Okay, I'm going to play devil's advocate for a bit: Nintendo only makes games (and related sales through merchandising). Sony and Microsoft have gaming divisions but make other products in other divisions. Nintendo would risk far more by going along the "cheap inkjet printer" route - you know, the printer costs less than the cartridges because they lose money on the printer itself, but hope to recoup the money through the sale of consumables, e.g. inkjet cartridges. In other words, if people didn't buy that many games from Nintendo, they stand to lose far more than just money. The entire company's foundation can crumble. Sony and Microsoft can simply funnel money from other profit-making divisions into their games division. In fact, there was a time when Microsoft made 80% of their total revenue through their Windows and Office divisions alone. What about Hotmail? Xbox? These divisions were financed by other divisions. I'm willing to wager that the same thing goes on in Sony. This has nothing to do with ripping people off or bang for the buck. This is market penetration strategy. In other words, this is their way of trying to a) grow market share, b) wrest market share from the competition, and c) get enough systems out there so that manufacturing costs finally break even and recoup losses through game sales. Do you really think that Sony (or Microsoft, or Nintendo for that matter) give a flying fuck about you? They just want your money. Sony isn't giving you more value for less. It's just part of their business plan - sell for an initial loss, then recover losses through more efficient console manufacturing and game attachment ratios. Sony and Microsoft are directly competing against each other, while Nintendo have carved themselves out a new market segment. Blue Ocean, anyone? But Okay, I'll play along. So therefore, yes, Nintendo is ripping you off. They, as a company, whose sole function as a company is to somehow generate more revenue than expenditure, don't deserve to make a profit. Fuck them with three broomsticks up their collective asses. Sony is practically giving you 200 bucks! I will then definitely buy a PS3 as soon as the hackers in China get around the copy protection and I can buy them pirated Blu-Ray games here for 2 bucks a pop. They don't need my money. Kutaragi and Co. are philantropists! Hell, for all I care, they should just mail me every new game that comes out. Since when did marketing strategies and business plans equate to economic compassion for the common gamer? Hell, all console manufacturers should just leave 2 $100 bills inside the packaging, and start asking for handouts on the street to recover their R&D investments.

I dunno, don't forget that Fire Emblem 10 and Naruto, both for Wii, are also coming out this week. If Nintendo gets another big shipment of Wii's in and/or if Dragon Quest Monsters Joker gets another shipment, it could be a VERY VERY interesting week of sales. :D

I just want to tell you guys this amuses me. ALOT.

ROFL Nintendo? you mean sony and microsoft. Nintendo turns a massive profit on each unit sold. Not looking at the basically 3 required 80$ controllers. Really? I thought nintendo made a good percentage of their money from hardware sales. Microsoft sells the 360 to attempt to get market share. Sony sells the PS3 at a loss, to to assure it keeps market share. Let me just say this. I dont like VF. I dont have any in my collection. and I dont plan on getting any. The new Gundam I want.

No, I mean Nintendo. They do. When did I say they didn't? I am saying that IF Nintendo played the Sony/Microsoft ballgame, they'd have a lot more to worry about, such as the company's bottom line. PS3/Xbox360 are NOT Sony/Microsoft's bottom line. Games as a whole ARE Nintendo's bottom line; hence, IF they WENT with the traditional console selling strategy (which I equate to cheap inkjet printer sales) they as a company stand to lose the most if their strategy didn't work. I am also saying that Sony isn't giving away 200 bucks like some do-goody-goody philantropist that kber81 paints them to be. Nintendo played the same ballgame as Sony and Microsoft until the Wii generation, where they decided it was simply too risky to play hardball against the other two corporate monoliths. I don't give a rat's ass which company wins the console wars. I am simply stating that Sony and Microsoft are playing the traditional console ballgame, which Nintendo chose a different route. You, however, do give a rat's ass (and a lot more) about who (Sony) wins the console wars. My rant is focusing on marketing strategy. Your rant is about fanboyism. Learn to read beyond "Nintendo", "Sony" and "Microsoft" please.

Firstly - there were a lot LESS 360's around when Blue Dragon came out. Secondly, (I believe) it was the first major JRPG for the 360 released. So it attracts new customers - most of which don't have a 360. Also don't forget - manufacturing PS3's still isn't trivial or plentiful - there might be a lot of them around, but these WON'T be the bundle ones. Its not just a question of comparing brand names - look at the market situation as well. I don't think there is any chance PS3 sales will hit 100k - only FinalFantasy (and a few other) games have that sort of pulling power. For a $1000 console. ..and VF may never have been in the top 10 wanted - but Blue Dragon was - #1 if I remember correctly!!

Wait, what your saying is that nintendo would have to worry about the same problems as Sony and microsoft's game divisions IF they worked like them? Smart observation. Because if the Microsoft game division drops sales, and dosent recoup the loss they made makeing the 360, I HIGHLY doubt there will be another. The 360 HAS failed in Japan. The 360 IS failing in Europe. the 360 IS AWOSOME in america. Just like VISTA. shams - I thought the PS3 was cheaper in japan than america. not 2x more expensive than in america.

You're right - it's a smart observation. Same can be said of Sony. Or Nintendo for that matter, IF Nintendo played the same game that Sony and Microsoft play.

Oh Kwaad, what would we do without you? Just look at what happened to this forum while you were away

PS1 is the king of shit games. First party and third party.

Hold on there, extra controllers are required now? You're really getting desperate, you know?