Nintendo is set to slash the price of their Wii game system to $137 in some markets including the USA while in Australia the same Wii console is selling for $259.The price cut, the second one since the Wii launched for $395 in 2006, comes less than a month after the Japanese company said the console will have a successor next year.It’s also been revealed that Nintendo will show their new Wii gaming console at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, in Los Angeles on June 7th.
It is not known whether the reduction in price, which takes effect from May 15th overseas, will apply to Australia as Nintendo has not returned our calls to date.
Nintendo has also said that they intend to slash the price of several top selling games ahead of next year’s launch of a successor to the Wii console.
The Japanese company has also said that the Wii system will come in either black or white with a “Mario Kart Wii” game and a Wii Wheel accessory, replacing the previously included “Wii Sports” and “Wii Sports Resort” games.
Overnight the company said that the “Nintendo Selects” collection of games will come with a suggested retail price of $20 in the USA.
The four games are “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,” “Animal Crossing: City Folk,” “Mario Super Sluggers” and “Wii Sports.” It’s the first time “Wii Sports” will be sold separately rather than packaged with the Wii.
Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America said that switching out “Wii Sports” with “Mario Kart” should attract new fans of Nintendo’s flagship game franchise, Mario. Mr. Fils-Aime said “Mario Kart” is the second most popular game for the Wii behind “Wii Play.”
The $137 price for the Nintendo Wii console is based on a US price of $150 and an exchange rate cof $1.09.
