Did Nintendo justify the $250 price tag?

I wrote an article for www.wiinintendo.net about initial reactions to the press conference in september, and how people feel now. Here's an excerpt below:

Back in September of last year (2006), Nintendo held a much awaited press conference that would unveil the last coveted details of their highly anticipated next(new)-gen console, the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo of America president, Reggie Fils-Aime, took the stage in New York and fulfilled every fanboy’s dreams by finally setting a price and release date. November 19th, 2006 at a price point of $249.xx, the Wii would see its worldwide debut, in North America. Included in the box: 1 Wii Console, 1 Wii Remote Controller, 1 Nunchuk Controller, all cables and usuals (manuals, etc.), and Wii Sports packed-in. As expected, the internet gaming community (watching live feeds via several sources) exploded with praise and criticism in nearly equal amounts. What were the main gripes? Do we even remember at this point? As far as I can remember, the complaints that most came up with were:

• The price
• The inclusion of Wii Sports
• The release date
• The exclusion of a second Remote/Nunchuk combo
• A few other small details

I, admittedly, feverishly argued each of these points in Nintendo’s favor that day, regardless of the fact that, obviously, I would’ve loved it to be released sooner, as well as cheaper. Despite which side you were on then, we all have an infinitely better grasp on what the Wii is now, and how far our $249.xx went. What do each of those objections look like in the post-launch light, and did Nintendo silence those asking, “Is it worth it?”

Read the rest here

In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT.................  they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!septic_death

In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT.................  they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!septic_death

In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT.................  they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!septic_death

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!septic_death

$250 for a bunch of fun, yet basically old games with tacked on new control mechanics? Meh, IMHO no. Sure they may be fun, but right now its not providing anything new gameplay mechanic wise. Same-old, same old.Vandalvideo

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

fatzombiepigeon

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

fatzombiepigeon

$250 for a bunch of fun, yet basically old games with tacked on new control mechanics? Meh, IMHO no. Sure they may be fun, but right now its not providing anything new gameplay mechanic wise. Same-old, same old.Vandalvideo

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]$250 for a bunch of fun, yet basically old games with tacked on new control mechanics? Meh, IMHO no. Sure they may be fun, but right now its not providing anything new gameplay mechanic wise. Same-old, same old.wusscore

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

loco145

Very well, 80 bucks, but I still think it's a better buy. There are a ton more games out for the 360, so even if you knock out the last 3, there's still more reason to get a 360 than a Wii right now. Which is why I bought a 360 instead of a Wii.

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

wusscore

OK, take those last 3 out, but there are a lot of games already out that I just didn't list.

[QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

fatzombiepigeon

Very well, 80 bucks, but I still think it's a better buy. There are a ton more games out for the 360, so even if you knock out the last 3, there's still more reason to get a 360 than a Wii right now. Which is why I bought a 360 instead of a Wii.

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"][QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

wusscore

Very well, 80 bucks, but I still think it's a better buy. There are a ton more games out for the 360, so even if you knock out the last 3, there's still more reason to get a 360 than a Wii right now. Which is why I bought a 360 instead of a Wii.

What's no to admit? Oh yeah, you can save the games into your own brain, LOL. Even booting the price to 80 bucks the game system is a better buy IMHO.

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"][QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

wusscore

Very well, 80 bucks, but I still think it's a better buy. There are a ton more games out for the 360, so even if you knock out the last 3, there's still more reason to get a 360 than a Wii right now. Which is why I bought a 360 instead of a Wii.

Sure you can. You can play games on it immediately without buying anything else. The core to me is like a test run. I can see someone buying it just to see if they are going to like some of the games and then selling it if they don't or upgrading it with the HD if they plan on keeping it. I honestly don't know why M$ even created the Core though. They should have stuck with the Premium only.

What's no to admit? Oh yeah, you can save the games into your own brain, LOL. Even booting the price to 80 bucks the game system is a better buy IMHO.fatzombiepigeon

Actually you still have to buy at least one game. $15 for the cheapest used game. $95

[QUOTE="wusscore"][QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"][QUOTE="loco145"][QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

blackace

Very well, 80 bucks, but I still think it's a better buy. There are a ton more games out for the 360, so even if you knock out the last 3, there's still more reason to get a 360 than a Wii right now. Which is why I bought a 360 instead of a Wii.

Sure you can. You can play games on it immediately without buying anything else. The core to me is like a test run. I can see someone buying it just to see if they are going to like some of the games and then selling it if they don't or upgrading it with the HD if they plan on keeping it. I honestly don't know why M$ even created the Core though. They should have stuck with the Premium only.

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]What's no to admit? Oh yeah, you can save the games into your own brain, LOL. Even booting the price to 80 bucks the game system is a better buy IMHO.wusscore

Actually you still have to buy at least one game. $15 for the cheapest used game. $95

We're talking about which system is the overall better buy. So we might as well add the price of every game you'll buy for the Wii too, and the 360. But going by what you're saying, fine, 20 bucks for Kameo. Still a better buy IMHO. Or are we talking about right out of the box?

[QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!SmashBrosLegend

[QUOTE="wusscore"]

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]What's no to admit? Oh yeah, you can save the games into your own brain, LOL. Even booting the price to 80 bucks the game system is a better buy IMHO.fatzombiepigeon

Actually you still have to buy at least one game. $15 for the cheapest used game. $95

We're talking about which system is the overall better buy. So we might as well add the price of every game you'll buy for the Wii too, and the 360. But going by what you're saying, fine, 20 bucks for Kameo. Still a better buy IMHO. Or are we talking about right out of the box?

[QUOTE="SmashBrosLegend"][QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!Xbox360gamer1

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"][QUOTE="wusscore"]

[QUOTE="fatzombiepigeon"]What's no to admit? Oh yeah, you can save the games into your own brain, LOL. Even booting the price to 80 bucks the game system is a better buy IMHO.wusscore

Actually you still have to buy at least one game. $15 for the cheapest used game. $95

We're talking about which system is the overall better buy. So we might as well add the price of every game you'll buy for the Wii too, and the 360. But going by what you're saying, fine, 20 bucks for Kameo. Still a better buy IMHO. Or are we talking about right out of the box?

Well then yeah, I agree, the Wii has more out of the box than the core. But I still think buying the 360 is a better buy right now because it has a bigger back catalog. Even if you buy the Premium and one game, the 360 is a better buy because of the bigger back catalog of games. But for out of the box, yeah, the Wii wins.

[QUOTE="SmashBrosLegend"][QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!Xbox360gamer1

Wii Sports is not worth $50, so IMO the $250 pricetag isn't justifiable. The system should be $200 or less.Timstuff

who cares its over now people still trying to get wii for 250

give it a rest the price is the price stop talking about it

who cares its over now people still trying to get wii for 250

give it a rest the price is the price stop talking about it

wavebrid

[QUOTE="SmashBrosLegend"][QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!Xbox360gamer1

[QUOTE="Xbox360gamer1"][QUOTE="SmashBrosLegend"][QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!Jandurin

[QUOTE="Xbox360gamer1"][QUOTE="SmashBrosLegend"][QUOTE="septic_death"]In that $250 they put around $5 on the video card, OH WAIT................. they used the ones from the gamecube they didn't sell.!!Jandurin

I'm not buying a Wii until more games come out. Why should I? For an extra 50 bucks I can get Gears, RS6, GRAW, Oblivion, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, and a lot more I don't feel like listing. The 360 is the best buy right now in my opinion.

fatzombiepigeon