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[BurntPork]

Hahaha, Nintendo launched the Wii at 249 €/$, it sold for 400 bucks at ebay etc.

I don´t think they will get the same attention, but i assume there will be people buying it in launchperiod at a pricepoint like 349 or 399 if they amaze people with new ideas and promote the shit out of it.

And if it is powerfull, if they moneyhat in the west and in the east, i don´t see your problems people

Superiour DQ X in Japan, Nintendo IPs with badass grafics, new casual titles, perhaps some big IPs for the west. I wouldn´t be blown away too much by a pretty big western title to be exclusive for the WiiU. Iwata will show his balls.

Look at japan, they have every grande franchise for the 3DS, even 2 MH Games (Vita has none), and all the usual PSP stuff. Iwata has to invest in the rest of the world too. He said. He will.

There were probably only a million or so people who bought it at those high eBay prices (and that's probably generous), and that was only because of it being sold out there being no other way to get it it. If DS had gotten the prelaunch hype and short supply that Wii did, it would have been selling for $300-400 on eBay as well. Does that mean that 3DS would have been a hit if that had happened? I don't think so. It's true that the Wii was underpriced based on its demand, and that's part of why Wii U definitely won't be $250.

But fine, I'll admit that $350 is a possibility and that MAYBE it won't flop at that price. (But it WILL flop at $400, end of discussion.) However, since both Sony and MS will almost assuredly announce their new consoles next year before Wii U's release and will likely use CGI tech demos to show levels of graphics Wii U could never dream of, which will make many "hardcore" gamers decide to wait. To the "hardcore" audience, Nintendo has a lot more to prove than you seem to realize. Nintendo can't take the risk of depending on "hardcore" gamers for sales, especially now.

Also, all of you seem to have forgotten the Iwata said that he's worried that the swift price cut on 3DS would cause people to think the same will happen with Wii U and will hurt launch sales. Based on that, you think Nintendo is actually planning to do just that? Are you insane? They'll never have a good launch again! They're almost definitely going to aim for a reasonable price, even if they have to cut corners to do so.

 

[guek]

You need marketing, games, mass market pricing, games, and hardware people want.

And games.

You can't afford to take any of these things for granted, even if your hardware is just a new, appealing controller.

Of all those, I'd say pricing is of the most varying importance, though it's effects are easiest to determine and use. It's not about a dollar number but rather value perception. Ipads are ridiculously priced...I think any sane company would see such a product on paper and price it much lower. But apple gets away with it with ease because their perceived value is so high.

The same thing occurred with the wii. Based on specs alone, any outside analyst would have said it was worth pricing lower than $250, but in hindsight nintendo lost out on a lot of money by not pricing it even higher at $300-350. The perceived product value was much greater than anyone anticipated.

The real 1-2 punch is going to be product functionality and perceived value. Does the product function as advertised? If so, what's the value of that function? Of course, software is all a part of that product model. I hope for their sake they have a new game in the pipeline that'll serve as a new wii spirts/fit

 

[Bending_Unit_22]

Hahaha, Nintendo launched the Wii at 249 €/$, it sold for 400 bucks at ebay etc.

Just want to point out to similar comments that you can't say that because the Wii was released at $250 and was so wanted that people would pay $400 on ebay for it that had Nintendo launched it at $400 they would have sold out and reaped the profits. Part of why the Wii was so wanted in the first place was it's price compared to competitors and that it was basically an impulse buy for many people hooked by Wii Sports. Impulses have a way of morphing into irrational must have. It's likely Nintendo would have gotten more profit in the first year doing that but it would have been at the expense of long-term profits.

I have no real proof of course but I wouldn't be surprised at all if the 3DS was priced to take advantage of that notion and as a result was nearly stillborn.

PS2 managed to sell for the first several months of its life with bad hardware, not a great price, and no games just based on having DVD and the name. It can happen.

I'm thinking you answered why it's an anomaly, one of those being much much more important than the other and not something any video game system will likely ever see again. Also, given the bolded the price wasn't bad at all.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I said earlier that Nintendo should include the Bird and the mysterious Japanese Street graphics demo pre-installed in the Wii U, I'd kill to see both demos in their final form and not just have to stick with the video of the Bird demo from E3 which wasn't even the improved version on the show floor.

The thing on the Japanese streets wasn't a graphics demo, it was an actual video-recording of a busy Japanese street and you could use the controller to see 360 degrees around you, as well as looking up or down. That demo was making a point about the capabilities of the controller, not the console. Just a minor correction...


But yes, I would love for both things to be pre-programmed into the Wii U. Money has already been spent making them, and they're interactive to some extent, so I don't see why not. Or at least offer them as free downloads in their e-shop.

 

[MDX]

Just want to point out to similar comments that you can't say that because the Wii was released at $250 and was so wanted that people would pay $400 on ebay for it that had Nintendo launched it at $400 they would have sold out and reaped the profits. Part of why the Wii was so wanted in the first place was it's price compared to competitors and that it was basically an impulse buy for many people hooked by Wii Sports.

I dont think people bought the Wii because it was cheaper than its competitors. When it was released, it had no 'perceived' competitors. It was in a "blue ocean". The question is, will the new controller set it in another blue ocean. If so, it can be a successful product with a high price tag.

 

[Bending_Unit_22]

I dont think people bought the Wii because it was cheaper than its competitors. When it was released, it had no 'perceived' competitors. It was in a "blue ocean". The question is, will the new controller set it in another blue ocean. If so, it can be a successful product with a high price tag.

Part of being "Blue Ocean" is being priced for the blue ocean. Otherwise you short circuit the blue ocean impulse buy at start since "well it's neat, but $400 (or more)? ehhhh....". The comparison to competitors is more for other buyers since it wasn't just new gamers, or Nintendo fans interested in it and it all added to demand.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

I agree that marketing will be everything, out of the gate at least. Then you'll need the hardware and the games and all that other important stuff to keep any sort of momentum alive. With that said I still think Wii-U is a stupid name, and is going to be a lot harder to market than Wii-2 or something.

 

[guek]

imo, Wii U is about as stupid as Xbox360.

It's certainly not as dumb as "wii" was when that was first announced, and people got over that pretty fast.

 

[AceBandage]

The problem isn't that it's called Wii-U, so much as the fact that Wii itself is such a tainted brand.
No clue why they would want to continue with it.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

The problem isn't that it's called Wii-U, so much as the fact that Wii itself is such a tainted brand.
No clue why they would want to continue with it.

They aren't thinking it through, that's why. They're simplistically thinking "oh wii sold a lot, so we must keep the wii name for brand recognition so wii-u can sell a lot", not realizing that the wii as a brand name is dying.

It's just nintendo's weirdness. That's what I refer to as their many quirks in decision making, "nintendo's typical weirdness". The things that either seem stupid and have obvious results, or seem stupid but turn out successful and then nintendo goes herp derp told you so.

imo, Wii U is about as stupid as Xbox360.

It's certainly not as dumb as "wii" was when that was first announced, and people got over that pretty fast.

it has nothing to do with the name sounding stupid though, it's the fact that people are starting to care less and less about the "wii" so it will be much harder to convince them to invest in something more expensive called the "wii"-U.

 

[walking fiend]

The problem isn't that it's called Wii-U, so much as the fact that Wii itself is such a tainted brand.
No clue why they would want to continue with it.

what? Mind you, every game that targets Wii demographic, dominates on the Wii still from data we have; and core gamers, they'll be a lot faster to adapt to a new system despite its name, as we learned from PSP, PS3 and 360.

 

[Dash Kappei]

Lol deep down I still hope for a name change
Which will never happen
I just don't see how they want to cater to the so called hardcore crowd with a maligned brand such as is the Wii one. But hey, I think you either need a number (even Apple which only does iteration instead of "pure" follow ups, uses iPhone 4, iPad 2 and so on) or a whole new name (Gamecube, Wii, Vita...) when launching a new hardware, or it'll be like the 3DS confusion all over again. Wait, but the 3DS *has* a number... Well, then what I meant is a number at the end, like DS3... I need to go to bed I guess?

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

My only concern with the name is that it doesn't readily communicate that it's Nintendo's next generation console. It's much more in line with something like PS3 slim or 360 S. I think Nintendo needs to make it clear through their marketing that this is an entirely different system from the Wii, not an upgrade to it. Having a launch color that isn't white or black would be very beneficial as people tend to associate the two (especially white) with the Wii console. I think a sort of retro light-gray could work well. I also think emphasizing the graphical boost will be important, since Nintendo has released so many additional controllers and peripherals for the Wii (classic controller, Wii Wheel, Wii Speak, MotionPlus, Wii Zapper, classic controller pro, Balance Board, and Nunchuk) that the Wii U controller will come off as just another alternate control scheme. The fact that Wii games still play on Wii U and Wii controllers can still be used do nothing to help Nintendo here, although it's obviously a nice feature to have.

Considering that Wii was initially unveiled in a very similar, teaser-ish fashion at 2005 E3 as "Revolution", I would be totally unsurprised to see Nintendo unveil a new name at some point. They seem to have been treating Wii U as a final name thus far, though.

 

[TheNatural]

The problem isn't that it's called Wii-U, so much as the fact that Wii itself is such a tainted brand.
No clue why they would want to continue with it.

Brand don't matter. From XBox to XBox 360, the XBox which was destroyed by the Playstation 2. Sony had the top "brand" name of any console and fell hard with the PS3. It really doesn't seem to matter console to console. People are going to buy a console on what it offers, not on name.

 

[Truth101]

My only concern with the name is that it doesn't readily communicate that it's Nintendo's next generation console. It's much more in line with something like PS3 slim or 360 S. I think Nintendo needs to make it clear through their marketing that this is an entirely different system from the Wii, not an upgrade to it. Having a launch color that isn't white or black would be very beneficial as people tend to associate the two (especially white) with the Wii console. I think a sort of retro light-gray could work well. I also think emphasizing the graphical boost will be important, since Nintendo has released so many additional controllers and peripherals for the Wii (classic controller, Wii Wheel, Wii Speak, MotionPlus, Wii Zapper, classic controller pro, Balance Board, and Nunchuk) that the Wii U controller will come off as just another alternate control scheme. The fact that Wii games still play on Wii U and Wii controllers can still be used do nothing to help Nintendo here, although it's obviously a nice feature to have.

Considering that Wii was initially unveiled in a very similar, teaser-ish fashion at 2005 E3 as "Revolution", I would be totally unsurprised to see Nintendo unveil a new name at some

point. They seem to have been treating Wii U as a final name thus far, though.

How is it any different than-

Xbox --> Xbox 360

PS1 --> PS2 --> PS3

Gameboy --> Gameboy Color --> Gameboy Advance

Marketing is what matters, and is what creates perception.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

How is it any different than-

Xbox --> Xbox 360

PS1 --> PS2 --> PS3

Gameboy --> Gameboy Color --> Gameboy Advance

Marketing is what matters, and is what creates perception.

generally it's easy for the average consumer to equate new number to new console.

Xbox to xbox 360 --> new number added
PS2 to PS3 --> new number added
iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 --> new number added
ipad 1 to ipad 2 --> new number

PS3 Slim = same console, 360 S same console. Wii U, same console. Oh wait no it's not lolol.

 

[Touch]

generally it's easy for the average consumer to equate new number to new console.

PS3 Slim = same console, 360 S same console. Wii U, same console. Oh wait no it's not lolol.

NES > SNES? That seemed to work out just fine

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

How is it any different than-

Xbox --> Xbox 360

PS1 --> PS2 --> PS3

Gameboy --> Gameboy Color --> Gameboy Advance

Marketing is what matters, and is what creates perception.

Because adding a number to your product indicates that it's the successor to what came before. You don't even need to market it as such, the name does so itself. Therefore, PS2 and PS3 as well as 360 (which was only named such so that it wouldn't make "Xbox 2" seem inferior to "PS3") have no problem indicating that they are the next leap from what came before.

Similarly, the addition of "Color" and "Advance" both indicate, with name alone, that they offer features that the predecessor didn't and you can even get an idea of what those features are just with their names.

What Wii U lacks is any sort of suggestion that it is inherently better rather than just different. Wii U is MUCH more in line with things like DSLite, DSi, 360 S, and PS3 Slim. In fact, the title exactly replicates DSi and 360 S by adding one letter to the name of an existing console. Nothing about the name suggests that it does anything objectively better than the Wii. The name Wii U requires the consumer to actively find out how it is better. It doesn't immediately communicate new control schemes, stronger graphics, or enhanced connectivity. How that could possibly benefit Nintendo is beyond me. Some will readily understand that it's the next Nintendo system, and some will be confused and think it's just a tablet controller or is "Wii HD" or something. After all, most consumers don't watch E3 conferences or read Neogaf. They know a new system is out when they see it on a shelf and what Nintendo risks is that consumers will see this on a shelf and not realize it's a new system rather than a revision of what exists.

I think they have everything to gain and nothing to lose from re-naming the console.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

NES > SNES? That seemed to work out just fine

SUPER is even better than a new number. Who wouldn't buy a SUPER PLAYSTATION, SUPER XBOX, SUPER IPHONE, SUPER IPAD, SUPER WIIIIIIIIIIIII.

 

[Touch]

SUPER is even better than a new number. Who wouldn't buy a SUPER PLAYSTATION, SUPER XBOX, SUPER IPHONE, SUPER IPAD, SUPER WIIIIIIIIIIIII.

I'm just saying it worked out great and wasn't a new number. I still think they should have called this thing the Super Wii.

 

[guek]

it has nothing to do with the name sounding stupid though, it's the fact that people are starting to care less and less about the "wii" so it will be much harder to convince them to invest in something more expensive called the "wii"-U.

eh, I really think you're overestimating consumer memory. It wont matter how much wii has faded into memory. The brand was never tarnished so it can definitely still be reused. Are you suggesting that they named it something completely different? Cuz establishing a new brand is a pretty tall order. The definitely made the right call with continued use of the brand name.

And as far as Wii-U vs. Wii 2 is concerned, while I think Wii 2 would have worked better, it'll all eventually come down to marketing. They really need to push that it's something new and not just some kind of peripheral upgrade.

 

[Touch]

On the topic of marketing, how much should Nintendo market the fact that this new console can work with Wiimotes/motion control? I know they have to sell this to the customers as a new experience but I think it's rather important.

 

[antonz]

On the topic of marketing, how much should Nintendo market the fact that this new console can work with Wiimotes/motion control? I know they have to sell this to the customers as a new experience but I think it's rather important.

I think the best approach might be to make a multipurpose commercials. Show the "hardcore" gamer doing all his COD etc style games with the tablet and then jump over to showing casual uses and the party elements using wiimotes etc

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

eh, I really think you're overestimating consumer memory. It wont matter how much wii has faded into memory. The brand was never tarnished so it can definitely still be reused. Are you suggesting that they named it something completely different? Cuz establishing a new brand is a pretty tall order. The definitely made the right call with continued use of the brand name.

And as far as Wii-U vs. Wii 2 is concerned, while I think Wii 2 would have worked better, it'll all eventually come down to marketing. They really need to push that it's something new and not just some kind of peripheral upgrade.

No, I said above, I suggest they name it the Wii-2. Much easier to explain through marketing.

 

[The_Endgamer]

Though Wii 2 is an ideal name for the Wii U instead is anyone factoring in that both Xbox and Playstation use larger numbers?

Calling the U a Wii 2 would be perceived as a whole lot less powerful than a PS3 because of it's higher numerical value.
This would be greatly exacerbated with the naming of the PS4 which would also be presumably much more powerful which would further extend the inferiority of the Wii U's capabilities if it were to be given the name Wii 2.

Just sayin' ...

 

[likeGdid]

Super Wii would have gotten the point across as well.

 

[AceBandage]

I still say Nintendo would have been the perfect name.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

I still say Nintendo would have been the perfect name.

gotta save that for the final nintendo product

oh wait that is the wii-u!!!

 

[AceBandage]

gotta save that for the final nintendo product

oh wait that is the wii-u!!!

Oh you.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

The name should be obvious

There's two screens

It's a Nintendo product

It's built for family fun

The Nintendo 4DS

There is no possible way that could cause confusion

 

[Touch]

I think the best approach might be to make a multipurpose commercials. Show the "hardcore" gamer doing all his COD etc style games with the tablet and then jump over to showing casual uses and the party elements using wiimotes etc

I'm just hoping marketing doesn't come out to cluttered. With the Wii Nintendo pushed motion controls and the new way to play. It was the entire basis of the platform. Now Nintendo has the Wii U which use both a new controller with a new way to play and still uses the motion controls.

I don't know. It seems like a rough process to me. I think information might get lost, cause for confusion and might come off as something that's not that "new".

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

The name should be obvious

There's two screens

It's a Nintendo product

It's built for family fun

The Nintendo 4DS

There is no possible way that could cause confusion

lol then we'll get a TWO hundred price drop after a few months

Also nintendo's versions of "core" commercials frighten me. That starfox commercial is an attempt at making one. I find it offensive as a human being, let alone a male.

 

[Hiltz]

NES > SNES? That seemed to work out just fine

The interesting thing about the NES is that Nintendo designed the console to look less like a typical home console and more like a home appliance. In addition, naming it an "entertainment system" instead of a game system/ home console further helped separate its product from being associated with the failures of past competitor home consoles and the flooding of the market.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

They should call it the Nintendo Revolution. Codename "Wii."

Just to screw with everyone.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

New Nintendo Entertainment System

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Nintendo should copy the NGP. Make it the NG-WII. Next Generation Wii.

 

[TheExplodingHead]

When it comes to branding it really comes down to association more than anything that decides if a product will be associated with the last product and sell accordingly...in the mass consumers' eyes. The problem with the "Wii brand" is that it has a wide array of negative and positive associations, from online to target demographics to "console image". There's a big problem that Nintendo faces with that branding trying to piggyback on the Wii name with the U. Same with the 3DS, just to a lesser extent and after buying a 3DS I'm not satisfied with the full feature set, service and library so far.

That said, I find it hard to believe that Nintendo will rival a PS2/Wii position with the U. I think they'll be lucky to achieve a GC-to-Wii in between position. But if Nintendo can embrace and deliver a service and product that people want (online/library/innovation/features) they'll do better than the N64 and GC. But pricing this thing $300 or less is key imo.

 

[Touch]

Nintendo should copy the NGP. Make it the NG-WII. Next Generation Wii.

NG-WII sounds like a weapon of mass destruction.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Nintendo should copy the NGP.

Nintendo-brand SD cards that cost $200!

 

[guek]

No, I said above, I suggest they name it the Wii-2. Much easier to explain through marketing.

o...k...it seemed like you were making a comment on the branding. For the record, I agree that Wii 2 would be a better name. I just don't agree that Wii U is necessarily bad for the reasons you described.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Nintendo-brand SD cards that cost $200!

no you won't need SD cards, the system comes with plenty of hard drive spa....


...LOOollllllllll

Alright alright I'm done.

 

[Onion_Relish]

lol then we'll get a TWO hundred price drop after a few months

Also nintendo's versions of "core" commercials frighten me. That starfox commercial is an attempt at making one. I find it offensive as a human being, let alone a male.

SUPER NOVA

OH CLOAKING DEVICE YOU CANT SEE ME, WHERE DID I GO

This is why people still think video games are for kids. Give everyone a top hat, a monocle and a fine bone china full of english breakfast and maybe this commercial would have some dignity

 

[TheExplodingHead]

Nintendo-brand SD cards that cost $200!

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a console that ditches discs in favor of a flash-type format for physical media...

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Nintendo-brand SD cards that cost $200!

Wounds are still fresh man.

 

[snesfreak]

No no no, the actual perfect name for it is.
THE GOD DAMN NINTENDO!

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I think Nintendo's best strategy would be to do something like they did with the Game Boy Advance: keep the basic name, but add a word that definitively implies that it is an enhancement on the previous system. So basically like "Super Wii"... just using a more mass-market friendly word than super because no 40 year old is going to purchase a product with "Super" in the title.


That said, I can already see Nintendo's Wii U marketing strategy...

"Wii U... it's

Universal

[cut to old guy playing with his two grandchildren]

Unique

[cut to some tech demo game with the tablet]

Unifying

[cut to dad watching sports while his son leans against him playing mario on the tablet]

...It's yoU
[cut to system features like miis and download service, etc]"


You're welcome Nintendo. I only accept cash.

 

[Diffense]

If they really wanted to stick with the Wii name any of
Wii 2
Wii tU
Wii nU
would have been preferable to communicate that it's the next Wii.
Wii U is like Wii Motion+ or Wii Speak: something added to the Wii.
The name might have added to the post-E3 confusion about what exactly it is.

 

[The_Endgamer]

The Wii Ultra has always been a favourite but i don't think that's happening any time soon.

 

[guek]

honestly, there's a ton of stuff they can do with the whole "U" when it comes to marketing. Much more than say "Wii 2" or "Super Wii" or whatnot.

 

[Gambit]

I am a proponent of Super Wii, but since they want to emphasise the "U" that's off the table. So why not name it "Yuu"?

After WII follows Yuu. The "u"s represent the tablets (so you gotta be able to use at least two) and the Y is ... for the wi-fi capabilities (to the controller and online).

[Y looks sort of like the symbol on my laptop that switches wi-fi on and off]