Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kamikaze on May 25, 2006, 09:27:50 am

Title: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Kamikaze on May 25, 2006, 09:27:50 am
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/25/1314204

Quote
Slashdot summary:

Wii would arrive in Japanese stores with a maximum price tag of 25,000 yen. After taking in account various factors, the conversion to other currencies comes down to a launch price of: 225 dollars, 225 euros, and 150 pounds.

Note: The 25k yen price is official but the conversions are not. It's still possible the Wii will be $200 in the US (the Gamecube was apparently also priced at 25k yen).
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 09:34:40 am
£150 - I'm there!
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Colonol Dekker on May 25, 2006, 09:46:32 am
How long til release, what launch titles are confirmed/speculated?
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 09:51:38 am
How long til release, what launch titles are confirmed/speculated?

No date, only Q4 which I think is anywhere from Sept-Jan 07.  This - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii#Expected_launch_titles - has speculation on launch titles.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Colonol Dekker on May 25, 2006, 10:00:37 am
Nice one Aldo, cheers
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Fineus on May 25, 2006, 10:29:55 am
£150? Surely that's the most expensive Wii ever...

(sorry :p)
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: an0n on May 25, 2006, 10:38:28 am
I think Ninteno may just have destroyed the competition.

If they can knock out some non-kidsy games, they could break the back of the PS3 and 360.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Colonol Dekker on May 25, 2006, 10:44:00 am
A tonne & a half aint that much dough to fork out, I think its cheap, I want Res Evil  5, And the inevitble SMash Bros & Metroid
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Ghostavo on May 25, 2006, 10:59:54 am
Why are the US and UK launchs always cheaper?  :(
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: ZylonBane on May 25, 2006, 11:02:44 am
There's a comparison of console launch prices over the years here (http://curmudgeongamer.com/2006/05/history-of-console-prices-or-500-aint.html). A really interesting thing to note is that Nintendo's consoles have always launched for around $200. Which, accounting for inflation, means that Nintendo consoles keep getting cheaper even as they get more powerful.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 11:05:45 am
I have a feeling this is believed to be the first time nintendo has launched a console that loses money at launch price, but I'm not 100% sure.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Kosh on May 25, 2006, 12:26:27 pm
I have a feeling this is believed to be the first time nintendo has launched a console that loses money at launch price, but I'm not 100% sure.

I think almost all of them are like that (the original XBox was for sure). They make their money from the games, not the console itself.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 01:14:00 pm
I have a feeling this is believed to be the first time nintendo has launched a console that loses money at launch price, but I'm not 100% sure.

I think almost all of them are like that (the original XBox was for sure). They make their money from the games, not the console itself.

You're probably right.  I'm not sure exactly where I read that thing, as it would contradict the accepted 'rules'.  Of course, Nintendo did make a fair bob off the Gamecube consoles for most of their lifetime IIRC.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Deepblue on May 25, 2006, 01:33:36 pm
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 01:38:45 pm
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

Onetta there in the corner stand
And wonders where she is and
Its strange to her
Some people seem to have everything

Nine a.m. on the hour hand
And shes waiting for the bell
And shes looking real pretty
Just wait for her clientele

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

Twenty five years have
Come and gone
And she seen a lot of tears
Of the ones who come in
They really seem to need her there

Its a sacrifice working day to day
For little money just tips for pay
But its worth it all
Just to hear them say that they care

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

She already knows
Shes seen her bad times
She already knows
These are the good times

Shell never sell out
She never will
Not for a dollar bill
She works hard

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Deepblue on May 25, 2006, 01:43:40 pm
What?

Anyway, seeing as MP3 is basically MP2 but with slower turning (seriously, wth?) and prettier smoke, I'm no longer very interested in the wii. I was HOPING Retro would put something out a little bit more inspiring both gameplay-wise and graphically.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Kamikaze on May 25, 2006, 01:56:46 pm
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.

Ah, of course. It's not like the Wii has a processor that is at least two times faster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_%28microprocessor%29) than the GCN's. Or built-in wireless. Or bluetooth. Or USB.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 01:59:41 pm
Reportedly most of the E3 demos were made on modified GC devkits, whereas stuff like Mario Galaxy was made on the full-spec Wii devkits with finalized CPU / GPU etc.

Of course, if you wanted to buy a Wii because of graphics, then you'd be an complete idiot.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: achtung on May 25, 2006, 05:05:07 pm
What?

Anyway, seeing as MP3 is basically MP2 but with slower turning (seriously, wth?) and prettier smoke, I'm no longer very interested in the wii. I was HOPING Retro would put something out a little bit more inspiring both gameplay-wise and graphically.

Look at your user title then the song, then you may understand.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Deepblue on May 25, 2006, 05:06:44 pm
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.

Ah, of course. It's not like the Wii has a processor that is at least two times faster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_%28microprocessor%29) than the GCN's. Or built-in wireless. Or bluetooth. Or USB.

The screens certainly don't show that.

@Aldo. That's only partially true. The wii hardware was present, but in a gamecube shell.

@Swantz, it was sarcasm. Suddenly the wii is the bestest and their isn't a thing wrong with it??? Oh nooez!

I think I'm becoming disillusioned with the very concept after reading many negative hands-on reports on the wii which say that most "games" are even harder to control properly while really, really simple games like the composer one, wario ware, and wii tennis are great for the controller. The point being, sure it must be great for really fun mini-games, but I want to play games with substance.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 05:24:00 pm
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.

Ah, of course. It's not like the Wii has a processor that is at least two times faster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_%28microprocessor%29) than the GCN's. Or built-in wireless. Or bluetooth. Or USB.

The screens certainly don't show that.

@Aldo. That's only partially true. The wii hardware was present, but in a gamecube shell.

@Swantz, it was sarcasm. Suddenly the wii is the bestest and their isn't a thing wrong with it??? Oh nooez!

I think I'm becoming disillusioned with the very concept after reading many negative hands-on reports on the wii which say that most "games" are even harder to control properly while really, really simple games like the composer one, wario ware, and wii tennis are great for the controller. The point being, sure it must be great for really fun mini-games, but I want to play games with substance.

Nope.  The games were developed to the GC-based-but-with-Wii controller devkit, not the Wii devkit that will have higher specs (offhand, IIRC Mario Galaxy was one the few Wii devkit-developed games).  The shells at the E3 show were Wii hardware-in-a-gamecube shell but it's worth remembering a) the majority (if not all) of games would be developed on the GC based devkit (i.e. developed to run on a more or less gamecube-spec machine) and b) it wasn't the final hardware in any case.

Strangely, I've only seen maybe one or two negative reviews of the control method, most of which carried a caveat that it was an in-progress game and the issues were sensitivity based rather than the actual method.  Certainly the vast majority have been glowing with praise.  Albeit I've never been sure what a 'game with substance' is; a game with more buttons than others?

Now, i'll admit my enthusiasm has started to border on the fanboy-ism, because it's the best concept I've seen in years and years, but I just get frustrated that as soon as positive news comes about a 360 competitor - and *bang*, here comes deepblue with some negative and (certainly in this case) unsubstantiated comment to attack it.  i mean;
$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.
is a complete misrepresentation of the technical specs of the thing even if it was a GC-with-a-remote, and I can only see it as a blatant attempt to attack what is by all neutral accounts a very good looking price for a new console.  If it's sarcasm (witty language used to convey insults or scorn), it's missing the 'witty' bit.  Although at least you got the insult bit right.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Taristin on May 25, 2006, 05:42:22 pm
You people will argue over anything.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 05:42:56 pm
You people will argue over anything.

What else am i going to do to amuse myself? :D
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Flipside on May 25, 2006, 05:45:19 pm
Play with your Wii? ;)

This is the first console in a long time I'm actually mildly interested in. I'll see what the token Mario/Zelda games are like and probably make a decision from there ;)
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Ulala on May 25, 2006, 05:46:58 pm
Of course, if you wanted to buy a Wii because of graphics, then you'd be an complete idiot.

I thought people bought consoles because they're fun.  ;)
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Fineus on May 25, 2006, 05:47:56 pm
Play with your Wii? ;)
Oh god :lol:
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 05:48:33 pm
Of course, if you wanted to buy a Wii because of graphics, then you'd be an complete idiot.

I thought people bought consoles because they're fun.  ;)

Not in the HD Generation mate, oh no.  Now it's for the syngergistic fusion of multimedia content delivery!  Or some similar pish.
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Ulala on May 25, 2006, 05:49:37 pm
Ohhhhh, I see now.  :)
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: Kamikaze on May 25, 2006, 05:52:42 pm
I think I'm becoming disillusioned with the very concept after reading many negative hands-on reports on the wii which say that most "games" are even harder to control properly while really, really simple games like the composer one, wario ware, and wii tennis are great for the controller. The point being, sure it must be great for really fun mini-games, but I want to play games with substance.

Many negative reports? Most of the reports I've seen were positive or at least encouraging. Many posters on Joystiq commented that their reviews of Wii games in particular were harsh, but even their reviews were very encouraging and noted that there is a lot of time to polish. In which imaginary world of yours is there a lot of negative feedback about the Wii?

By the way, I'm pretty sure that Mario Galaxy would be one of those games which will have, as you say, substance. It is also, according to reviewers such as Joystiq, one of the best examples of well designed gameplay with the new Wii-mote controller.

Note that Wii games will not require the Wii-mote's special capabilities. Gamecube controllers are supported and there's a classic controller add-on. There's no real barrier to conventional control schemes and your "games with substance".
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: vyper on May 25, 2006, 05:54:20 pm
Play with your Wii? ;)
Oh god :lol:

Taking the piss that is.






What? Too low brow?
Title: Re: Wii price confirmed
Post by: aldo_14 on May 25, 2006, 05:55:59 pm
Play with your Wii? ;)
Oh god :lol:

Taking the piss that is.






What? Too low brow?

Is that even possible?