Nintendo: Wii <$250

[Dark Blader]

I got this from gamespot :

Nintendo has announced the price point for its new living-room console, the Wii, which will be launched globally in Q4 2006. Although for now the pricing is not exact, it will not exceed $250 in America or 25,000 yen in Japan. No estimate was announced for the European market, but the indication given was that it would be a "similar, affordable price."

In addition, Nintendo said it will soon release details on the Virtual Console, and "exact launch dates." Nintendo's wording of the "launch dates" is ambiguous--it could refer to Wii games alone, or it could mean a staggered launch of the system, or both. Regardless of when the launch happens, the publisher said it expects to ship 6 million consoles before the end of March 2007, as well as 17 million games.

The news comes hot on the heels of an earlier posting by the company of a 19 percent drop in annual profits, and a warning that results for the current financial year would be 3.5 percent lower than previously thought.

However, Nintendo still expects sales to grow by 18 percent globally, based on continuing sales of the Nintendo DS, and hopes for a successful Wii launch. The DS Lite, a new, sleeker version of the twin-screen handheld, is due to launch on June 11 in America and June 23 in Europe, and new key titles such as New Super Mario Bros. will no doubt cause sales spikes globally.

Nintendo's pricing decision will compare directly with key Japanese rival Sony, whose PlayStation 3 console will ship for a significantly higher price at around the same time, and will cost up to $599 for the top-end model.

[Nitrous]

UK price for anyone that is intrested is thought to be around the £150 mark. Cheap for a console and that could work in big N's favour.

[Jack]

Thats a cheap price tag (UK). But thats what Nintendo are known for, Am i Right, Tell me i'm right.

[Nova]

^ur right

cheap price, great games, yep the Wii will dominate

[MORSN417]

I'm getting more and more tempted to get a Wii when it comes out. Ormaybe I should switch completley to handhelds...It would be cheaper and with the graphics on them now it won't be so bad.

[Nova]

but then u wont be able to use Wii-fi(Wii-wifi, i ,made that abrev) and play Super Smash Bros. Brawl around the world

[~Felly~]

Is that Super Smash Bros. thing the part where I'm supposed to dominate you? Lol, j/k! Anyway, $250 for that thing.. Mind giving a release date so I can possibly reserve one? (Might get it for my b-day.)

[[N]eto]

It's expected to be released sometime in November.

[Silverado_Rival]

o0.....u think november eh......? i got my name on the list when gamestop starts reserving them..... i am getting one!!!! i can afforde $250 along with a xbox 360, i think is $400 for the high-end, and a $300 ipod video. so thats $950 i will spend on "huge" item dis year.....o0 i am good.

[peepcil]

Hey, I got a quick Q...
Can you play the Game Cube discs directly on the Wii or do you have to download it?
Cause the Wii is backward compatible and I want to make sure.
So please answer!!!

[[N]eto]

Directly. There is a GC slot.

[~Felly~]

Good, I can give the game store my useless GC since the Wii has a GC slot. That is pretty cheap for a Nintendo system, but Nintendo always sells everything for cheap... I just hope that the Wii and PS3 aren't released the same day, or I'll be sitting there holding up the line deciding on which one to get... Just to p!$$ everyone off.

[[N]eto]

Originally Posted by Fire Element Lord

Good, I can give the game store my useless GC since the Wii has a GC slot. That is pretty cheap for a Nintendo system, but Nintendo always sells everything for cheap... I just hope that the Wii and PS3 aren't released the same day, or I'll be sitting there holding up the line deciding on which one to get... Just to p!$$ everyone off.

I'm almost certain you wouldn't have a choice, FEL. You'd be killed within the minute.

[genius123]

Originally Posted by [N]eto

I'm almost certain you wouldn't have a choice, FEL. You'd be killed within the minute.

Probably! I wonder if they'll sell for a few thousand on ebay like the 360