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[Apophis2036]

A price drop of that magnitude might have notably increased consumer (and developer) interest if implemented 9 months ago.

At some point, however, a system crosses a threshold of indifference where even massive price cuts and huge advertising campaigns cannot salvage it. The Vita has crossed that line; so has the Wii U.

Does that hold true with regards to the massive casual audience that Nintendo are trying to educate about WiiU though ?.

Most people in this thread think there is no saving the console yet there is a large percentage of that 100+ million Wii audience who don't even know the system exists and if they do are put off by the rather heft $299 price tag. The Wii was $249 remember so the system is still $50 more expensive than the often talked about 'mass market' price point.

I do partly agree that a price cut alone wouldn't have a huge effect but a price cut to $199 combined with a massive marketing blitz on the level of what MS spent advertising XBOX ONE would surely spike sales at least in the short term. I'm not convinced Nintendo would blow $1 billion on marketing though even if it was guaranteed to save the console from a sub Gamecube lifetime sales total.

Some have mentioned software but I don't think that is an issue. In it's first twelve months on the market the console has had Nintendo Land, NSMB U, NSL U, ZombiU, Lego City Undercover, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Sonic Lost World, Wind Waker HD, Mario 3D World, Wii Sports HD, Wii Party U and Wii Fit U and DKC Tropical Freeze are set to arrive in the first two months of next year.

I don't know about anyone else but that is a fantastic and varied line up of exclusive games that cater to both the casual and the more core Nintendo gamer. Will PS4 and XBOX ONE even have 15 exclusive games combined after their first 14 months ?.

Like someone else said there is no single fix to the WiiU's problems but I feel the major two problems are the marketing and the price point. A price cut to $199 with a massive marketing campaign around the release of MK8 could bring about a total reversal in the consoles fortunes if done right but the marketing needs to be simple and to the point - "Did you enjoy Wii Sports / Party / Fit / NSMB and MK Wii ?, well for only $199 you can play all the new versions of these games including new versions of all your other Nintendo favourites in stunning HD..."

I do think ultimately this is what is going to happen as Iwata said they will look at the future of the console after the holiday sales (which going on Novembers NPD are awful). He also needs a plan going forward to present to investors as his job will be in jeopardy after missing his yearly console sales total by almost 4 million units.

 

[Anth0ny]

How would the market react if the GameCube price dropped to $99?

 

[metalslimer]

Do you have any examples of one person implying both of these things?

No one ever does

Some have mentioned software but I don't think that is an issue. In it's first twelve months on the market the console has had Nintendo Land, NSMB U, NSL U, ZombiU, Lego City Undercover, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Sonic Lost World, Wind Waker HD, Mario 3D World, Wii Sports HD, Wii Party U and Wii Fit U and DKC Tropical Freeze are set to arrive in the first two months of next year.

I don't know about anyone else but that is a fantastic and varied line up of exclusive games that cater to both the casual and the more core Nintendo gamer.

See this is a problem when you assume the casual audience cares about any of that lineup, and that the core Nintendo gamer is actually a substantial audience.

 

[erawsd]

The price really isn't the problem. It still lacks a library that has enough appeal for the masses, but I can see that changing next year. Another price drop + would certainly help a great deal.

See, this is what I don't understand. I see absolutely no reason to run out and get a PS4, but it's a really hot ticket item right now. I guess the promise of a great future is enough for a lot of people, even if there is a cheaper alternative with a better current library (which is subjective of course, but a fairly reasonable statement).

I'm sure the promise of a great future is massively important to early adopters.

I bought a PS4 because I have no doubts that the platform will provide a wide variety of great games over the next 5-6 years; They've delivered in every gen over the last ~20 years, so I have no reason to doubt them.

I have a Wii U as well, but thats only because I'm a huge Nintendo fan. I know that the selection will be very narrow and after the way Nintendo dropped support for the Wii, I don't even have long term confidence in it. I def wouldn't recommend anyone pick it up as their one and only next gen console.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Chapter's, a week ago or so, had been offering the wiiu at $219 and Walmart was offering a $40 gift card with the purchase of a wiiu. So at my store over I was price matching wiiu's, and effectively selling them for $189, because fuck profits and tis' the season and that. So anyway at that price I was able to move a significant portion of stock.

Does this mean at that price, the wiiu will hit wii like sales? No, I don't think so. But at that price I was able to move unmoveable stock and match the sales of the PS360.

I really do wonder how many people were shocked to find that their Wii U wasn't a tablet controller for the Wii.

 

[heyf00L]

I'd probably get one at $200.


Once the price drops really low and a lot of gamers start buying it finally, the early good games are going to be out of print and sell for a ton of money.

 

[Dr Mayonnaise]

I used to tell my self that if the WiiU dropped to 199.99 I would bite the bullet and pick one up, than I realized there is a reason I have not owned a Nintendo system since the NES. I have no desire to play mario, zelda, donkey kong, pokemon, metroid or any of the other on only Nintendo games. They almost got me with bayonetta 2 being WiiU only but one game isn't worth the price of admission (which is also the reason I have passed on XB1 for now). I know people that have a WiiU and are happy with it, but for me personally they could drop the price to 99.99 and I would still pass.

 

[SuperSah]

I'm a MASSIVE Nintendo fan, but £150 or no dice.

I see no reason to pay more than that for old tech.

 

[metalslimer]

I'd probably get one at $200.


Once the price drops really low and a lot of gamers start buying it finally, the early good games are going to be out of print and sell for a ton of money.

The good games will primarily be Nintendo's so I doubt they go out of print. I hope they do a W101 pack in at some point, that game sure seems like it deserved to sell more.

 

[isual]

It will be 199 eventually. But I think it'll be something like a 30 dollar cut to 220.

bought mine for 275 with tax included..I'd say its an ok purchase, but it was primarily for mh3u...

and that's still the only game i got for it alol.

oh. i meant i bought it at walmart for 249, but it's still 299 everywhere else. If it gets a price cut, it'll have to be 249 as the standard MSRP, then an eventual cut of 30 usd to 220.

and then, maybe after 2 more years it will be 199.

does anyone know how much did it cost nintendo to make one wiiu ?

 

[OnlyWonderBoy]

I don't really call people pointing out what a terrible value proposition the wii u is to them "shitting on" it. It's just it falls between ps4 and ps360 in price and when weighed against the choices Nintendo is in a difficult spot. And I'm not sure but what these podcasts mean by "best bet". Like you can actually find one and purchase it, lol? Or you own both a ps3 and a 360 and have played everything they have to offer so wii u has the most games available this holiday making it the best choice? Yeah I'm sure that describes the majority of holiday shoppers.

I meant compared to the Xbox One and PS4. By all means if you don't have a PS3 or 360 I can see it being more enticing than the Wii U, but at $200 there are certainly games worth playing for it.

 

[Dami3N]

at 199.. i would be close to buying it. at 138 its in my house

 

[Kouriozan]

Price is not the issue.
A unattractive product slightly cheaper won't do much.

Spoiler

Even at $99 it won't be worth it for some

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Does that hold true with regards to the massive casual audience that Nintendo are trying to educate about WiiU though ?.

Most people in this thread think there is no saving the console yet there is a large percentage of that 100+ million Wii audience who don't even know the system exists and if they do are put off by the rather heft $299 price tag. The Wii was $249 remember so the system is still $50 more expensive than the often talked about 'mass market' price point.

If that audience was interested in the Wii U, it would be evident even at current prices. If that audience remained interested in their Wiis, it would have been evident in software. Nintendo started losing that audience early in 2009, first slowly and then completely. Nearly five years have passed since the software peak. The audience has moved on, they're not coming back, or at least they're not coming back to Wii U based off any game that you can list.

I'll say it again, as I can almost guarantee you that if you can name the game, it's not selling Wii Us to the blue ocean.

 

[Shiggy]

It would still do badly. We already had the Wii U at less tahn €199. There's simply no demand for it and the 2014 lineup also doesn't really excite anyone outside of the audience which already has it. It's just more of the same.

 

[theprodigy]

I'm a MASSIVE Nintendo fan, but £150 or no dice.

I see no reason to pay more than that for old tech.

pfft you're just hating on the Wii U version of SSB4
/SmashGAF talk

 

[x3sphere]

Price was the issue for me, I finally was able to get one at $219 though so went and bought it. I can't justify $300 for a secondary console that'll mostly play Nintendo games, but around $200, then sure.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

It already kind of feels like it's $199-249ish. Idk how to explain it but there's these deals and bundles popping up regularly that make you feel like it's already around that price, or at least it's perceived value. What is it now, $299 for the 32 gig? I doubt the market would care if it went down to 199.

 

[H_Prestige]

I used to tell my self that if the WiiU dropped to 199.99 I would bite the bullet and pick one up, than I realized there is a reason I have not owned a Nintendo system since the NES. I have no desire to play mario, zelda, donkey kong, pokemon, metroid or any of the other on only Nintendo games. They almost got me with bayonetta 2 being WiiU only but one game isn't worth the price of admission (which is also the reason I have passed on XB1 for now). I know people that have a WiiU and are happy with it, but for me personally they could drop the price to 99.99 and I would still pass.

Yeah, they almost got with 3D World. Then I realized it would be a waste of money to buy a system for one game that will be fun for christmas but collect dust after that. The console doesn't do anything else my ps3 can't already do, and I'd much rather use my iphone for things the gamepad does. Future potential games are also lacking and the system has a high chance of being axed outright.

I'm sure others are thinking along the same lines and not so eager to buy into the platform.

 

[That1BlackGuy]

I don't think it would do much real talk, as the problems surrounding the Wii U extends far beyond the price alone. Mindshare wise, the price issue is the result of failing to show its value proposition which is a result in of itself from the other issues surrounding the Wii-U.

 

[x3sphere]

It already kind of feels like it's $199-249ish. Idk how to explain it but there's these deals and bundles popping up regularly that make you feel like it's already around that price. What is it now, $299 for the 32 gig? I doubt the market would care if it went down to 199.

In the US I've seen the Deluxe drop down to $250 before (Walmart and eBay had deals the last few months) but both times it sold out pretty quickly and I missed it.

 

[Woo-Fu]

The market wouldn't react because they wouldn't notice.

 

[Yawnier]

It already kind of feels like it's $199-249ish. Idk how to explain it but there's these deals and bundles popping up regularly that make you feel like it's already around that price, or at least it's perceived value. What is it now, $299 for the 32 gig? I doubt the market would care if it went down to 199.

Hell, even the basic 8GB model here in Canada was going for $150 at Target earlier this year....

 

[Apophis2036]

If that audience was interested in the Wii U, it would be evident even at current prices. If that audience remained interested in their Wiis, it would have been evident in software. Nintendo started losing that audience early in 2009, first slowly and then completely. Nearly five years have passed since the software peak. The audience has moved on, they're not coming back, or at least they're not coming back to Wii U based off any game that you can list.

I'll say it again, as I can almost guarantee you that if you can name the game, it's not selling Wii Us to the blue ocean.

But how can they be interested in something they have no idea exists and the people that do know it exists feel it's too expensive at $299 ?. They only paid $249 for Wii and that was a must have item.

This whole 'they have moved on' attitude is complete garbage imo, you cannot pigeon-hole 100+ million people like that. Sure a lot of the customers will have lost interest in gaming after Wii Sports / NSMB or migrated to smartphones and tablets but to say 100 million people all feel the same way is crazy to me. There is still a massive possible audience out there for WiiU but with the current marketing at the current price point it's out of reach.

Getting rid of the tablet controller which would allow them to drop to $199 might be the most important decision Iwata ever makes and going on the 2DS he isn't afraid to get rid of a systems USP if it means a drastic price cut.

 

[SuperSah]

pfft you're just hating on the Wii U version of SSB4
/SmashGAF talk

Um, okay.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

I really do wonder how many people were shocked to find that their Wii U wasn't a tablet controller for the Wii.

Lately I haven't been running into that many people who are unaware the wiiu is its own console. It was a huge problem for the longest time, but I have found lately that Nintendo has got the message out. Only rarely now (usually when a big title launches) do I still get returns of wiiu games in cases where the customer only has a wii.

 

[shem935]

Would say "$50 more and you have a deal"

 

[Nirolak]

Adored is probably pushing it. It's the same reason sequels to iOS games don't do nearly as well generally. This audience is constantly looking for something new, and the idea that Nintendo could ever get them back with direct sequels was always hilarious.

I feel the most notable sign of this is that most of the biggest iOS/Android games simply release one version and then update it continually.

There are a few exceptions at the $1-$3 price point (Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Toca Boca), but that's an endlessly easier pill to swallow than buying a new console with a new $60 game.

 

[kirby_fox]

Same way it reacted when it price dropped to $299: slight increase in sales.

The reaction on here will become "I'll buy it when it's $50" as it seems the pricepoint people will buy it at continues to drop as Nintendo drops the price themselves or there are sales that put it at or near the price point people want it at.

I have a feeling price isn't the problem.

 

[Dali]

I meant compared to the Xbox One and PS4. By all means if you don't have a PS3 or 360 I can see it being more enticing than the Wii U, but at $200 there are certainly games worth playing for it.

Compared to the new consoles it's still debatable if you like sports Sims, fps or racing games. Is the thinking supposed to go I can play Mario this Xmas so I should get a wii u completely ignoring future prospects? I just don't see how it being the holidays is enough to change the circumstances of the wii u and make it a clear choice.

 

[MarkusRJR]

They were on sale for $200 this Summer in Canada. I ended up getting one, but my friend who went with me thought I was crazy. There's just a major negative stigma around the box. Casual gamers either act confused as to what it is or tell me they stopped using their Wii years ago. Gaming enthusiasts tell me the machine has no compelling games or is a failure. I haven't seen such a negative stigma towards a brand since BlackBerry phones post 2010.

 

[Sons Of Anarchy]

Wasn't Costco selling these for $150 awhile back ?

 

[OriginalThinking]

Price isn't the problem.

Correction: Price is only part of the problem.

Marketing, 3rd party support, price, online strategy, Nintendo's strategy (what is it??)

There's a huge amount of work to do. At this point I'm not sure the situation is recoverable.

 

[RurouniZel]

Continued indifference I'm afraid.

 

[H_Prestige]

But how can they be interested in something they have no idea exists and the people that do know it exists feel it's too expensive at $299 ?. They only paid $249 for Wii and that was a must have item.

This whole 'they have moved on' attitude is complete garbage imo, you cannot pigeon-hole 100+ million people like that. Sure a lot of the customers will have lost interest in gaming after Wii Sports / NSMB or migrated to smartphones and tablets but to say 100 million people all feel the same way is crazy to me. There is still a massive possible audience out there for WiiU but with the current marketing at the current price point it's out of reach.

Getting rid of the tablet controller which would allow them to drop to $199 might be the most important decision Iwata ever makes and going on the 2DS he isn't afraid to get rid of a systems USP if it means a drastic price cut.

Just because something isn't selling, doesn't mean people don't know it exists.

Do people not know the Vita exists? Did the Dreamcast bomb because people just didn't know about it?

The Wii U is out there in stores. It's displayed prominently at best buys, walmarts, etc. and has demo stations. Shoppers there see it. They'd just rather buy something else. It's that simple.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

But how can they be interested in something they have no idea exists and the people that do know it exists feel it's too expensive at $299 ?. They only paid $249 for Wii and that was a must have item.

This whole 'they have moved on' attitude is complete garbage imo, you cannot pigeon-hole 100+ million people like that. Sure a lot of the customers will have lost interest in gaming after Wii Sports / NSMB or migrated to smartphones and tablets but to say 100 million people all feel the same way is crazy to me. There is still a massive possible audience out there for WiiU but with the current marketing at the current price point it's out of reach.

Getting rid of the tablet controller which would allow them to drop to $199 might be the most important decision Iwata ever makes and going on the 2DS he isn't afraid to get rid of a systems USP if it means a drastic price cut.

You can comfortably pigeon-hole software, which fell off a cliff for Wii. I can't account for every consumer, but buying habits don't lie. I am not going to blame promotion for Wii U's ills, either, because that's a cop-out. Either a product is desired, or it isn't. Word of mouth is the best publicity of all, and Wii U just doesn't have it.

Go ahead, get rid of the gamepad. Drop the price. Unless you have another new feature to capture the imagination, it's not going to make a difference to the majority of the 100 million users. They're not coming back for Smash Brothers and Mario Kart. They're not coming back for another Wii Sports, the very game that got them to the dance in the first place. I'll repeat it again, if you can name it, it's not selling the Wii U. Nintendo has the unenviable task of either finding that next bolt of lightning (the rock), or figuring out how to once again compete for the core gamer (the hard place), or maybe they'll opt out and take a different strategy entirely that might not have anything to do with games (maybe they have an idea of what can be the next iPod).

 

[Apophis2036]

Just because something isn't selling, doesn't mean people don't know it exists.

Do people not know the Vita exists? Did the Dreamcast bomb because people just didn't know about it?

The Wii U is out there in stores. It's displayed prominently at best buys, walmarts, etc. and has demo stations. Shoppers there see it. They'd just rather buy something else. It's that simple.

Then why are so many people under the impression that WiiU is a tablet add on for the Wii or the many people that are buying WiiU games and trying to play them on their Wii ?.

You can comfortably pigeon-hole software, which fell off a cliff for Wii. I can't account for every consumer, but buying habits don't lie. I am not going to blame promotion for Wii U's ills, either, because that's a cop-out. Either a product is desired, or it isn't. Word of mouth is the best publicity of all, and Wii U just doesn't have it.

I'm not saying for a second WiiU will sell anything like 100 million but if they work hard on educating even 25% of those people that WiiU is indeed a new console and plays new versions of all the games they enjoyed aswell as playing all of their old games and accessories I think they could potentially sell far more units than they currently are and even surpass the Gamecube total although that is a poor 'achievement' after selling 100+ million last gen.

 

[H_Prestige]

Then why are so many people under the impression that WiiU is a tablet add on for the Wii or the many people that are buying WiiU games and trying to play them on their Wii ?.

Wait, I thought you said nobody knew of its existence?

Ok, let's assume people know of it, but mistakenly believe it is a tablet controller for the Wii. Guess what, they're still not buying it. So how would clarifying that it also comes with a brand new system make them want to buy it? Whether people know exactly what it is, or whether they think it is an add on, either way they don't give a crap.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

Correction: Price is only part of the problem.

Marketing, 3rd party support, price, online strategy, Nintendo's strategy (what is it??)

There's a huge amount of work to do. At this point I'm not sure the situation is recoverable.

Yep, absolutely agree with you. I'd say price is the biggest issue facing the wiiu, followed closely with their public awareness.

In Canada, or BC and North Western US at least, Nintendo's marketing of the wiiu is completely nonexistent. Nintendo has put the job of building public awareness squarely on the shoulders of brick and mortar retail workers. Hell I can't even remember the last time I saw a Nintendo TV commercial, and as a father of two small boys I should be a market Nintendo is trying to reach. Why they don't have TV spots on children's networks (In Canada being Treehouse, Ytv, etc) or even during regular children programming is beyond me. Nintendo's handling of the WiiU from start to finish has been hilariously inept.

 

[Respawn]

A collective yawn.

Lol this made me laugh.

 

[Giant Panda]

Such a move would allow the Wii U to reach GameCube levels of sales probably, but it would seriously hurt Nintendo financially in the process.

 

[18-Volt]

A price drop would affect nothing. Wii U needs tons of third party exclusive titles if it needs to be sold.

 

[dantevsninjas]

I was thinking of getting one at some point in the next few months, thinking it would have probably already dropped to at least $250. $150-199 is going to be the buy point for me. I can't justify $300 to myself given what happened with my original Wii in later years.

 

[Blearth]

Then why are so many people under the impression that WiiU is a tablet add on for the Wii or the many people that are buying WiiU games and trying to play them on their Wii ?.

Is there any hard proof that name confusion is a huge deal? Or just a few anecdotes?

 

[bidguy]

150 and a free game would make me buy it

 

[oSoLucky]

Then why are so many people under the impression that WiiU is a tablet add on for the Wii or the many people that are buying WiiU games and trying to play them on their Wii ?.



I'm not saying for a second WiiU will sell anything like 100 million but if they work hard on educating even 25% of those people that WiiU is indeed a new console and plays new versions of all the games they enjoyed aswell as playing all of their old games and accessories I think they could potentially sell far more units than they currently are and even surpass the Gamecube total although that is a poor 'achievement' after selling 100+ million last gen.

The Wii was a lighting in a bottle fad, that is all. The Wii U has just fallen in line with where Nintendo Consoles that can't play Pokemon have been headed for a long time. The rest of the industry will be better for what innovations Nintendo do has brought with the console(Wouldn't be surprised to see PS Home become more like Miiverse), but the console won't sell much. Is just a fact that you get used to as a Nintendo fan.

 

[The Albatross]

I'd see the gaf thread, say, "oh that's good." And scroll past it.

 

[erawsd]

But how can they be interested in something they have no idea exists and the people that do know it exists feel it's too expensive at $299 ?. They only paid $249 for Wii and that was a must have item.

This whole 'they have moved on' attitude is complete garbage imo, you cannot pigeon-hole 100+ million people like that. Sure a lot of the customers will have lost interest in gaming after Wii Sports / NSMB or migrated to smartphones and tablets but to say 100 million people all feel the same way is crazy to me. There is still a massive possible audience out there for WiiU but with the current marketing at the current price point it's out of reach.

Getting rid of the tablet controller which would allow them to drop to $199 might be the most important decision Iwata ever makes and going on the 2DS he isn't afraid to get rid of a systems USP if it means a drastic price cut.

I think the key question here is: What drew those people to the Wii? Was it because of games or was it because of this seemingly amazing and exciting new control method? Personally, I think it was def the latter. The WiiU's controller doesn't carry that same excitement, everybody already has a cellphone that delivers a superior touch screen experience.

If you remove that WiiU controller then you're left with a PS360 with a much slimmer games library.

 

[Matrix XII]

I think dropping the price to 199.99 will help the Wii U out significantly.

As of now, the price for performance of hardware is just not there when you compare it to PS360, but at 199.99 it becomes a much more attractive option.

The Wii U has some solid games that should be generating interest, but I think that the majority of Wii U owners that classify as casual gamers, will not go out and spend 300+ on a gaming system. The price drop would bring it below the threshold for those casual gamers to start purchasing the system.

In no way will the Wii U even remotely garner the success the original Wii did, but they need to make this console affordable, and right now, it is not.

Personally, I would love to get one, but since buying the PS4 and 3DS, I can't justify spending 300+ on the Wii U. If it was in the range of 149.99-199.99, it would be a lot more attractive to me as a customer.

I really hope the Wii U is able to pick up some traction, it's good for gaming in general when everyone is doing well.

 

[Rockandrollclown]

The Wii was a lighting in a bottle fad, that is all. The Wii U has just fallen in line with where Nintendo Consoles that can't play Pokemon have been headed for a long time. The rest of the industry will be better for what innovations Nintendo do has brought with the console(Wouldn't be surprised to see PS Home become more like Miiverse), but the console won't sell much. Is just a fact that you get used to as a Nintendo fan.

This, its like people forget the sales of Nintendo consoles prior to the Wii. The N64 and GC didn't set the world on fire and they had plenty of Nintendo first party support. Wii Sports captured the imagination of many a non gamer, the kind of gamer that was obsessed with Pac Man in the 80s. These people do not necessarily game consistently, only when the fad comes around that gets them into it.