Is the Wii now the most expensive console?
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 at 4:15pm by Jack
My brethren over at Gizmodo make a valid point today concerning the Wii and its growing stockpile of accessories. Basically, with the MotionPlus attachment, the Wii Speak attachment, and several Wiimotes for every system, you have yourself more than just a little clutter—you have an empty wallet too.
They use a few variables, add in two- or four- controller set-ups (the Wii is a family room system, remember?), and add in MotionPlus, and what we get is an interesting, if not deceptively expensive picture. Fully equipped, the Wii is now slightly more expensive to own than an Xbox 360, but still slightly less expensive than a PS3. Forgo MotionPlus, and it’s the cheapest overall. Surprised? I’m not. As the owner of several accessories and a packed “Wii TV stand bin,” I understand completely. Video games are expensive, some more than others.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I also have a giant former-laundry basket filled with gaming accessories…but those date as far back as the SNES mouse/mousepad. Luckily the console itself is so much cheaper, and the games still retail for $10 less than others.
I actually remember my roommate at launch who didn’t like the cost of the remotes. I responded, “The remotes cost more…but I only have to buy four of those…I plan on owning well over four games. Don’t you?” It seems okay because one the savings inherent in cheaper games.
Basically saying that, yeah…the controllers are overpriced…but you make it back in games. Now if we could just get some more games coming this year.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Games are cheaper for the Wii. For the most part you don’t need 4 controllers either. Many games allow you to hand one around. Not ideal, but a good solution. I see myself getting 2 Wii plus attachments.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Tell me about it!! I’ve got so far:
2 zappers
2 sterring wheels
2 wiimotes
2 nunchucks
1 Wiifit pad
1 Drum (rockband)
1 guitar (rockband)
2 usb hubs
2 classic controllers
20 wii games
bout 50 wiiwares-virtual consoles titles as well.
It has been the most expensive system I’ve owed so far. But man do I have a major arcade at home!! My friends who have either the ps3 or the 360 come over to my place to play the wii! lmao They are amazed and love to play with all these gadgets, and so do I
July 16th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
The title should really read “The Wii is the most Versatile Console.”
All these accessories exist…and you are not forced to purchase any of them. You can do without them quite frankly. But it’s nice to have many options that you can pick and choose what you want.
On another note…which is it? Are there too many accessories or not enough since some people are still whining about a hard drive? There’s too much, but there’s not enough, cuz I want I want I want.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Wait, WiiMotion Plus Stand-alone doesn’t have a price point. One included with Wii Sports 2 is $50 for both game and extra.
Also, a 360 doesn’t come with a wi-fi adapter as standard, so THAT has to be added to the equation (since the Wii is wi-fi enabled out of the box).
July 16th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
This situation was going to happen, in the begining, with a hardware as poor in technologicals terms, obviously Nintendo was going to sell us all kind of stuff for the wii, I wanted a mic. as minimun, and until now they sell it.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Good job! It reminds me of an article I wrote a couple years ago:
http://www.infendo.com/all/the-impact-of-an-expensive-controller/
When you have friends and family that want to play multiplayer games and you have games that require different accessories, all that money adds up! You lose the price value of your console.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Microsoft is even worse. 100 bux for a Wi Fi dongle and 50 to game online is a ridiculous after system cost.
The 80 gig PS3 is looking more and more attractive.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Let’s see. I paid 250 dollars for my Wii, and 35 dollars for WiiPlay that came with an extra controller, and i think 15 bucks or so for an extra nun-chuck for the second controller. And besides games that’s it. Sounds pretty inexpensive to me.
Now, IF I want to play some other games that require additional controllers, or whatnot, than I can go ahead and make the EXTRA purchases, but that is totally optional. I don’t buy this whole “Wii is expensive” argument because of the cost of the extras.
Extras are just that Extras. Not required, so they shouldn’t be counted in the price of the system.
I’m perfectly happy with my basic Wii, two controllers and lots of great (and less expensive than other system) games that work on my Wii just the way it is.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Sigh, I thought people had figured out back when all the systems were new that comparisons like this do nothing but rile fanboys. It’s a poorly done comparison done on incomplete information. BS through and through.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Wii has the lowest entry price. Everthing else is optional. If you feel that you need to count 3 extra remotes and nunchucks as a cost to get the full experience of a party system then you should count Xbox Live account fees and digital downloads as part of the 360’s and PS3’s role as a “media hub.”
I belive Tycho from Penny Arcade calls this “hater economics.”
July 16th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I agree that Wii can end up being a money pit if you feel obligated to buy all the accessories. Especially once you start getting into useless (but nice feeling) stuff like the steering wheel!
But in the interest of Nintendo fanboys, it’s also worth mentioning that:
(1) Very few (if any?) four player games require each player to have their own nunchuck. I don’t know anyone with more than two nunchucks, and most party games tend to use just the Wiimote.
(2) Because the Wii is the most commonly owned console, it’s the easiest to get friends to bring their own controllers over for a gaming session — and the Wiimote is actually designed to do that, carrying your Mii data with you.
(3) The same argument as (2) can be made against owning four MotionPlus add-ons, especially given that no games use it yet.
(4) Both other consoles have seen hefty price cuts while Wii is still sitting at it’s launch price. If demand was lower, the Wii would be dropping in price too… unfortunately for consumers, that hasn’t been the case.
(5) You need games to play before the controllers even matter. Wii comes with a pack-in (the others don’t) and each additional game is cheaper than either competitor.
(6) They forgot to add in the cost or replacing Sixaxis pack-ins. Burn!
July 16th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Honestly, even if it is the most expensive, will it matter? Nintendo will most likely sell everything they make until the end of the console cycle anyways, so it makes sense on their part to make the Wii just as pricey as the other concoles.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Well, after these negative reactions, I wanted to assure everyone that it was still a great little thought-experiment. Actually, pre-launch I remember comparing what I got for Wii for the same price as a the launch PS3. It was pretty outrageously different.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I think $250 still gets you the best value. You have an online capable video game console that comes with a game. I don’t see the other systems offering that.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
pretty good article, i think to get the most out of the system, yes it is the most. but the entry cost is pretty cheap compared to others.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Digg it
http://digg.com/nintendo/Is_the_Wii_now_the_most_expensive_console
July 17th, 2008 at 2:31 am
I knew when I bought my Wii that it’d be a large of investment. But honestly, none of the accessories you mentioned are technically required, so….
But I get your point. Still, it comes with the territory.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:49 am
So you throw in all sorts of accessories for Wii and compare it to a bare-bones PS3 or 360?
The comparison doesn’t seem valid…
July 17th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I’m going to have to agree with the better buy-in argument. I find many of the accessories pretty cool for the Wii, but in the end they aren’t mandatory. The Wii Wheels I have were included with Mario Kart or were given as a gift, and I’ve long since absorbed the cost of a single Classic Controller.
I guess bottom line is, if you don’t want to buy the Wii’s accessories, you aren;t forced into doing so.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
In a perfect world every Wii owner would have 4 Wiimotes, 4 nunchucks, 4 classic controllers, 4 balance boards, 4 zappers, 4 motion plus attachments and 4 tennis racket attachments to put on top of your Wiimotes (cant play Wii sports without them).
But unfortunatley not everyone is made of money.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:58 pm
You don’t need extra controllers for other players when playing online. Now if only we had more online games.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I personally find it easier to play without the tennis racket.