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Nintendo Wii System Cost Calculator
{dpadz-img}The Nintendo Wii will come out at a reasonable $250 US and it comes with one controller and WiiSports title but come on, how many of you will be playing by yourself on a system that begs for group play. Plus you will most likely be itching for something more than Wii Sports when titles like NFL Blitz, Call of Duty 3, Legend of Zelda and 13 other titles will be available at lauch.
So the question is how much will your system REALLY cost by the time you add in an extra controller or two, and a couple of games.
Well looks like n-sider’s Wii calculator has come to your rescue with a comprehensive calculator that even takes into account state taxes to give you the final, final price you will burden your credit card with.
Xbox 360 Price Drop for Christmas?
{dpadz-img}Xbox 360 price drops are an eventuality if the history of consoles proves to be ongoing. Video game console manufacturers typically launch the hardware at a loss; making it up on the software side. Then a year or so after launch, redesigns, improved manufacturing efficencies and component price reductions allow the video game hardware manufacturer to drop the price, preferably breaking even or squeezing out a small profit. The PS2 has gone through about 6 different revisions up to the current iteration.
So rumors of an Xbox 360 price reduction in time for the Christmas season seems a reasonable question to ask since it has been about a year since the Xbox 360’s release. Reducing the price for the busy holiday season and making Sony’s PS3 introductory price seem even more outlandish seems like good strategy.
However, The Inquirer gives us some good arguments on why that may not happen despite recent rumors of Microsoft’s recent contract renegotiations.
“Due to these rumours and statements, a number of industry pundits are suggesting the drop will come in to effect at a similar time as the launch of the Playstation 3, to inflict maximum damage on Sony’s launch. But despite all of this, it still seems a price cut in 2006 is highly unlikely for two reasons.
Firstly, it would seem odd to drop the price just before the holiday season, considering demand for the console will be at its highest and also that the PS3 will be in incredibly short numbers - further driving up demand for the 360, without the need for any lowering of price.
Secondly, the Xbox 360’s CPU is expected to receive a die-shrink from 90nm to 65nm in the first quarter of 2007, and possibly the ATI supplied graphics chipset too. Although this news is doing the rounds at the moment, its of no surprise and was well known sometime ago by the Inq and others. It’s unlikely that the re-costing of multiple components from Taiwanese companies has effected a plausible $100 drop in price for the 360, however, these die shrinks coupled with the cost refactorings, could present MS with the significant drop in price they need.
By the time the die-shrink and cost-savings are incorporated into the console in Q1/Q2 2007, Sony will be ramping up production of the PS3 to allow for the shipment of much higher numbers of the product than the meagre offering expected at launch, and will also be belatedly releasing the console in Europe. This is the perfect time for the 360 to receive a price cut. µ”
Nintendo Wii Launch Release Titles and Publishers
{dpadz-img}From the Nintendo Wii Launch Release Annoucement.
Nintendo Wii Third-Party Wii Titles Available from Launch through March 31, 2007
PUBLISHER
Nintendo
Battalion Wars II
Big Brain Academy™ (temporary name)
Excite Truck
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Mario Strikers Charged
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Super Mario Galaxy (temporary name)
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Wii Sports
Activision
Call of Duty 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Rapala Tournament Fishing
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
World Series of Poker
Atari
Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2
Atlus
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Buena Vista Games
Chicken Little: Ace in Action
Disney’s Meet the Robinsons
Codemasters
Dance Factory
Sidewinder
EA
The Godfather
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
SSX
Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Konami
Elebits
Majesco
Bust A Move Revolution
Midway
The Ant Bully
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Happy Feet
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Rampage: Total Destruction
Sega
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
SNK
Metal Slug Anthology
THQ
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Barnyard
Cars
SpongeBob SquarePants:
Creature from the Krusty Krab
Ubisoft
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Far Cry: Vengeance
GT Pro Series
Monster 4x4: World Circuit
Open Season
Prince of Persia
Rayman: Raving Rabbids
RED STEEL
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Vivendi
Ice Age 2
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