EA boss: $99 Wii would 'explode'
Can a price drop save the Wii?
It’s no secret that the appeal of the Nintendo Wii has waned since Sony and Microsoft launched the Move and Kinect motion-sensing goodies for the PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively in recent months.
So how should Nintendo go about restoring those flagging sales and restore the Wii to console supremacy? Drop the price, obviously.
That’s what EA boss John Riccitiello thinks anyway. He’s gone on record to say a drop to just $99 (around £65) would see the Wii “explode” in sales again.
“I would say they did exceptionally well in 2007 and 2008, and started tapering in 2009 and 2010. I think if they were to price down to $99, they would explode,” he Riccitiello said in an interview with IndustryGamers.
He also voiced his frustration with what he sees as Nintendo’s lack of support for third-party content. “I can come up with a dozen titles in the last decade, but it’s really tough to come up with a dozen great titles that have been platform-defining for them that weren’t their own,” he said.
So what do you think – would a $99 Wii be just the thing to restore the console’s fortunes? As for us, we’re certainly game in Nintendo is…
User comments (11)
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pmpmahesh21 December 2010
How much is the cheapest wii in the UK?
Report as inappropriateCOOLGADGET21 December 2010
it's a good way of getting more sales, but it will be hard to compete with kinect when wii first came out it was the in thing now its old they need to come up with something new and fast
Report as inappropriateRoy Gibson21 December 2010
Oh come on it's like the wii was never successful, we are talking as if it's failure of a machine. It wasn't and isn't with 75.90 million worldwide is damm impressive and made the other two big boys change their game, problem being - both Microsoft and Sony have a giant up front cost to get motion sensor stuff. Nintendo have changed the game and everyone is catching up - they shouldn't worry about system units but now look at games and channel content.
Report as inappropriateANdy21 December 2010
How about make a Wii 2? We are due an upgrade from Nintendo.
Report as inappropriateZOOSTER21 December 2010
cheapest ive found for the black wii ltd edition is £129 at P.C. WORLD. BUT at £65($99) it would be a great buy!!!
Report as inappropriateMohammed21 December 2010
Nintendo will announce a new console in 2013.
Report as inappropriateJayne Gerrard21 December 2010
It certainly would do it for me!
Report as inappropriateSimer22 December 2010
Sony is always ahead in technology they r giving us 100% accurate motion controller Microsoft's Kinect has a lot of bugs Like Always Ninteno is Far behind from Sony They need a wii 2 HD
Report as inappropriatemr paul Dorsett04 January 2011
£65 is a very good deal there ispeople and familys out there that will get it for that price . but we could do with a wii 2 :) 4 this year ??
Report as inappropriatemr paul Dorsett04 January 2011
£65 is a very good deal there ispeople and familys out there that will get it for that price . but we could do with a wii 2 :) 4 this year ??
Report as inappropriateFredBear17 January 2011
Wii. A terrific machine. Like the Gadget Show comment. I would say the major shortfall to consider is the lack of Outside 3rd party support or 3rd party Game availability. Ok I also agree, it is also about time for a Systen/Sofware update for greater accuracy in line with other Offerings. All in all the Wii is a Fantastic machine, dont let the cometition steal its crown!
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