Nintendo indicates Wii Pricing

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6151827.html


Nintendo indicates Wii pricing

Price tags underline affordability; the Wii will not exceed $250 in America.
By Phil Elliott, GameSpot UK
Posted May 25, 2006 7:04 am PT

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 was expecting to ship six million consoles between its launch date and the end of March next year, 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, up to $599 for the top-end model.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6151827.html


Nintendo indicates Wii pricing

Price tags underline affordability; the Wii will not exceed $250 in America.
By Phil Elliott, GameSpot UK
Posted May 25, 2006 7:04 am PT

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 was expecting to ship six million consoles between its launch date and the end of March next year, 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, up to $599 for the top-end model.


I'll get one at that price. Wii sports and Mario. I think they are going to suffer when the games don't look any better than GC games though. And From what I see they don't Zelda looks exactly the same on both platforms. I know the controller is the selling point but without Next Gen graphics I don't see the console lasting.

[slade]

It's ironic but the controller is the reason that I can't see the Wii lasting. If Nintendo had made an affordable and technically proficient console, I think they could have done major damage to Sony in Japan, given PS3's price. Because of the controller though, third parties who rely mainly on their traditional IP's will only give token support to the Wii and in the end, Nintendo will be the only ones left supporting the console.

[trebor]

It's ironic but the controller is the reason that I can't see the Wii lasting. If Nintendo had made an affordable and technically proficient console, I think they could have done major damage to Sony in Japan, given PS3's price. Because of the controller though, third parties who rely mainly on their traditional IP's will only give token support to the Wii and in the end, Nintendo will be the only ones left supporting the console.

Why do so many people ignore the fact that the Wii not only has a "traditional" gamepad, in addition to the wiimote, but it is still compatible with standard GC controllers?

[Glockstar]

It's ironic but the controller is the reason that I can't see the Wii lasting.

Thank you.

I'm sure they'll get over (some of) the wand-trollers functional shortcomings by releasing specific-peripheral after specific-peripheral... but that's not really going to fix anything because 1) the costs of all these add-ons are going to add up, and 2) owning the console will mean owning a lot of clutter.

The other thing about that controller is that it is just so gimmicky... so much so that I'll bet that after just two-years ideas for original games will run dry and the novelty will wear off with consumers. (As we're starting to see happen with the DS - with original ideas, I mean.)

Also, they still haven't made their big announcement: the price of their Virtual Console games. I'll betcha they're $20 a pop.

[Mochan]

I'm looking at a $400 Wii over here!

Because of the controller though, third parties who rely mainly on their traditional IP's will only give token support to the Wii and in the end, Nintendo will be the only ones left supporting the console.

Except that the Wii *does* have a traditional controller that can support traditional IPs.



I'm sure they'll get over (some of) the wand-trollers functional shortcomings by releasing specific-peripheral after specific-peripheral... but that's not really going to fix anything because 1) the costs of all these add-ons are going to add up, and 2) owning the console will mean owning a lot of clutter.

The XBox just by itself was already "clutter." Oh yeah... guess that's why it didn't beat Sony! Maybe you're onto something there.

Also I betcha a Wii with 3 controller attachments still costs cheaper than the 360 Tardpack.


The other thing about that controller is that it is just so gimmicky... so much so that I'll bet that after just two-years ideas for original games will run dry and the novelty will wear off with consumers.

That's still better than 4 years of no novel or original games whatsoever for the XBox.

[slade]

Why do so many people ignore the fact that the Wii not only has a "traditional" gamepad, in addition to the wiimote, but it is still compatible with standard GC controllers?

But that's not the main point of the Wii, is it? It isn't what Nintendo has been stressing since the beginning of this project. Does all the ballyhoo over the controller ultimately mean nothing? If third parties create traditional games on the console will they sell to a userbase that's been told that they will get new experiences from the console?

What you're looking at here is a paradox similar to MS's position in Japan. They won't do better in Japan unless more Japanese third parties support them but most Japanese third parties won't support them unless they do better in Japan.

Just because something is available doesn't mean it will get used unless it's marketed real well and everything about the Wii so far deals with the remote.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

By $50. I'm sorry but if a console is going to be so far behind the current tech curve, then just shaving $50 off is ridiculous. It should be $50 less $200 is fair. No HD games, no HD movies, not even DVD movies without a peripheral! Substandard power! This thing is cute and hopefully fun but its a child's play thing, not a serious console. If Nintendo wants to gut the system then they should gut the price. This is aimed at kids and family but to me its not a 'kid and family friendly' price. Maybe this is just the launch premium and after a year they will reduce the price. I thought Nintendo was going to be smart about this and price it to fly and try and get volume with a cheap console and cheaply priced games. But this isn't priced to move and its gonna have a hard time over the long haul in the market. If Nintendo was smart they would lose the $50 and gain so much more in the long run.

[Gadfly2317]

By $50. I'm sorry but if a console is going to be so far behind the current tech curve, then just shaving $50 off is ridiculous. It should be $50 less $200 is fair.

Whah whah whah. Wasn't it you telling Slade to pony up "because it's just a hunskie" or something like that about the Ps3?

$50. That's the price of one new video game. That's the price of taking a family of four to ONE movie (IF you share the popcorn.) I'm guessing a fair amount was put into the R & D and marketing of the new control technology and adjusted for inflation that's less than the Gamecube was. This system has more power, wi-fi, and a completely new way to interface with games. For $250? When I have to pay $600 for the other guy? That's a bargain any way you slice it.

You can whine about the tech curve, but by that you pretty much mean one thing: processing power. Anyone calling this system "lo-tech" sounds retarded, because this control technology is not "lo-tech." The system is not a graphic's monster, but it definitely has some cool technology; it just happens to be invested in gameplay rather than eye candy.

Basically, if you hate Nintendo and Nintendo games, then at this point, it doesn't matter if it's five bucks. But if you want these new experiences, like Nintendo games, and like the type of stuff third parties are donig so far. . . if you would buy it at $200 but NOT buy it for $250, you're just being an ass clown.

[GameLegend]

I could of swore i heard people in this forum mention they would purchase it if it was 250 or lower.

Now that its most likely 250, suddenly, everyone is complaining it should be lower THEN they will consider buying it. -I bet u, if this system was $300 the same clowns will be asking it to be 250, cuz at 250 THEN they will consider buying it.

No one is going to get mad if u dont buy the system, but dont make up these silly price dependent promises you cant hold up to.

[Brendon]

This thing is cute and hopefully fun but its a child's play thing, not a serious console.

I'm sorry, SERIOUS console? Last I checked, consoles were toys, they serve no serious functions whatsoever, no matter how advanced all the crap inside them is.

Sony and Microsoft have set themselves up to make HUGE losses per console sold, which is a doomed business model based entirely off numerical top trumps. Ninty are being perfectly resonable with their pricing given that they've always used the profit by console model since they started. Hell, they posted a profit last gen, can Ms say the same?.

[J_Cunningham]

Apparently, we live in an age where Nintendo can't please anybody....

Fact is, the Wii is the only console of the three I'm really hyped about right now. A lot of that has to do with affordability, yes, but I'll get to that later. What you people are calling a gimmick (the controller) could very well be the biggest thing to hit videogames since the changeover from cartridges to discs. Could it be a gimmick? Yeah, but I said the DS was nothing but a gimmick, and look how successful it's been. Fact is, we won't know for sure how good a console the Wii is until sometime next year. Until then, everything's just speculation and hearsay. Wii could be a gaming revolution, or it could be flop. But at $250, I'll definitely invest in one.

PS3 and Xbox 360 are problematic for me, mostly because of the expense. $400 for a 360, $600 for a PS3. Oh, and I don't have an HDTV, nor can I fork over the $2000-4000 for one. Just out of college, looking for a job; I can't pony up the dough to get the most out of these two next-generation machines. I've seen the 360 on a regular TV; it's not that different from the original Xbox, and I'd venture to guess the same will be true of the PS3. I'm not paying that much money for only marginally-better graphics.

But, with me not needing an HD beast to play Wii games and get the most out of them, Wii seems to be the safest (or at least cheapest) investment. If the games deliver, then great. And I'm sure PS3 and 360 will have their gems eventually as well. Once I get money, and an HDTV, and all three consoles have great games, I'll probably find myself getting them all for the third generation in a row.

But for the short term, Nintendo gets my gaming dollar.

[VGV]

At $250 the Wii is a bargain !!! OK, the games may look
LastGen-ish but using the Wii controller while playing them
should be a blast.

I'm thinking multi-player party games here folks ... gather up
the friends, have the cold brewskies and munchies ready, and
laugh your behinds off as everyone's (Wii supports up to four
controllers at once) wildly flailing away in thin air (making
utter foooools of themselves in the process) trying to control
the on-screen action. Should make for some great gaming
memories http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

P.S. My only concern ... will the novelty wear off ? Something
to ponder about.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

PS3 and Xbox 360 are problematic for me, mostly because of the expense. $400 for a 360, $600 for a PS3. Oh, and I don't have an HDTV, nor can I fork over the $2000-4000 for one. Just out of college, looking for a job; I can't pony up the dough to get the most out of these two next-generation machines. I've seen the 360 on a regular TV; it's not that different from the original Xbox, and I'd venture to guess the same will be true of the PS3. I'm not paying that much money for only marginally-better graphics.

What 360 games were you viewing on a standard tv? They must not have had good graphics to begin with, because I game on 360 with a standard tv, and I can definitely see a difference, even with games such as Tomb Raider Legend and NFS: Most Wanted which aren't 100% next-gen.

-

About the Wii: When I first read about the Wii and the Wiimote, I really thought that all of the Wii games would be using the wiimote. Instead, I finally read confirmation of optional standard control for the system. Why? Why give third party devs the option for standard control when the Wiimote is supposed to be the difference maker? Will games be playable with Wii and th standard controller? IMO, giving 3rd party devs an option, I think more will resort to throwing ports to Wii with standard controls instead of taking some time and making them utilize the Wiimote.

[Gadfly2317]

At $250 the Wii is a bargain !!! OK, the games may look
LastGen-ish but using the Wii controller while playing them
should be a blast.

I'm thinking multi-player party games here folks ... gather up
the friends, have the cold brewskies and munchies ready, and
laugh your behinds off as everyone's (Wii supports up to four
controllers at once) wildly flailing away in thin air (making
utter foooools of themselves in the process) trying to control
the on-screen action. Should make for some great gaming
memories http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

P.S. My only concern ... will the novelty wear off ? Something
to ponder about.

Warioware I can see flailing your limbs around, but reports are that actual control of games like Red Steel and Zelda require pretty subtle and accurate movements.

Think of how deep and engaging adventure games like Zelda can be, and then visualize the arrow targetting and sword/arrow combat on horseback, and how you can hear the bow draw back on the remote and release as the sound "travels" to the screen. . . the natural method of aiming at the target with your hand versus moving a targeting reticule with a thumb stuck. . .

I just don't see any novelty there to "wear off. . ." it just sounds like a better more immersive way to play.

[VGV]

Warioware I can see flailing your limbs around, but reports are that actual control of games like Red Steel and Zelda require pretty subtle and accurate movements.

Think of how deep and engaging adventure games like Zelda can be, and then visualize the arrow targetting and sword/arrow combat on horseback, and how you can hear the bow draw back on the remote and release as the sound "travels" to the screen. . . the natural method of aiming at the target with your hand versus moving a targeting reticule with a thumb stuck. . .

I just don't see any novelty there to "wear off. . ." it just sounds like a better more immersive way to play.

Didn't quite look at it that way Gadfly ... good point ! Like
Cunningham said, maybe the Wii could turn out to be a gaming
revolution.

Hmmmm, how about Mario Kart ? Hehehe ... motioning, with the
Wiimote, to hurl turtle shells at your opponents and hearing
the projectile travel to your TV screen and watching your
friend's cart wildly careen out of control (I can already hear the
F-words the poor fools will utter http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)

How about motioning as if you're casting a spell with a magic wand
to send a shockwave to all your opponents (on-screen) and turning
them and their karts into tiny little versions of their former selves.

Man, Mario Kart, if well implemented with Big N's new control scheme,
could turn out to be the ultimate multi-player BLAST http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Gadfly2317]

Didn't quite look at it that way Gadfly ... good point ! Like
Cunningham said, maybe the Wii could turn out to be a gaming
revolution.

Hmmmm, how about Mario Kart ? Hehehe ... motioning, with the
Wiimote, to hurl turtle shells at your opponents and hearing
the projectile travel to your TV screen and watching your
friend's cart wildly careen out of control (I can already hear the
F-words the poor fools will utter http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)

How about motioning as if you're casting a spell with a magic wand
to send a shockwave to all your opponents (on-screen) and turning
them and their karts into tiny little versions of their former selves.

Man, Mario Kart, if well implemented with Big N's new control scheme,
could turn out to be the ultimate multi-player BLAST http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I don't quite understand yet how the new controller will work for racing games. I know it was demoed for Excite Truck, but I haven't read how it works. I guess for racing games I'm pretty okay with the status quo, or like someone else said, the best control would be investing in a good racing wheel and pedals.

Right now I'm wanting to buy a 360 "just because" but I keep not doing it because there aren't any games I'm really blown away by. Oblivion is pretty cool, but I know my own attention span, and I'm afraid I'm too much of a tweaker to get my money's worth.

The Wii is on the only system I feel any enthusiasm for. I just wish there were better third party support. It really is dreadfully poor.

[VGV]

I don't quite understand yet how the new controller will work for racing games. I know it was demoed for Excite Truck, but I haven't read how it works. I guess for racing games I'm pretty okay with the status quo, or like someone else said, the best control would be investing in a good racing wheel and pedals.

Right now I'm wanting to buy a 360 "just because" but I keep not doing it because there aren't any games I'm really blown away by. Oblivion is pretty cool, but I know my own attention span, and I'm afraid I'm too much of a tweaker to get my money's worth.

The Wii is on the only system I feel any enthusiasm for. I just wish there were better third party support. It really is dreadfully poor.

<table width=600><tr><td valign="top"><table cellspacing=0 width=180><tr><td bgcolor=#dedede><img src="http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2006/features/hardware/revknow/revknow_embed004.jpg"></td></tr><tr height=380><td bgcolor=#dedede valign="top"><font face="verdana" size=1 color=#aaaaaa>The Wii controller set-up ... ideal for a racing game like Mario Kart ? Answer : Yessir !!!</font></td></tr></table></td><td valign="top"><font face="verdana" size=4 color=#aaaaaa><b>Mario Kart Wii</b><BR><BR></font><font face="verdana" size=2 color=#aaaaaa>The nunchuck/wiimote combo could work great for a game like Mario Kart. The nunchuck thumbstick could be used for steering (Left/Right), while the nunchuck trigger would make for a intuitive way to accelerate. I would imagine that pulling the stick back would allow for braking/reversing your kart.<BR><BR>As for sliding ... hold the Wiimote A button while taking a corner and voila ! Slip 'n Slide in grand style ! Leaves us with your attacks ... different motions with the Wiimote, that would feel natural with the type of attack your unleashing on your unsuspecting enemies (friends), would add tons of fun to the proceedings.<BR><BR>People waving their magic wands, tossing turtle shells, whipping with the Wiimote to turbo charge their Karts. Can you imagine a living room filled with people and four of them making all these crazy gestures, with action-filled Mario Kart Racing going on the screen at the same time ? Tons of laughs, fun and entertainment indeed.<BR><BR>About the Xbox 360 and Mii ... went to EB on March 20th and guess what ? Nooooo Xboxes in stock ! Well, after seeing the game footage from E3, the PS3 has won me over. Only drawback, for me personally, is the non-rumble feature of the PS3. But to tell you the truth, it's a small price to pay when PS3 games are shaping up to be nothing short of phenomenal !<BR><BR>P.S. NextGen for ViiGiiVii = PS3 + Wii !!!</font></td></tr></table>

[Gadfly2317]

D'oh!!!!

That's funny, now that you mention it VgV. One of the first concepts I thought of after the Revotion controller (as it was known at the time) was announced was a shooter/racer where you accellerate with the nunchuck stick and accelerate with the trigger, while using the wand as a gun to shoot at enemies on the road (or in helicopters and UFO's in the air) as well as other roadside targets.

I don't think there's ever been a game where you race and shoot at the same time that way. I actually bothered to flesh out a whole story/plot and graphical concept for the game, mostly because it is a game I'd love to play: exceedingly violent, fast, twitchy and new, but steeped in an old-school crazy Konami kind of approach. I love when people throw flaming barrels at you from helicopters. Love to steer around that crap and shoot at the bastards in the chopper at the same time.

[trebor]

But that's not the main point of the Wii, is it? It isn't what Nintendo has been stressing since the beginning of this project. Does all the ballyhoo over the controller ultimately mean nothing? If third parties create traditional games on the console will they sell to a userbase that's been told that they will get new experiences from the console?

Nintendo has been stating from the get-go that the Wiimote wouldn't be applicable to all types of games, and thus there have been the oft mentioned "shell" peripherals. Of course the "shell" turned out to me the new "retro" gamepad, but it is still a traditional gamepad.

As far as the "ballyhoo" is concerned, the Wii will offer an alternative control scheme that isn't offered anywhere else in addition to a traditional control scheme that everyone else is using. If anything, this gives users even more options since any limitations based off of the unique controller are now effectively lifted.

Hell, Nintendo's flagship Smash Bros. game will use traditional controls as opposed to the motion sensitive Wii scheme. Does this mean that Ninty has already seen the errors of their ways? Hell no - because they are showing 3rd parties that it's ok to go back to traditional controllers if your game isn't well suited to the new controller.

[Mochan]

I've seen the 360 on a regular TV; it's not that different from the original Xbox, and I'd venture to guess the same will be true of the PS3. I'm not paying that much money for only marginally-better graphics.

Me, I'm not exactly getting 360 or pS3 for the better graphics. I'm getting them because the newer games and franchises I follow will be coming out on them. That's the REAL reason I am getting them, not because they will give me better graphics and stuff.

If they would release all the new games on the PS2 or XBox, I wouldn't even bother with the PS3 or 360.



I don't think there's ever been a game where you race and shoot at the same time that way.

There are tons of them on the PC.

[Gadfly2317]

There are tons of them on the PC.

Like what? I've only ever seen games where you shoot out of the front of the car at whatever is directly in the road in front of you. I've never seen anything that was a cross between a light-gun style shooting game and full-on racing.

These tons of games you refer to. . . they let you shoot rapidly and accurately anywhere on the screen--by aiming a gun-like peripheral at the screen and pulling the trigger--while steering the car with your other hand?

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Has anyone seen any game on the Wii that doesn't look above orginal Xbox (or even GC for that matter) standards. Everything I've seen looks completely last gen to me.

[VGV]

D'oh!!!!

That's funny, now that you mention it VgV. One of the first concepts I thought of after the Revotion controller (as it was known at the time) was announced was a shooter/racer where you accellerate with the nunchuck stick and accelerate with the trigger, while using the wand as a gun to shoot at enemies on the road (or in helicopters and UFO's in the air) as well as other roadside targets.

I don't think there's ever been a game where you race and shoot at the same time that way. I actually bothered to flesh out a whole story/plot and graphical concept for the game, mostly because it is a game I'd love to play: exceedingly violent, fast, twitchy and new, but steeped in an old-school crazy Konami kind of approach. I love when people throw flaming barrels at you from helicopters. Love to steer around that crap and shoot at the bastards in the chopper at the same time.

Tried visualizing your concept. It's really cool, tons of action happening
on-screen, great explosive effects. How about the game music ? Heavy, adrenaline
inducing music tracks. This game would be a RUSH. If I were you, I would submit
this idea to a game company or at least discuss it with an industry insider.

Won't lie to you, if this game would feature smooth controls, sleek graphics,
an involving and thought provoking storyline, explosive sound effects with
alternating hard rocking and thumping techno music tracks ... I would definitely
buy this game.

P.S. Especially impressed by the drivin' while choppers drop down exploding
barrels on the street level. Fire, explosions, chaotic traffic, everyone in
a state of panic ... complete and perfect mayhem !!!

[Gadfly2317]

Tried visualizing your concept. It's really cool, tons of action happening
on-screen, great explosive effects. How about the game music ? Heavy, adrenaline
inducing music tracks.

Tons of explosion and action and mostly just insane stupid bizarre with disparate weird enemies the way games like Contra or Ninja Gaiden throw tons of enemies at you from zombies to tanks and copters, but in a first person view 3-d racing/gun game.

Music is pulled from the industrial scene. . .preferably Skinny Puppy and MInistry.

I'm sick of videogames where you have to be the good guy. Basically, story in racing games isn't that important, you just need a reason why someone is trying to kill you, and a prize for racing.

If I recall correctly, you play as one of a number of demons. Satan is holding a death-race style contest to see who gets to possess the body of a certain world leader and become the anti-christ. Popular job, lots of demons vying for it you know. You race your fellow demons from New York to LA (a grim Cannon Ball Run) as various factions who know what's happening (the US Military, Christians, the unsaved dead, religious aliens, angels, moon shiners, Ninja's, rappers, whatever) try their best to stop you.

There's more. . . vehicle styles, weapons upgrades on the demonic black market, dimensional shifting (the realm of humans, the realm of the supernatural) and a race structure designed to actually have the sort of epic feel of actually crossing the country, set up as check points.

There's more but you get the idea.

[Fivespot]

Wow, quite an interesting side track VGV & Gad. Please set me up with a preorder.

Re: the Wii price, $250 is hitting the sweet spot but I predict they still figure a way down to $199 at launch. Here's the deal however, the Wiimote will cost $50 or so for each additional one you want to purchase.

[Cuddly Knife]

I won't mind paying 50 bones, since we already have to do that with Wireless 360 controllers, and I'm sure the same price will be for the PS3 and their multi-axis Dual Unshock thingamabob.

[BoyVsCar]

At what price graphics? I am a technoloogy and grpahics whore, and yet I am still stoked about the Wii. Nintendo proved it's metal to me with the DS [which I was VERY skeptical of] and I await the Wii with baited breath. The raw potential for something different and fun is too great. Plus, despite my 360, I have spent a great deal of time with my PS2 as of late. The Wii definitely outperforms [visually, in this case] the PS2, and hopefully in the end will appear somewhere between the X and the 360. I'll let the 360 satiate my need for hot visuals [and maybe the PS3 if it can win me over the price] but predict the 360 may lose a lot of my time once the Wii hits. And I DO have an HD display [61" Samsung DLP represent] and WISH Nintendo was going the HD route even just to bump rez and smooth things out but am not at all deterred by the fact that they aren't. It seems an even trade to me. I guess that's because I game to have fun. If it was all about graphics my most played 360 game wouldn't be Geometry Wars.

This price point just sweatens the deal. I think they are assuring market success and covering their bases. Face it, Nintendo is smarter than you.

[Gadfly2317]

Hi "VGR's Fetus." You've made it past your first trimester, so your odds are good. Personally, based on bibilcal teachings, I support abortions up to the 54th trimester (age 18). But since the singular fascist entity Gad has not yet achieved his long desired coup, you are safe.

Great post. Go Wii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!iiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And what the hell do you have against cars anyway?

[BoyVsCar]

Gad... I think you misunderstand my moniker. Allow me to clarify:

"In a game of boy versus car, car always wins..."

[Gadfly2317]

Gad... I think you misunderstand my moniker. Allow me to clarify:

"In a game of boy versus car, car always wins..."

No, I got it. I just wasn't sure if you were the boy or the car. So you are the boy. As long as you are over 19. (18 is legal but the pimples are intolerable.)

Wait. You are you the CAR? Are you Dori Magdalene?

I knew I should've watched The Davinci Omen:


Wilson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BoyVsCar]

I'm the boy. At least I was when I started using that handle. Late 90's emo-core attitude at its finest.

You sure are excited for the Wii Gad... will it be pertinent to relabel the kiddies as Wii-tards as they enter the next generation this fall? Or is that too insensitive...

[trebor]

You sure are excited for the Wii Gad... will it be pertinent to relabel the kiddies as Wii-tards as they enter the next generation this fall? Or is that too insensitive...

Wii-tards, Wii-ners, or Wii-nies will suffice, thanks.

About the price tag for additional Wii-motes - if they cost $50 and include the nunchuk and classic gamepad attachments, that's quite a deal. Although I can see the gamepads being sold on their own.

[NEO-360]

I love Nintendo. Indeed I do.The things they've done with the DS has been nothing short of amazing.Handheld consoles rule!(Except for the PSP and the N-Gage)

But to be honest:At this point the Wii IMO seems to be nothing short but a Gamecube with a fresh coat of paint.

For once I would've loved to see Nintendo try to be competive instead of just simply"innovative & fun" for a change. Didnt we get enough of this with the Gamecube when it first came out? The Wii 9 times out of 10 will be the bargin basement console while the PS3 & the 360 will rule the videogame world.Some of the games I've seen for the Wii looks great. But nothing above and beyond what we've seen from the GC IMO. At least not yet. But we'll see soon enough by this years end.:idea:

[Mochan]

What 360 games were you viewing on a standard tv? They must not have had good graphics to begin with, because I game on 360 with a standard tv, and I can definitely see a difference, even with games such as Tomb Raider Legend and NFS: Most Wanted which aren't 100% next-gen.

I'm with RBH here. 360 and Xbox 1 games are like heaven and hell. Well maybe not that extreme, but there's a definite improvement. I've been playing PC games for a long time and I could see the HUGE difference between them and an Xbox game. The 360, even on a regular TV, is a lot closer to that watermark.



About the Wii: When I first read about the Wii and the Wiimote, I really thought that all of the Wii games would be using the wiimote. Instead, I finally read confirmation of optional standard control for the system. Why? Why give third party devs the option for standard control when the Wiimote is supposed to be the difference maker? Will games be playable with Wii and th standard controller?


I agree on this as well, same line of thought Slade is using. Sure, the Wii has a traditional controller and can accept 3rd party games that use it, but at that point you'd have to wonder: why get the Wii version of that game when the 360 or PS3 has the same game, only better? Unless the game uses the Wii controller, there's no point in getting it on the Wii, better get it on the PS3 or 360 instead, unless you are short on cash.

The problem RBH is like Slade said on the MS Japan Paradox: if you DON'T give 3rd Party Devs the standard controler to use, then they may just opt NOT to make games for the Wii, period. So instead you give them the trad gamepad: and they end up making ports instead of Wii remote games.

The key for Nintendo will be to make enough first party games that are really killer apps in order to make other devs see that it's worth making these kinds of games. That will allow a DS-like scenario to open up. Otherwise, we will see another Gamecube.




Like what? I've only ever seen games where you shoot out of the front of the car at whatever is directly in the road in front of you. I've never seen anything that was a cross between a light-gun style shooting game and full-on racing.

These tons of games you refer to. . . they let you shoot rapidly and accurately anywhere on the screen--by aiming a gun-like peripheral at the screen and pulling the trigger--while steering the car with your other hand?

There's a ton of FPS games on the PC where you do. The game per se almost never revolve around doing so, but a lot of games which have parts where you do that.

Far Cry for instance gave you jeeps/quads etc. where you could shoot with either a turret gun or sometimes your own gun at the target aiming via mouse. The Battlefield series also did this all the time (Battlefield is the series that popularized vehicle combat on the PC after all -- it did what Halo did on the XBox). Far Cry though put a limiter on the axis you could turn around (since the turret is mounted on the jeep with a fixed axis). Quake 4 (also on XBox 360) had this hover tank thing where you aim with your mouse anywhere to shoot your cannon. Difference with XBox version is that on XBox it really felt like you were piloting a tank because those damn analogue sticks suck for aiming. Vietcong also had vehicles and shooting, as did Operation Flashpont -- though in Vietcong I think it was more turret-mission like in Call of Duty where you didn't actually drive but just aimed. Decsent 3 was literally control with d-pad axis (not just forward back/left right, but also vertical up down, all 360 degrees) PLUS mouse aiming in 360 degrees. Man that game was a blast with a flightstick and a mouse, even if the setting and enemies sucked.

The list goes on and on. There was even an old 2D side scrolling shooter on the PC where you had a traditional d-pad axis to walk, run, jump, crouch etc. then you used the mouse to aim your gun in 360 degrees. That was way back in like 1994 or so.

[Superjoint Ritual]

Ugh... This is starting to get old. Yes, the Wii's graphics won't be as good as the 360's or Ps3. If that's still a problem for you, please, move on and shut the f*** up. Yes, the controller will be different. If that's still a problem for you, please, move on and shut the f*** up.

The PsP destroys the DS grapically, yet I play my DS almost everyday, and my PsP is waiting to be sold. Point? Some of us have a different opinion of what gaming really is about, and it's not who has the proverbial bigger d***. It's who can offer the best gameplay experience. That may or not be the Wii, and just like some of the tools on this board, I havn't played it yet. But from what I've read, I have a lot of reasons to be optimistic.

Japan will eat this thing up, count on it. America is a different story. That's where Nintendo will face it's steepest challange.

Now if Nintendo is really smart, it will price it's games at $50 bucks tops. If they can price them at $39, forget about it.

[Mochan]

Wait. You are you the CAR? Are you Dori Magdalene?

I knew I should've watched The Davinci Omen:

He;s Turbo Teen. He's both boy and car!

[NEO-360]

Ugh... This is starting to get old. Yes, the Wii's graphics won't be as good as the 360's or Ps3. If that's still a problem for you, please, move on and shut the f*** up. Yes, the controller will be different. If that's still a problem for you, please, move on and shut the f*** up.

The PsP destroys the DS grapically, yet I play my DS almost everyday, and my PsP is waiting to be sold. Point? Some of us have a different opinion of what gaming really is about, and it's not who has the proverbial bigger d***. It's who can offer the best gameplay experience. That may or not be the Wii, and just like some of the tools on this board, I havn't played it yet. But from what I've read, I have a lot of reasons to be optimistic.

Japan will eat this thing up, count on it. America is a different story. That's where Nintendo will face it's steepest challange.

Now if Nintendo is really smart, it will price it's games at $50 bucks tops. If they can price them at $39, forget about it.

I agree that this is starting to get old. Nintendo settling for being innovative,reasonable and fun instead of being competitive against MS and Sony in the next gen war.We been there and done that with the N64 & the Gamecube.

Why should we go there again with The Wii? Nintendo should'nt be happy being MS & Sony's b#### for the 2nd time in a row but apparently thats where they want to be.

The PSP never had a chance against the DS anyway. The games on the DS puts games on the PSP to shame. I'll take playing games like Castlevania and Metroid on the DS anyday over playing rehashed PS2 ports on the PSP.

The games on the PSP looked better but they sure as hell didnt play better than the games on the DS did.

Yes Japan will eat the Wii up handsomely. But will North America eat it up? Probably not.AAA games for the GC didnt come out as often as they should have as they did for the DS over the years.(Thats a fact) Yes it should be all about gameplay.

But with this generation of gamers its also about what can my console do for me besides play games. And thats where the Wii will become dusty on the shelf real fast when compared to what the 360 or the PS3 can do. Nintendo should've been smarter this time out. But we'll see if The Wii lives up to its name.:rolleyes:

[BoyVsCar]

But with this generation of gamers its also about what can my console do for me besides play games.

The Wii is the only console prepared to offer a simultaneous entertainment experience and full aerobic workout straight out of the box.

I am also to understand there are wand attachments for toilet scrubbing, shower cleaning...

Far more practical and cutting edge than this "MP3" and media stuff... whatever that is.

It will be tough for the Wii to contend with the 360's ability to fry my morning breakfast on it's sleek, white, 200 degree surface as I enjoy one last round of Geometry wars before I leave for work, though...

[shogun]

But with this generation of gamers its also about what can my console do for me besides play games. And thats where the Wii will become dusty on the shelf real fast when compared to what the 360 or the PS3 can do. Nintendo should've been smarter this time out. But we'll see if The Wii lives up to its name.:rolleyes:

The #1 way Nintendo could guarantee being Sony/MS's "*****", as you call it, would be for them to do what they did last time around and make a middle-of-the-road console no different than the competition.

GC lost because all it really had were its franchises. It didn't have the most games, nor was it the most technically advanced. There was no way that Nintendo was going to make something more powerful than PS3/360, nor were the Gods going to come down from the sky and force developers to jump the Sony/MS gravy train to bless N's console with the most games. So, what would be the purpose of making a "competitive" console when all it would do is offer less of what the competition was offering?

I'd rather Nintendo do something new, and do it for less.

[NEO-360]

The #1 way Nintendo could guarantee being Sony/MS's "*****", as you call it, would be for them to do what they did last time around and make a middle-of-the-road console no different than the competition.

GC lost because all it really had were its franchises. It didn't have the most games, nor was it the most technically advanced. There was no way that Nintendo was going to make something more powerful than PS3/360, nor were the Gods going to come down from the sky and force developers to jump the Sony/MS gravy train to bless N's console with the most games. So, what would be the purpose of making a "competitive" console when all it would do is offer less of what the competition was offering?

I'd rather Nintendo do something new, and do it for less. And this is why the Wii will be the next forgotten console for Nintendo that'll take once again a backseat to MS & Sony. Because of just that. Thank goodness I have my NES/SNES/N64 memories. Because outside of handheld consoles Nintendo hasnt done much over the last few years to make us gamers get all fuzzy inside against MS & Sony.:eek:

[GameLegend]

And this is why the Wii will be the next forgotten console for Nintendo that'll take once again a backseat to MS & Sony. Because of just that. Thank goodness I have my NES/SNES/N64 memories. Because outside of handheld consoles Nintendo hasnt done much over the last few years to make us gamers get all fuzzy inside against MS & Sony.:eek:

Whhhhat?!
Sorry neon boy, i fail to see/understand your argument: Because Nintendo is taking an alternate route they will be the next forgotten console?
Please reliterate.

[Gadfly2317]

And this is why the Wii will be the next forgotten console for Nintendo that'll take once again a backseat to MS & Sony. Because of just that.

Deep down I think you know you'll be eating those words.

There's a reason the DS is currently selling 12 to 1 against the PsP in Japan and now pulling ahead in a neck-to-neck race in America: Nintendo's new vision works. They are applying the same vision to the Wii. The vision is extreme innovation, affordablility, and an appeal to all: old Mario fans, non-gamers, women, and the jaded hardcore who want something new.

If the Wii were destined to be "forgotten" it wouldn't have been the headline news at E3, the system everyone wanted to play, the system everyone was talking about.

Nintendo has been humbled and learned some lessons. . . this shows most in its allowing a third-party title to be the first unveiled on a magazine cover (Red Steel.) Other lessons are the development of new titles and franchises like Project Hammer and Wii Sports. And of course, they would be insane to abandon the old bread and butter. . .and thank god we have Metroid Corruption on the way. . .how sweet it will be to have true aiming in a FPS with speeds far beyond what you will experience with the thumbsticks on the old-fashioned consoles.

If there were never another title developed for the Wii besides the ones already announced, it would be well worth $250 to play them.

Doubters. . .I respect your skepticism, but proclamations of certain doom are beyond skepticism, they are claims you are going to eat like a big steaming bowl of crap.

[NEO-360]

Whhhhat?!
Sorry neon boy, i fail to see/understand your argument: Because Nintendo is taking an alternate route they will be the next forgotten console?
Please reliterate.

What happened with the GC? It got buried by the Xbox and the PS2. And in the upcoming next gen war history will repeat itself. Sorry LameLegend but I'm sorry you fail to understand what I'm saying.

But the Wii IMO will fare no better than the GC did. And what is the Wii? Another Reasonable and affordable console with the same AAA games(with a fresh coat of paint and a new controller scheme) that Nintendo is famous for. Mario,Castlevania,Metroid,and Zelda. Not to mention those titles will come every 4 to 7 months in between the tons of titles that'll be out for the PS3 & the Xbox 360.

Nintendo always takes the alternate route with their consoles. Thats why their little"Wii" will be the bargin basement console collecting dust while the 360 and the PS3 will make MS & Sony look like Gods while Nintendo settles for being once again last in the next gen war.

[NEO-360]

Deep down I think you know you'll be eating those words.

There's a reason the DS is currently selling 12 to 1 against the PsP in Japan and now pulling ahead in a neck-to-neck race in America: Nintendo's new vision works. They are applying the same vision to the Wii. The vision is extreme innovation, affordablility, and an appeal to all: old Mario fans, non-gamers, women, and the jaded hardcore who want something new.

If the Wii were destined to be "forgotten" it wouldn't have been the headline news at E3, the system everyone wanted to play, the system everyone was talking about.

Nintendo has been humbled and learned some lessons. . . this shows most in its allowing a third-party title to be the first unveiled on a magazine cover (Red Steel.) Other lessons are the development of new titles and franchises like Project Hammer and Wii Sports. And of course, they would be insane to abandon the old bread and butter. . .and thank god we have Metroid Corruption on the way. . .how sweet it will be to have true aiming in a FPS with speeds far beyond what you will experience with the thumbsticks on the old-fashioned consoles.

If there were never another title developed for the Wii besides the ones already announced, it would be well worth $250 to play them.

Doubters. . .I respect your skepticism, but proclamations of certain doom are beyond skepticism, they are claims you are going to eat like a big steaming bowl of crap.

I have nothing bad to say about the DS at all. When it comes to handheld consoles Nintendo rules! But outside of the NES,the SNES,and the N64 the GC IMO was a failure. And the Wii looks to be no different. But we'll see if I'll be eating those words.(highly unlikely) :mad2:

[VGV]

I have nothing bad to say about the DS at all. When it comes to handheld consoles Nintendo rules! But outside of the NES,the SNES,and the N64 the GC IMO was a failure. And the Wii looks to be no different. But we'll see if I'll be eating those words.(highly unlikely) :mad2:

Ah ! Sweet memories ... the NES/SNES and N64 days ! The N64 was the last Big N console
I owned. Nobody can deny that some great classics were born on those consoles.

I agree, if we look at the GCs performance, why should the Wii perform any better ? The
handheld and console markets are two <i>very</i> different beasts. One more thing, Big N always
had about 90% of the handheld market share, so it's performance in this particular market
has no bearing at all on it's upcoming success/failure regarding the Wii. Yes, Nintendo owns
and always has owned the handheld market. The console market on the other hand ... Big
N has known better days.

[Gadfly2317]

Thats why their little"Wii" will be the bargin basement console collecting dust.

"And that's pretty much the whole nine yards in a nutshell." Right?

[GameLegend]

Before i go on and attack agruments bit by bit, i would like to personally welcome you to system wars. We hope you comment often and help breathe more life into these forums.

What happened with the GC? It got buried by the Xbox and the PS2. And in the upcoming next gen war history will repeat itself.

Things have changed neo. Before GC was just another console. The only real difference, Nintendo Franchices, thats why people bought the GC to play those individual franchises. As for the 3rd party games, majority people will agree they bought those games for other systems.

It was competeing against the popular 3rd party holder Playstation and the insanely rich Microsoft. It was agaisnt them neck and neck for graphics, gameplay and the same consumer.

Now its a broader consumer base. Now the Wii will bring to the consumer what no PS3 or 360 is capable of. They have an edge. History would indefiniately repeat itself for sure if nothing has changed . But there is a change, a bigger change than N64 -> GC.


But to be honest:At this point the Wii IMO seems to be nothing short but a Gamecube with a fresh coat of paint.


I'm sorry, but i think everyone in the forum will disagree with you on that one.

[Gadfly2317]

Before i go on and attack agruments bit by bit, i would like to personally welcome you to system wars. We hope you comment often and help breathe more life into these forums. New life? You mean old life. This is indeed the herpes flare up some people were praying for.

No sense arguing against logic that says "if you gave me a Wii I wouldn't play it, I'd smash it with a sledgehammer."

[Glockstar]

New life? You mean old life. This is indeed the herpes flare up some people were praying for.

Indeed.

[GameLegend]

No sense arguing against logic that says "if you gave me a Wii I wouldn't play it, I'd smash it with a sledgehammer."

Ya i was sorta surprised when after NEO posted his dribble of loving whatevers popular (like DS its popular, GC not so it sucks, PS and Xbox popular so he likes them too) you didnt have more to say other than a line. You already understood his character and there was no sense in arguing with logic that is closed minded.