Nintendo to sell Wii U in U.S. for $300

Despite pricing the console at $338 in Japan, Nintendo has priced the upcoming console cheaper for U.S. consumers.

Set for release on November 18th, the base model will cost $300 while the deluxe edition will sell for $350.

The base model will include the Wii U console with 8GB memory and the Wii U GamePad in all white. The deluxe edition comes with 32GB and a GamePad charging cradle. Additionally, it will come bundled with the game NintendoLand.

President Reggie Fils-Aime says neither version will come with regular Wii U controllers since the console is backwards compatible with all existing Wii controllers.

There was no word on how much additional GamePad controllers will cost, but in Japan, an additional touchscreen remote will cost you 13,000 yen ($167). That being said, we expect controllers in the U.S. to cost around $150.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Sep 2012 10:28

Gradical

$150 USD a controller hahahahah who do they think they are? Apple?

13.9.2012 13:17 #1

ZippyDSM

I'll wait till its heavily softmoded.....

Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.

---
Check out my crappy creations
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

13.9.2012 13:47 #2

Bozobub

I think EVERYONE will wait... Until this turkey dies.

13.9.2012 14:40 #3

KillerBug

Originally posted by Gradical: $150 USD a controller hahahahah who do they think they are? Apple? It is a rounded rectangle with a touchscreen, and it even comes in white...maybe they DO think they are Apple.

So much for the hacking community at least making good use out of the controller...for that kind of money you could just get a used Xperia Play or something, with money left over.

13.9.2012 15:05 #4

SProdigy

What did you EXPECT the controller to cost? I mean, it has the screen, cameras and all that jazz.

I'd like the 3DS to be functional as a controller. At least that way you have another console at your disposal for that type of money.

13.9.2012 15:29 #5

KillerBug

Originally posted by SProdigy: What did you EXPECT the controller to cost? I mean, it has the screen, cameras and all that jazz.

I'd like the 3DS to be functional as a controller. At least that way you have another console at your disposal for that type of money. It isn't much more than a $50 DS3 (which is drastically overpriced) with a $20 (maybe) touchscreen built in. I figured $80-$100.

If this controller was actually a $150 part, that would make the system itself a $150 part...and with the specs on the system being (overall) better than the PS3 ($200 part if you figure the included DS3 is $50) it just doesn't add up. Well, for that matter, having a whole console that is only worth the price of the controller doesn't add up either.

13.9.2012 18:01 #6

SProdigy

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by SProdigy: What did you EXPECT the controller to cost? I mean, it has the screen, cameras and all that jazz.

I'd like the 3DS to be functional as a controller. At least that way you have another console at your disposal for that type of money. It isn't much more than a $50 DS3 (which is drastically overpriced) with a $20 (maybe) touchscreen built in. I figured $80-$100.

If this controller was actually a $150 part, that would make the system itself a $150 part...and with the specs on the system being (overall) better than the PS3 ($200 part if you figure the included DS3 is $50) it just doesn't add up. Well, for that matter, having a whole console that is only worth the price of the controller doesn't add up either. Since when did you know ANY company to sell us something for the cost of the parts? Even auto mechanics don't do that!

Not a rant at you, but it does get on my nerves when people complain about prices. No one's holding a gun to your head to buy it.

Never does anyone take into account costs involved outside of the parts. A bunch of people spent time and research to make the part. Someone puts it together. Someone puts it in a box. Someone designs that box. Someone ships that box. I could go on, but you get the idea. That doesn't even include the website the info was on, the executive giving the speech (his meals, travel, and salary) the conference room this speech was given in, marketing, promotion...

Okay, I'll stop while I'm ahead. I think $150 is a fair price for now, considering it's a launch item. I wouldn't expect it to still be $150 3-4 years from now.

13.9.2012 18:07 #7

Mysttic

Wii-U game pad isn't even being sold as a separate accessory State-side anyways. - IGN.

13.9.2012 20:59 #8

ZippyDSM

If media wants to be bought it needs to be cheaper, 60$ games are a thing of the past......

Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.

---
Check out my crappy creations
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

13.9.2012 21:31 #9

KillerBug

Originally posted by SProdigy: Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by SProdigy: What did you EXPECT the controller to cost? I mean, it has the screen, cameras and all that jazz.

I'd like the 3DS to be functional as a controller. At least that way you have another console at your disposal for that type of money. It isn't much more than a $50 DS3 (which is drastically overpriced) with a $20 (maybe) touchscreen built in. I figured $80-$100.

If this controller was actually a $150 part, that would make the system itself a $150 part...and with the specs on the system being (overall) better than the PS3 ($200 part if you figure the included DS3 is $50) it just doesn't add up. Well, for that matter, having a whole console that is only worth the price of the controller doesn't add up either. Since when did you know ANY company to sell us something for the cost of the parts? Even auto mechanics don't do that!

Not a rant at you, but it does get on my nerves when people complain about prices. No one's holding a gun to your head to buy it.

Never does anyone take into account costs involved outside of the parts. A bunch of people spent time and research to make the part. Someone puts it together. Someone puts it in a box. Someone designs that box. Someone ships that box. I could go on, but you get the idea. That doesn't even include the website the info was on, the executive giving the speech (his meals, travel, and salary) the conference room this speech was given in, marketing, promotion...

Okay, I'll stop while I'm ahead. I think $150 is a fair price for now, considering it's a launch item. I wouldn't expect it to still be $150 3-4 years from now. You are right, no one is forcing me to buy it, and I won't. I probably would have considered buying the gamepad to hack it for a project I am working on, but not for that price.

I understand companies have to make profits, and I understand the costs of R&D, production, shipping, marketing, etc...that's why the DS3 costs $50 instead of the $10 it costs to make (heavy profit item). So, figuring they wanted to make even more profit on essentially the same thing with a cheap BT/WiFi/whatever adapter and a ~$20 touchscreen, I figured it would be $80-$100 retail. They threw an extra $50 in pure profit on top of that, and for this reason they will sell fewer units and actually make less profit in the long run.

Originally posted by Mysttic: Wii-U game pad isn't even being sold as a separate accessory State-side anyways. - IGN. It will be; how could they sell a console without replacement controllers?

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: If media wants to be bought it needs to be cheaper, 60$ games are a thing of the past...... As long as people are willing to pay it, they will charge it. There was a time when Nintendo games were upwards of $80, and with inflation, that would be over $100 today...and people paid it.

One thing on media tho...they REALLY need to provide a BluRay playing option. A lot of these are going into the rooms of little kids where there is no bluray player in spite of what Nintendo claims. If they don't include the feature, hackers will try to implement it themselves, and they will probably break all the security features that prevent the use of pirated games in the process.

13.9.2012 23:41 #10

Mysttic

Quote:It will be; how could they sell a console without replacement controllers? Ok correction, it wont' be this year, or first quarter next year, because Nintendo said they fear they can't meet demand. Will the controller be out eventually? Sure. Right now as Nintendo said, there is no software app or game that features the need for 2 controllers.

14.9.2012 00:50 #11

IguanaC64

I said months ago they'll start out at $150 and probably drop to *maybe* $90=$100 over time. I hope people just figure out a way to make tablets replace one.

I'd rather buy a JXD S7100 that can be used as a Wii-U controller rather than a Wii-U controller. More utility.

I hope these things are durable...controllers aren't treated very gently even under the best of conditions.

14.9.2012 03:34 #12

shortybob

YOU ONLY NEED ONE WII U TABLET. Why haven't people listened to them saying that over and over...

14.9.2012 03:51 #13

KillerBug

Originally posted by shortybob: YOU ONLY NEED ONE WII U TABLET. Why haven't people listened to them saying that over and over... What console has EVER had a controller that never wears out even under the best of circumstances (especially the launch controller)? Now factor in that there will be kids using these, spreading peanut butter into the cracks and using crayons on the screens. Do you need two? No, not yet at least...but if you have the console, you might at least need one.

14.9.2012 09:06 #14

SProdigy

Wait, we're talking about the price of this thing, but you want them to throw in Blu-Ray? Not only the price of the drives, but the royalties for putting that BD sticker on the box would drive the price up.

I agree Zippy, but games need to be mass purchased in the levels of movies. The budgets to make games are pretty crazy and that's why companies like EA stand in the dust of many others that fell (Midway)

14.9.2012 13:30 #15

ZippyDSM

Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.

---
Check out my crappy creations
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

14.9.2012 13:39 #16

KillerBug

Originally posted by SProdigy: Wait, we're talking about the price of this thing, but you want them to throw in Blu-Ray? Not only the price of the drives, but the royalties for putting that BD sticker on the box would drive the price up.

I agree Zippy, but games need to be mass purchased in the levels of movies. The budgets to make games are pretty crazy and that's why companies like EA stand in the dust of many others that fell (Midway) It is already a BD drive...if the laser can't do multiple layers, then it is a terrible laser that won't last very long anyway. All that they would need to license would cost them very little, and I didn't say they needed to include it. They are going to have something like the PSN/XBL store on there...they could have a $5 bluray playing app in there that would cover all the fees plus the cost of development, and the sales would be the surest proof that people actually do want it. I think that they know people want it anyway...their justification for not having bluray support is that everyone already has a bluray player, and then they have netflix support...and everyone has netflix support!

BTW...I was not complaining about the price of the console, I was complaining about the cost of the controller.

14.9.2012 14:59 #17

neo1000

Idon�t care what you say i�m getting one the day it comes out

14.9.2012 20:40 #18

KillerBug

Originally posted by neo1000: Idon�t care what you say i�m getting one the day it comes out I hope you enjoy it...and I'm not being sarcastic there. Personally I know I would not enjoy it at all as the specs are far less than the system I am already using, there isn't a single Wii title I want, and the launch titles don't look very promising...but most importantly, that controller. My wrists hurt just thinking of holding it.

14.9.2012 20:56 #19

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