E-mail:
Password:
GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Nintendo: Wii < $250

Mario factory announces price point (sort of), says six million units in channel by March 2007.
By Phil Elliott, Staff, 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 will soon release details on the Virtual Console, and "exact launch dates." Nintendo's wording of the "launch dates" is ambiguous--it could refer to Wii games alone, or it could mean a staggered launch of the system, or both. Regardless of when the launch happens, the publisher said it expects to ship 6 million consoles before the end of March 2007, 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, and will cost up to $599 for the top-end model.

Sign up now to post a comment on this story!

983 Comments

First to Last Latest
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...20
« prevnext »
CampusVoice

If it wasn't selling so darn well maybe we could get a price drop sometime this decade.

-----signature-----
buy upcoming nintendo wii games online

Posted Jan 30, 2008 9:36 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
gigabrowser12

Wait, what does this have to do with new super mario bros?

Posted Feb 18, 2007 6:40 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
S_Griffen

The wii sounds great...

Posted Sep 23, 2006 6:31 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
immortalcyrax

muuust geeeeettttt wiiiii

Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:44 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Merovingin33

hmmm ill have to keep a close eye on this info

Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:26 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Epic_alchemist

Im glad to see that someone out there likes to keep there prices resonable.

Posted Aug 19, 2006 1:24 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Justlink619

shooot! 250 dollars for or less thats a bargain for a system that has wireless abillties and Super Smash online!

Posted Aug 5, 2006 11:01 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
jtnhl11

hope its 199.99 that would be so awesome

Posted Aug 4, 2006 8:29 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
trabracha

How in the name of everything that is good and holy can you think that $250 is pushing it? I won't argue that PS and XBOX are good, but this price range is going to sway many fans back from the dead. I personally think that $600 is pushing it.

Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:08 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
matsonpp

excellent, i don't have to break the bank with crazy 500-600$ consoles.

Posted Jul 25, 2006 7:59 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
senorjoeyo

Gimme a wii (revolution name was so much better) two remotes with numchucks and a game for £180-210 and Im laughing.

PS- Im so sick of the assumption that Nintendo is just for little kids, If people wern't so wrapped up in what is cool and uncool they would see that aslong as a game is fun to play then nothing else matters.

Posted Jul 21, 2006 2:40 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Spectre_Ops

The reason that the GameCube didn't do as well was due to Nintendo's poilcy of not liking very violent games, which turned many gamers away. That's why Sega came out on top of the SNES in the sales of Mortal Kombat. Nintendo didn't allow blood in its version, which was a main selling point.... Back to GmaeCube. Later on though, when games such as Metroid Prime, Zelda, and Resident Evil 4, started coming out, I realized the GameCube wasn't that bad. Now, since great games such as Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Metroid Prime 3 are coming out very close to launch, I think older Nintendo fans that loved those series, but didn't buy a GameCube will buy a Wii. I was already going to buy a Wii and that be it, mainly due to pricing, but I think I can last 3 more years playing great Nintendo series games and the Virtual Console, as long as Nintendo can put out good games with all of our favorite characters.

Posted Jul 20, 2006 7:22 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
CheeseSack89

i believe the price is incredibly reasonable. The company must always think of the consumer. IMO a younger child's parents are less likely to buy them a console priced $400-$600. The Wii seems to be promising, with alot of platform launch titles (Zelda, Metroid, Mario). Really, I think the controller will be as successful as the average video gamer is with the controller. It is innovative and it took balls. I have deserted Nintendo since the N64 which I never truly liked but I think I may be purchasing the Wii now. IMO Gamecube just didn't have it. No internet play, no DVD playback, uncomfortable controller. But that's just me. I don't think Sony is going to do well simply because of price. But hey, I'm no expert.

Posted Jul 16, 2006 2:38 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
timo7781

if u complain about $250 for the wii then i guess u wont buy any upcoming system since even the xbox360 is not as good as the wii and is more expsensive, mabey even the PS3 will not be as good as the wii and its more than twice the price, this is the best deal u gonna get

Posted Jul 14, 2006 8:56 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
kingofgames4000

YES good price BETTER then the other two...lol

nice going nitendo

Posted Jul 8, 2006 1:23 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
CUDCUD

i want wii now or i cut my wrists or maybe i'll just cry either way i want it now!

Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:52 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Dudeflameboy

Im glad the price was that i had 400 dollars saved up just for that ! Nintendo is going to chang game play once again and its going to be great.....I heard there was going to be a sports bundle but im not shure if its a reliable sorce if you are intrested in watching some cool videos u should go to youtube.com and do a search on either Nintendo Revolution of Nintendo Wii boath work : )

Posted Jun 10, 2006 5:34 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Areon7

Yeah...Boi.......!!!!!! much better than the other two

Posted Jun 7, 2006 11:31 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Alex_14

I would like to see a firm $200, but $250 fine. Plus, in less than a year that price will go down to $200 probably

Posted Jun 7, 2006 8:25 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
uk132002

The price is good caus here in the UK in comes down to 103 pounds which is a steal. what im looking forward too is both the controller and being able to download classic NES/SNES games. Nintendo are the second best company. (1. Playstation, 2. Nintendo, 3. Xbox).

Posted Jun 7, 2006 5:47 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
sonicphoto

250 or less is nice and perhaps too low for something that is totally different gameplay to the other consoles that only improve graphics.

Posted Jun 6, 2006 4:13 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bbgamemaster

50 bucks who cares
less than a day of work

Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:52 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
--MasterLink--

Sweet, less than $250 is a good deal.

Posted Jun 5, 2006 4:05 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
GMCTrucks

Nintendo is so nice!!!

Posted Jun 5, 2006 3:35 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
nenolen

I'll pay the $250 if I don't see any of the $60 a game crap.

Posted Jun 5, 2006 7:40 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Unleashed666

$250.00 not bad

Posted Jun 4, 2006 7:54 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
thumbnails

how much will it be in Canada?

Posted Jun 4, 2006 2:26 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Tromboner_08

I don't understand how you guys/gals can gripe about a $250 price point. For the top end 360 it's $400 and for the PS3 it's $600. It's between $150 and $350 cheaper than it's opposition. I truly think with the controller and price point it will have the highest initial sales of any console. After seeing this I may buy a Wii first....

Posted Jun 4, 2006 10:22 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
sithlordmaikel

when are you gonna come with specs of the wii!!!!

Posted Jun 4, 2006 7:38 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
alpha_company

Yeah....that's good. Unlike some other next gen console.....SONY!!!!... I'm disappointed

Posted Jun 3, 2006 11:41 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bugexe

I think you missed the mark BladePenguin. Xbox was not a weak system at all. Xbox 360 will probaably get killed yes, but don't go saying that Gamecube was all the and a bag of chips. Gamecube was nearly a flop because it didn't give the gamers the good games they wanted for the most part. Don't go bashing Xbox for no reason buddy, because its still really popular and not weak at all.

Posted Jun 3, 2006 9:23 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
BladePenguin

First who cares if the xbox drops

Xbox is a crappy system in the first place...

Ps3 and Wii will kill it after so meh.

Id pay 310$ (Canadian) To be able to play Super Smash bros Brawl.

Its not a solid 250$ so why do people say its pushing it when the price is not fully decided, It's still a range.

Aswell is the fact that just because Wii is cheaper then the other systems, doesnt mean it's weaker.
For the Most Part Xbox was the weakest system for gameplay. Ps2 and GC gave us more, GC being more innovative even for years.

So Conclusion
Dont complain about Wii, Insult Xbox, and Dont complain about ps3 either

Posted Jun 3, 2006 7:21 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bugexe

Anybody who says the price is pushing it should be flamed.

Posted Jun 2, 2006 11:07 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Ninjitsu_Gamer

Who's going to want an Xbox 360 core system? Plus, even if the 360 drops $100, when the Wii does the same, it will be cheaper.
A 250 STARTING Price is not pushing it compared to $300, $400, $500, and $600 starting prices. It is a friggin' STARTING PRICE.

Posted Jun 2, 2006 9:32 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
viperfang101

As long as the price is around $200-$250, I'll be happy. Wii Hii!

Posted Jun 2, 2006 8:02 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
swirskytheman

Come on now you are just taking advantage of the people

Posted Jun 2, 2006 5:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
darthzew

This is pushing it. While still a rumor (all of the others have come true), the 360 will drop in price by $100 dollars. You'd pay 200 for the core package and get a much better system.

Posted Jun 2, 2006 5:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
keitaro0516

Hellooooooooooooooo Beautyfull!!!!!! finale nintendo's rebirth
innovation against power same technique that the ds against psp!!!!!!

Posted Jun 2, 2006 3:05 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
darksniperdrago

definitely getting it now

Posted Jun 2, 2006 1:19 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
AsadMahdi59

how much can u sell a gamecube for at gamestop?

Posted Jun 2, 2006 1:19 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
AsadMahdi59

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Posted Jun 2, 2006 1:17 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
swirskytheman

250!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOO MUCH IM BUYING A PS3 LOL

Posted Jun 2, 2006 12:26 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bugexe

Well said drksamus101

Posted Jun 2, 2006 11:43 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
drksamus101

$250 in itself is a damn well reasonable price
and under $250 could only mean good things
even the previous generation playstation and xbox were realeased at higher prices than that
$300 to be exact

remember, sony is the cheap company
not nintendo
nintendo is going to make any price worth a consumer's time and wallet

Posted Jun 2, 2006 11:27 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
levin_tureno

I don't really know what to think. I guess since the rest of the Nintendo consoles were $199.99, they'll lower the price. But, one way or another, I'm getting it!!

Posted Jun 2, 2006 10:18 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
3233945424

TO LOW $250 I EXPECT $350 AT LEAST

Posted Jun 2, 2006 8:41 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Goldthumb

Oh my god i have been waiting for so long to find out the pricing for the Wii. I nearly crapped my pants when i saw what the pricing might be. I'm happy about it because i all ready paid $100 on it already so i am pretty good right now. Shoot i'm almost there if they keep the ranging under or exact of $250.

Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:15 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...20
« prevnext »
advertisement

Story Tags

News Features

Featured Stories

E3 2008: SCEA unveils $399 80GB PS3, God of War III

Sony's press conference sees SCEA president Jack Tretton reveal Resistance for PSP and MAG, an all-new massive action game from Zipper Interactive; PS3 video store launching tonight; full video inside.
Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:31 am PT

Newsmakers

E3 2008: Video Q&A: Carmack on 'one-game' id-EA deal

Legendary Doom founder, id lead designer Tim Willits, and EA Partners GM David DeMartini talk to GameSpot about how Electronic Arts became Rage's publisher.
Posted Jul 14, 2008 10:47 pm PT

Related Companies