Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted May 15, 2006 http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/05/1...kt_0511wii.html New York - Nintendo, which is trying to regain videogame market share from Microsoft and Sony, will likely sell its new Wii console for much less than its competitors' console prices. Merrill Lynch analyst Justin Post predicted Thursday that the new machine, which will be released this fall, will sell for $200, a move that could prompt software publishers to create more titles for the gaming system. Microsoft's (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) Xbox 360 starts at $299, while Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) said earlier this week that its new PS3, which will ship in November, will cost $499 for a basic machine. Nintendo (otcbb: NTDOY.PK - news - people ) didn't offer any pricing information when it showed off the Wii on Tuesday to a crowd gathered in advance of the E3 gaming expo. An executive from SEGA, one of Nintendo's largest publishers, told Forbes.com on Tuesday that he expects the Wii to sell for less than $200 (see: " Show, Don't Tell"). Post said the Nintendo machine, which features a wireless controller that responds to players' body movements, "will appeal to a broad demographic of both hard-core and casual gamers." The Wii, which has less processing power than Sony's and Microsoft's offerings, may be easier to create new software for, and Post thinks third-party game publishers "are responding favorably to the lower-cost publishing environment for the Wii." In addition, the analyst said he's expecting 2007 to be a big year for software for the next-generation consoles and that sales could exceed his early 17% growth forecast. Significant titles slated for release include Microsoft's Halo 3, Sony's Gran Turismo, Activision's (nasdaq: ATVI - news - people ) Spider-Man and Shrek games and Take-Two Interactive's (nasdaq: TTWO - news - people ) Grand Theft Auto 4. Third-party THQ (nasdaq: THQI - news - people ) has a strong pipeline of games for fiscal 2007 but will need successful next-generation properties in fiscal 2008, the analyst said. Likewise, Electronic Arts (nasdaq: ERTS - news - people ), which hasn't made any official game announcements for fiscal 2008, will need new intellectual property in order to gain market share, said Post. Yeah, I'm definitely buying one. I can't wait till it comes out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 15, 2006 This isn't official confirmation, though, just speculation. Obvious speculation, at that. I'm surprised there's not a 2nd sku bundled with a game, though. For those wondering, that $200 will be for the system, 1 wiimote, and the nunchuku attachment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wildpegasus Report post Posted May 15, 2006 This isn't official confirmation, though, just speculation. Obvious speculation, at that. I'm surprised there's not a 2nd sku bundled with a game, though. For those wondering, that $200 will be for the system, 1 wiimote, and the nunchuku attachment. I'm guessing a wiimote is a controller but what's a nunchuku attachment? The price if it's true is a good move by Nintendo. Hopefully they can take back the market. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mole 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Looks like it will be the first time I've ever owned two systems at the same time. I have a 360 now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
devo 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 This isn't official confirmation, though, just speculation. Obvious speculation, at that. I'm surprised there's not a 2nd sku bundled with a game, though. For those wondering, that $200 will be for the system, 1 wiimote, and the nunchuku attachment. I'm guessing a wiimote is a controller but what's a nunchuku attachment? http://wii.nintendo.com/controller.html The part on the left (with the analog stick) is the nunchuk attachment. I'm hoping for $200, but I'd be willing to shell out $250 at launch if need be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anya 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 If they're serious about appealing to girls, old people and whatever other non gamers it has to be 100-200. I wish I could be a Merrill Lynch analyst. They get paid to speculate about the obvious and nobody ever seems to mind when they're wrong. I bet they make good money too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Stanley 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Yeah i'm def. gonna buy this, to hell with the 360/PS3 for $300 and up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Wow this is such speculation considering Nintendo hasn't released a home console yet that didnt launch at $199.99. I just hope the games will stay $49.99 although I hardly ever buy new games anyway.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Interesting. They have to be careful though, because in a crowded competitor marketplace, when one thing is vastly cheaper than the others, mass audiences have responded by considering the really low priced item to be secondary, cheap, and not a high-level item. Forget about what people say, look at how they act. It also means they have to sell three times the amount of Wii's than PS3s to make the same money. It's going to be an interesting videogame battlle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlaskanHero 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Hell, if the Wii really is only $200, I'll pick one up. As long as there's a Super Smash Brothers to play on it, I'll be happy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golgo 13 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Yeah, but isn't Sony taking a huge loss on the PS3 units? Likely a lot more than Nintendo is. Yeah, Nintendo has to sell 3 to Sony's 1 essentially, but it's my understanding that a lot money out of that one has to go toward making up the difference, along with software sales. Sony just has the resources to take any loss and are looking at long term profit. I believe it's accepted that Nintendo is just about the only company that makes actual positive profit on consoles sold alone due to lower production costs. If true, it basicallly evens out on the end. What it depends on is if Nintendo can actually move enough units to keep up with the profits of their competitors, which they should be able to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 It also means they have to sell three times the amount of Wii's than PS3s to make the same money. It's going to be an interesting videogame battlle. Considering that Sony is going to be in the hole with every PS3 they sell, and each Wii is going to turn a profit--your math is a little off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 How do you save on the Wii? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
luke-o 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 You get a class console at a good price? Hell im getting one, be the first console in a long time im gonna get on release date. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 How do you save on the Wii? Source: the horse's mouth. The Specs: Wii boasts 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the "sleepless" WiiConnect24 mode. CPU: PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway"). Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM. Graphics Processing Unit: Being developed with ATI. Other Features: Four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video. © 2006 Nintendo. Game trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners. TM and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. Nintendo of America Inc. Headquarters are in Redmond, Washington. Weird that Nintendo is going with PowerPC, especially since even Apple has switched to Intel. No matter... Oh, and found this on Gamers Daily. It's old, but it is their "confirmed" list of games that are in development for Wii: * Super Mario Wii * Super Smash Bros. Wii * Metroid Prime 3 * Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Wii * Animal Crossing Wii * Killing Day * Splinter Cell 4 * Madagaskar 2 * Legend of Zelda Wii * Mario Kart Wii * Donkey Kong Wii * Darkness * Possession * Madden NFL 07 * Suda51/Grasshopers Studio Title * Minoru Nakai Title * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles * Two Titles from “Artistic Quality” * James Bond 007: Casino Royale * Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest * Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz * Sadness * Avatar: The Last Airbender * Marvel: Ultimate Alliance * Pangya Golf * Elebits * SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab * Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 * Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam * Red Steel * Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting * Spider Man 3 * Raid Over The River * Midway Wii Project * Disney/Pixar’s Cars * TNA iMPACT! * n-Space Wii Project * Kid Icarus Wii * Blitz Games Wii Project * Camelot RPG * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2007 * Sonic the Hedgehog Wii * Trauma Center Wii * Cooking Title Most of these were confirmed at E3, but...Kid Icarus? Hm...well, he was in SSBB.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Yeah I like the idea of this. The PS3 sounds absurdly expensive. I really don't want to buy any system until they've all been out for a while. Then I'll decide what I want. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 The real winner in this will be IBM. PS3 and Wii are both PowerPC based. So they may have lost Apple, but between Sony and Nintendo, that's a helluva lot of money to be made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZGangsta 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2006 Interesting. They have to be careful though, because in a crowded competitor marketplace, when one thing is vastly cheaper than the others, mass audiences have responded by considering the really low priced item to be secondary, cheap, and not a high-level item. Forget about what people say, look at how they act. It also means they have to sell three times the amount of Wii's than PS3s to make the same money. It's going to be an interesting videogame battlle. Uh, even IF Sony wasn't taking a gigantic loss on their system (they are) and IF Nintendo wasn't making a profit on their sales (they always do) in no way does that satement make any sense. (Well, it would only make sense if the margins were proportional. But 3X the selling price never means 3X wider margin) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeneMean 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 The real winner in this will be IBM. PS3 and Wii are both PowerPC based. So they may have lost Apple, but between Sony and Nintendo, that's a helluva lot of money to be made. You're right. They also designed the PowerPC chip (xenon) for the 360. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Man of Mystery 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 I saw TNA Impact listed there, do we have any screens for any version of that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest InuYasha Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Hell, if the Wii really is only $200, I'll pick one up. As long as there's a Super Smash Brothers to play on it, I'll be happy. Get ready to be so happy you'll burst. http://media.revolution.ign.com/media/748/748545/vids_1.html Be sure to watch it all the way until the end for an extra special surprise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Open the Muggy Gate 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 * Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting I MUST BUY THIS SYSTEM NOW! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 you guys are right, for some reason sony's loss-leader thing didnt enter in my mind. I had figured that the ridiculously high cost of the ps3 maybe covered the cost of the system. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 you guys are right, for some reason sony's loss-leader thing didnt enter in my mind. I had figured that the ridiculously high cost of the ps3 maybe covered the cost of the system. Not with Sony products. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2006 http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/104-138681...%20ray%20player Blu ray players are going for $1000 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil' Bitch 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2006 They're actually calling it the fucking Wii?!! You gotta be kidding me. That HAS to be the most ridiculous name for a console EVER. They should have stuck with the Revolution name. At least that sounds better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2006 Nearly everyone else it at the Acceptance stage. You will be sooner or later too, Deon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
luke-o 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2006 Yes, join us.. One of us. One of us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2006 Resistence is futile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2006 Yes, for Wii are the future, and Wii will rule all! [sorry, had to do that.] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
