Nintendo Wii European press conference Finished
Yesterday, Nintendo announced US and Japanese launch details. Today, it's our turn, with a European press conference taking place in London - and you can read all about it as it happens on this very page from 12PM BST. Nintendo has already said we'll find out launch date, pricing and software information about our version of its famed next-generation console but there remain a number of unanswered questions. At the conclusion of the conference, which is expected to last an hour, there will be a photo-call followed by an afternoon of gameplay sessions and interview opps. Stay tuned...
Our live coverage has now ended. Here's what you missed: Updating...
The waiting game starts. Hello to everybody, make yourselves comfortable. Remember that this page updates automatically, so there's no need to refresh. Enjoy the show - updates will start shortly.
We're in, but things aren't looking too sunny. Security are clamping down on reporting devices of all kinds, so we may be shut down. Fingers crossed.
After an hour of waiting around the halls of ExCel the press and trade are filing into the conference. Running time should be an hour.
There's a podium and a lot of Wii logos up on stage, with a huge screen playing monochromatic videos of Wii software. Iwata's here apparently.
Nintendo's adamant about not using laptops, mobiles, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices, so we may get cut short. Didn't happen at E3, mind. Can't stop the signal.
There's still scores of people left to come in, so it may be a little while.
Nintendo UK boss David Yanton's taking his place in the audience. Nintendo UK staff make up about a third of the row behind me.
Still sod all happening. Lanyard commentary: elegant, simple, nice font, while the strap bears the "Wii Play Together" slogan. Decent clip mechanism. 7/10.
I'd estimate about a third of the seats are still waiting to be filled. Give it time. /impatient
Nothing's happening...
It's filling up a bit now. Snore.
Apparently it's going to start "in a few minutes". "Please take your seats," the PA asks hopefully.
"Please switch off all electronic devices." "No."
Fan request #1: "Totty commentary". Well, there are lots of women in Wii t-shirts. There is nothing yet to rival Germany's magnificent pink-dress DS creature.
The last few stragglers are taking their seats. There's a danger it might actually start soon.
Almost forgot: one of our spies who got here at about 10am claims that Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski were wandering around.
Aaaaaaaaaany minute now.
Aaaaaaaaaany minute now.
Aaaaaaaaaany minute now.
Lights dim. Controller's up on screen.
"Introducing Wii". Quotes flying up from various sources. Magazines, CEOs, old women. Video of people playing with it.
I Don't Feel Like Dancing is playing. Gerhard Florin from EA has a quote up: apparently Wii is ace!
So here's what it is: gamers, non-gamers, and gamers who gave up on gaming saying they like the Wii.
"Please welcome your hose for today... Gabby Logan."
Gabby isn't a gaming fan, but she's excited anyway. Laurent Fischer from Nintendo Europe comes on. "Can you really get me interested in gaming?" says Gab.
"How can you get me interested?" "Maybe you like sport.""I do." "Not everyone is playing games, because right now people see it as a narrow sort of activity."
Gaming landscape is changing, says Fishcer. Nintendo is creeping towards a 50/50 gender split. 44% are women. Best-selling title in last year sold to over-25s.
He's explaining the DS for the benefit of the mainstream press, I'm guessing. Did you know it has a touch screen? DID YOU?
Nintendo Europe President Satoru Shibata coming on to talk about DS.
"Thank you everybody for joining us today." He'd like to talk some more about DS before he talks about Wii, apparently.
Regardless of age. gender or past gaming experience, he reckons they can get people involved.
Touch generations software has helped get people interested, he says. Train your brain, learn English, walk a dog, etc. They want to "welcome women to gaming".
So here's what it is: gamers, non-gamers, and gamers who gave up on gaming saying they like the Wii.
"Please welcome your hose for today... Gabby Logan."
Gabby isn't a gaming fan, but she's excited anyway. Laurent Fischer from Nintendo Europe comes on. "Can you really get me interested in gaming?" says Gab.
"How can you get me interested?" "Maybe you like sport.""I do." "Not everyone is playing games, because right now people see it as a narrow sort of activity."
Gaming landscape is changing, says Fishcer. Nintendo is creeping towards a 50/50 gender split. 44% are women. Best-selling title in last year sold to over-25s.
He's explaining the DS for the benefit of the mainstream press, I'm guessing. Did you know it has a touch screen? DID YOU?
Nintendo Europe President Satoru Shibata coming on to talk about DS.
"Thank you everybody for joining us today." He'd like to talk some more about DS before he talks about Wii, apparently.
Regardless of age. gender or past gaming experience, he reckons they can get people involved.
Touch generations software has helped get people interested, he says. Train your brain, learn English, walk a dog, etc. They want to "welcome women to gaming".
Nintendogs: 4 million in Europe alone. 60, 000 sold a week even now. Responsible for the upsurge in women gamers on the DS he says.
Brain Training: half of the owners are over 26 years old, he says, which is very unusual.
In Japan, the series sold over 5 million copies since May 2005. In nine weeks it's sold 500k in Europe, which took 17 weeks in Japan, he says.
In Germany, Brain Training is on top of the charts two months after launch, he tells us. DS software has dominated European charts in July and August.
He's showing Nintendo's favourite graph: the one that shows sales spiking in later weeks, and not just big sales in the first week that tail off.
Nintendogs: 4 million in Europe alone. 60, 000 sold a week even now. Responsible for the upsurge in women gamers on the DS he says.
Brain Training: half of the owners are over 26 years old, he says, which is very unusual.
In Japan, the series sold over 5 million copies since May 2005. In nine weeks it's sold 500k in Europe, which took 17 weeks in Japan, he says.
In Germany, Brain Training is on top of the charts two months after launch, he tells us. DS software has dominated European charts in July and August.
He's showing Nintendo's favourite graph: the one that shows sales spiking in later weeks, and not just big sales in the first week that tail off.
"Our strategy is paying off."
Graph: DS sales account for 70% of handheld sales accross Europe.
More than 100k were consistently sold every week, he says. DS has now reached over 6 million people in Europe alone.
10 million sales predicted by the end of 2006. Says to look forward to Sudoku, English Training, Starfox, Yoshi Island 2, and Pokemon Dungeon.
"In the very near future we'll be launching another console that will go even further in making games accessible and fun for everyone."
Gabby's back. Introducing Wii Sports' boxing game. Shibata's going to play against Iwata, who they say is actually in Japan.
A hologram of your player in front of you, jabbing with the Wii remote and Nunchuck.
Aha! And Satoru Iwata's walked on behind him. "And this is what goes on when you think I'm away."
"I woke up many hours ago and many thousands of miles away, so I assure you I won't take any more time than necessary to share my thoughts."
He's talking about the very-old days of working out what to do after the NES. The same questions have continued ever since, he says.
He says we've been focused on tech up to now. I think I've typed him saying that at about 15 different conferences now.
He points to four significant moments of introducing products that changed things. 1) DS. 2) Touch! Generations games.
He loves him some Touch! Generations. Because they're not just escapism. Right. 3) Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
He loves him some Touch! Generations. Because they're not just escapism. Right. 3) Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
4) Most dramatic: the hands-on with the Wii control in LA at E3 2006. "For us, that was a huge week."
Each moment represents a bridge to the majority of people who don't play games, he says. Today introduces a fifth step.
4) Most dramatic: the hands-on with the Wii control in LA at E3 2006. "For us, that was a huge week."
Each moment represents a bridge to the majority of people who don't play games, he says. Today introduces a fifth step.
Just not immediately. Now he's talking about DS again and how accesible portables are. The Wii is analogous, he thinks.
"It was necessary to frame the appeal not just in terms of games, but in terms of the television and internet." That led to the 5th milestone: Wii channels.
Wii menu page contains four pages, each with 12 channel screens. Acces Cube/Wii software discs. Onboard photo software. Goal to provide simple editing.
Another channel "became a must after its reception in LA". The character creation stuff.
Same sort of stuff you can watch on Eurogamer TV - the caricature software "Mii".
Just not immediately. Now he's talking about DS again and how accesible portables are. The Wii is analogous, he thinks.
"It was necessary to frame the appeal not just in terms of games, but in terms of the television and internet." That led to the 5th milestone: Wii channels.
Wii menu page contains four pages, each with 12 channel screens. Acces Cube/Wii software discs. Onboard photo software. Goal to provide simple editing.
Another channel "became a must after its reception in LA". The character creation stuff.
Same sort of stuff you can watch on Eurogamer TV - the caricature software "Mii".
Calendar, househould bulletin board and family message centre for organising family scheduling, he says. Leave post-its for your friends and family. Or Tom Nook.
Online access to international weather forecasts. Constantly updated worldwide headlines, too. Plus seperate net channels powered by Opera.
Virtual Console. Mario World, Zelda Link to the Past, Mario 64 flash up. 15 in launch period in Europe. With 5-10 titles a month.
Donkey Kong shows up too. Now we're on WiiConnect24 - offering Nintendo news or "other features", "even while you sleep".
He points out that you can do this without Wii, but argues not everyone has the same advantage. For many it'll be the first time they're comfortable doing it.
Channels will be good for people who aren't as technically able, baisically.
With Touch! Generations software coming to Wii, Iwata believes everyone in the family will give Wii a go. And now he's off. Gabby's back.
Wii Sports tennis now. And it's Tim Henman and Greg Rusedksi. She's not pointing out they're here yet. BUT WE KNOW THEY ARE.
And the curtains have gone infront of the stage for some reason. Aha. Big reveal: Tim and Greg playing real tennis on a court behind the stage.
Shibata's back, and he's going to challenge them both to Wii tennis.
They're in their tennis whites and everything. Gabby's commentating. Greg's really getting into it, but they're 30-0 down.
Henman misses one on the baseline. And Greg gets one back. Oh but Henman's hit it out. Game.
Second game. Tim's beaten down. He's arguing the line call.
15-15. "We move quicker in this game than real life," says Greg.
30-30. Tim's serving. Decent rally this time, and Greg wins it. Game point. "Nintendo's gone mad," my friend says.
30-30. Tim's serving. Decent rally this time, and Greg wins it. Game point. "Nintendo's gone mad," my friend says.
Advantage to Greg/Tim. Big rally. And the pros have it. "Do you want to see another game?" asks Gabby. YES.
30-0. "We're dominating" says Tim. Before missing a service return. And a few laughs and balls in the crowd later, the pros lose.
Laurent Fischer's back. Wii launch Europe details coming now, he says.
Launch titles: Wii Sports, Wii Play (the mini-games package with bundled Wii remote). Zelda...
WarioWare: Smooth Moves (just after launch).
Third-party: around 15-20 games from launch. Red Steel. Rayman. Need for Speed Carbon. Tony Hawk. Super Monkey Ball.
Date: 2006.
December 8th 2006.
EUR 249 / GBP 179
Bundles is white console, one Wii remote, one Nunchuck, Wii Sports.
Between 49 and 59 Euros for software. 34 for 39 pounds.
The enormous Wii software trailer reel shown on Nintendo's website is now playing, showing off many titles including Resi Evil, Zelda and countless others.
Iwata's back. He's inviting us to stand up and enter the demo area behind the stage. So that's it folks!
Comments (309)
Updating...Log in to comment on this livetext.
Ok, it's not a massively expensive console but it is more than I was expecting plus the release date is too close to the run up to Xmas, when I'll have the least amount of money.
I was really hoping for no bundled game and a ?150 price point, as for me ?180 is asking a little too much for the Wii, although I am happy with the ?34-?39 price point on games.
TBH Wii sports really doesn't appeal to me and if all consoles are bundled with it the trade in value for it will be poor, so this game will be virtually worthless.
I'll hold off buying a Wii now until next year and just get Twighlight Princess on the Cube. I've got enough games to keep me occupied for years so can quite happily wait for a price drop.
The Wii Watches are nice too.
Peej
I'll let the dust settle and then avoid any mistakes.
Early adoption has always left me feeling regretful, as i'm not a child anymore and have learnt the art of patience.
Oh yeah - I have less than no interest in playing 'wii sports' so i'll pass on that bundle. Oh wait they don'y give you a choice.
Want to try and support that assertion/strawman?
If not then piss off.
@Varsas: Well we'll see in a few years. If the Wii outsells the PS3 and Xbox 360 I will gladly admit I was wrong.
"Non-gamers" will simply think "Wow! This is easy!" Whether it works or not, depends purely on how easily the games really control. For example, from what we've heard, it looks like the next Zelda will actually be tougher to control than with a regular GC pad, while Wii Sports appears to be extremely simple.
- It has a wireless controller, which the 360 core does not.
- It comes bundled with a full game, which the 360 core does not.
- It comes with 512Mb of flash storage, which the 360 core requires, but it costs extra
- It's not the same speed as the 'Cube, it's 2.5x more powerful according to Nintendo
All this, and it costs ?20 less than the 360 core. Ok, it doesn't have hi-def support. Big deal. But I expect it'll look pretty good in 480p anyway.
This was defenitly expected, and I can't wait to try this baby out.
P.S I callout manic_mouse as a fanboy
People who have a descent PC have little interest in the Xbox 360.
The wii is like NO other consol before it.
Too late, you already do ;?)
Sounds like a reasonable price to me and will probably get one this christmas...
Any word of connectivity between Wii and DS been anounced lately?
EDIT: You're referring to my "you dislike Nintendo" comment; which I do apologise for but I certainly think my main points are valid.
Interesting point regarding the money program. When my parents and in laws came over they were very impressed by viewing holiday pictures from PC via 360 on the TV, but I would never imagine them buying a console for this facility.
The Wii however has the SD card slot enabling people to take the meory card straight out of the camera and view it on their TV.
These are both good bonus features but people buy consoles for the games not the added little bits.
That being said, it is the only place in town that offers this kind of gameplay and it does look fun! The channels look useful too. A good complement to the 'other console(s) of choice' I think.
True..but we're not at the mass market stage yet with the Wii. It's launch. we're dealing with the hardcore for the most part.
I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see Wii at ?149 around Easter.
Whether it'll work or not is a whole different question, but I don't really care 'cos I'm buying one anyway!
What mass-market appeal? You seriously believe that non-gamers are running out in droves to buy DS's? Because I doubt that is the case, especially considering the success of previous GameBoys.
I guess you're ignoring the figures that were also talked about in the press conference i.e. female gamers and older games are playing DS and in pretty good numbers too. Also the sustained sales of some games on DS show it's not just the core games market; again not the dominance of the DS games in sales charts especially Japan.
Yeah, the GBA was really successful so the GC was too. Right?
The handheld and home console markets are vastly different, as is Nintendo's position in both. Any comparisons are instantly null and void because of that.
Anyway, the PSP is significantly more expensive than the DS and it launched later. Not the case with the Core 360 compared to the Wii.
As has been mentioned by myself and others a straight comparison of Core 360 vs Wii is not really valid because of the difference in the bundles i.e. 360 lacks game memory, wirelss controller and game. Wrt PSP vs DS, DS stole a march on PSP BUT DS has continued to maintain better sales than PSP even after their price drop.
Look I get it, you dislike Nintendo and want to bury the Wii before it's released.
All I've been saying is that Wii certainly has a chance to do well citing the DS as an example. I'm not by any means saying it's a certainty but why dismiss it out of hand? As someone who just likes playing games and has been doing so for 22 years, I'm interested in Nintendo doing well.
What mass-market appeal? You seriously believe that non-gamers are running out in droves to buy DS's? Because I doubt that is the case, especially considering the success of previous GameBoys.
"On the face of it Wii games are cheaper to the mass market than 360 games, have this completely different control method (that is probably going to be a main draw) and the games will appeal more ala DS. "
"Casual" gamers care about PES, GTA and graphics. "Non-gamers" will not be prepared to shell out hundreds of pounds on a Wii, extra controlers and a few games.
"How many people who own games consoles do not have a DVD player? It does not matter imho "
Actually the BBC did a study into non-gamers intrest in the 360 as it was released when the Money Program did a show on it. Guess what they found out?
That "non-gamers" are not interested in games. The features of the 360 that appealed to them the most were the multi-media features (like DVD, music and photo playback) and they couldn't care less about games. By offering games, and nothing else, Nintendo are removing a justification for non-gamers to buy the Wii (ie: that it does more than games which, as non-gamers, they aren't all that interested in).
"
Look what people said about the PSP and DS. "
Yeah, the GBA was really successful so the GC was too. Right?
The handheld and home console markets are vastly different, as is Nintendo's position in both. Any comparisons are instantly null and void because of that.
Anyway, the PSP is significantly more expensive than the DS and it launched later. Not the case with the Core 360 compared to the Wii.
?155 price and everyone would be happy
Im not normally a grammar nazi, but thats gold right thar.
Anyway I cant be arsed constructing a reasoned argument, so here is a post of random bullet points.
- 360 games arent just ?39.99 on the net. they are ?39.99 everywhere except, strangely, dedicated game stores.
- Bargain has an A in it, goddamit!
- I was expecting ?150 for the bare bones console so ?180 with all the trimmings actually seems quite reasonable comparatively (also depending on the quality of Wii Sports (which still sounds like an east european porno.......)).
- The core to the Wii is a reasonable comparison to make as neither of them seem to come with any storage.
- However, for an extra ?20 you will be getting a console that is virtually guaranteed to have some games released over its life cycle, rather than one that dies a slow, painful death. But then, if all the people who are threatening to buy one actually do, this could be more popular than crack, so you never know.........
I find it hard to believe that this non-gamer market that Nintendo are after will be willing to shell out ?180 on the off chance that they might enjoy playing games.
Microsoft will drop the price on the 360 so that the core will be ?180 and then flood the TV with adverts mentioning HD and next gen gaming. I would also not be surprised if they drop the RRP of games to ?40.
Personally I don't think HD and Next Gen gaming adverts will appeal non-gamer market and it's true that ?180 is expensive for the off chance. It'll be interesting to see how Nintendo market it and how they are going to set up demo machines in store; this latter aspect is what will draw non gamers into it.
As mentioned earlier there is a hidden cost to getting a core Xbox and for anyone looking closely you can see that the bundle is better for Wii; obviously I'm ignoring the HD, next generation graphics part
For the vast majority of people this is true.
"those that don?t buy a Wii will buy a PS3 or 360 instead. "
Not all of them, no. But Nintendo have put themselves in direct competition with the core 360 at this price-point. There will, inevitably, be lost sales to the 360 because of that.
"a significant number of consumers who own either a PS3 or 360 will also buy a Wii"
Really? I would put an "in" before the "significant", since only hardcore gamers will be likely to buy (and support) more than one console.
"3rd parties will be (and already are) lining up behind the Wii because 1)it will likely offer higher profit margins, due to the aforementioned cheaper cost of development, 2)it will almost certainly have a large installed base very quickly. The result? Far more and varied games on the Wii."
Exactly like the GC, right? The same guff was said about it pre-release (I know, I bought one). Sure it didn't have an innovative control scheme, but it was more than competitive technically. Six of one, half a dozen of the other?
"I will put good money down on Nintendo selling (read SELLING not shipping) more units worldwide than the other two by the end of next year."
Really?
All electronic goods vendors factor in the projected cost of warranty repairs into their price calculations. This is one reason why Europe gets stuff more expensively then elsewhere.
In the US, a standard warranty is only 90 days, so US consumers on top of the retail price pay sales tax and have a crappy warranty to go with it.
In the UK a standard warranty is 12 months. I believe that in other parts of Europe it is even longer (24 months in Germany?).
Therefore, fixing stuff under warranty is much more expensive in Europe in general than it is elsewhere. To compensate for this, a percentage of the cost of warranty support is added to the RRP of each system.
I know this won't placate many how feel the price is too high, and see yet more evidence of Europe being treated worse than other regions, but like it or not, this *IS* one of reasons why consumer electronics in more expensive in Europe.
"I want an X-Box 360."
See what I mean? Nonsensical names for the win.
The RRP of PGR/PD0/Kameo was ?44.99 when they were released (and still is). But regardless
Wii games are ?10 cheaper than for 360 and at the same price as GC games; same development costs including additional Wiimote functionality?
?40 is still too expensive for games that cost a fraction of 360/PS3 games to make. And it's FAR too expensive for non-gamers, who are used to ?15 DVDs, to care about. The Wii was meant to tap into a new market of non-gamers, but it's priced too high for non-gamers to invest in.
Note the costs of DS games and it's mass market appeal; going on RRP you are looking at ?10 more than those games -> are non gamers going to quibble about that difference for a home console game?
On the face of it Wii games are cheaper to the mass market than 360 games, have this completely different control method (that is probably going to be a main draw) and the games will appeal more ala DS.
also think that the loss of DVD playback is a big blow for the Wii, especially since the Core 360 offers it out of the box.
How many people who own games consoles do not have a DVD player? It does not matter imho
I can't see the Wii outselling the PS3 or 360 at this rate.
Look what people said about the PSP and DS.
Personally I would have liked the Wii to be a bit cheaper, closer to ?150 but it should still do well imho. I guess you don't think or want that to be so.
To anyone who complains about the price then just shop around.. If it was available today then you could get a Wii online for ?152 delivered from a big UK retailer and get ?16 worth of points to spend instore.
you talk as if 1)people will only ever buy one console, and 2)those that don?t buy a Wii will buy a PS3 or 360 instead.
This is simlpy not the case. The majority of people who will buy the Wii will be people that would almost certainly not buy the other two. Secondly, a significant number of consumers who own either a PS3 or 360 will also buy a Wii. Thirdly, 3rd parties will be (and already are) lining up behind the Wii because 1)it will likely offer higher profit margins, due to the aforementioned cheaper cost of development, 2)it will almost certainly have a large installed base very quickly. The result? Far more and varied games on the Wii.
I will put good money down on Nintendo selling (read SELLING not shipping) more units worldwide than the other two by the end of next year. Nintendo shares (which have more than doubled since this time last year), here I come.
Microsoft will drop the price on the 360 so that the core will be ?180 and then flood the TV with adverts mentioning HD and next gen gaming. I would also not be surprised if they drop the RRP of games to ?40.
If they do this around the start of November then they will catch the parents attention before the Wii marketing sets in a couple of weeks before launch.
I like the Wii but I cannot justify paying that much for a laugh when my mates are round.
"Well, what I wanted was ?150, which is the US price +VAT. "
US price plus VAT is ?156 at todays rates. Then take into account extra distribution, logistic and language costs of Europe it is hardly an unexpected price is it?
They said in yesterday (US) conference that you have to pay extra for the Opera browser.
If MS drop the price of the core 360 before March to ?180 and the Premium to ?250, which they are almost certain to do, then the Wii hardware looks really over-priced. I also think that the loss of DVD playback is a big blow for the Wii, especially since the Core 360 offers it out of the box.
I can't see the Wii outselling the PS3 or 360 at this rate.
/smug mode on
"My prediction ?170 or ?180 - same pack as US (i.e. includes Wii Sports).
Wii-mote at ?30, Nun-chuk and classic controller at ?15 each.
Release 08/12/06."
/smug mode off
Its crossed that and now its a decisional purchase between that or a 360.
Considering it will be mostly parents buying for their kids they may feel they get better value for the extra ?20 buying a 360.
Ouch.
That's about ?159 for you lot.
*rubs hands*
Seriously, what the hell did you expect? "
Well, what I wanted was ?150, which is the US price +VAT.
What I expected was to get shafted in the manner that I have been.
Most crucially, this pushes it beyond what I can reasonably expect the folks to spend on me at Xmas, so it'll probably be a couple of 360 games instead while the Wii disappears into the void of the post xmas 'when I get round to it, they'll probably drop the price soon...'.
?180 is $334. Not a hard decision, is it?
Although I personally had held on to the idea of around ?150. I think it was important to come in under that.
Hell, it would have been better if they had ditched the game and put it out at ?150. A retail led bundle deal would still have worked out at around ?180, but you get to choose the title, but the console itself is still only ?150 - giving it a clear perceived value over the 360.
Yes, SCE has "usually" done well. The last year-18 months, however, has been anything smooth for them. Take it from a banker (who reads financial reports, analyst comments, etc), they are rather serious trouble. And again, I?m talking about the internal structure of the division and the Sony has a whole. The symptoms of this are a very public inability to a)uphold their QA, b)launch products on time, and (most importantly) c) a nose-diving equity price. Their debt (bonds, etc) is also being discounted as it is increasingly being viewed as of less value. Investors are starting to believe the company will default on financial obligations at some point in the near-mid term. All is certainly NOT rosy in Casa de Sony.
?150 + 17.5% (VAT) = ?176.25 so 179 is about right however It's pretty tempting to import one from France or Germany due to their slightly lower price.
Having said that after import from the USA + VAT + Customs is should still work out cheaper than the UK retail which makes it highly likley that I shall consider importing.
::edit:: edited for typo fixes and stuffs
I want a Wii to play Nintendo games; I have a 360 to play the odd Microsoft exclusive title and multi-format releases. I'll also be purchasing a PS3 in March for Sony exclusives and I'll then have the opportunity to buy whatever game on whichever format I desire.
Damn, I hope they realise that the US and Japanese consumers won't take it seriously, because it's about 130/110 quid in those places, respectively.
Jolly good for us though, over here it's no laughing matter at a sturdy ?179!
And then all of a sudden Nintendo dropped the price to 220....or something...
Could this happen again?
for you brits it would come in at ?149.99
It has happened before!...
In the US, tax is NOT included in a sale price, they add it on at the counter. So $250 is not the real price anyone will pay for a Wii in the US. Most states have around an 8% sales tax, meaning It will really cost you around $270.
In the EU, afaik, Tax is much higher than US tax and is INCLUDED in the sale price. So out of the 250 euros or 180 quid about a 5th to a Quarter goes to the government.
So in the UK, it's more like ?150-155 before tax.
Then you have to figure in our higher import taxes and higher costs to actually get them into the UK.
At every console or handheld launch people complain about the price, but if you were to import a foreign on, it would cost you the same after P+P, which is exactly why its that price in this country to start with
"VAT, I tell you, VAT."
Hehe, you can take over from me with the SLAPs too if you want
you thought wrong.
Misers.
Sorry but Nintendo's main function isn't to save y'all your precious pennies.
How are you gamers at all?
It ain't cheap y'know.
It's a good competitive price. A "bargain" console would not be taken seriously by the consumer.
Don't get me wrong, it will still sell like hotcakes; it's just a shame they didn't push the boat out a little.
Ironically, Sony's disappearance this Xmas might cost people some money on Wii /and or 360 HD Drive options. Competition is good!
What's the price of the wiimote and nunchuk? For reference 360 wireless controller RRP is ?33.
Are you joking - it's a new console with new technology - what do you expect?
Nintendo ain't a charity...
What do I expect? How about being charged the same as the rest of the world.
We get it last and get charged the most.
Europe gets screwed again"
VAT, I tell you, VAT.
Then again, for UK having a 15e higher price, I don't have any magical answers to.
SLAP!!!
Really? I know no people who buy their presents months before here in Finland. Well, maybe you're all crazy and odd elsewhere.
Europe gets screwed again
SCE has always done very well. Its true that other parts of Sony haven't done so well, in fact I recall some layoffs a good few motnhs ago from other parts of the corp. But when comparing game companies (especially important given that games is all Ninty does) I think its important to keep things in context.
Well done Microsoft, you've won Europe with a affordable real next gen console. Nintendo pricing there Wii in the same price bracket as a core 360 is a kick in the face for Wii fans.
And yes you get Wii sports but who wants that crap.
The core 360 doesn't come with HD graphics either..unless you buy the right cable thus increasing the price difference.
No QA.
Practically No Infomation eg
how many units for this teritory?
Zelda GC release date?
Prepheral pricing?
VC pricing?
Seems indeed that the UK is f*cked over when compared to...well the rest of the planet...
Am I glad to be in Italy...
TAX TAX TAX
TAAf'kinAAXXX
Do you people not get it? How many posters have to mention tax before people stop ranting about $=?.
Jeesus, its like reality TV in here or something.
then you clearly dont read the news. Sony are bleeding money left right and centre. Yes, they are still making a profit overall, but their share price is tumbling and they are due for a rating downgrade, which will make the cost of borrowing (and thus funding their business) all the more expensive. If they don?t shape up within the next 6 months (and I?m not just talking of the PS3, although that is a very visible symptom of their internal ailments), things are going to begin get very bumpy from them.
Games are also CHEAPER.
I know what market Nintendo is going after and it appears to be me.
"I blame Sony if Ninty had to compete against the PS3 there is no doubt it'd of been ?150. "
Now I've seen it all. You are blaming the cost of a company's product on a competitor not having a product at market at the same time?
Oh thats funny, really it is.
Yeh! Just like the Gamecube in the UK. By the way, do they still make games for that.
Really? Thats news to me.
It shouldn't be. Almost every division of Sony has a vested interest in PS3, they're more or less in turmoil across the board outside games.
It's pretty well certain that the Xbox360 is going to come with bundled game/s this winter. The Wii doesn't come with any powerful CPU or HD graphics. For heavens sake it can't even play a DVD movie. It's just a Gamecube+. The Xbox360 will have many more games available for it and a lot of them cheaper than Wii games. In the last week the Xbox360 has had several good games out e.g. Dead Rising and Test Drive Unlimited. The Xbox360 has all this, a first rate online service and is only ?20 more expensive than the Wii. Whose to say Microsoft won't knock ?20 off the price of the Xbox360 and then it would get interesting. Anyway, at ?179 the Wii is by far the worst value for money console due out.
Nintendo has basically priced at a level that will a)sell like hot cakes and b)turn them a healthy profit. I fail to see how that is bad business practice.
why? games would be cheaper.. there not. console would be cheaper it's not...
nintendo should have gone for a euro 199 price point and euro 39.99 for a game...
now it just has an outdated console with a cool controller priced at 25% of the price of the console... this just won't work for me
I'll tell you why: Tax. Correct me if I am wrong, but 25% VAT is common in Europe. the pre-tax price in Europe is actually (250 euro/1.25 = ) 200 euro = $250. exactly the same as the US price (which doesn't include tax).
A console is not an "impulse buy" ffs...
A bag of crisps maybe, but not a console.
Personally I can wait till Metriod Prime 3 and a Black one is released but I could change my mind if they release a solo console
Which class would that be?
How about you swap the LOL for a link to some facts about SCE's financial situation and I'll take you seriously.
Misers
360 core pack is ?200, the Wii is ?170.
Before people say the core pack doesn't count, yes it does, the Wii doesn't have a HDD either.
But it's mainly the price of the games that has me worried. Are people totally new to gaming really going to shell out ?40 for a game? You could have a daytrip in Paris for that much, which is the kind of thing they're going to compare it to.
Nintendo might have originally planned to get everyone interested in consoles through the Wii, but pricing like that is just going to ruin those plans.
Are my eyes not working or something? 360 games cost ?50 rrp. Wii games will cost between ?34 and ?39 according to the article.
Because unlike Sony and MS, Nintendo don't have other sources of income away from gaming?
LOL, I hope your joking. I recommend paying attention in class!
Little johnny can get a games machine with a game and online stuff with no extra to pay for a fairly cheap price.
Even with the 360 core package, to get a game, and to get online, etc etc.. does cost a heck of a lot more!
The fact the core Xbox package is practically worthless won't cross a lot of parent's minds.
Really? Thats news to me.
Games the same price as 1st party 360 games?
It's like Nintendo don't want to do well. I wonder how good the Wii price is going to look after the 360 price-cut that's bound to come after Christmas? It already looks like a rip-off in comparison.
Seriously, what the hell did you expect?
This is all good to me.
Especially the 2006 release.
Thats why Sony are in so much finacial trouble
Because their console costs a lot less to make and they believe that people will buy the console at this price, regardless of the fact that their console is not as advanced as the competition.
The market will show if they are correct or not when the Wii is released.
Some might call that a good thing...
Although that was the top end of what I was willing to pay to be an early adopter.
?179 = ?39600
?179 = ?265
Looks like the UK got screwed again.
Released just after my birthday as well
/is used to ?25 for PC games when they launch
Are you joking - it's a new console with new technology - what do you expect?
Nintendo ain't a charity... "
The GC was ?129 at launch.
Because they have a different business plan? Sony and MS aren't selling at a loss for your benefit mate.
WTF?!
Erm, how is that VERY expensive??
Gaming is an expensive hobby. And you're all quibbling over price.
It is a good price.
You can't underprice things or it devalues them in the eyes of the consumer.
And a console is not an impulse buy ffs...
However, if I had the choice of a next-gen console with fantastic hi-def graphics or a console with games barely graphically better than the GameCube, I'd go for the Xbox 360 core system which is only ?20 more, and likely cheaper by Christmas...
Of course, I already own a 360 so it's a mute point for me but even so I'd imagine it puts Nintendo almost directly in competition now with the Xbox 360 whereas if it'd been under ?150 it wouldn't have. I cannot see why the machine couldn't have been sold at the same pricepoint at the GameCube originally: ?129. It using technology that's pretty much five years old bar the controller.
I bought the cube and rogue squadron for that price...
I think it's right...
The Europe section of the http://www.wii.com kicked into life moments ago
What new technology? The remote?
Nintendo ain't a charity...
Nor are Sony or MS, yet they are selling their consoles at a huge loss. Why don't Ninty, at the very least, sell it at manufacturing costs?
Its all very well whining that the console costs ?179 instead of ?159, but a few games later and you have already saved the money back compared to if the game prices rrp has been ?50.
Get some perspective.
The RRP of game on Gamecube is ?39.99, so Wii games are no more expensive.
Yay! But not available on Amazon yet...
One hunndreddd and eiggghtttt-yyyy.
That's not really an impulse buy price - no wonder they'll be making a profit right from day one.
Well assuming the game is worth 40 quid, then that's only a tener more than gamecube was.
(Who am I kidding? I already pre-ordered it!)
Looks like i'll be getting the Japanese version now.
I really don't want to pay over ?150 and I imagine without the game, the cost could have been kept below that magic number.
Are you joking - it's a new console with new technology - what do you expect?
Nintendo ain't a charity...
249 Euros with Wii Sports...in one word: DISAPPONTING!
Anyway, ?179 for a bundle, I am not sure whether that is good or not
OUCH!!
Is it melting down?
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/7
32/73273...
That's why Cooking Mama exists!
Oh wait...
And they haven't even announced it yet.
Geez...
Link, por favor.
All they need now is a cooking and cleaning game and the list is complete!
Hmm, actually no, there's still something missing from that list, but I'm almost sure big N would not step in and fill that gap
Edit: SEGA, on the other hand, could be on to something special with their Rub IP
The arrogance is mindblowing, and it's even more mindblowing that they never get called on it.
Woohoo!
Oh...
So at a UK press conference he's saying we can all learn English on the DS? Master stroke!
All they need now is a cooking and cleaning game and the list is complete!
"However I honestly think that pricing the games the same as 1st party 360 games is sheer folly on Nintendos part. The production values are going to be worlds apart."
cost of development != development values. Indeed, one could argue with some conviction that the two are inversely related.
Have they been booted?
If you guys are reading this and get the chance, can you find out if Gamecube games played via BC are also region-free?
Also, what is the extent of the Gamecube controllers (specifically the WaveBird) support? The Gamecube games only? For Wii? The VC games?
If they have, can you take some photos?
I have never seen a girl with a wii before !!!
OooooooooooooooooH, Saucer of milk to table 3
Maybe the Wii can teach them to play tennis.
No, doubt waiting to try out Wii Tennis! LOL
btw, all NoE sites are down...
I bought a GC, which was fairly state of the art at the time, on launch for ?130. Anything more for the Wii is too much for me to stomach, given the lack of HD especially.
However I honestly think that pricing the games the same as 1st party 360 games is sheer folly on Nintendos part. The production values are going to be worlds apart.
.... don't piss in me mouth.
That?s 160 pounds and 237euros.
Source Kotaku.com
It's slowing things down to a crawl! This is like being on dial up.
Check this link:
http://www.n-europe.com/news.php
?nid=9573
That was 10 mins ago, and no more updates - presume they were caught
12:42:54 We have been thrown out as we didn't want to switch off our laptop.
I'll pass, Nintendo. And at those prices you can kiss the "untapped non-gamer-market" goodbye as well."
My sentiments exactly. Could clean up with the fan-boys selling at that price, and then drop it in months time for the casuals.
Wish they'd made it properly region-free though.
lolz
what! can't we just enjoy a comfortable silence together.
you jabadabba trash talker you
But it seems Nintendo are too greedy to do what they promised, given that the Wii is likely to cost almost as much as a 360 and the games cost nearly as much as 360 games (and the same in many cases).
?170+ for a GC 1.5? ?40 for Wii games?
I'll pass, Nintendo. And at those prices you can kiss the "untapped non-gamer-market" goodbye as well.
PS:this site can't handle all the interest.
Eurogamer dies.
Seats should have filled up before 12 o'clock
could happen tho.
(sorry for the an hour comments the sites going weird on me)
What? What is it?
EDIT: NVM, high web traffic.
And Colonel Mustard said he discovered the body of Dr Black at the bottom of the stairs, but was in the conservatory when he said he saw Miss Scarlet in the Library....
o-o
Maybe they want to explain all the spin to people before they go out and write their reports.
"I'll be disappointed if it comes in above ?149...."
I think you are going to be disappointed. I don't mind as long as games are no higher than ?40 as promised. Got this nagging suspicion we are going to be shafted on game costs.
It's not even started and it's a farce.
Nice Serenity reference there, Tom
I will laaaauuugh and laaaauuuuuuugh if it turns out to be March.
I suppose not lol
Otherwise I might have to do some work instead.
That's a great move, stopping journalists from bringing reporting devices into press conferences. Maybe they should stop drivers from bringing cars to motor races?
What on earth do they have to hide? Surely they would want what they say to be reported as widely as possible?
/fingers crossed
Ugh-oh.
Don't your say fucking March Nintendo, don't you dare!!!!
/growls.
Does security understand the term "press conference"?
Curse you Hype Curse you to hell!!
Wii-mote at ?30, Nun-chuk and classic controller at ?15 each.
Release 08/12/06.
I'm hoping they will bundle with a fully wired scart lead..which would be far more useful for the majority of gamers.
Damn hype.
Doh, they spotted me >_>
?115 and in UK stores before Christmas!
Metro, Sept 15 Edition, PP8
Bring toblerone please.
Ah well, at least I'll have all the info I need when I get back
By the way: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, FIND OUT NON-EURO PRICES (GBP and Swedish Crowns mainly).
It's terrible that they always miss that, and then use it as an opportunity to add on 100-200 SEK (7-14 quid). It happened with both the DS and the PSP, and it stinks.
hopefully... no march date. PLEASE PLEASE DECEMBER YO