[Kamikaze]

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/25/1314204

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).

[aldo_14]

£150 - I'm there!

[Colonol Dekker]

How long til release, what launch titles are confirmed/speculated?

[aldo_14]

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.

[Colonol Dekker]

Nice one Aldo, cheers

[Fineus]

£150? Surely that's the most expensive Wii ever...

(sorry )

[an0n]

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.

[Colonol Dekker]

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

[Ghostavo]

Why are the US and UK launchs always cheaper? 

[ZylonBane]

There's a comparison of console launch prices over the years here. 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.

[aldo_14]

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.

[Kosh]

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.

[aldo_14]

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.

[Deepblue]

$50 too much for what could have easily been a Gamecube peripheral.

[aldo_14]

$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

[Deepblue]

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.

[Kamikaze]

$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 than the GCN's. Or built-in wireless. Or bluetooth. Or USB.

[aldo_14]

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.

[achtung]

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.

[Deepblue]

$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 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.