Yes. For example the Nintendo DS Lite:

-> Amazon.com ($129.99)

-> Amazon.de (138.95 Euro -> $177)

But those profits have been in the handheld division. (Unless you count the profits they made on the GC component cables)

Sales figures:

NES -- 60 Million
SNES -- 49 Million
N64 -- 33 Million
GC -- 21 Million
Wii -- ??

They still made profits on the GC, as their first party games sold hugely (games like Super Smash Bros, Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart etc.).

Of course the Handhelds contributed more to their profits, but they weren't in the red on the GC either. It just didn't make near the profits as the NES, SNES or even N64--but still profitable for them.

You have to consider with these figures that competition also comes into play. During the NES years you had the sega master system which was a complete failure. SNES had the Genesis(which was faster ) and the turbografx 16 (if you want to call that competition). The N64 had the Saturn and the PS1. The GC had the Dreamcast, XBox, and PS2. Profits should have been expected to fall when more companies are competing for your hard earned money.

Fair enough.. but that really changes very little. 512 MB is still plenty for game saves (my entire PS2 library won't fill an 8 MB card) and VC use, barring someone buying a lot of N64 games. As for that other stuff, hey, if you buy a Wii to surf the internet or view photos.. I guess more power to you, I'm taking this from purely a gaming stand point.

I don't think that that really holds true if you consider the market has gotten bigger with each generation as well. The market increased and Nintendo's market share decreased. For the record:

Master System -- 13 Million
Genesis -- 35 Million
Saturn -- 10 Million
Dreamcast -- 10 Million

The Master System had ~ 18% of the market and you called it a complete failure

The Gamecube has ~ 14% of the current gen market (if you don't include the DC in this generation)

To sum things up:

The console market has more than doubled since the NES, in this generation Nintendo has sold 66% fewer consoles and market share has dropped from 80% to 14%. That is not from more competition, it is from better competition

Why on earth would you want to release it so close to the PS3? That is a disaster waiting to happen. It should have been released anytime before the PS3 because what’s going to happen is people are going to be debating on which console to get whether it’s the 360/PS3/Wii. The 360 at it’s cheapest is $299 which is only $50 bucks more then the Wii, but if they come out and do a price drop of $50 bucks then they are going to be on equal footing with the Wii, and one compares the graphics (invariably this is what happened with the Genesis and NES) between the Wii and the 360 you know what the little kid is going to want. I think the price is just too close to that of the 360. People don’t have money to burn and you will see a decision being made on which system to buy and I think the 360 will do quite well this holiday. As for myself, I am now just going to pick up the 360 this holiday because I can wait for a price drop or the system to be sold by itself without a game. Not everyone is going to want that Wiisports game. I know I don’t. I still want a Wii but I think I will wait a Wii bit longer no pun intended.

One more thing I expected more of for the launch window was more games. There is nothing on the release list besides the obvious ones that really catch my eye. Red Steel and Zelda will probably be must buys for many, but I really wonder what will be happening in the future especially considering the history of third party support during the last two console runs.

The controller, oh boy, $60 bucks for the nunchuk and Wiimote that’s awfully expensive to me. I know they are trying to get to the casual gamer, but the cost of the Wii + 3 controllers plus a couple comes out to a whopping $530 bucks. That’s not cheap by any means. I know the tech in the controllers is probably crazy, but $60 bones for a controller is way too much for anyone to pony up. I think $35 would have been more reasonable.

Virtual Console games are priced way too high. NES games should have been about $3; SNES games $5; and N64 games $7, but not all games should fall under that structure either. Games like Zelda for each should cost the full price, but lesser known games should be half of the full cost. Personally, however, I’m not that interested in buying any of the games because I’d rather play newer games and I would rather have Nintendo and other companies spend their time on new ideas rather than porting or whatever they have to do to get these games on the service.

No more DVD support and I don’t know why they would just drop that it the last minute it’s not by any means a reason to not buy the system but it just seems strange for them to drop the support. They have claimed that cost factors had them leave it but if they are pricing it at $250 I don’t see why they would remove it.

The channel thing is kind of interesting not really much I can say about it until I see it in action.

Overall I would give their launch details a B.

I really don't see how $5 for a NES game is that bad a deal. People paid $20 for those classic NES games on GBA recently. And look at all those ipod people drooling over paying $4.99 so they can play pac-man on their ipod. $5 will buy a pretty crappy game on your cell phone, too.

I can think of a number of NES games I'd pay $5 for: Star Tropics, Zelda, Dragon Warrior 2 (or 3?), Guardian Legend, Faxanadu, etc...

Sure, there's a ton of clunkers that aren't worth $5... so what? just don't buy them. I think $1 or $2 for a game is unrealistic, simply because I wouldn't expect nintendo to devalue their games that much.

FWIW, remember that the $5 mark is just the starting point for the NES games, just like $8 is the starting point for SNES games and $10 is the starting point for N64 games.

Yep, the prices were listed as "starting at."

I was hoping for $5 SNES games.

I can't think of any NES games I'll bother with (assuming you can eventually get mario Allstars as those versions are much superior) as most of the NES games just don't hold up for me.

60 Million vs 13 Million in a two-console market is a complete failure in my opinion. Not to mention the 200+ games for the master system vs. the 800+ games for the NES.

Wow I can't believe I just read through all 7-8 pages of posts. My initial thought is people complain way too much. It's rare the videogame industry pleases everybody with their initial price for systems. The 360 at $400 wasn't what people wanted, the PS3 at $20000 wasn't what people wanted.

Bottom line, Nintendo throws that price at you and most likely they know you're going to buy. I know I will. I'm not pleased with the price points for the system and the accessories but then again, it's not going to change my mind on it.

As for the VC games, doubt I'll be buying any unless they can drop them down to like a $3-6-9 price point. Most of the games, I'd purchase, I already own. Just a matter of digging them out of the closet. If I wanted to play old games, that bad, I would just grab them out of the dust. But it's unlikely that I will want to when I can occupy myself with newer games.

I used to always buy 4 controllers at launch but this is probably a time where I'll have to pass. Who knows. I will most likely prepay for the entire system next week so by the time Nov. 19th rolls around, it'll be a sunk cost and I can throw another couple hundred at controllers, SD card, and another game.

I, for one, am still excited for the Wii. Can't wait.

I think most of us are still excited.

Maybe just a little less due to a few games getting moved out of launch (namely metroid), having to wait until Nov when many were expecting an Oct. launch, and having to pay so much to get a second controller to fully enjoy the pack in game.

But I'm still getting it, and it will be my sole next gen console.

I am very excited and will get it regardless :-)

Do you want to take turns in line outside the new Wheaton Best Buy, Josh? Hopefully it will be open by then. :-)

Man I must be outside of the loop as I didn't know they were building one here!

But no, I'll preorder at the gamestop as I have $162 in credit there to burn.

Cnet is reporting that it comes with composite-component cables like the 360 premium.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7...?tag=cnetfd.mt

Sign me up. New Zelda is a launch title. I'm in. November 19th. Price is right.

Taking the place of the TRU on GA Ave. LOL I am in the same boat. I'll just preorder it at Gamestop.

Oh my god, Ellen just gave some random kid a Wii and Twilight Princess on her show. I don't know if it's the tangible thing or a promise to get it right away, but still.

Edit: Apparently it was some blind kid. Wow. Good for him, but man...

Do those also have an S-video hook up on them? Or just composite/component?

Wow, talk about a cruel joke! He should eBay it and get him an awesome iPod or something.

I was all set to buy one at launch, but:

• Wiimote $39.99 + Nunchuck $19.99
• Metroid Prime 3 is a 2007 title
• NES VC games $5
• Opera browser likely needs to be purchased

Now I'll wait for price drop or better bundle....

I really wanted this to be a great multiplayer system, but at 60 bucks for the controller I am debating that fact. I'm still deciding how good of a deal that is especially with the questionable pack-in, but I have to admit I'll probably still buy at launch. However with the more expensive prices I'll get the console and Zelda, and nothing else. I would have picked up a game or 2 extra just to try, but with unproven technology, I think I'll just wait for reviews, or later into the system life to get them.

Honestly, I might just wait until next year on the Wii altogether. Which is saying something since I never wait on Zelda.

I was going to get it at launch, but I think I will wait for more games I will be interested in.