Pigs fly, Wii price drops
For the first time in its three year history, the Nintendo Wii is getting the price drop treatment, despite Nintendo's long assertion that it didn't need one.
Posted September 23, 2009
By SHAUN CONLIN, EVERGEEK MEDIA
As of this coming Sunday, September 27, the best selling videogame console in a 3-way console war will receive a price cut.
Nintendo is reducing the price of its market-leading Wii videogame console by $50 in the US, $60 in Canada, repositioning it competitively at US$199.99 and C$219.99 respectively.
In Japan, an equivalent price cut (20,000 yen down from 25,000 yen) takes effect on October 1, 2009, while Europeans will receive no price reduction but a Wii Sports Resort w/Wii MotionPlus console, game and accessory bundle at the Wii's original price point.
Though Nintendo has long claimed to be unswayed by its competitors' marketing strategies, the reductions follows Microsoft's price cut on the Xbox 360, which followed a price cut (and redesign) of Sony's PlayStation3.
"Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers," said Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, Cammie Dunaway. "This more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience."