Rumor Control
Source: The contest rules and regulations for a new 7-11 giveaway by way of Nintendo fan site Infendo.
The official story: See below. 
What we heard: Gamers slurping down Big Gulps, Big Bites, or other economy-sized junk food may have noticed something peculiar at their local 7-11. The convenience chain is giving away 711 Nintendo Wiis as part of a promotion with its Slurpee frozen drinks.
Checking out the contest's official rules and regulations is likely to induce gamers to do their own big gulp. In the list of prizes and their values, the site shows the Wii as having an ARV (approximate retail value) of $299.99, or CA$399.99.
"November 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007 the following Instant Prizes will be available to be won: (711) Nintendo Wii, ARV: $299.99 USD ($399.99 CDN) each..."
Nintendo hasn't yet released an official price for the system, but it has gone on record as saying the system would sell for less than $250. In dealing with a contest such as this, it would seem that a committed partnership would be intact, and the lines of communication would be open. To grossly misquote a price by 20 percent seems a bit odd.
Infendo goes on to speculate that the Wii that 7-11 is giving away may actually be a package deal, bundled with a game. While that makes sense, it's unlikely. Contest rules and regulations have to be airtight, with prizes and rules written out plainly.
The other prizes in the contest appear to be spot-on with their "approximate retail value," including the 512MB iPod Shuffle at $69. Could Nintendo be planning on raising the price of the system now that it appears to be a hot-ticket item? Unlikely. The sub-$250 price announcement was made after E3, when the Wii's buzz swelled into mainstream media. Putting the console at just under $300 would cause an uproar among gamers.
It's almost certain that the Wii will come in under $250, lest Nintendo would feel the wrath of bitter consumers. The likely scenario can be summed up by a line from the chain-gang supervisor in Cool Hand Luke. "What we have here is a failure to communicate." Nintendo may have just suffered a case of brain freeze and didn't get the proper information to 7-11's corporate office.
Attempts to reach Nintendo for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
Bogus or not bogus?: A Wii for $299? Likely bogus--7-11 is probably just inflating the total ARV of the contest's prizes.
7-11 got it twisted. Nintendo's not about to alienate gamers who are excited about their new console with a 'price jump'. Besides the Canadian dollar amount is way off, the difference between the CAN and US dollar is only 10 cents. Thats only another 36 bucks or so, not $100!!
Though SONY wins my "favorite consoles ever" contest hands down, I don't think that Nintendo is evil, and will want to remain loyal to thier fans and give them a great system at a great price. But, I can definitely see the value of the Wii being around $300, even if they were only planning on a $250 or less release. If it were up to me, the Wii'd be $300, so it isn't something beyond reason, either.
Every contest gives an ARV, (appoximate retail value), for merchandise giveaways, and they always give a higher dollar amount when listing. There is no way the base unit will be more than 250.00. I'm guessing it will launch at around 200.00.
im still buying a Wii!^_^
PS3 COST TO MUCH XBOX 360 HAS NOTHING SPECIAL CEPT XBOX 360 LIVE WII HAS IT ALL GANGSTA CONTROLER BEST LAUNCH TITLES EXPERIANCE UP THE A** AND TO MAKE IT SHORT IS THAT ONE OF SONYS PRIDE AND JOYS THE FAMOUSE SOLID SNAKE ON A NINTENDO 4 WORDS SUPER SMASH BROS BRAWL
Still buying a Wii and PS3
Still buying Wii and PS3 no matter what
the wii better not be more then $200... i don't want to spend tons of money on gamecube 1.5 w/ fancy remote/controler!
Yeah Nintendo need to bring it out at $200 or less. The 360 will more than likely have a price drop in October.
Simply as a gaming device, the Wii is not worth more than $200. Consumers expect consolse to do alot more than play games these days.
That said, the Wii is the console I'm most looking forward to. But I still won't pay more than €200 for the machine by itself.
"lol 100 bucks under the 360? Keep dreaming you fanboys."
You're right.
It'll probably be more like 150 or 200 under.
I hope it is not $299, between $200 and $250 would be ok.
nintendo told them that it go as high as 299 so they put estimated retail at 299.
i doubt this is true they probably wrote it down so that it made it look as if they are giving away more
it could be. it's still lower than 360. and they know that Nintendo fans will buy one anyway. its not like their fans are going to buy 360 or PS3 because they priced Wii at $299.
think about it, Nintendo doesnt like to lose money on a hardware. among Nintendo fans, who will miss out buying Wii because it cost $299? some bought 2 or 3 Gamecubes because they like different colors.
Damn thats really disapointting news
Nintendo would never raise the Wii price tag now after how highly anticipated the console has become, 7-11 needs to get their sources checked
It wont be higher than 250$ without being bundled with accessorys or games. If the wii is 300$, the xbox 360 has overcome it already. Thing is that the wii wont be 300$ on its own. Nintendo would be crazy to not release a true next gen console but yet a current console with new controller for 300$.
If i WIN it, i dont care HOW much it costs!! But if i have to BUY it, it better be what they promised it to be! I've already spent a small fortune on my 360!!!
Anything can happen really. Just think of it, 7-11 (had this of been at an earlier date) could of said "win a nintendo REVOLUTION!".
I think that they are putting the $299 as a safe price, because if they did spout it as being $250, and it ended up being $299 then in effect they would have to cough up $49 to make up the extra dollarage of the proclaimed total prize value.
If the person wins, and the console is dubbed as $250, they will simply easily say that the console estimated price is only a rough estimate and just give them the console and no $49.
If you can understand what I mean. It would be easier for them to pay $299 and keep the $49 if needs be. Rather than pay the $250 and have to get a complaint about the price change etc etc and have to cough up $$50 for the alleged prize price. 
if anyone here really thinks they aren't willing to release the Wii at over 200 than you are wrong because, if youve been to game**qs and looked at the polls majority thinks it'll be the best next-gen system, so they might put it at 250-300 dollars, which would be smart on their part BECAUSE everyone likes it so much, I for 1 don't care what the price is, Im getting one
$299.99 and that's playing with fire.
At that price I think the Wii will only attract NintendNutts "only".
BTW,
I won't buy it at $299 even though I can afford it.
I'd be too pissed to shell out an aditional $50.
Hell I'd probably spend that booze to take out my frustration....
Too Bogus, 299USD, 399CDN? That's not how things work in the world. and if it is, we can expect Canadian gamers to boycott this refurbished Gamecube.
Package deal and when I say pckage I mean like the 360 premium/core. Most likely the other SKU of the wii will be $199 so Nintendo theoretically luanches at under $250. Just my opinion I mean this whole SKU thing is catching on only nintendo havnt announced an Sku system for this gen
lol!!
now the wii-nie's are bashing 7-11 in their frenzied zealous defense of kidtendo.
its a conspiracy!
lol![again].
I hope Nintendo will pick a *unique* price point that will highlight how low it is, instead of the boring old $299.99 .... something like $234 would be unique and clever and reeeeally highlight how cheap it is comparatively to consumers.
Even $250 is too much. 50 bucks under a core 360? Ha yeah right, I won't be buying.
I better see $199.
I hope it's under $200!
Wii better be under $250, since it's not really a next generation console, It's more like a Game Cube on steroids with a fancy controller.
No HD and no multichannel audio support its so last generation.
7-11 will be giving away a normal Wii bundle (controller, nunchuck, Wii Sports, @ $250) along with Red Steel ($50). I believe it is updated on the slurpee website, as it is tied in with its flash promotion on the page.
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