Wii U Price and Release Date revealed

[disgruntledgamer]

Well if you live in Japan that is, it's coming out on December 8th

Basic Wii U Bundle 8GB $338 US (Converted)

Premium Wii U Bundle 32GB $405 US

Accessories will not be available with the aforementioned bundles; customers will have to buy the Wii remote, nunchuk and sensor bar separately.

The Wii Pro controller $65

Extra Wii U gamepad $173 (So don't get mad and brake it)

and I thought the Dualshocks were expensive.

Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/wii-u-out-on-december-8-in-japan-6396389?tag=Topslot;WiiUThisDecember;WiiUOutOnDecember8I

 

[bobmus]

That gamepad actually seems surprisingly cheap for what is essentially a giant tablet with buttons.


Still not interested but... I guess Nintendo are really releasing this thing then. Ah well.

 

[Treblaine]

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1415921/nintendo_wii_u_hardware_tech_specs_revealed.html

Nope.avi

WiiU has curiously similar specs to Xbox 360. Right down to a triple-core Power-PC central-processor.

Your thoughts?

2GB of RAM, a much faster blu ray drive than the PS3 etc

http://www.examiner.com/article/nintendo-reveals-specs-launch-date-and-price-for-wii-u-japan

only 1GB of RAM for the games, 1GB for the OS.

Even then that's way behind my PREVIOUS desktop PC that I got back in 2007.

Also it's $400 with conservative conversion of Yen price and with no US or Europe release date announced doesn't seem it will be out till 2013 outside Japan.

This looks like a repeat of the Sega Saturn.

EDIT: how did you quote me in a thread I HAVEN'T EVEN POSTED IN YET!!!

 

[Fishyash]

That's a really good price for the console.

But bloody hell why are they making the controllers so expensive? I will probably wait for a 3rd party one.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Seems a little expensive; put the console and the gamepad together and it's actually not far off:

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

A current gen console more expensive than other 2 current gen consoles that comes out 1 or maybe 2 years before the next gen? No thank you.

 

[Weaver]

Historically, the west has seen cheaper launch prices than Japan for Nintendo products.

 

[shrekfan246]

EDIT: how did you quote me in a thread I HAVEN'T EVEN POSTED IN YET!!!

I lol'd.

I may get one eventually if it garners enough exclusive games that look good. For cross-platform, the tablet isn't enough to interest me when I could just get in on my PC. Hopefully it won't launch at some ridiculously expensive price, but I'm expecting it to since '$335' and '$405' aren't prices I'd ever expect to see in a store. I suppose $350 wouldn't be the worst thing ever if it included one of those ridiculously priced controllers (but then, I think it's ridiculous that stores are still selling those Dualshocks for $50).

C'mon Nintendo, wow me.

 

[krazykidd]

A current gen console more expensive than other 2 current gen consoles that comes out 1 or maybe 2 years before the next gen? No thank you.

You don't consider the wiiU a next gen console? Why not if i may add . The wii (if i remember correctly ) came out before the two others , and i think the wii sold more consoles than the two others .

 

[ohnoitsabear]

A current gen console more expensive than other 2 current gen consoles that comes out 1 or maybe 2 years before the next gen? No thank you.

You don't consider the wiiU a next gen console? Why not if i may add . The wii (if i remember correctly ) came out before the two others , and i think the wii sold more consoles than the two others .

Actually, the Wii was the last current generation console released (although it was only a few days behind the PS3, but around a year behind the 360). But you are right about the Wii selling more copies.

Anyway, I like the super-fast read speed on the disk drive, and I don't think the price is too unreasonable, but why the fuck are they only having 1GB of RAM usable for games? A lack of RAM is the biggest thing holding back current generation consoles (not just in graphics, but in gameplay, too), and I think we can bet that the PS4 and Xbox 720 are going to have far more RAM for games.

Now, being behind the PS4 and Xbox 720 wouldn't be too bad if the WiiU had good exclusives, but aside from Pikmin 3, ZombieU, and Bayonetta 2, I'm not really seeing anything worth paying attention to. I want to see a super high poly Link god dammit!

 

[ohnoitsabear]

I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I'm also glad that it comes with an HDMI cable. HDMI cables aren't expensive (if you know to buy cheap ones), but it's kind of bullshit when a system doesn't come with all the cables it needs.

 

[Plinglebob]

1GB for the OS! I hope they reduce that over time, seems a tad bloated.

To me it sounds more like they're covering themselves in advance just in case it startsto get really bloated. Wise move if you consider what the 360's front end was like at release compared to now. Also, one of the selling points they pushed early on was that it would allow you to have your TV and the controller screen showing different things at the same time (film and game I think was the example). Splitting the RAM would help avoid conflicts in this sort of situation.

 

[themechanic]

So a current gen spec'd system is releasing when current gen is long in the tooth, and right before new HW drops from sony/ms. I predict a crushing blow as far as graphical capability next year if MSony release HW with anything newer than a 4yr old gpu.

 

[burningdragoon]

You could/should probably update to the official US prices now that it's been announced. Which are:

$300 for the basic (console, gamepad, wires n' shit)
$350 for the deluxe (basic + NintendoLand, more accessories, and some digital reward points system)

Edit: aka, what Matthew said.

 

[Hazy992]

Only 8 or 32GB of flash storage? Are they serious? So they're pushing being able to download full retail games but give you the storage for about 3 or 4 games at most? And if you buy the 8GB version you probably can't even download a full game on the thing!

Is it really so hard to just stick a 500GB hard drive in there? That storage size in 2012 is pathetic.

 

[Treblaine]

I will say though, despite only 1GB being for games, I assume that will increase as time goes by. Just like the other console makers did, they will refine the OS and reduce it's footprint. Seeing as the OS on the xbox only uses 32MB of RAM I don't see why they would need a full gigabyte. Maybe for the browser and other features?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_system_software

Also, comparing it to a desktop? You know that's a futile endeavour, the PS3 had less RAM than my desktop from 2003-2005. (forget exactly when I had it).

Also, the US price is out.

http://vgtoday.net/2012/09/us-and-european-wii-u-launch-details-revealed/#.UFIHfFFiR0Q

Basic packs will consist of a white 8GB Wii U console, GamePad, HDMI cable, sensor bar and two AC adaptors, costing $299.99.

Premium packs will be made up of a 32GB black console, GamePad and charging cradle, HDMI cable, sensor bar, stands for both console and GamePad, and a copy of Nintendo Land, all for $349.99.

So much for your laughable figure of $400.

I've also heard that the 2 models in the Uk will be £210 and £250 according to retailers. I have no link as I was told in person by a guy who writes for a gaming website.

If Wii is truly a next gen console, it should at least be close to PC standards of half a decade. Wii U is much more of a "catch-up" than a truly next gen system. Xbox 360 never used half it's RAM for it's OS on launch, I think WiiU's wireless HD video transfer might be a factor. Wii 1 was a "little better" than original Xbox and in practice the performance was indistinguishable from original Xbox and certainly wasn't a generation ahead in hardware.

$400 is pretty close to $350. And I think it is far too soon to have a definite price for US or UK region without any release date. If you don't have a release date, you don't have stocking arrangements which means final price is not set.

Remember, Nintendo is likely going to delay each region's pricing as long as possible deciding how much or a profit or loss they make on each unit sold.

captcha: agree to disagree

... later

 

[Hazy992]

Only 8 or 32GB of flash storage? Are they serious? So they're pushing being able to download full retail games but give you the storage for about 3 or 4 games at most? And if you buy the 8GB version you probably can't even download a full game on the thing!

Is it really so hard to just stick a 500GB hard drive in there? That storage size in 2012 is pathetic.

Nintendo have said time and time again that you can plug in any external hard-drive that has a USB.

They are the first company to allow you to use non-proprietary storage with your console. Meaning you can go out and get a 500GB external hard-drive cheap as chips, and it will work with your Wii U absolutely fine.

That means potentially, the Wii U could have anywhere up to 1TB or more of hard-drive space. Sorry, but that shits all over anything Sony or Microsoft have to offer.

So to be able to download even a single game I have to buy a bunch of external drives and cards? Remind me again why this is a good thing? Hell even a 250GB hard drive would have been OK and those are dirt cheap, so yeah maybe you can have up to a 1TB of storage, but the only way to do that is by faffing about with external drives.

I'd rather have slightly less storage but still have the option to add more (like the PS3 for example) than whatever the hell Nintendo are thinking. And what do you think it's gonna be like in the next gen Xbox and PlayStation? I bet they're both gonna have something like a 1TB drive, 500GB at a minimum.

Also, loading games off an external hard drive? Say goodbye to your fast loading times.

 

[burningdragoon]

Only 8 or 32GB of flash storage? Are they serious? So they're pushing being able to download full retail games but give you the storage for about 3 or 4 games at most? And if you buy the 8GB version you probably can't even download a full game on the thing!

Is it really so hard to just stick a 500GB hard drive in there? That storage size in 2012 is pathetic.

Nintendo have said time and time again that you can plug in any external hard-drive that has a USB.

They are the first company to allow you to use non-proprietary storage with your console. Meaning you can go out and get a 500GB external hard-drive cheap as chips, and it will work with your Wii U absolutely fine.

That means potentially, the Wii U could have anywhere up to 1TB or more of hard-drive space. Sorry, but that shits all over anything Sony or Microsoft have to offer.

So to be able to download even a single game I have to buy a bunch of external drives and cards? Remind me again why this is a good thing? Hell even a 250GB hard drive would have been OK and those are dirt cheap, so yeah maybe you can have up to a 1TB of storage, but the only way to do that is by faffing about with external drives.

I'd rather have slightly less storage but still have the option to add more (like the PS3 for example) than whatever the hell Nintendo are thinking. And what do you think it's gonna be like in the next gen Xbox and PlayStation? I bet they're both gonna have something like a 1TB drive, 500GB at a minimum.

Also, loading games off an external hard drive? Say goodbye to your fast loading times.

Dirt cheap for a person. Not dirt cheap for a manufacturer to produce . Doesn't really mean it's good or okay, but console hardware really sucks in the whole making a profit thing. Upgradeable harddrive would be better than externalablemakin' up words! harddrive for sure though.

 

[Hazy992]

Only 8 or 32GB of flash storage? Are they serious? So they're pushing being able to download full retail games but give you the storage for about 3 or 4 games at most? And if you buy the 8GB version you probably can't even download a full game on the thing!

Is it really so hard to just stick a 500GB hard drive in there? That storage size in 2012 is pathetic.

Nintendo have said time and time again that you can plug in any external hard-drive that has a USB.

They are the first company to allow you to use non-proprietary storage with your console. Meaning you can go out and get a 500GB external hard-drive cheap as chips, and it will work with your Wii U absolutely fine.

That means potentially, the Wii U could have anywhere up to 1TB or more of hard-drive space. Sorry, but that shits all over anything Sony or Microsoft have to offer.

So to be able to download even a single game I have to buy a bunch of external drives and cards? Remind me again why this is a good thing? Hell even a 250GB hard drive would have been OK and those are dirt cheap, so yeah maybe you can have up to a 1TB of storage, but the only way to do that is by faffing about with external drives.

I'd rather have slightly less storage but still have the option to add more (like the PS3 for example) than whatever the hell Nintendo are thinking. And what do you think it's gonna be like in the next gen Xbox and PlayStation? I bet they're both gonna have something like a 1TB drive, 500GB at a minimum.

Also, loading games off an external hard drive? Say goodbye to your fast loading times.

Dirt cheap for a person. Not dirt cheap for a manufacturer to produce . Doesn't really mean it's good or okay, but console hardware really sucks in the whole making a profit thing. Upgradeable harddrive would be better than externalablemakin' up words! harddrive for sure though.

Hard drives are dirt cheap and that's even more the case for a manufacturers. they only cost a few pence per GB so not including one is absurd. They'd still be making a profit with a hard drive

 

[RomanceIsDead]

nintendo what have wiiu done