Wii Warm Up: Adding up the costs

by Alisha Karabinus { Jan 27th 2007 at 10:00AM }

A reader dropped us a note about the money he'd thus far poured into the Wii, and at first our jaws dropped at the amount ... and then we started adding up our own costs, and boy weren't we red-faced. Let's look at some of the basic items:

Console: $250
Wii Remote: $40 (each)
Nunchuk: $20 (each)
Games: $50 (each)
Classic controller: $20 (each)
Component cables: $30

So let's assume that we're Little Lisha Fangirl, and we head out to get hooked up with the Wii goodness. We buy a console, one extra controller and nunchuk, a couple of classic controllers, and two games, as well as component cables. With tax, we're probably looking at a little over $500. Not too bad; after all, you're not buying extra shinyz for a PS3 or 360 plus the console for that ... you're probably not even getting a PS3 by itself for that. But then you start laying in a few extras. Third and fourth controller, say. A couple of those nifty controller gloves so you don't have to play guess-which-remote-is-player-one. And you have to have some Wii points, so you break out the credit card and load up. You pick up an SD card. And suddenly your reasonable console, when you add in a couple more games, is slouching toward a cool grand.

Ouch. We're even the inexpensive guys. How do you feel about the costs of gaming these days? It seems there are more games around than we could possibly buy and play and grok in fullness, but we do what we can. Still, do you ever feel overwhelmed by the hidden costs of gaming? That's today's question.

[Thanks, RD!]

Tags: accessories, cost, Nintendo, Wii, wwu

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Erik DeLamarter @ Jan 27th 2007 10:38AM

I love my Wii and I think it is worth every penny !

P.S. First Comment =)

Mabui @ Jan 27th 2007 10:37AM

Luckily for me, buying an SD card was more for my camera than the Wii (Though, I do certainly enjoy watching photos I've taken)

I try not to think about the big picture, the nice thing remains that a good deal of my games are gifts from people so my growing library of white cases isn't costing me a fortune.

I didn't buy 4 controllers either, the amount of multi player I end up doing usually isn't extremely high and a second controller does just fine to get everyone into the game in most games.

bowlhed @ Jan 27th 2007 10:40AM

thats the 2nd comment,PS u should see how much it all costs in the UK!!

... @ Jan 27th 2007 10:44AM

I haven't got a Wii yet, but wow I'm gonna have to save up some money to get one. I was just getting $250 for the console...

neoimmortal @ Jan 27th 2007 10:57AM

Lets see, $430 for wii off ebay (including wii, zelda, & classic controller, only $50 more than retail and I am still happy to pay that person $50 to stand in line for me), then bought Excite truck, extra controller & chuk for $110, 1 GB SD card $20, USB SD Card reader from Staples for $15, totalling $575, not too bad over three months of owning the system. Also got two more games for christmas that i havent even started yet, so lots of games to play still. I am still very happy with my system and the amount that I have payed and played.

Chii @ Jan 27th 2007 11:12AM

I've gotten a Wii... 250. Legend of Zelda, Trauma Center, Elebits, WarioWare. That's 450 total... I got an extra controller for Christmas, and three controller gloves(... I only have two wiimotes...)... And that's it so far.

duhmass @ Jan 27th 2007 11:46AM

Console $250
Wiimote/nunchuk $60
8 games $400
2 Wii points cards $40
Component Cables $30
Total $780

Thats almost as much as my PS3 and ONE game.
Console $600
Controller $50
Resistance $60
Component Cables $20
Total $760

I feel overwhelmed with the amount of games available for the Wii that I still want but stopped buying becauseI don't have time to play the ones I have. As for the cost, I think both of consoles I got are bargains, one is just more fun than the other at least for now.

Ralph @ Jan 27th 2007 11:47AM

Wii + Sales Tax = $270
Extra Wiimote + Nunchuk = $60
Classic Controller = $20
4 Wii games = $160

Knowing that I had more fun with less money that is necessary to buy a PS3 system = Priceless.
(oh c'mon, somone had to do it :-P )

Eric Kiel @ Jan 27th 2007 11:49AM

I know how it is! It hurts to keep buying all these extras! All I have is Zelda, 2 Remotes and 2 chucks and I thought it was insane. But the price of pure gaming goodness is worth it. Oh and I got a copy of Wii Transfer which is really slick!

Joop @ Jan 27th 2007 12:05PM

I was talking about this to a friend when we first got our Wiis. The price of a 'full set' of controllers is actually more than the Wii itself.

Not counting the one mote+chuck set that comes with it.

3 wiimotes = $120
3 nunchucks = $60
4 classic controllers = $80
Total = $260

And that's not even taking GC controllers into account.

Number One @ Jan 27th 2007 12:12PM

I have 4 Wii games and I feel guilty about it. Some people just spend too much money on video games. I've got rent to pay.

wii @ Jan 27th 2007 12:24PM

Joop why would you buy 4 classic i would by gamecubes because i still haven found a game that only uses the classic

West End Stench @ Jan 27th 2007 12:35PM

I'll never understand why people buy more than 2 games at a time. If you want to be economical about it then stick to one game until you complete it and then sell it back on E-bay. I never go back to games which I've already completed, and if I really wanted to, I would just go to the store (or gamefly) and rent it for a while.

I can understand hanging on to some classics (I still have both Zelda's for my N64), but other than that they should be posted on E-bay the day after beating the final boss.

Don't get me started with sports games such as Madden which re release every year.

Kurifurisan @ Jan 27th 2007 12:52PM

I count myself lucky that I haven't incurred near as much cost since getting my Wii at launch. I was able to utilize the trade-in system to the fullest. During the two months leading up to launch I was able to trade in games and dvds and using coupons and trade in specials that increased the values on my items. All in all I got my Wii, classic controller, three Wii point cards, six games at launch, pre ordered Warioware, Elebits, Wii Play and Cooking Mama and spent only about $100 in actual cash for my initial Wii system deposit. But thinking about what out of pocket that would have been makes my wallet cry.

Pedro @ Jan 27th 2007 2:34PM

question? why are you buying 4 controllers?

Chris @ Jan 27th 2007 3:12PM

The Wii is worth every penny and the time spent in line to get it. There's no doubt that gaming today is VERY expensive(Especially if you're a PS3/360 fan), but there's a price to pay for quality entertainment these days.

Jason Watters @ Jan 27th 2007 3:14PM

I think the Wii Remote is a reasonable price compaired to the other console's controllers, but I do think the price for the Nunchuk is price gouging. There isn't much to them at all, its basically a couple buttons and an accelerometer. What is really crazy is the fact that gamecube controllers have skyrocketed! I used to see them for dirt cheap all the time and when i went to go buy one at walmart it was 35 bucks!

Number One @ Jan 27th 2007 3:38PM

@ 13

Thanks for showing me the light. I was blind but now I see. I will correct my heretical ways and apply your teachings to my life and spread the word to others. Men who do not live like you are bound for damnation...

And I could keep going.

Dont attempt to force your way of life on others. Its fucking rude and pretentious.

samred @ Jan 27th 2007 3:40PM

Controller gloves? You do realize that it basically sets the player order according to who powers theirs on first, right? A la 360?

Nephus @ Jan 27th 2007 3:53PM

Well, I dropped about $470 on the Wii, Zelda, extra controller with chuck, classic controller, and Best Buy's 2 yr service plan. (just in case) In comparison, I spent around $850 on a comparable loadout for the 360 at launch.

Yes, it is expensive, but not nearly as much. The only thing that bugged me about the whole experience was being repeatedly told that I HAD to purchase a SD card to save games. No one knew that it had internal memory. Fortunately I already had a 1gb card for my camera that I never use anyway.

Mr.Chills @ Jan 27th 2007 4:04PM

I bought the wii, and extra controller, zelda, trauma center, excite truck, and that marvel super hero game (ive sold the marvel game and zelda to gamestop). I get more satisfaction though, from the virtual console games. Are those memory card things worth it? Whats the deal with them?

Sketchy Fletchy @ Jan 27th 2007 4:16PM

Of course it's a little expensive at this stage, we're still in the early adoption phase. Remember the underlying fact here - compared to the competition, it's damn cheap and we all know it.

What if we run the same scenario for a PS3? I'm in Australia here, so I'll be quoting some numbers that may sound unusual:

Console: $1000
Extra Controller: 3x $60 = $180
HDMI / Component cables: $50 ish
1GB Memory Stick Duo: $90
Download some PS1 games from Sony Online store: 3x $10 (I think - this may be a bit on the cheap side) = $30

Total: AU$1350

For those of other regions, that equates to US$1043.70, € 808.40, £532.40 or ¥126,876.36. The bottom line? Not F#$%in' cheap.

Of course, you could throw in here that an additional cost is the need to buy a PSP to play said PS1 games on, but I'll let them have their $300 piece of crap go gratis as it is a separate product.

And another quick question - what the HELL is little Lisha gamer in your hypothetical scenario doing buyiing component cables? Does she own a HD TV?

AzaMcWazza @ Jan 27th 2007 5:17PM

Controller wise it's a good price for Nintendo but bad for consumers. Because of the huge multiplayer playing together element of Wii, it's almost a must that you get 2 controllers and probably 3-4 eventually. Other platforms don't concentrate on that "in the same room" play, so you have less of an outlay. I'd almost say Wii becomes more expensive than a 360 once you have the "standard" setup to get "standard" play from the sytems.

Keith @ Jan 27th 2007 5:28PM

Wait, you mean gaming is expensive if you buy a bunch of unnecessary options? Next thing you're going to tell me is that a $20,000 car will cost nearly $25,000 if you put every conceivable package onto it!

Rubang B @ Jan 27th 2007 5:53PM

For me...

Console: $250
3 remotes: $120
3 nunchucks: $60
1 classic: $20
3000 Wii Points: $30
Zelda: $50
Red Steel: $50
Elebits: $50
Metal Slug Anthology: $40
Used Monkey Ball: $42
Component cables: $30
One controller sleeve: $10
Trauma Center and Rayman for Christmas: priceless

Total: $752.

Rubang B @ Jan 27th 2007 5:56PM

But hey, I was playing MKDS, Tetris DS, and Brain Age for a whole year to save up for this mad binge. Once the Wii goes online though, I might have to sell my car.

falcobird @ Jan 27th 2007 6:09PM

$250 Wii
$120 3 Extra Remotes
$ 60 3 Extra Nunchuks
$ 30 Red Steel (Circuit City sale)
$ 30 Rayman (Circuit City sale)
$ 38 Zelda (Circuit City sale)
$ 50 Super Monkey Ball
$ 50 Wario Ware
$ 0 Elebits (Christmas Gift)

Total I've spent: $628 + tax= $665

And I got lucky, I had $400 worth of gift cards to Target from the rewards from my credit card, so really all I've paid for out of pocket is the cost of my Wii. Not too shabby. :)

falcobird @ Jan 27th 2007 6:11PM

Eh... forgot that I did spend $50 to get my Wii component cables... but those are worth every penny for my setup.

Jayenkai @ Jan 27th 2007 6:13PM

£180 console with Wii Sports
£60 2*extra wiimotes
£35 Wii Play + your 4th Wiimote
£45 3*extra nunchuuks
£15 2000 Wii points (Mario Kart 64* + Bomberman + 400 left over) (*I'm assuming you've still got your Cube's pads!)
£90 2 additional games, say Wario Ware and, maybe Rayman or Zelda if you prefer the single player approach.

(*2 games won't cost you £90, and you're also likely to have gotten a decent bundle, but we'll ignore all that, and just overprice things, for the point of the point that I'm making)

£425 + a few mates/relatives/elderly people = SO much fun!
And that fun will last you a good couple of months, depending on the regularity of visitors, and your desperation of getting Pro level on all Sports games..

or a PS3.
Your choice...

Dr. No @ Jan 27th 2007 8:12PM

I love articles like these.

"Sure, the Wii is cheap, until you buy 8 controllers, 20 games, have the console dipped in platinum, sell it, buy it back, and buy another 3 games, it stops being so cheap."

4 controllers? "Controller gloves"?!?! I mean, honestly...

Mr Khan @ Jan 27th 2007 6:39PM

So far:

Wii: $250
Zelda: $50
Extra Remote/Nunchuck: $60
Classic Controller: $0 (gift)
SD Card: $0 (gift)
Component Cables: $50
3000 Points: $30

Total: $440 (pre-tax)

So i could've bought a 360 premium with some Live Gold for everything i've spent so far, interesting...

Charles @ Jan 27th 2007 6:55PM

Wii = $250
Complete Controler = $60
Twilight Princess = $40
Wii Points = $20
Investing in 4 Gamecube Controllers in 2001? = PRICELESS

TOTAL = $370 (eep, not bad, but more than I realized!)

Reggie @ Jan 27th 2007 8:33PM

Console: $250
extra Wiimote: $40
extra Nunchuk: $20
Classic Controller: $20
3 Games: $150
4000 Wii points: $40
Component Cables: $30
SD Memory Card: $25

Subtotal: $575

Gas/Time spent to drive from Philly to Times Square to ensure I would get a Wii on Black Friday: $40
----------------------------
Grand Total: $615

Yes, it's worth it. The Wii is so much fun! Everyone in my entire family and anyone who visits enjoys playing it too.

Miranda @ Jan 27th 2007 8:42PM

Let's see.

Wii, bought off eBay, $350 shipped. Included everything that comes standard with the Wii.

Extra remote, $40.
Classic controller, $20.
Extra nunchuck (when I finally find one), $20.
Wario Ware, $40.
Rayman Raving Rabbids, $32 used.
SD Card, $35 for a 2-GB one from Amazon.com.
Wii Points, $30.

Total spent: $547 (OK, I haven't yet spent the $20 for the extra nunchuck, but I will as soon as I find one in the store.)

Not awful, but even if you discount the amount extra I paid by going through eBay, it's certainly not as cheap as it seems at first.

omarg @ Jan 27th 2007 9:16PM

Wii 250
NFS Carbon 10 (had 40 gift card0
3000 pts 30
wiimote 40
nunchuck 20
classics x2 40

TOTAL 390

omarg @ Jan 27th 2007 9:17PM

oh yeah, bought the classics after reading this article. I borrow a gc controller, HATED the layout.

Nephus @ Jan 27th 2007 11:06PM

I dunno, I just can't get used to playing Link to the Past on a GC controller. I needed the SNES layout that the classic controller has. The standard controller works perfectly for NES, and when it's all said and done, all you really can't emulate perfectly (as far as player experience) is the use of the N64 controller on some games. I have too much muscle memory built up over the years to try playing older games with a gamecube controller. It just feels unnatural to me. Your mileage may vary.

shadowchaoscontrol @ Jan 28th 2007 5:24AM

lets see...
Wii console- $250
Wii Remote- $40
Nunchuck- $20
Classic Controller- $20
2 games- $100
2000 Wii Points- $20
Wii Storage Kit- $50
Total- $500
Woah, without tax, i spent as much as a 20gb ps3, but i'm not wasting money for classic controllers, because i already have 3 gcn controllers

MBJ @ Jan 28th 2007 6:40AM

Wii
3 Remotes
1 Nunchuck
2 Classic controllers
1 Wavebird
Zelda
Excite Truck
Elebits
WarioWare
13 Virtual Console games

Total (w/tax on everything but VC games)= about $800!

MBJ @ Jan 28th 2007 6:44AM

Oops, make that more like $850, I forgot about my SD card and component cables.

farmer99 @ Jan 28th 2007 9:37AM

Wii Console: 196 with tax
3 Controllers: 32 with tax x 3 = $96
2 Classic: 16 x2 = 32
1 nunchucks: 16
zelda: 39
wario: 39
trauma: 39
component: 35
swing golf: 39
metal slug 32

total $563. It's what we call "professional shopper".

Abscissa @ Jan 28th 2007 11:54AM

Let's see:

I don't give a crap about HD (-$30)

I typically stick with single-player, and others who want to play can go buy their own controller (-$40/remote, -$20/nunchuck)

I already have SD cards for other devices I own. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't need one since the console already has enough memory built in (-$15 If you get them at MicroCenter, -$30 otherwise)

The GC controllers I already own are vastly superior to the classic controller (-$20)

I never buy new copies of games, only used, and never at Gamestop (-$20 or $30)

I already own and use rechargable AA's (-a bunch of nickel and diming)

So no, being a Nintendo user, I'm not concerned about the "increasing" price of gaming.

Abscissa @ Jan 28th 2007 11:57AM

"A couple of those nifty controller gloves so you don't have to play guess-which-remote-is-player-one."

My god, look at your remote: See those four lights on the bottom? Yea, take a good guess what those are for.

Ichiro @ Jan 28th 2007 2:09PM

Actually I found the Wii a great value because I was able to reuse all 4 of my GC Wireless controllers, memory cards and all of my GC games :)

J-Dizzle @ Jan 28th 2007 3:46PM

Lets see how much: Console, 2 extra remotes, 2 extra nunchuks, 3 extra games, so far 4,000 points, and that's it so far. total: 560 bucks. not too bad considering if you got a PS3 20 GB you would only have enough left for one game. Wii isn't a bargain, but it is definitely better than the rest of it's competition.

Steve 3.2 @ Jan 28th 2007 6:40PM

Just one of the reasons why I haven't gotten one of the new consoles yet. Hopefully there will be a price drop later in the year on the games and systems (though I'm not holding my breath on the later).

Grey Acumen @ Jan 28th 2007 9:45PM

Base Price: $400

Wii - $250
Zelda: TP - $40
Extra Wiimote + Nunchuck - $60
2 Wired Gamecube controllers w/rumble - $30 (I already had 2 wavebirds, but I needed my rumble back)
1 1GB SD memory card - $20 (I also use it with my digital camera and laptop)

Future purchases: $250+
Component cables - $30 (This won't happen until after my current TV dies, or a see a good sale for 19 - 20" that can handle component cables for $150 - $200)
WarioWare, WiiPlay, Smash Bros Brawl and some other games - $150+
Wiipoints - $30+ (this will be for the VC Zelda and Mariokart games, the non trial net browser if it's enough better than the trial, and maybe a few other games if I see something good enough)
1 extra Wiimote - $40 (with Wii play, that will be a full set of 4, and 2 nunchucks, which should be plenty, since the nunchucks can be moved from controller to controller, most 4 player games I've heard of use the Wiimote alone and no nunchucks)

So all in all, I'd be paying $650 which allows me 5 Wii games, a couple VC games and as many gamecube games as I had before I got the Wii, my whole family can play, it's portable and fits nicely beside my TV.

I've probably put in roughly 5 hours+ every day for the past week playing Zelda, as well as a little Wii sports with my family. So if you take the current price of $400/40 is only about $10 an hour, and that will drop to 2 within the next month.

As for the handgrip things, you don't need them, period. Don't be a douche about flinging your Wiimote around. I only wear the thing during Wiisports, and even then I've had no point at which I was at all worried about the Wiimote coming out of my hand. I actually use the straps to tell my Wiimotes apart, since I have one strap strung backwards.
I don't see any point yet to the classic controller. I seriously think that was more of a little throwaway to help qualm an dissension about games that needed a classic control style. I don't think that was really thought through properly.
And there is no guessing game over whose wiimote is player one, it's whoever connects first.

All in all, I'd say its a great console. You have a great group or solo gaming system that really is FUN, doesn't require expensive equipment to be able to enjoy fully (though I wouldn't mind a 16:9 ratio for playing Zelda, just to keep my maps and items from crowding the screen) and doesn't cost so much on it's own that you can't afford any of the games for it.

Jeff @ Jan 29th 2007 10:57AM

Everyone is still missing what console in like the past 10 years has been released with a game?? I know Wii Sports is kind of lame but still i'm sure they could have put it as a launch total and sold 500,000+ copies by years end. But I will agree working at a Gamestop that the $250 price tag is slightly mis-leading with all the add-ons but the advantages being missed are games are $50 where as 360 and PS3 are $60....Microsoft's Arcade games are no where close to the caliber VC has...and PS3 is just...lame and expensive...plus fully BC on all Gamecube games and being able to use your old controllers for VC (so you dont HAVE to buy the Classic) where as 360 has a spotty list of BC and PS3 has had problems with its BC list. I think Wii still ends up in the long run as the cheapest and best deal.

Shane @ Feb 6th 2007 12:18PM

I probably dropped about $450 on launch day but overall, I don't have any regrets. Right now I have about $600 spent on the Wii, but that has just now reached the price of the PS3 w/ the 60 GB. And I now have 5 games for the Wii (7 counting VC games), and the PS3 doesn't come with a game; so there you go. I wouldn't trade my Wii for a PS3, even if someone offered to boot the deal! So many people love my Wii!

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