Drach, what kind of world do you live in? Everything, and I mean everything is marked up from cost. That's the whole concept of PROFIT. Very few industries can afford to sell a product at a loss knowing that they're receiving the majority of their money in the licensing for said product. But everything from Air Conditioners to food, is sold for more than it costs to make.

I think this goes beyond market saturation and represents the massive, glaring flaw with Nintendos plan for the Wii. It's hard to speak about without being aware of the sales for 360/PS3 but it goes to the core of the console-focused plan. The reason Nintendo can't boost sales with a price cut is because they have to keep making money on console sales, it's as simple as that. Even with the previously reported decrease in manufacturing costs, they still need to be making big profits on each console because their attach rate is so piss-weak. It's the only way i can make sense of the failure to implement a price cut and the price increase in the UK.

@ Junglistgamer and anyone else who is interested

I found this:

Full list for the week ending March 29‭ ‬according to Media Create:

DSi/ 57,401
PSP/ 54,148
PS3/ 22,825
Wii/ 17,276
DSL/ 8,408
PS2/ 5,246
360/ 4,849

Its from edge-online.com don't know if its a reliable source, but it these numbers seem to fit into what has been said. If things keep going this way, nintendo can put out another console with in a year or so and most likely regain there foothold. But then again this could just be because of the economic crisis (don't know if its effects Japan or not) and therefore everyone's sales will be dropping, its just a matter of time.

@Drach: The difference is that people require food to survive. The Wii is *incredibly* superfluous purchase. I don't think the FTC needs to step in an let a company know that it should be making less profit on their luxury product.

In away I'm glad to hear this. Might spur them into making some more games.

I agree that Nintendo needs a slice of the Humble Pie. They've alienated both developers and their original fanbase. You know, the ones that paid 70$ for a copy of n64 Zelda and continued to purchase Gamecube games and accessories long after it became clear that Xbox and PS2 were the way to go. I've shed my last tear for you, Nintendo.

@ junglistgamer

That's how they always been doing money. And you're forgetting the sales of first party games.

Junglist has a fine point.

Didn't iwata tell BBC that "gamers don't know what they want"?
I'm glad I only paid 199 for my wii (new) this was before the manufacturing price dropped again. I'm not buying a dsi or ANY new nintendo produced games.

Doesn't anyone remember the FTC sueing them for price fixing? Doesn't this sound familiar? (do some reading)
That alone should make an intelligent person be cautious about their products, and even consider other sources of entertainment. Check games radar for 100 reasons to hate nintendo. (I'll post a link when I get to a PC)
Fuck it. You know what? Go ahead and use your credit card to pay for that overpriced obsolete hardware. I'm just happy I was smart (cheap) enough to get one at about cost.

But the Wii has such good video games on it! I don't understand how the Japanse could NOT want one?!

Is everyone forgetting that the Wii is selling faster than the other two major consoles combined in the rest of the world? Slacking in a single region, even a big one like Japan, is nothing more than a minor inconvenience at best for the company.

I know so many X-Nintendo Fanboys who are really bitter at their lost love, and would love nothing more than to see them fail. Me, I could care less. I just wish I could go back and tell myself not to buy the damn thing in the first place.

@DJ Incompetent

Yes, because the fall of the longest-running game company ever would benefit all of us.

MotoRobo - so preferring a Wii in this day and age means 'irrational devotion' and fanboyism. I see youre point. My question is does this argument hold true for other mediums i mentioned such as low budget indie movies or cassette/records/radio quality music? I mean you could be right, there is a chance my habitual addiction to Nintendo products and simpler yet crooked presentations of music and movies, is as the title suggests, an 'unhealthy condition'

I was just wandering why you would reach such an unaccommodating conclusion with regards to my choice or preference? since you mostly seem reasonable and in fact post a lot of funny comments.

MotoRobo - Apologies for belated response, as a matter of fact i'm in sweden and have to sleep at night. Thanks for the clarifiction, i somewhat agree with the typology that the Wii is a fad among the mother/grandfather/relatives in general category and in no way would correlate the sales numbers to that of the PS2, which generally sold itself in bucket loads to its niche market of old.

However, as with the DS, which started off with nintendogs and brain age/drainage, games i never bought and probably won't ever, yet the popularity and legitimacy of the product became apparent with time over the PSP which had the whole MP3/movies thing going for it. There is always a discomfort in charting new territories, and having more individuals come aboard, but the wii, at least for me has proven its potential. I know everyone raves about madworld, but, the new experience actually came from Deadly creatures and No more Heroes over Devil may cry 4 or even Drake's fortune. These games used less "waggle' and effectively so, to provide for something new that i presume even Sony and Microsoft will be emulating shortly thereafter. The scorpion finishing moves are just overwhelming especially after fighting off 2 bugs a snail and then a giant rat.

The whole fanboy thing is spot on, as i know i will be buying the PS3 when God of War comes out, not because i do not think the system does not have great games already, but as you eloquently define fanboyism, i clearly fit that description, just in a different department, not the Wii.

The 'Armchair Philosophy' quote gave me cramps in my pelvis!

Thanks for the insights and cheers Brobo