Google runs Walmart ads for Wii U at $350

[big fat turtle]

oh my heart oh the anguish the pessimism here is killing me!!!!!
oh the predefined view of haters coming together to hate on Wii u!!!
oh the people that are full of ignorance that have no patience!!!!!
wait for e3 that and see!!!!

[MoldyClay]

@TheBitBlock

It's also possible it's only more expensive due to the controller.

People seem to forget that the controller is like $100 or so on its own, works independently, has a screen and streams and stuff.

$350 doesn't necessarily prove anything good about the console's tech so much as the controller. People need to take that into consideration.

[Star Luigi]

@funkamatic

Hopefully you read @keyz's list...

[NeroSuferoth]

Flu! that's a bit more than I expected... Better have confirmed some worthy games by the time it launches then.

[void3953]

Anyone complaining, remember that Nintendo is really the only ones that ever launched a mainstream console at a sub $300 price point anywhere in recent history.

Sega Master System - ??? (didn't even know this existed until a few years ago)
Sega Genesis - $300
PlayStation - $300
Sega Saturn - $400
Dreamcast - ??? (don't remember)
Playstation 2 - $300
XBox - $300 (or $400 if you wanted the non-gimped version)
PlayStation 3 - $500 (or $600 if you were willing to get that second job)
XBox 360 - $400

NES - ??? (don't remember)
SNES - $200
N64 - $200
GameCube - $200
Wii - $250
Wii U - ???

Why, all of a sudden, is a higher price point suicide for Nintendo when it's been the norm for everyone else but Nintendo up until now? No excuses of weaker hardware because both the PlayStation and the Saturn were FAR weaker than the N64 and still cost FAR more and we all know that MS and Sony's next systems are also going to be FAR more expensive as well. Saying that Nintendo can't launch at a $300+ price point is akin to saying all of those other system flopped.

I want a reasoned explanation as to why they can't that doesn't need to inexplicably resort to "because it's Nintendo".

[big fat turtle]

Not to mantion this is the first nintendo console they designed since 1999 and the wii u is based on 2009 technolgey so the tech diffrence is ten years from the gamecube and the wii!! So in no way anyone in thir right mind would think this console is a reskined 360 .

[MrMiyamoto]

Oh, I hope it's $349! This is the best news we've heard about the Wii U yet. If Nintendo's packing at least $349 worth of tech into the Wii U, it will certainly be a good sight better than current generation consoles in the technology department. Nuts to Patcher and RMC, I want the Wii U to be as powerful as possible to ensure that it gets the games it deserves.

[big fat turtle]

Oh, I hope it's $349! This is the best news we've heard about the Wii U yet. If Nintendo's packing at least $349 worth of tech into the Wii U, it will certainly be a good sight better than current generation consoles in the technology department. Nuts to Patcher and RMC, I want the Wii U to be as powerful as possible to ensure that it gets the games it deserves.

you should know more then we do ;D

[ReZon]

Note to Nintendo - please see the results of the original price tag on the 3DS. Then, adjust the Wii U's price tag accordingly. That is all.

[big fat turtle]

Note to Nintendo - please see the results of the original price tag on the 3DS. Then, adjust the Wii U's price tag accordingly. That is all.

that is if they are selling it for profit!
remember the investor meeting before this one iwata said they might be selling it for a break even or a loss
they learned their lesson with the 3ds they wont repeat the same mistake !

[LegendofSantiago]

@MoldyClay isn't the controller like $50-70? Also, they are saving a ton of money on not installing bluray or dvd drives which was the reason the ps3 cost 600 atlaunch

[big fat turtle]

@MoldyClay isn't the controller like $50-70? Also, they are saving a ton of money on not installing bluray or dvd drives which was the reason the ps3 cost 600 atlaunch

pfft!
it already has a blue ray drive, its just not programmed to play blue rays out of Nintendo avoiding paying the costs.

[brancaleone]

i think this is just their way to test the waters, if people start protesting for the price a la rainfall i think they'll get the message but this is becoming funnier and funnier

random people grouping together feeling they have the right to dictate what should be the cost of a product disregarding any real costs and financial info or business models.

You might say yeah if i am going to buy it i will have a say!
I have the right of an opinion and freedom of speech and the right to buy whatever i please!

Well you don't have to buy it. And I'd rather you not buying it, and Nintendo making a profit and being a healthy company, than you buying it!

A customer that makes a company unhealthy is a bad customer. Lowering the price of 3ds was a big mistake.

[boxter432]

$350 with Mario and "wii-sports-like game" bundled!

[Keybilly]

I don't think $350 is outrageous, but it will keep me from buying one this year. I wouldn't be surprised if many others feel the same way.

[big fat turtle]

I don't think $350 is outrageous, but it will keep me from buying one this year. I wouldn't be surprised if many others feel the same way.

im sure their feeling the same way without even watching e3
they don't want to even give the system a fair chance!!

[Lakster37]

I don't think Nintendo could in good conscious sell this at a loss right now. They just posted, for the first time EVER since entering the console business, a loss, and I really don't think they'd be able to do that again and still keep a good business face. Unless they feel that they can piggy back off 3DS sales, they won't get enough revenue from Wii U/Wii(lol) games this year to avoid having ANOTHER loss if they sell the console at a loss...

[varoennauraa]

While I hope its more expensive, I think 350$ is pretty sweet spot; not too cheap for me and not too expensive for whiners. You know, you cannot demand awesome specs and cheap prices in one package with tablet. And every thing has its own price with what it can be sold.

[WonderbreadUSA]

$350 is about where I expected it to be. I've already got over $400 saved as of now. Can't wait.

[flattie018]

Anyone complaining, remember that Nintendo is really the only ones that ever launched a mainstream console at a sub $300 price point anywhere in recent history.

Sega Master System - ??? (didn't even know this existed until a few years ago)
Sega Genesis - $300
PlayStation - $300
Sega Saturn - $400
Dreamcast - ??? (don't remember)
Playstation 2 - $300
XBox - $300 (or $400 if you wanted the non-gimped version)
PlayStation 3 - $500 (or $600 if you were willing to get that second job)
XBox 360 - $400

NES - ??? (don't remember)
SNES - $200
N64 - $200
GameCube - $200
Wii - $250
Wii U - ???

Why, all of a sudden, is a higher price point suicide for Nintendo when it's been the norm for everyone else but Nintendo up until now? No excuses of weaker hardware because both the PlayStation and the Saturn were FAR weaker than the N64 and still cost FAR more and we all know that MS and Sony's next systems are also going to be FAR more expensive as well. Saying that Nintendo can't launch at a $300+ price point is akin to saying all of those other system flopped.

I want a reasoned explanation as to why they can't that doesn't need to inexplicably resort to "because it's Nintendo".

Dreamcast launched at $200.

It isn't suicide, but the internet and all of it's component factions are fixated with using hyperbole.

However, that being said, it'd be more difficult to convince people of the Wii U's value when you could place a 250gb 360 + kinect alongside it for a similar (if not lower by then) price and point to a mature (as in more established) online service and comprehensive game library. Just saying it makes the sell more difficult, nothing else.

[flattie018]

Lowering the price of 3ds was a big mistake.

Maybe the most idiotic thing I've read this week (admittedly, the week is still young).

[void3953]

Dreamcast launched at $200.

I thought it did but I didn't want to list anything because I wasn't sure.

It isn't suicide, but the internet and all of it's component factions are fixated with using hyperbole.

However, that being said, it'd be more difficult to convince people of the Wii U's value when you could place a 250gb 360 + kinect alongside it for a similar (if not lower by then) price and point to a mature (as in more established) online service and comprehensive game library. Just saying it makes the sell more difficult, nothing else.

It makes it a harder sell to you. Not to me. If they were focusing on the online components as much as Sony and MS have been doing, it would be a harder sell for me. I don't really care for online and how the entire industry seems so focused on it. The last bastion of single and local multi-player is Nintendo. I hope they don't lose that focus.

As for comparing it to a 250gb 360 + Kinect, you're forgetting about the tablet, the fact that it's reverse compatible with all Wii games and accessories (Nintendo is going to lose a fortune on people not needing to upgrade all of their Wii hardware unlike Sony and MS and previous Nintendo systems where you had to buy all new controllers and peripherals), and that it's the only place you're going to get Nintendo games.

The Wii shouldn't have even been able to compete with either the PS2 or the XBox by that reasoning. But instead it ended up outselling both of it's contemporary competition.

Most people tend to confuse what they want with what the market wants. If Nintendo has learned anything over the years it's that most people don't really know what they want until they see it. Before then, they're usually so trapped within their own preconceived notions that they wouldn't know how to articulate it in the first place.

[Keybilly]

I don't think $350 is outrageous, but it will keep me from buying one this year. I wouldn't be surprised if many others feel the same way.

im sure their feeling the same way without even watching e3
they don't want to even give the system a fair chance!!

It's not about giving the system a fair chance. That is just more money than some would find worthwhile to spend on a game system. Remember that a little patience means paying less. What you are paying for when you buy a system or game at launch is the ability to play it as soon as possible. That means you get to be part of that online conversation and buzz. Playing a game late is more solitary, since most people seem to have moved onto newer games.

However, a game system is a major purchase. If the value proposition is not good, it will almost certainly become so with time (lower prices, more and cheaper games, bundles, etc.). I am a Nintendo fan and will buy a Wii U, but not at $350.

[ocre]

Ouch. That's a bit steep for a console that for all we know might not be much more powerful than the PS3 (if even that).

It's always because of Nintendo and their stupid gimmicks.

I don't see how having that 'they'll never fix it' attitude toward the situation helps anything. Give them a chance to actually inform us about the product, rather than listening to stupid rumors.

[big fat turtle]

I don't think $350 is outrageous, but it will keep me from buying one this year. I wouldn't be surprised if many others feel the same way.

im sure their feeling the same way without even watching e3
they don't want to even give the system a fair chance!!

It's not about giving the system a fair chance. That is just more money than some would find worthwhile to spend on a game system. Remember that a little patience means paying less. What you are paying for when you buy a system or game at launch is the ability to play it as soon as possible. That means you get to be part of that online conversation and buzz. Playing a game late is more solitary, since most people seem to have moved onto newer games.

However, a game system is a major purchase. If the value proposition is not good, it will almost certainly become so with time (lower prices, more and cheaper games, bundles, etc.). I am a Nintendo fan and will buy a Wii U, but not at $350.

true especially not every fan here has money you know
but i think they are not competing with the 360 PS , they are trying to fight the next gen propasetion of Microsoft and Sony
if its really a next gen system its price is justified but either way they cant combat cheaper pricing with this model and please everyone.