14 DAY TRIAL // If there's something we know for sure, that is that, even in the face of mounting evidence, Nintendo continues to keep its mouth shut when it comes to the possibility of a price reduction for its Wii home gaming console. Someone leaked a Target circular that clearly shows that the device will be selling for 199 dollars in the store beginning with September 27, and the Japanese console maker is continuing to state that, “Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation.”
The only big problem with that stance is the fact that this whole thing has already moved far beyond the stage of rumors and speculation. The first evidence to come out was from Wal Mart, with references made to a price rollback for the Nintendo Wii and with no date mentioned. Then came a photo of an ad for Toys R Us, which mentioned the price of 199 dollars, reduced from the current 249, but not mentioning specifically when it would be applied.
And, now, Target brings home the bacon by offering those interested in the Nintendo Wii both confirmation of the new price point and a date when it will go into effect, September 27, a Sunday when people can crowd in the store and snap up a Wii. Looking at the progression, you could almost think that Nintendo itself was orchestrating the leaks, preferring to do something akin to a “stealth launch,” rather than deliver a big announcement.
Still, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the upcoming Tokyo Games Show, where Nintendo might put on a press conference and make the whole thing official. Going down to 199 dollars means that the Nintendo Wii will again be cheaper than any version of the PlayStation 3 from Sony or the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and will probably offer a boost in sale numbers for the device, which has seen a drop in 2009 over 2008.