Main > Consoles
Nintendo Wii
tommy:
I think the Wii can still compete with the stronger other consoles due to their original games that cannot be found anywhere else, even though it could have been better and i wonder why they made a console that is probably a souped up CG with motion controlers.
Sadly i feel if this is the best nintendo can come up with or all they are willing to do(from a hardware standpoint) they should just sell mario and zelda to microsoft and i bet would make more money than trying to compete with them in the console wars.
AtomSmasher:
Another resource for launch day Wii seekers: http://www.ps3seeker.com/wii/
it doesn't seem to do a very good job at centering at the zip code though.
According to that, my local best buy is getting 96, and walmart is getting 53
I'll probably show up close to opening at Sams club first (maybe they'll have some sort of bundle that will save me a little money), then move on to target and bestbuy, if all else fails I'll make the trek down to the toys r us which should have plenty.
Zero_Hour:
My Atari VCS (what they originally called the 2600) cost $200 at launch. Mattel's Intellivision launched at $300. At $250 in 2006 dollars, Wii has arguably the least expensive console pricing at launch (seriously, who bought an Atari 7800?* ). Given the additional technology included in the controllers, I think their core bundle is one hell of a bargain.
*edit* Changed link to show Absolute and relative Launch Prices
http://curmudgeongamer.com/imgdisplay.php3?shotfile=console-prices-relative.png
*edit*
Another advantage that may not be seen initially by end users is that developers are estimating Wii development costs to be roughly half of what they will spend to develop titles for the other two platforms. This makes taking a chance on the Wii much more palatable to 3rd party developers. This increases the likelihood of strong 3rd party support, which is what makes or breaks consoles these days.
I thought I had given up on consoles when my PS2 died, but I'll be picking a Wii up as soon as I can. It just looks like it will be fun, and that's what's most important to me when I play games. HD content? That's nice, but a shiny piece of crap is still a piece of crap. without games I want to play, all the technology is worthless.
*my apologies to any 7800 fanboys who may be reading this. ;D
shmokes:
The fact is, Nintendo is not taking a loss on the hardware. Therefore you aren't getting a bargain on the hardware. You ARE getting a bargain on the PS3 and Xbox 360. The Wii is cheaper than the other two, but Sony and MS are losing hundreds of millions of dollars to give you their hardware at the price they are giving it to you. Nintendo is making a profit on their hardware.
And, for what it's worth, the Atari 2600 and Intellivision were not aimed at mainstream consumers. They were aimed at a small niche of gamers and they carried high price tags that mainstream consumers wouldn't even look at.
Supposedly that's what Nintendo's big thing was, opt out of the hardware arms race to offer the first console that was designed for and priced for mainstream audiences. They opted out of the arms race, as is evidenced by the screenshots above. But they gave us a box that is $50 less than the Xbox 360. $50? You mean to tell me that the only thing separating MS from this mainstream nirvana is $50?
Exactly.
Dell doesn't make money for every piece of software you install on your computer. Dell has to make a profit on hardware. Nintendo take a piece of every game sold for Wii, regardless of who publishes it. This is how console makers get away with selling hardware at a loss. They take a loss on the hardware because it's a Trojan horse into your living room and they make up for the loss and then some because of all the software you buy. In the past console makers have understood this. Sony and MS still do. If Nintendo, who again is making a profit on every Wii sold, wanted the Wii to have a mass market price it could be A LOT cheaper than it is now.
I'll get a Wii before either of the other systems. If I can be called a fanboy for any company it is Nintendo. But for $250 it should be a lot better than it is.
AtomSmasher:
Just thought I'd point out that the Wii also comes with a full game, which the 360 does not. I agree that they probably should of priced it at $200, but Nintendo is a business and they felt that selling it for $250 would make them the most money in the long run. My guess is that they are probably right because I've yet to hear someone say they would of bought it at $200, but $250 is just too much for them.