There’s been a lot of anticipation overseas for news on the price and release dates of the Nintendo Wii. However I hadn’t thought to check these details out for good old NZ. Until now.
I was only able to find online info for two retailers so I’ll wander down to ebgames and ask them what they’re doing. Some sites are talking about a November 19th US launch date, which would sit relatively well with the December 7th release date that both gpstore and gamesman agree on. However I wouldn’t rule out one of them just copying the other one.
They also agree on pricing (almost).
gpstore.co.nz: $499.90
gamesman.co.nz: $499.00
So, if these details stick, the Nintendo Wii will be $220 less than the Xbox 360 and a massive $700 less than the Playstation 3.
To give non kiwis an idea, that difference ($700) is an entire week’s after-tax pay for an average single income family.
Put another way, that difference would pay my mortgage for more than a week, and I would still have a ‘next-gen’ console.
There’s a lot of talk about whether the PS3 will make it overseas, and whether the Wii will destory it and the 360. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how it does in New Zealand.
Update (now post-lunch): Ok, it would seem that it makes no difference where you buy the Wii (I’m left wondering what restrictions are being placed on retailers by nintendo). Ebgames are also selling for $499.95 and on the 7th. They also revealed that the “price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchukâ„¢ controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc”. Bond & Bond at some point had a tiff with Nintendo and aren’t stocking the Wii (or any other Nintendo product) and Dick Smith seem to be the last cab off the rank. Chances are though that they’ll stock the Wii (since they have the DS) at the same price as everyone else.
Update (20/11/06): As advised in one of the comments below, Dick Smith Electronics has listed their supply of the Wii for an industry leading $498.
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