Wii Price

[Hogrod]

Im gonna get flamed for this one,

But if you want a cheap affordable console that is fun and suitable for the kids, then why not just get one of those "Tele Gamestation"s for like R300 bucks? IMO I really do see the wii as the same base idea, its mainly retro style games with a gimmick controller, sure the graphics are a little better okay much better but if its for the little ones or "just for fun" then the graphics dont matter right? Ps Wario Wares graphics are pretty much 16bit!

Maybe I just dont get the wii? And no I havent tried it, but I really feel that the control is a gimmick, sure its fun at first but I think the novelty will wear off pretty fast and you will be left wanting something more, but then again maybe thats cos I prefer realistic looking, "hardcore" games.

Don't worry I only found your post a wii bit annoying...

It's about whatever floats your boat. Either its a Wii or let's say an Xbox. An Xbox just never appealed to me and the Wii has. Who knows the Wii may leave me wanting more and I'll end up purchasing an Xbox. Time and product/games developments will tell.

 

[abev]

If the wii leaves you wanting more, then do the sensible thing and go the Sony route, you wont regret it

 

[noxibox]

The Wii is not too expensive elsewhere because they are keeping it cheaper than their competition. It is being sold at a premium price in South Africa.

There is a good reason Nintendo have set the price as they have elsewhere. If it were so much more fun and everyone would just buy it regardless of price they could have set the price at $400 and made even bigger profits. Hell why stop there. It's so much fun they should have made it more expensive than the PS3. The Wii's got motion control and more fun. Hardcore gamers are the people who spend a king's ransom on games and hardware, not the general consumer.

What might make the Wii take off here is that there are multiple mods for it. They won't sell many games, but they will sell crates of consoles.

The Wii offers fun right now. Not more fun though, just fun. And right now I'm not convinced it isn't short-term fun.

a reconditioned device is irrelevant

A reconditioned device?

its about the product not about how many penny sweets I could have bought

For the target market, the casual and non-gamer, especially in South Africa, the price may well make all the difference. In the UK both the console and the games are much cheaper than the competition. It's an easy choice for someone buying a toy for the children.

When people like my parents, who had far less money than I do, shop for things like this they have to weigh up the use it is likely to get, the cost of the games and the longevity. My parents would have gone with either a 360 Core or a PS2. Most likely a PS2 because it offers a lot of fun for all ages and the best overal price. It even has longevity because there is a huge game catalogue. If there were no PS2, the Core would win. There's a decent market of cheap pre-owned games, it is cheaper than the Wii and it will offer good performance further into the future.

If I felt like blowing three grand on a toy I'll play with extensively for a short time I'd buy a Wii right now, but as it stands I'll leave it. If I do decide to buy one any time soon, I'll be getting an NTSC version - console and games are cheaper.

I wonder if Core will make the DS more expensive than the PSP?

 

[doobiwan]

You say its excessive. Fair enough your opinion but why is it excessive to you? What are you basing that statement on? More legs? I base mine on more fun.

ppl are writing its 'its too expensive'...but why? I don't see it that way and I'd like someone to at least give me an idea why you think its expensive. ...

You're 100% right, which is why the Wii's been successful, but at the same time why comparing it to the HD consoles is somewhat pointless, it's like trying to compare Motobikes to Cars, it just doesn't work.

Gamers who enjoy typical games are put off by the fact that for that sort of game, the Wii hardware has not evolved to support advances in things like physics, graphics, AI etc. So the perspective is different. The Wii represents a shallow gimmicky take on gaming, buuuut . . .

10Million+ people have said "WTF is HD anyway, this is fun!" and haven't looked back. good for them and good for Nintendo. To a lot of those customers Video games were completely foreign - Accessibility is worth a fortune, just look at the iPod.

 

[noxibox]

10Million+ people have said "WTF is HD anyway, this is fun!" and haven't looked back. good for them and good for Nintendo. To a lot of those customers Video games were completely foreign - Accessibility is worth a fortune

To what extent is that because the price is also accessible?

 

[doobiwan]

Sure, but it's relative. $250 to an American is a lot less than R2900, even R2500 to a South African.

 

[demon angel]

I love Wii, but who enjoyed Gamecube?
Ultimately for all consoles it boils down to games.
Take away the controllers and ask yourself this question...
Did you enjoy Nintendo's previous consoles?
If not then i suggest you stay away. As a Nintendo fan
its definately (In the long term) for the gamer who whips out
the ps2 or megadrive on occasion and appreciates the game
regardless of MHZ,MIPS OR RAM!
Remember that with wii comes an asskicking back catelog of games...Mariokart 64,Mario 64.....DROOLING!
Final Thought....
In the midst of global warming, save power guys, buy a Wii!
Have you seen the power consumption ratio?
I LOVE IT!
ESKOM LOVES IT TOO!

 

[lived666]

I am ordering a wii from the USA - ntsc and all - mainly because the games will be a lot cheaper and better selection, plus the landed price after express air freight and customs is about R2500 - which is still R500 cheaper than the local price.

By the way, which accessories should I order with the wii - how many controllers does it come with? I will be getting the dance fusion game and mat also, girl child requested it!

 

[abev]

You remember that ad for chicken where it tasted so good cos it ate so good? Well the Wii sells so good cos it sells so good. Yep.

The Wii has become a fad, the initial cheap price meant that a lot of people picked it up because well if it failed it didnt matter as they hadnt spent a lot. Then it turned out to be fun, and a few more people bought it but soon people began buying it because thats what everyone else was doing, it is a fad and IMO it lacks the serious long term staying power, especially with all the reports on the crappy games.
I think this christmas will see the Wii sell a few million more consoles, but I think next year the Wii will start to slow down and then just drop off the map.

 

[useless]

Regardless if it flops later in 2008 the Wii has rocked the so called next-gen console market simply by being a fun console without the need for HD or digital audio. Ninty has for a change made a profit and put its name into the history books once again.

 

[Fudzy]

You remember that ad for chicken where it tasted so good cos it ate so good? Well the Wii sells so good cos it sells so good. Yep.

Sells so good cos they play so good?

 

[Chevron]

andytl5, Look here for my argument as to why the Wii and it's games are too expensive here. Make sure to read the entire thread please.

 

[doobiwan]

Regardless if it flops later in 2008 the Wii has rocked the so called next-gen console market simply by being a fun console without the need for HD or digital audio. Ninty has for a change made a profit and put its name into the history books once again.

Exactly. And if interest starts to drop, at e3 they simply announce wii HD or Wiii for 2009. By then midrange graphics will be comparable to the HD consoles and will cost a third of what it did to include it 2 years ago, ie they can sell it without loss. They then enter the "next-gen" race on an equal technical footing as the other, still only at $250, but having 2 years of profits driving them, while the other two are just getting going.

So I'm waiting for my Wii HD before I get on that boat

 

[Hogrod]

andytl5, Look here for my argument as to why the Wii and it's games are too expensive here. Make sure to read the entire thread please.

Read thanks.

I understand the point that if you compare the UK pricing between consoles it is different to the pricing between consoles here. I can't explain that other than it being a more competitive market. Play.com sell a wii for £179.99 and amazon.co.uk sell it for over £200. That's competition and Core have none hence the price fixing.

I think its important to note that the wii has been available for longer in the UK than here. Prices have dropped, competition increased and the availability of 2nd hand products have increased which explains the varying prices of the Wii across several UK stores.

Core are the only ones bringing it here, they will bend the market over backwards before giving any kind of price drop. For all we know the retailers could be price fixing with each other. It's odd that each store appears to charge the same prices as the other. It's almost as if they are not interesed in competiting with each other or simply can't because Core have fixed the profit margins.

As with any new item it will come down in price but don't expect that for a while. We've seen prices drop with other consoles which have been around much longer than the Wii in this country.

Lack of competition, Core are the monopoly. I'm all for lower prices. However, I doubt Core will see it your way. You see it with buying new cars, cars are cheaper in the UK, people have more buying power. Here cars are more expensive and our money is worth less, yet we still keep buying them like its going out of fashion. I'm not surprised Core are trying to cash in.

 

[Chevron]

It's funny you mention cars. Did you know that it's cheaper to buy a south african made car in Australia and importing it here than buying that same car here?

It's about taxes. Plain and simple. SA taxes on cars are a lot higher than other countries.

With regards to the Wii and Core you're right. Core are taking us for a ride.

 

[Geriatrix]

It's odd that each store appears to charge the same prices as the other. It's almost as if they are not interesed in competiting with each other or simply can't because Core have fixed the profit margins.

I did see one for R3000 at Top CD compared to R2899 at Musica.

 

[Hogrod]

I did see one for R3000 at Top CD compared to R2899 at Musica.

Cool, must say I'm glad I missed that 'special' price.

 

[abev]

Incidently car sales have taken a major knock over the past few weeks

 

[LandyMan]

Incidently car sales have taken a major knock over the past few weeks

Can you say "Major strike costing the industry R400m"

 

[noxibox]

I understand the point that if you compare the UK pricing between consoles it is different to the pricing between consoles here. I can't explain that other than it being a more competitive market. Play.com sell a wii for £179.99 and amazon.co.uk sell it for over £200. That's competition and Core have none hence the price fixing.

I think its important to note that the wii has been available for longer in the UK than here. Prices have dropped, competition increased and the availability of 2nd hand products have increased which explains the varying prices of the Wii across several UK stores.

After doing some checking it looks like the RRP is in fact £179.99 in the UK and has been since it was launched. I don't know where Amazon are getting their price or who would be stupid enough to pay it when it is cheaper everywhere else.

For all we know the retailers could be price fixing with each other. It's odd that each store appears to charge the same prices as the other. It's almost as if they are not interesed in competiting with each other or simply can't because Core have fixed the profit margins.

It could just as easily be the manufacturers. I know for instance that companies like Denon and Yamaha prohibit their official outlets, regardless of country, from giving customers any discount on their products, never mind going as far as advertising lower prices. They absolutely do not want retailers competing on price.

You see it with buying new cars, cars are cheaper in the UK, people have more buying power. Here cars are more expensive and our money is worth less, yet we still keep buying them like its going out of fashion. I'm not surprised Core are trying to cash in.

For a long time cars were much more expensive in the UK compared to the continent. The same still applies to things like Levi jeans. Levi even took legal action to stop shops from importing the jeans themselves and undercutting the official channel.

I think anyone who really must have a Wii should go the importing route. Just bypass Core and their silly prices.