706 replies to this topic

[Falconberg]

I hope that before power is put on the chopping block nintendo takes a long good look at selling the wii u at a loss. All the other companies have had to do this. I had heard that nintendo did with the 3ds but I think someone said earlier that that wasn't true. Now may be the time for them to take the plunge. The real money is in software, but only if enough people can afford your hardware. Personally as long as this console is on par with current consoles I'll be happy to pay around $350+

[Desert Punk]

Still reckon it will be in the $299-349 area with a UK price of around £279 or £249 if we are really lucky.

As desirable as the product is, there is no expensive hard drive, the gamepad screen is cheap as chips and the underlying hardware is probably close to current gen or just above. The only thing of note is manufacturing costs in China have gone up especially at Foxconn which might have pushed prices up a bit.

[Nollog]

I hope that before power is put on the chopping block nintendo takes a long good look at selling the wii u at a loss. All the other companies have had to do this. I had heard that nintendo did with the 3ds but I think someone said earlier that that wasn't true. Now may be the time for them to take the plunge. The real money is in software, but only if enough people can afford your hardware. Personally as long as this console is on par with current consoles I'll be happy to pay around $350+

The 3DS is the first console Nintendo have sold at a loss, and this happened when it was price-cut from $250 to $169.
It will return to profitability by September, I believe.

[Falconberg]

Then that really sets an interesting stage for them. They've said, "This time were not dropping our price just after release." But if the release price it's too high (as it was with the 3ds) then they could be forced to eat their words. This would shake confidence in a big way. Nintendo knows all this. That's why I maintain they'll do whatever it takes to drive the price as low as they can get it.

Edited by Falconberg, 04 June 2012 - 05:21 AM.

[MiSoRamen]

I still going with $300-350.

[MorbidGod]

I think they are going to sell it for $299. They have to keep it competitive yet make it higher. People expect the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 to be less and if the Wii U is the same price people will think its weak and they should spend money on the newer and bettter systems (even though we know thats nit true).

So $299 is a good price.

[Marc]

The 3DS is the first console Nintendo have sold at a loss, and this happened when it was price-cut from $250 to $169.
It will return to profitability by September, I believe.

Wasn't it a similar case with the Nintendo DS? I heard that this was the first time they dropped the price to sell at a loss...

[scorptile]

I think they are going to sell it for $299. They have to keep it competitive yet make it higher. People expect the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 to be less and if the Wii U is the same price people will think its weak and they should spend money on the newer and bettter systems (even though we know thats nit true).

So $299 is a good price.

i agree with this and plus in an interview i saw on youtube back in jan reggie stated that nintendo's price point for the Wii U is $300 in america so that is my guess cause anything higher then 350 it wont sell well.

[Nollog]

Wasn't it a similar case with the Nintendo DS? I heard that this was the first time they dropped the price to sell at a loss...

The DS was never sold at a loss.

[Andy]

The DS was never sold at a loss.

It was sold for a loss in Japan at one time. I remember Iwata mentioning this to investors after the 3DS price drop in order to calm them down.

[MorbidGod]

i agree with this and plus in an interview i saw on youtube back in jan reggie stated that nintendo's price point for the Wii U is $300 in america so that is my guess cause anything higher then 350 it wont sell well.

link?

[Nollog]

It was sold for a loss in Japan at one time. I remember Iwata mentioning this to investors after the 3DS price drop in order to calm them down.

Link?

[Marc]

The DS was never sold at a loss.

Fair. Can't remember where this info was even from. Although, I remember it was definitely on a page justifying the 3DS price drop. Probably an article for the DS having a similar cut early in it's life. Looking now at wiki, the price only dropped $30 like, two years later.

Anyway, I hope the Wii U won't be set that high so sales are slower than expected again. Although my predictions was $350 at the lowest, now I think it should be lower. Not that it is important right now, presentation and coverage started! JOY XD

It was sold for a loss in Japan at one time. I remember Iwata mentioning this to investors after the 3DS price drop in order to calm them down.

Oh really? Maybe I wasn't making it up then o_O

[Blue22]

Walmart has apparently already been placing adds on google for the wii u at $349.

[JaylisJayP]

After what we saw at E3, if they don't come out and show something incredible I cant see this thing flying off the shelves for more than $299, unless they decide to package it with the Pro Controller or with New Super Mario Brothers U.

I just don't see the tablet idea selling this thing by itself. Maybe I'll be wrong, I can only assume Nintendo has conducted a good amount of research with focus groups in their targeted demographic, but personally Nintendo's track record across the Wii's lifespan for it's console being a gimmick is horrendous. I know it sold the most, but not lately I don't believe, and I don't think you're going to catch casuals at $350 with a tablet controller on a gimped system. I really hate to say it because I want to love Nintendo, but based on the Wii's track record for turning the motion controller into an afterthought and a gimmick, I'm not at all just blindly sold that the gamepad will be any different. You'll get 1-2 titles at launch that'll be unique and make good use of it, and then maybe a hanful of other titles over it's lifespan. Not saying the rest of the titles will be shovelware, but the system will become an afterthought much more quickly than the Wii to both gamers and developers if they don't start showing off some amazing graphics, if the system is even capable of that.

[kwokings033]

it will be $350 MARK MY WORDS LOL!!!

[Mitch]

Wii = $250
3DS = $250
Wii U = $250

[megasupermario91]

i found a surprising fact from the mouth of reggie its close to the end but he lets the cat out of the bag regarding priceing
copy and pasts it

[Tom]

Wii = $250
3DS = $250
Wii U = $250

Gamecube = $200
Wii = $250
Wii U = $300

Handhelds shouldn't justify the price of home consoles, bruh bruh.

[AdmiralClassy]

I think £280 is a good price. That's about 435 usd I think.