8th 2006 6:08PM

The contracts can be voided and refunded in California under Consumer protection laws:

1. Serive contracts: Returnable for any type of goods, pro-rata refund less penalty -- indefinite cancellation period
2. The consumer may also have other cancellation rights. Almost any consumer contract entered into in a consumer's home (or somewhere other than the seller's place of business) can be canceled by sending a written notice of cancellation to the seller by midnight of the third business day after the consumer signed the contract. The contract must be for consumer goods costing $25 or more. (CC §§ 1689-1689.12.)

See for yourself:

http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/k-6.html

Refuse to pay what Nintendo already covers!

otakucode @ Nov 8th 2006 6:18PM

Make that lucky gamers... their site stops working at the slightest influx of traffic.

mykie @ Nov 8th 2006 6:45PM

This bundle also violates the Magnusson Moss warranty act, as you cannot force a warranty (especially one as superflous as this one) on a consumer.

Nintendo systems already have a 1 year warranty, why does anyone need an additional warranty on a product that's most likely going to work anyways?

moominsean @ Nov 8th 2006 7:23PM

probably say, gee we aren't making the same amount of money as we would by selling a ps3, so lets make sure those who want one have to pay the same. that is seriously the stupidest package ever, too. usually you pay maybe $200 more for some crap you don't want, like a madcatz controller and a couple games, but here they are like, buy it ALL or get nothing. i can wait two weeks if i have to to get one at target or kmart. hell, most everyone was sold out of the original ds on launch day, but kmart had like 10 in the middle of the afternoon. someone will have a wii.

hohoho @ Nov 8th 2006 7:49PM

blimey, i thought the whole idea of wii being more attractive than 360/ps3 besides its unique control was its affordability and most importantly availability.

Paulcardo @ Nov 8th 2006 8:20PM

I don'd belive that it's a gamespot crap

jdubya @ Nov 8th 2006 8:50PM

newegg has 2gb sd cards for 32 bucks each.

Gonzo @ Nov 9th 2006 1:05PM

I can't tell who's making themselves look worse this launch season: Sony or Gamestop.

Besides their rip off($2 off new) used titles. They like to ask you for a whole lot of your money without guaranteeing anything in return. I thought the idea of a pre-order was that you DO GET A GUARANTEE to get said item at launch. Now they just take your money and you might not get anything in return for several months.

And then there's always the sad fact that you have to interact with the fruitcakes at Gamestop. They're bigger dorks than Games Workshop employees.