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Stupid if true: Wii Wheel to cost $14.99 photo

According to a recent preview of Mario Kart Wii I read in Nintendo Power, once you've played the game with the snap-on Wii Wheel peripheral, you'll never want to play it any other way. But maybe your friends are going to have to get used to playing with out it, because according to a GameStop ad, this piece of plastic will cost gamers $14.99.

When the game ships on April 27 (and believe me, I'm can't freakin' wait), it will come packed in with the wheel peripheral at the sweet MSRP of $49.99. While Nintendo hasn't confirmed pricing, if what GameStop is advertising is true, it'll cost you close to $100 to play the multiplayer game the way it was "meant to be played." What is this Rock Band or something? 

In all seriousness, fifteen bones for some plastic seems like a bit of a stretch. While the game can be played sans plastic wheel casing, if what Nintendo Power says is true (and really, when hasn't it been?), expect some clever penny-pinchers to come up with some alternatives before the game's late-April release.

[Via Gizmodo] 


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57 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Sadie G's Avatar
Sadie G at 03/31/2008 10:09
Wait what, it comes with and without the wheel?
tornotlukin's Avatar
tornotlukin at 03/31/2008 10:11
I like that Nintendo is using Apple's mac marketing scheme! Rock on pricey knickknacks!
MaxVest's Avatar
MaxVest at 03/31/2008 10:15
I'm saving up for the Mad Catz wheel with rubber grips for $9.99. Eat that, 1st-party accessory manufacturers!
Hounestly, if any of you pay for this, I am coming to your house and taking the best game you have because apparently money means nothing to you.
covah's Avatar
covah at 03/31/2008 10:17
I don't see how its stupid? Its not like nintendo is a charity. plus, every other hands on I've read said that its a cheap piece of plastic that really makes no difference.
Jaren Face's Avatar
Jaren Face at 03/31/2008 10:17
I can see it now. Regardless of the price, parental-figures here and there will still purchase this for the their kids, not knowing any better. Boo.
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar
ZombiePlatypus at 03/31/2008 10:23
Don't forget your twenty dollar strategy guide for a kart racing game. People buy stupid shit, eh?
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 03/31/2008 10:26
15 bucks? I think not.
McSnow's Avatar
McSnow at 03/31/2008 10:29
I don't think wre should be judging a product we havent used yet.
Even if it is a chunk of cheap plastic 14.99 doesn't seem very expensive to me but maybe thats because I'm used to inflated prices in the UK.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 03/31/2008 10:30
BOOOOOO!!!

I'm not buying this shit.
Iolaus's Avatar
Iolaus at 03/31/2008 10:31
UK Residents:
The next issue of NGamer (brilliant Nintendo magazine) out 23rd of April comes with a FREE Wii Wheel specially for the release of Mario Kart.

The magazine is £5 but its worth it just for the magazine, very funny, informative and generally great.

and it'll have free stickers, posters and the wheel.

I dont work for them, just a heads up.
TheBrain's Avatar
TheBrain at 03/31/2008 10:34
Well, considering it is a piece of plastic with no functionality, I'm willing to go third party with a wheel. That's if I don't just use a Gamecube controller, mind you.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 03/31/2008 10:37
There's no way in hell I'm playing this game with the wheel.
tornotlukin's Avatar
tornotlukin at 03/31/2008 10:38
Anyone remember the $15 ps2 stand? New and Used for just 24 bucks!
Jetrockite's Avatar
Jetrockite at 03/31/2008 10:41
It gets bundled with the game, so not to worry.
galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 03/31/2008 10:41
i'm fairly certain this can be done with a pair of scissors, something round, and duct tape, for substantially less.
El Fajitas's Avatar
El Fajitas at 03/31/2008 10:50
Round? HAH!

Just get 4 empty toilet paper roll tubes and get to taping!

But yeah, this is a moot point, as the classic / GC controller is far better.
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar
ZombiePlatypus at 03/31/2008 10:52
@ galagabug

But then it wouldn't have the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality. That seal is priceless...
CosmicQueso's Avatar
CosmicQueso at 03/31/2008 11:01
LOL... what should they do, give it away for free? It's $15... big deal. Other companies would charge $25 or so...
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 03/31/2008 11:03
Or you could just buy one off Ebay for 80c
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 03/31/2008 11:04
TEN PLASTIC PLATES AND DUCT TAPE = SAVE$$$
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 03/31/2008 11:05
TEN!? What are you made of money?
tincow's Avatar
tincow at 03/31/2008 11:06
Meh.

You're either going with the wheels because they are fun, and provide great ergonomics for that control scheme

*OR* you're going with Gamecube or Classic controllers...because you must have better times or you fear change.

It's silly to call this extravagant in a world where people play Rock Band on their PS3s and buy DLC and accessories for it. Mario Kart with 3 extra wheels is still 70-80 bucks under the price of the base Rock Band package and near the price point for a DDR game...wow.
JavTheGreat's Avatar
JavTheGreat at 03/31/2008 11:09
They already sell the peice of plastic zapper at $25.
Cowzilla3's Avatar
Cowzilla3 at 03/31/2008 11:13
Can stupid if true become a weekly feature? I think theres plenty to go around.
twincannon's Avatar
twincannon at 03/31/2008 11:15
@tincow: if we can play it classic style that's great, I know I haven't tried it yet but I'm not sold on a wheel and I doubt I will be even after using it. Unless they've completely changed how the game works of course, which would be silly considering Mario Kart has long been one of nintendo's most stable and prominent franchises in terms of gameplay.

In fact it's probably *the* most stable, even the old 2d game has just about the same mechanics as the newer 3d ones.

bleh. gimmicks.
Bulrog's Avatar
Bulrog at 03/31/2008 11:16
So basically everyone is going to use the gc controller?
flabzilla's Avatar
flabzilla at 03/31/2008 11:21
Nunchuk and Wiimote for me.
van's Avatar
van at 03/31/2008 11:36
I'm can't freakin' wait either.
tkyy's Avatar
tkyy at 03/31/2008 11:39
what the hell?
i'd rather buy another nunchuck.
liqideos's Avatar
liqideos at 03/31/2008 11:46
Jesus god! IT ALREADY COSTS THIS MUCH!! And has since launch.
flabzilla's Avatar
flabzilla at 03/31/2008 11:52
Does any one really have 4 controllers for ANY of there consoles anyway?

I generally buy 2 and rely on friends to supply there own if theres any more.

Unless theres a significant controller upgrade eg. PS1 controller getting Rumble and analoge, wavebird, s controller. I usally just stick with two throughout my conoles life.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 03/31/2008 11:54
Comes with the game that's cool. I'll probably end up using the GC controller if I don't like the responsiveness of the wiimote. The rest of my friends that want to play will have to either buy their own wheel or just use the wiimote with no wheel. I'm not plunking down more cash for 3 wheels that will only get used when I have 4 people over playing.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 03/31/2008 11:55
@tincow

Except all of the Rock Band peripherals have actual electronics in them. Even the DDR pad is essentially a large controller.

The MK Wheel is literally a hunk of plastic. At least the Zapper has a trigger mechanism.
-PL-'s Avatar
-PL- at 03/31/2008 12:13
I'm not going to be playing with the wheel anyway. I like winning.
Zelnor's Avatar
Zelnor at 03/31/2008 12:14
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Milking Franchises for every penny, Nintendo.

What has happened to you guys ? Did somebody put a leech on your head that sucks out all the awesome ?
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 03/31/2008 12:19
wow look at all those shinny numbers. 49.99, 14.99, 19.99. and thats all without the online charges.
Cloud09's Avatar
Cloud09 at 03/31/2008 12:36
This stuff never bothers me. Know why? Because if you want to play some multi-player with me, you're going to be buying your own controller. Seriously, does everyone buy 4 controllers for their systems so other people can play when they come over?

Most of my friends have their own systems and can bring their own controllers, so usually it's not a problem. In this case, if you don't have your own Wii-mote and wheel, then you get to use one of my Gamecube controllers.

Although it does seem a bit pricey for the wheel. If Mario Kart really is only $50 with the wheel included, that is kinda weird cause I thought for sure MK would be $60 with the wheel. So the fact you're getting it for free with the game kinda makes it strange that it's so much money separate.
Delaric's Avatar
Delaric at 03/31/2008 12:37
I would check over at MAKE (makezine.com) expecting to see some sort of enterprising maker fashion a better wheel. Even better than one made of ten plastic plates probably. Or if not maybe someone could ask them ^^

The thing that gets me is not the price. I think if you can afford the game you can afford the freakin wheel just don't eat at those fancy lunch bistros for a few days, right? What bothers me is that it looks as if you have to um...hold it up? Like if I'm playing and a race lasts ten minutes I have to hold my arms up and this thing for ten minutes?? I don't think so. When I drive my hands *rest* on the wheel. It would have to be mounted on something sturdy for me to be truly interested.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar
JustLikeBuck at 03/31/2008 12:47
It's whining like this that makes Nintendo rub its hands together in greed. The simple solution is not to pay for extra shells. Hell, if MKart was released without the damn thing, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I'm getting nervous about these peripherals. If you wanted a wheel, why aren't you playing a driving game on another console?

The Wiimote, for me is supposed to be like the magical box we all played with as children - it could be anything, a rocket-ship, car, boat, a monster, whatever. It's my sword, my gun, surgical tool, flight stick.

The moment I have to spend 20 seconds changing one shell to another, is the moment I know I have no imagination. I wish Guitar Hero 3 can without a shell, because I would quite like to play some damned air guitar, as it happens, I can buy a real guitar for the amount it costs (70 freakin' pounds!).

Shells == Developer Laziness
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 03/31/2008 13:11
Bet my brother could obtain an actual steering wheel from the junkyard sos I can mount a remote on that.
riomccarthy's Avatar
riomccarthy at 03/31/2008 13:13
There are other wheels out there that are like $10 and around $5 if you can find them used, but personally I probably won't even be using the wheel since I'm sure it doesn't make much difference.
tincow's Avatar
tincow at 03/31/2008 13:16
Well, I won't argue, if you're a hardcore competitive online style mario kart player, you're not going to use it anyway, since the traditional controller provides more....control?

The Wheel worked very well with the only other Wii racing game I've played (Excite Truck) and from what I've heard in reviews is getting many more thumbs up than down?

It wouldn't make me feel any better if instead of just extending a button using plastic they stuck a bunch of unnecessary electronics in there. First off, good solid plastic probably doesn't cost much less than simple electronics required to do whatever you think the wheel should do...unless you think it should have AI or something. :)
Fanatism's Avatar
Fanatism at 03/31/2008 13:18
@GuitarAtomik

Wii Wheel has a trigger too.
mix's Avatar
mix at 03/31/2008 13:50
I must laugh at that! Isn't the wheel out allready with some lame truck game for like $10???

I'll just glue my controller to my hand and be the ultimate racing machine!
necrozen's Avatar
necrozen at 03/31/2008 13:53
I don't know, it doesn't seem that pricey to me. Really, I think that we should judge the quality of the product once we get it in our hands. I mean, if it feels cheap, then yeah, it's not worth it, but heck, it might be made really well and worth that amount.
bleep's Avatar
bleep at 03/31/2008 13:56
Actually Niero stole my idea, you could easily rig up some crap that would work cheap as hell, but lets face it folks using the wii remote for this game will suck! Im not using motion sensors to make my kart go round the course....GC controller is the way to go.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 03/31/2008 13:59
Stupid if true? Yes
Unrealistic? NO
liquidninja's Avatar
liquidninja at 03/31/2008 15:46
I'll just wait 'till Nyko comes out with the "perfect turn" or what theirs is gonna be called. It'll likely be better somehow.

Note: Everyone will probably have the game so we might not have to worry about getting extra wheels anyway.
Monte's Avatar
Monte at 03/31/2008 15:50
15 bucks? pheh, just give me some poster board and some duck tap and i think i'll manage =p
Crapsh00t's Avatar
Crapsh00t at 03/31/2008 15:55
necro... let me tell you something about cast molding with plastic. The size and shape of the Wii-eel alone would indicate that it could be made in China (where Nintendo manufactures the Wii) for approximately 1/16 of a cent (give or take 1 cent.) Don't let Nintendo force you on the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" Koolaid.
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