If this has been posted before, then just ignore it:

And this is EXACTLY why Nintendo hardware isn't going anywhere. Regardless of its place in the market, the GC was profitable for Nintendo. If they sell one Wii they are in the black, so it doesn't matter if they "win" or "lose" again this generation.

I've always appreciated this model.

After these announcements i'm definitely sure i'll wait on the Wii. The price isn't too bad, but I was hoping for something to win me over since i'm too iffy about the controls. It's innovative, but i'm just not sold on it yet. I'll wait for a friend or two to buy it so i can try it out before I'm sold.

I'll be another person sticking with their PS2 and Nintendo DS this Christmas

The 360 cables are composite/component only, the S-video is separate.

I've been thinking, and launching the Wii on 11/19 is brilliant. A stroke of genius. Think about it...there's going to be a massive shortage of PS3s. A lot of people are going to have $600 ready to spend, and be pissed off that they're unable to get a PS3....and two days later, they'll be able to spend that money on a Wii.

For some reason, that just seems like the way it should be...

Good news about the component cables. That makes me a little more satisfied with the price.

This morning I had two friends that were down for the $212 they saw for Japan. They are both xbox/360 gamers and haven't owned a Nintendo since the N64. I was pumped. They were ready to jump back in the Nintendo world. I would have people to play multiplayer with again. Yea! Then the $250 figure came out. Now they are both out.

Shows you right there how much a measly $40 means to people. The WiiSports bundle is just bad. I know I sound like a broken record, but they should have left well enough alone and gone console only for $200 like every Nintendo console before it. With as much hype and interest they have drummed up, a $200 system is a no brainer. You can't say it couldn't be done either since that is basically the price in Japan.

I've been contemplating this recurring thought in this thread, and I'm curious to see how many people wanted to buy Wii Sports before it was going to be bundled.

Now maybe I'm wrong, but it seemed like many people were excited to get Wii sports before the announcement and now its thought of as this "horrible tech demo".

I'm kind of surprised that somebody who was interested in paying $212 for a system wouldn't shell out an extra $38 for it, pack-in title or not. I guess time will tell if your friends are the rule or the exception.

While true, the same could be achieved with an earlier launch.

I'd shell out $30 for it if it was sold separately, and I think packing it in is a great idea. It's simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, it'll appeal to non-gamers, and it looks like a lot of fun to me, especially the boxing game. With the game packed in, you could buy the system, come home, set it up and play - you don't have to buy anything else. The only things keeping it from being a perfect bundle are a second controller and maybe an SD card.

Anybody want to quickly post the list of launch games that have been released for me?

I was ready to buy my first console at launch ever, but I'm very much on the fence now. The system and controllers strike me as overpriced, and I'm just not that excited about any of the launch games.

At one out of every five people changing their mind, $250 is still a smarter financial decision than $200. Especially if those people will be convinced later on by reviews.

No it couldn't. The whole point is that people who are set on buying a PS3 will end up not being able to, due to shortages. Instead of scrambling from store to store to store trying to find one, they'll just say fuck it, and get a Wii instead.

I disagree. As I said earlier, the game libraries are too different. People that can't find a PS3 will be MUCH more likely to by a 360 and Gears of War since they can't pick up a PS3 and Resistance.

The Wii just isn't a substitute for someone that wants a PS3. The graphics are way underpowered, it doesn't have the big FPS, racing, fighting etc. titles there that the PS3 adoptees will be wanting to play etc.

Damn. I have to use S-video as my DVD is hooked up to my only component, and I use S-video switching on my receiver so I can't hook anything up composite through it.

Hopefully I can just use the GC cable (they haven't changed it since teh SNES days, SNES-N64-GC composite and S-video cables are interchangeable).

I have no proof but I remember reading that they're finally changing them this time, so no luck for keeping the GC one. I may be wrong though...

Yeah, I've not heard one way or the other. I just hope it's not a problem finding an S-video cable on day 1. Though I guess I could just hook up to the composites on the front of my TV until I track one down if it is.

I agree with you that the hardcore gamers aren't likely to "settle" for a Wii if they get skunked out of a PS3. BUT... there are plenty of parents and grandparents who probably will make the switch rather than risk being empty-handed for Christmas.

I'm sold! Now if only Smash Bros were a launch title . I can honestly wait until 2007 for Metroid, hell I havent even finished part 1 yet (yes I know lazy). I simply cannot wait!

Possibly, but I can't imagine many of those types are looking for the $600 PS3 in any case.

And they still might be more likely to switch to the 360.

I'm not saying your scenario won't happen, but as Nintendo has stated they are going for a different market than Sony and MS.

I just don't see many Wiis selling when people can't find a PS3 as they just don't appeal to the same crowd.

I do think a lot of kids will ask for a PS3 and get a Wii as the parents refuse to pay $500-600 for the PS3 even if they can find one and buy the cheapest option though. But that is indepent of the release dates.

you are wrong...they know YOU are going to buy it. i was going to buy it. i am not mad or screaming or sad or anything else, i have simply decided not to buy the Wii right out of the gate. i don't think you are the customer they are going for...they are trying to corral the nongamers or fenceriders. i have been a gamer for many years. 38 yo, i have a wife and two kids. i own/have owned nes, snes, genesis, n64, gamecube, PS1, PS2, and a 360. i was certainly planning on getting the Wii on launch day but several things have no dissuaded me. the cost of the console $250 + an extra controller $60 + a SD memory card $50 + possible component cables is putting the price in the neighborhood of $400 bucks. kind of expensive for somebody that was supposed to be the "cheaper alternative". it isn't even the money honestly...i make more than enough. i am just not going to spend $400 right now when there isn't anything really good to play. simple as that. with mario and metroid not coming until 2007, why would i spend that 400 bucks now? i am just going to pick up a copy of zelda for my gamecube and be more than happy with it. next year i will probably pick up the Wii with or without a pricedrop, when there is something i wanna play on it.

i am kind of scared for nintendo though. i seriously doubt that the person walking into a store the weekend after thanksgiving, ready to plunk down 600 bucks for a ps3 and not able to find one is going to be happy with the wii, whether it is for them or their kids. i think they are MUCH MUCH more likely to pick up a 360 thinking they are saving a couple hundred dollars and getting a gameplay experience far closer to the ps3 than the wii would be. if microsoft does any kind of significant bundle or a $50 price drop, well, i think nintendo is in big time trouble if there is less than $100 difference between them and their competition. i suspect the execs at microsoft are dancing a super happy dance today, especially if they have the forementioned bundle/price drop in the works...

http://media.wii.ign.com/media/748/748547/vids_1.html

IGN has some videos of metroid up that show the super responsive expert control mode raved about in the story I posted earlier in the thread.

Also of note from the video (at least to me) was that their was voice acting in the game.

As I watch that video, I find myself using both hands trying to see what it might be like to play the game using the Wii's controllers.