Gamestop offers Wii bundle...for $699???

[Razer]

GameStop offering $699 Wii bundle Thursday

Pricey "convenient package" includes $250 console and $449 of unnamed games and accessories; PS3 preorder plans still under wraps.


How badly do US gamers want a Wii? GameStop is thinking "very." Last night, the retailer and its subsidiary EB Games sent out a mass e-mail saying that, starting late on Thursday, gamers will be able to order the Wii from the two companies' online stores, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, in the form of an expensive bundle.

"This Thursday evening (CST), November 9, your opportunity to get in on the excitement arrives when the Wii Bundle becomes available for purchase online at GameStop.com," read the e-mail. "You'll get the best games, accessories, and more in one convenient package delivered right to your door--all for under $699 plus tax and handling."

By itself, the Wii costs only $250 and comes with the Wiimote and Nunchuk controller, power and AV cords, sensor bar, stands, and Wii Sports. Given the GameStop Wii bundle's steep price, one would wonder what assortment of add-ons and games are worth around an extra $449. Apparently, the customer-service reps at GameStop are also wondering. "We don't know what the bundle contains," a rep told GameSpot. "We also don't know when they go on sale. We won't know until Thursday."

Catch number two is that there will only be a single Wii bundle to (not) choose from, unlike the Xbox 360 bundle assortment GameStop offered last year. "I can confirm there is only one bundle with the same games and accessories," said the same rep. "And no, we don't know what they are either."

Last but not least are a series of caveats all too familiar to console-launch veterans. "Quantities are extremely limited and there will be a limit of 1 Wii bundle per household, limited to US delivery only," read GameStop's e-mail. "Ordering a bundle does not guarantee shipment at launch and orders will be shipped on a first-come, first-serve basis. The bundle will be removed from the site as soon as we have reached our expected quota." The Wii launches in the US on November 19.

Gamers put off by the bundle's high price will only have one next-gen alternative on GameStop.com--the Xbox 360. "There are currently no [set] plans for a new PlayStation 3 pre-order program," the GameStop rep said. [UPDATE] A recording on the GameStop help line said that there was simply "no new information" available, implying the PS3 preorder plans were not currently available to the public. The company had offered a very limited number of unbundled PS3 and Wii preorders on a first-come-first-served basis at its retail outlets on the morning of October 10, all of which sold out within minutes. Confirmed preorders of Sony's console, which launches in the US on November 17, are currently fetching upwards of $1,500 on eBay.

Wow, $700 for a bundle of game stuff that the compant selling it to me won't tell me what it is.
$700 for a package built around a $250 console.
Now we know why Walmart is the number one toy retailer in the U.S. I can't even recall the last time I bought anything new from Gamestop/EBgames. If they ever stop their used game sales, they'd disappear off the face of the map for me.

[RivaOni]

I hate this whole bundle tihng, none of the stores in UK are doing them so far but you can garuntee it wont be long before they do. Even if I were still getting a Wii at launch, if it was in a bundle I wouldnt be able to because when we worked it all out we abrely had enough to just get the console with Wii Sports (but other stuuf has happened thats prevented us from even being able to get that)

[Razer]

The bad thing about this is there are already people blaming Nintendo for the price. This is soley a Gamestop issue. For as long as I hated Nintendo (I've always been a Sega Fan), now it almost kills me to see them producing exactly what is needed. A game system that plays games...what a concept.

I fault the PSP for trying to do too many things and the PS3 (and XB360) are in the same boat. It's great to have an All-In_one package but the services aren't even connected anymore. I mean, it's like having a dishwasher that also mows your lawn and teaches braille. I don't want a television in my refrigerator, I want a television NEXT TO my fridge.

But I'm getting off topic...

[RivaOni]

Well you are and you arent

I completly agree with you and for a time I was a SEGA fan, although I've been bitten far too many times since the Dreamcasts demise. My interest in gaming was severly starting to drop (which is probably down to shoddy review code in the early Gamepulse days more than anything) and the Wii does have me excited about the possiblities, as does/did the dS (I dont have one yet, but will have a White Lite come January).

I have the feeling that the approach Nintendo have taken with the Wii is pretty much the same attitude they've had with their handhelds for a few years, they may not be truly innovating in some areas, but they are using already tried ideas and making a bigger better effort on them.

Alot of people are slating the price because they believe its just a "Gamecube 1.5" and while, internally, yes it more or less is, thats not the point, Nintendo are in a position, home console wise, where they really need to either succeed and be at least second, or produce something cheap, that anyone can on any budget, of any age, or with any type of interests can just go into a shop, buy, take home and start having fun with.

Thats the approach the DS has, it has the likes of Brain Training and Nintendogs for those that wouldnt normally touch anything that could be classed as a game (seeing as games are still seen as childish) and also include titles that have more traditional gamers excited such as the RPG's and Rythym Action games that are turning up.

And on the subject of this particular price, thsts normally the case, happens with everything, you hear people complain about the prices of DVD's in, say for example, HMV, when theres usually a Music Zone 5 doors down thats selling the same DVD £4-£5 cheaper.

[Blackmage]

yeah gaming has been rather crappy the last couple years and to be honest my favorite platform right now is my PC.

[Shino]

Well details are out.

4 of the 6 games I wouldn't mind. But I don't want Madden or Trauma Center.

It's also a bunch of crap that they are...
a) making you get a replacement package
b) making you get a crappy mag subscription
c) not including a extra nunchuck.

I'll pass.

[Faye]

wait a sec.... is the bundle the ONLY way you're gonna be able to get a Wii from gamestop? Cause if so, I'd just as soon buy a PS3.

[Shino]

Online, yes.

[Girkon]

This is a sad thing, aside from being just plain nutty. Like Razor said a lot of people are going to put the blame on nintendo for this, which is something they really don't need considering the goal set before them.

[Shino]

I would love to see Nintendo step in on this one and say ... "hey... are you frackin nuts!"