The rising costs of multiplayer Wii
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Jul 16th 2008 at 9:45PM }
We're already fascinated by the potential of the Wii MotionPlus, but there is one potential sticking point: the price. Gizmodo went to the trouble of calculating how much the Wii would cost with enough Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, and MotionPlus add-ons (the site estimated -- conservatively in our view -- that the device would cost $15) for four players, and promptly saw the Wii's "cheapest console" tag evaporate.
According to Gizmodo's math, a fully equipped four-player Wii set-up would cost $490 -- just $60 less than the PS3 with four controllers and $20 more than the Xbox 360 with four pads; the fact that the Wii is seen as a social gaming console hardly makes thing much better. Maybe a price drop for the Wiimote is in order before the MotionPlus hits stores?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Edward J Grug III @ Jul 16th 2008 9:54PM
Well, yeah, but in fairness, it isn't NEEDED for every game, and you don't NEED to have four controllers, and you can also buy them over time.
And are they taking into account buying that many controllers for the other systems?
Edward J Grug III @ Jul 16th 2008 9:57PM
Oops, obviously they are taking that many controllers into account on the other system.
El Capitaine @ Jul 16th 2008 10:14PM
"And are they taking into account buying that many controllers for the other systems?"
Lets read, shall we?
"just $60 less than the PS3 with four controllers and $20 more than the Xbox 360 with four pads"
So...yeah.
I won't be buying the motion plus...or a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) nunchuk. All I really play on my Wii is Brawl...and I have 2 GC controllers a friend gave me, the classic, and a nunchuk. All set.
Let me just take the rest of my post to state that the Big N totally underwhelmed during this years E3.... It seems they are finally prepared to leave their hardcore gamers completely in the dust and go after the people who give them a 0 attach rate...
Edward J Grug III @ Jul 16th 2008 10:34PM
Perhaps you didn't read where I corrected myself, but thanks.
N4N0T3CH @ Jul 16th 2008 9:56PM
When will you need 4 Wiimotes, 4 nunchucks,and 4 MotionPlus things? Most party games are sans nunchuck. If I've ever needed more than my 2 'chucks, the friends I was playing with brought them.
racecar @ Jul 16th 2008 11:45PM
The RRR games (which were usually the most popular party games I owned) are not sans nunchuck. I only have two, so we'd usually either have to rotate people in or call around till we could find someone with a Wii and some chucks to spare. Pretty annoying.
N4N0T3CH @ Jul 17th 2008 2:02PM
Point well taken.
However, RRR is one of the few that require the nunchuck.
Also I'm not sure why you are annoyed by watching others play. All the commercials I see have all the observers having the time of their lives. They really get into it. (end sarcasm)
kansanpoker @ Jul 17th 2008 1:33PM
well yea , i own a ps3 with just two controlers because i dont have any 4 player games , but my wii i have alot , i bought 4 controler and 4 nunchucks it hell of expensive , and i probly end up buying 4 of the motioncontrol thingy , so much for a cheap entertainment consol , o well at least i have friends over alot so 4 controls really sometime i wish , the wii would support more , since friends of mine have to take turns playing alot
Psy @ Jul 17th 2008 12:12AM
...*sigh*
CJLopez @ Jul 17th 2008 1:09AM
sorry, bus giz math are wrong. As I stated here
http://gizmodo.com/5025658/the-nintendo-wiis-new-real-price#c6720003
I did redo the math and PS3 keeps on being the most expensive gaming console. Wii and 360 are on a tie, but that depends, for my math, I used the wireless controls of the 360, but the ones that uses batteries, still, I made it wrong, i took it as 60 and each one is 50, so rest 30 from those 540 and 360 multiplayer is the cheapest, but many 360fanboys goes for the 70 control which has the charger, so in this scenario, 360 would be 570, leaving the Wii at a 540 for multiplayer experience
360 can be the cheapest or the second most expensive, that depends on the consumer choice of control, but PS3 keeps on being the most expensive multiplayer console, and Wii the cheapest without a second though
And yes, KristenBal is my nick on gizmodo, for some reason, my other account with CJLopez nick was banned, xDDDDD
Dan Davis @ Jul 17th 2008 4:15PM
Did you also calculate that the PS3 controllers are rechargeable out of the box? No batteries or battery charger needed, just a short mini-USB cable.
CJLopez @ Jul 17th 2008 5:16PM
Please, read again your post again and try to explian yourself cuz, it's not making any sense to me.
CubeGuy @ Jul 17th 2008 1:32AM
I'm willing to wager that future Wiimotes may have the moton plus built in.
Wiimote +
Shawn Mills @ Jul 17th 2008 1:58AM
Yea but you have to think, everyone and their brother owns a Wii and therefore has at least one Wii remote. With all those people out there who have Wiis you don't really need to have four at home. I know I only have one but that has yet to prevent me from playing four player games, everyone I know has a Wii. Lol, Nintendo should really pay me for advertising their product, I've gotten at least 10 people to buy a Wii :P
Louie @ Jul 17th 2008 2:25AM
Here's what I've spent:
Wii: $250
3 extra wiimotes: $120
2 extra nunchucks: $40
1 classic controller: $20
4 used wavebirds from gamestop: $72
Wii + Controllers = $502
The classic controller is the least used one of the bunch, I would easily trade it for a 4th nunchuck.
But to make a few points here...
(a) The Wii comes with a game, and most people pop an extra $10 to get WiiPlay with their second Wiimote. PS3/X360 don't come with any games.
(b) Even with all this, don't forget the WiiZapper, Wii Wheel, faux instruments, and the WiiFit Balance board. So much money into white plastic toys.....
Louie @ Jul 17th 2008 2:29AM
And unless they're absolutely required for games, I don't see getting more than 1 extra WiiMotionPlus. Does anyone honestly see ResortSports featuring multiplayer for more than 2 people at once?
Mickey @ Jul 17th 2008 2:52PM
I only have 2 remotes and 2 nunchucks and usually if I need 4 it's with a group anyways so someone else brings the other 2. I also have the zapper (which I bought for $15 from a guy in my building chucking his stuff to pay the rent). SO my Wii is pretty cheap. But if someone were to buy ALL the extras it would get very expensive. That's without adding 3rd party accessiores. Just think of all the junk you could have for the Wii. Balance boards, classic contollers, Wii Wheels, motion plus, Wii speak, wireless sensor bar, wireless nunchuck, zapper, perfect shot, all those 3rd party shotguns and uzi's, "sports" equipment, and decorations. Am I missing anything? Oh yeah, Guitar Hero and Rock band instruments.
one other question, aren't PS3 and 360 games $10 more than Wii games?
Batmyke @ Jul 17th 2008 11:15PM
To be fair, you have to factor in some other out-of-the-box items as well:
Wii: includes wifi - $0
PS3: includes wifi - $0
XBOX: NO WIFI - Between $50 and $100
Wii: Online play - $0
PS3: Online play - $0
XBOX: Online play - $50 per year (another $250 over 5 years, the average lifespan of a console - you could own another XBOX 360 for that price!)
I won't factor in batteries here, because the PS3 with built in rechargeables has the advantage, but after you put these all together, the Wii comes out cheapest, I believe.