Wii for $170?

**SoloCamo** · August 18th, 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by article

August 15, 2006 - Nintendo's new Wii console could be yours later this year for less than expected. Tokyo-based Nikko Citigroup has issued a report on Nintendo's rising stock price, and between all the jargon is the financial institution's forecast that the Wii will carry a Japanese price point of 19,800 yen.

Current exchange rates would put an equivalent US price at $170.00. However, console prices rarely convert according to exchange rates. At most, we can probable take this report to indicate an anticipated US price of under $200.

Nikko Citigroup previously forecast a 25,000 yen price for the Wii. The firm arrived at the new, lower price point based on its expectation that Nintendo will be able to procure the Wii's CPU for less than expected.

This report is just another prediction by a financial institution and shouldn't be taken as confirmation of the Wii's price. For now, the official Nintendo word is that the system will be sold for under 25,000 yen in Japan and $250 in America. Final details are expected in September.

I still think $199 will be the selling point. But Imagine if it was 170 or so?

MS nor Sony can not and will not drop prices that low for a very long time, if ever, which will put real pressure down on them. The polls don't lie, and the sales won't lie either

(me hides from ramon)

**ShuckyD** · August 18th, 2006, 10:40 AM

that would be awesome

Finally somewhat of a price

Now all i want is a release date

( i hope its in september)

**erhan28** · August 18th, 2006, 11:41 AM

I am buying the PS3 and Wiii.

**bombledmonk** · August 18th, 2006, 11:43 AM

I honestly was expecting $250 and wouldn't be terribly suprized to see that number but if it is lower than $199 I think it would sell like hotcakes.

**Whos Theo?** · August 18th, 2006, 12:15 PM

I wouldn't be surprised now if the Wii sold like the DS when it comes out.

**carl33p** · August 18th, 2006, 12:29 PM

I hate quotes like that. They just put false hope in you.

They even end off the article by saying under 250$, which could mean $249.99

I'd be more than happy with a 200$ release tag. Any clue what comes bundled in it?? a game? a controller?

**VHockey86** · August 18th, 2006, 12:57 PM

I just hope we dont end up having to buy $300 worth of accessories and controllers in order to play a variety of games.

**Prince Lalijama** · August 18th, 2006, 02:04 PM

Yeah i seriously doubt that. I wish it was so but i just bought and put together a 750 dollar computer so i couldnt get it for a while. Its worth 250 but probably not 300.

Edit hey carl33 do you like anime?

**Zoomy** · August 18th, 2006, 04:45 PM

To think, even if the price of the Wii was double what the article's saying, it'd still be half the price of a PS3.

**SoloCamo** · August 18th, 2006, 07:20 PM

Knowing Nintendo's console launch history, 200 is where I will place my bets. In fact, I can almost guarantee it.

**wera** · August 18th, 2006, 07:23 PM

Solocamo says "200$" Then its 200$.

**EXreaction** · August 18th, 2006, 07:25 PM

I saw this article a while ago. You guys on TIMO are always behind the times.

I agree, $170 seems almost too low; though it would be absolutely awsome if it would only be $170!

I would think a $200-250 price range is more logical...

**Daft_Ghosty** · August 18th, 2006, 08:23 PM

dear god help sony, and microsoft if the price ends up that low.. I'm already looking at picking up 4 if not 5 launch titles along with the system.. I would make it 6 titles if it was that low.. or 3 extra controllers.. =)

**RamonGTP** · August 18th, 2006, 09:03 PM

I think a <199 price point is very feezable. The Wii is very inexpensive to manufacture so Nintendo can afford to sell it that low and still make a profit. All they basically did was take a look at the gamecube which was reasonably powerfull for its time and made improvements on it. Other than the controller, there is nothing radically new hardware wise. They did not reinvent the entire console and spend millions on R&D. They did like what Intel did with the Core 2 Duo's... They looked at what worked reasonable well in the past (P3/Pentium M) and improved on it.

**RedFury** · August 18th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Why reinvent the wheel?

The Wii is on my 'buy' list. I don't even plan on picking up a PS3, even though I'd be considered a fanboy by some.

Sony and Microsoft simply need to blow away the Wii with quality of games if they plan to keep sales away from Nintendo. Personally, I love the fact that Nintendo is still in the race and won't concede to the Giants.

**CoonDawg** · August 18th, 2006, 10:02 PM

170? That would be incredible. Not only that, I think it would be one awesome strategy.

Imagine: Something so cheap that almost every family can afford, yet not so cheap that people are just buying them to use as shooting targets. Even if they are losing $300 dollars every time they sell a console. All they have to do is sell 6 games and it's paid off!

If you cheapen your console so much that people don't think "Well I don't want to spend that money..." and think "It's really not that expensive, I don't have that much to lose", then they get the console. Then all you have to do is concentrate on your games.

The GameCube would have done fine if the console was really cheap. The games were still good, most of them you could get on the other consoles and vice versa. People just thought "Why would I spend my money on that when I can spend 50 bucks more and get a DVD player?"

RF, Nintendo IS a giant. Actually Nintendo is probably still bigger than Sony or Microsoft (gamewise). Ir was just 4 years (out of, what, 20?) that they faltered in.

I just think Nintendo, like Intel, got too comfortable on their throne. Now they realize they HAVE to win this battle, or they lose the war, and just go to handhelds.

By the way, anyone see this? http://ninsonystocks.ytmnd.com/ Not only is it funny, it's amazing.

**RedFury** · August 18th, 2006, 11:23 PM

No, I agree, Nintendo is a giant. They've been in the gaming business much longer than anyone else to my recollection ( think of the japanese slot machines that hang on the wall and you'll find the company name that became Nintendo ).

Nintendo pretty much just focus's on the console market in the US, whereas Sony and Microsoft are far reaching in their product line and marketability/name brand recognition among non-gamers. Not to say that the Big N isn't a household name, just not as muchso as the others. I'd be willing to bet that every household in america has something built by sony or Microsoft in their home in some shape or fashion.

**Shabow** · August 18th, 2006, 11:34 PM

You have to ask yourself the question: "Is the Wii really competing with Sony and Microsoft?"....personally my answer is no...I think gamers want both....but the Wii is just a nontraditional console system which is amazing...I love the Wii...it is the best thing in hardware innovation since Nintendo's own DS...however with that being said....most gamers will still want the traditional style system that Microsoft offers...forget Sony...the system is too expensive and it seems to me that unless you're a diehard fan of Sony you won't want to buy the PS3...a tiny bit difference in graphics/functionality will hardly change a gamers perspective on a console compared to their price difference.

Microsoft will actually benefit from the Wii. Even though the Wii might sell more possibly. Microsoft will clench the "traditional" market, which will be strong even with this new innovative aproach to gaming.

**EXreaction** · August 18th, 2006, 11:45 PM

^ Agreed

**Prince Lalijama** · August 19th, 2006, 01:43 AM

I would love to see sony get its sit appendage beaten off of it by nintendo. (NOT THAT APPENDAGE.) I agree with Shabow. I wish that nintendo would have a normal controller cause part of smash bros is sittin on the couch beatin the sit appendage off of my newb friends.