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Forums - Nintendo - Should Nintendo offer an optional WiiU SKU without the Gamepad?

 

Should Nintendo offer a WiiU SKU without the Gamepad?

Yes, their best option at this point. 164 47.13%
 
No, the negatives outweigh the cheaper price. 183 52.59%
 
Total:347
Arius Dion on 18 February 2014
archbrix said:

Consider the following hypothetical:

Existing WiiU SKU - not changed.  $299 for the console with the Gamepad and Mario/LuigiU included.  Sold at a loss.

New SKU - Donkey Kong Country TF bundle for $249 with the Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller.  Sold at a profit.

DKC would be the perfect candidate for this new SKU because it doesn't utilize the Gamepad AT ALL, other than off-TV play (which I like, but not everyone is interested in). 

While a $50 drop will only spike sales so much, consider the bigger picture here.  The new SKU would be profitable for Nintendo and the lower price would still sell more hardware.  More hardware sold = more software sold, which results in more profit for Nintendo. 

Now apply the new $250 SKU/bundle (Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller and _____ game) to Mario Kart included in May; a Smash Bros bundle for the holiday.  Hopefully even a Wii Sports 3 (U) bundle.  Then, even the same SKU but with no game for $199. 

The $299 Gamepad SKU is still perfectly available; Nintendo is just providing options for people and selling more hardware and software as a result.


I'd be hardpressed not to buy a DKC bundle with Pro Controller. 



Bet between Slimbeast and Arius Dion about Wii sales 2009:


If the Wii sells less than 20 million in 2009 (as defined by VGC sales between week ending 3d Jan 2009 to week ending 4th Jan 2010) Slimebeast wins and get to control Arius Dion's sig for 1 month.

If the Wii sells more than 20 million in 2009 (as defined above) Arius Dion wins and gets to control Slimebeast's sig for 1 month.

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archbrix on 18 February 2014
Arius Dion said:
archbrix said:

Consider the following hypothetical:

Existing WiiU SKU - not changed.  $299 for the console with the Gamepad and Mario/LuigiU included.  Sold at a loss.

New SKU - Donkey Kong Country TF bundle for $249 with the Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller.  Sold at a profit.

DKC would be the perfect candidate for this new SKU because it doesn't utilize the Gamepad AT ALL, other than off-TV play (which I like, but not everyone is interested in). 

While a $50 drop will only spike sales so much, consider the bigger picture here.  The new SKU would be profitable for Nintendo and the lower price would still sell more hardware.  More hardware sold = more software sold, which results in more profit for Nintendo. 

Now apply the new $250 SKU/bundle (Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller and _____ game) to Mario Kart included in May; a Smash Bros bundle for the holiday.  Hopefully even a Wii Sports 3 (U) bundle.  Then, even the same SKU but with no game for $199. 

The $299 Gamepad SKU is still perfectly available; Nintendo is just providing options for people and selling more hardware and software as a result.


I'd be hardpressed not to buy a DKC bundle with Pro Controller. 

I know several people who feel the same way - regarding Mario Kart and Smash, too.  :)



Ninricken on 18 February 2014

I don't think Nintendo should put something away that you will only understand if you hold it in your hands. After that the weakest console of the 8th gen with the unique Gamepad is just.... a weaker console. nothing else. I can't understand the people dislike the Gamepad so much.



I don't hate Microsoft, I don't hate PC,
I don't prefer Sony, I don't prefer Nintendo.
...Ok, I love Nintendo but this is something about tolerance, ok?

I'm a gamer with one of the greatest hobbies and I want to share this greatness with everyone.

OneTwoThree on 18 February 2014

They just can't. The games selection is sparse anyway, and while many of the games already released would have been possible without the Gamepad, they do require it as of now. I can't see them patching all those games into Gamepad-free versions.

3DS and 2DS is not a good comparison, because it was mandatory for every single game to be playable in 2D as well. So 2DS didn't sacrifice any compatibility. Wii U without Gamepad would essentially be a relaunch - Nintendo might as well make an all new system then.



Arius Dion on 18 February 2014
archbrix said:
Arius Dion said:
archbrix said:

Consider the following hypothetical:

Existing WiiU SKU - not changed.  $299 for the console with the Gamepad and Mario/LuigiU included.  Sold at a loss.

New SKU - Donkey Kong Country TF bundle for $249 with the Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller.  Sold at a profit.

DKC would be the perfect candidate for this new SKU because it doesn't utilize the Gamepad AT ALL, other than off-TV play (which I like, but not everyone is interested in). 

While a $50 drop will only spike sales so much, consider the bigger picture here.  The new SKU would be profitable for Nintendo and the lower price would still sell more hardware.  More hardware sold = more software sold, which results in more profit for Nintendo. 

Now apply the new $250 SKU/bundle (Wiimote/nunchuck/Pro Controller and _____ game) to Mario Kart included in May; a Smash Bros bundle for the holiday.  Hopefully even a Wii Sports 3 (U) bundle.  Then, even the same SKU but with no game for $199. 

The $299 Gamepad SKU is still perfectly available; Nintendo is just providing options for people and selling more hardware and software as a result.


I'd be hardpressed not to buy a DKC bundle with Pro Controller. 

I know several people who feel the same way - regarding Mario Kart and Smash, too.  :)

Those games would be get bought as well..For sure ; )



Bet between Slimbeast and Arius Dion about Wii sales 2009:


If the Wii sells less than 20 million in 2009 (as defined by VGC sales between week ending 3d Jan 2009 to week ending 4th Jan 2010) Slimebeast wins and get to control Arius Dion's sig for 1 month.

If the Wii sells more than 20 million in 2009 (as defined above) Arius Dion wins and gets to control Slimebeast's sig for 1 month.

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t3mporary_126 on 18 February 2014

It would be really funny if Nintendo made a Donkey Kong TF bundle with the Wii U, bundle it with only the Pro controller, get rid of the Game Pad, charge it for $300 still, and have sales that average 70k each week (Wii U is currently 45k?) Of course they will have to makes these new Wii U work without the GamePad on the OS start screen.


In fact, Nintendo should do that just for fun to see if the GamePad really does scare people away. I bet the average consumer won't even remember the Wii U was once $300. They probably didn't bother to look for them in the first place after all the media and publicity the PS4 and One has.

They should recall all Wii U with Game Pads to make the consumer believe that the GamePad was just an optional seconary console as well.



archbrix on 18 February 2014
Ninricken said:

I don't think Nintendo should put something away that you will only understand if you hold it in your hands. After that the weakest console of the 8th gen with the unique Gamepad is just.... a weaker console. nothing else. I can't understand the people dislike the Gamepad so much.

Well, if you read my OP then you know that I do like it... 

But the fact remains that it is currently not selling the console and is driving up the retail price, all while incurring losses for Nintendo.



Lonely_Dolphin on 18 February 2014

Even if they did this right now for $200, I still wouldn't buy a Wii U yet. I actually do want the Gamepad, as it is the best way to play games like Pikmin 3 n Mario Kart 8. Of course that's just me though, the minority. Like I've been saying, they definitely need another SKU that is without the gamepad. Giving consumers more options is always good afterall. Problem is how integrated the Gamepad is both with the Wii U and most of it's games, but surely that isn't without workarounds.



archbrix on 18 February 2014
OneTwoThree said:
They just can't. The games selection is sparse anyway, and while many of the games already released would have been possible without the Gamepad, they do require it as of now. I can't see them patching all those games into Gamepad-free versions.

3DS and 2DS is not a good comparison, because it was mandatory for every single game to be playable in 2D as well. So 2DS didn't sacrifice any compatibility. Wii U without Gamepad would essentially be a relaunch - Nintendo might as well make an all new system then.

While I completely agree about the 2DS comparison, there really isn't a large number of games that require the Gamepad.  That's part of the problem with the WiiU so far; the GP hasn't been a paramount focus for games that can't be done without it.  Something like Nintendoland, of course, is impossible without it, but for that game (and ZombiU and Wii Party) the Gamepad would still be readily available if it were sold separatley and still available in the existing SKU.



Arius Dion on 18 February 2014
KylieDog said:
WiiU is not selling, so all this 'Gamepad is what makes it unique and what sells it' excuse is bollocks.

In fact it is probably the opposite, the high price caused by Gamepad is keeping more people away, WiiU is a secondry console at best, something for Nintendo games and nought else. This means it needs be cheap to justify the lack of games it will be used for,

Evidently, even Nintendo isn't bothering to use it with all its games, Donkey Kong has no use for it at all.

They need sell WiiU with no gamepad.


Just wanted more people to see this..This is truth.



Bet between Slimbeast and Arius Dion about Wii sales 2009:


If the Wii sells less than 20 million in 2009 (as defined by VGC sales between week ending 3d Jan 2009 to week ending 4th Jan 2010) Slimebeast wins and get to control Arius Dion's sig for 1 month.

If the Wii sells more than 20 million in 2009 (as defined above) Arius Dion wins and gets to control Slimebeast's sig for 1 month.