Nintendo Slashes Wii Price - But Will It Make You Buy?

Console-giant Nintendo has decided to drop the price of its Nintendo Wii games console in the United States and Japan by 20%, and it has been reported that it hopes this move will spark more interest in the expensive Wii.

The Nintendo Wii was released by Nintendo in 2006 and had sold 52 million by June of this year, blowing both MIcrosoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation 3 out of the water. It originally retailed in the United States on its release date at $249.99, but now Nintendo wants to slash the price of the Wii by 20% of the current market price. The only question is: will it encourage you to buy it?

Earlier this year, Microsoft and Sony made public their plans to decrease the price that their respective consoles cost, while Nintendo chose to increase the price of the Wii in the United Kingdom to around about $380 or almost £200. However, Nintendo has now agreed lowering the price in the United States and Japan will be beneficial - boasting that doing so may encourage “50 million” potential first time Wii buyers in the United States.

I personally believe that the Wii is a good console, but at present it is quite overpriced. Children take great interest in this console and although most parents will try their hardest to make their children happy, some people just cannot afford it. Of course, those in the United Kingdom are already upset that they pay more than the United States for the console, while Nintendo put the prices up even higher in the UK and lower the cost in the United States and its origin country. According to a source, Nintendo may also lower the price in the United Kingdom at a later date. In terms of the design of the Wii, it’s a great device, and I don’t think that Nintendo can drag another 50 million buyers out of the United States, but the price drop will help.

Do you already have a Nintendo Wii? If so, do you find it good value for money at the price it currently is? If you don’t have it, would this price change make you consider purchasing one? Do you think the current and new price are good buys? Any other thoughts? Let us know, in a comment.