Canada throws on taxes after retail too.  In Canada, as I said, PS3 6gig retails at $549.99 + taxes (14% btw, a bit more so in Quebec) and the Wii is $279.99 + taxes.

What irritates me is that Quebec taxes a tax.  First you have the retail price, let's say $100 flat.  Anywhere else in Canada it'll come to $114.00 with taxes of 14%.  In Quebec they put on the PST which is 8% so it comes to $108.00 then they TAX that amount with the GST, which is 6% so $114.48.  An extra .48 cents on the dollar adds up in the end.

if you get ntsc, keep in mind you cant just walk into eb and grab a second hand game, or rent, or use a friends game etc. if you think you can wait the extra time for the games, just buy PAL

Nah not a massive metroid fan. Once owned one of them on the original gameboy but havent played it since then. It occured to me that games like windwalker and sunshine from the cube would be fun, but as far as i know cube gameas arnt easy to come by in Australia. Also bear in mind i have a 360, so i have no need for Wii shooters

If the Wii was your only unit I'd say go for it... But, seeing as how you have a 360 also, as I do, I'd say don't do it until the price comes down a bit.  $388 is too much for a Wii in my opinion.  I love my Wii and all, but there aren't any games (yet) that justify that price tag in my opinion.  If you like the Zelda series (i'm not a fan) the game is exceptionally well done.  MP3 looks pretty good, too, but I don't have it so you'll have to go elsewhere for honest reviews.  Wii sports is fun but really is a tease as to where gaming is headed on the Wii.  Surely they will cut the price after the holiday as I think both MS and Sony will do so again in the spring.  The one thing that really hit home after buying a 360 and playing some of the better graphical games (gears, bioshock, etc.) I found the lesser resolution of the wii a little harder to bear than I thought it would.  I'm all for gameplay over graphics, but wow the 360 often blows me away.

Do you have kids?  If so, they'll love the wii.  My wife and daughter are glued to it and I need another TV in hopes of actually being able to play my 360. 

 Lol. No, im 19. But i do have a gf that annoyingly has taken a shine to Bioshock. You see she loves George Orwell and the developer stated that he was borrowing themes from Orwell's work. Im not allowed to progress through the story unless my gf is there which has resulted in my only being halfway through the game at this point. She would dominate the Wii for a little while if i got one but would get over it pretty quick i think. God i just realised how pussy-whipped i am

I was talking about Australia, sorry for the confusion.

But to address you issue with Wii Canada or Australia v. US prices, they aren't determined by the exchange rate with the US. Prices are determined by other factors.

The biggest one is exchange rate with the Yen (not the Dollar) Canadian and Australian moneys are growing and US dollar is declining, but those two currencies are more volatile, the USD is steady. So there is more inherent risk.

Also there are other costs. The employees working in the stores selling video games in the US make around $7/hour with no medical/retirement/good unemployment/hour regulations/one week of vacation/etc. I don't know what canadian workers make but I am willing to bet they make more and have better benefits. US minimum wage in CAN$7.00, most provinces hover around CAN$8.20. Australian minimum wage is AUS$13.61 or CAN$11.37.

Fuel is cheaper in the US. Not just for transportation either, The Air Conditioning and lighting in the US is cheaper (thanks to us not ratifying the Kyoto Protocols). Where I live gas is US$2.60 a gallon, that is US$.65 a liter or Canadian CAN$0.69,gas in ontario is what CAN$0.90. Gas in Australia is AUS$1.30/liter, so that would be CAN$1.12 or US$1.01.

Imagine the difference in the cost of flying the Wii's out there (higher airport taxes than US, Higher Fuel), Air Conditioning that Mall, Paying and taking care of benefits for the Warehouse, Drivers, Sales, Management, cleaners, accountants, etc.

US business is cheap to run, and it goes to the consumer. Don't try to take that away :), that's all we get.

GBA Metroid =/= Metroid Prime in its glory, in any way.

They resemble each other, sure, because they share the same plot elements, puzzle ideas, and overall game concepts...

...but you HAVE to give MP, MP2, and MP3 a try. I don't have all three for no reason.

No to a price cut (hardware or software).

Good or better package deals will appear next year, but don't reckon on seeing any this year its selling too well.

If you can wait till next year then do so, but I recommend you get your hands on one real soon before the Christmas rush kicks in. Also games like Metroid 3, SMG and Brawl are going to put a strain on availability.

As you have a 360 I am assuming you are interested in getting Bioshock or Halo 3.

So start saving!!

 I see you like Bioshock...  Metroid Prime 3 also has a lot of steam punk references througout it.  If you decide to try out a Prime game, Prime 3 would most likely be your best bet.  Give it a rental at the least and try the FPS controls for the Wii...  

Wind Waker was one of my favourite cube games, sunshine... not so much...  Pikmin is a must buy though if you haven't played that.  I'd suggest trying to win these games cheap on e-bay through a seller who's not going to charge you crazy prices for shipping.

 Already own Bioshock, Halo 3 pre-ordered and fully paid, and i have a voucher ill use to get mass effect.  But still im looking at $650 AU for a wii, a second controller and a couple of hit games. So expensive.  Still, a PS3 on its own costs $999.95 (normally with a game) and the starter pack was meant to end here after August, so i dont know if its still running. So it could be worse, i could be wishing for a ps3