Sony and Microsoft can't compete with Nintendo -- on price

[Erik Aston]

Awoken said:

actually it is selling based on price. that's why everyone else is dropping price. Nintendo can keep the same price and remain sold out. Not to mention the developers costs for making games is cheaper. Plus their games sell for less which makes it perfect for casual gamers (not going to invest too much into this hobby) and parents (not going to invest too much into this phase of my kids entertainment). I have a PS3 because I prefer the better graphics and everyhting else that comes with it, however I am paying a premium for it. I wish the games were closer to $39.95. the good thing is that PSN has a  lot of games for $5.99 and up.

Good point. That explains why the $50 Gamecube is still the top selling console after all these years. And why DS and PSP can't compete against those GBAs you can win for a buck or two in arcade machines. And why the cheaper 360 drove up sales so much in Europe. Afterall, the casuals don't want to invest much in the hobby. It's not like they're going to spend $250 bucks for the console or $90 for that flop Wii Fit!

Anyone suggesting that parents will buy kids the console they want, and that Wii, in turn, has the most appealing, diverse and original game lineup for kids probably also thinks that constant price-cutting is a symptom of an unhealthy industry, like that fool Satoru Iwata.

I guess I've seen the light. Despite the fact that Nintendo has succeeded without price cuts and view price cuts as bad business, we should probably label future price cuts as their big advantage. Their advantage can't be the unique values, motivations and processes which have allowed them to create the biggest run of industry-redefining mega-hits in VG history.