Replacement Wii U GamePads Will Be Available If You Bust Yours At Launch

That's great news for us uncoordinated people, though I try to keep my electronics in the best quality.

My dog ate my Wii U.

I don't mean to sound harsh but the Verge's source is questionable, as they use very similar language to this post that confirmed this 4 days ago

http://gimmegimmegames.com/2012/09/broken-wii-u-game-pad-replacements-will-be-available-for-a-fee-says-nintendo/

$170 bucks just for the controller? If that's true, then even for the $350 deluxe model, Nintendo must be selling these systems at a loss!

We really need hard acrylic screen protectors to protect the delicate touch screens from being bludgeoned while not in use. And while the plastic film screen protectors often protect against light cosmetic scratches, they are virtually useless for protection against blunt-force trauma. Furthermore, game controllers often tend to get tossed together in a storage bin when put away. That's usually what I do for my classic systems usually when I'm not playing them. While this is usually fine for hard plastics, it's definitely a no-no for tactile touch screens. Damage was only a non-issue for the DS touch screens due to the clam-shell design. Just look at how many people break their iPhones on a daily basis!

Im afraid I might drop my controller playing ZombiU... O_o

LOL

I'm so glad I don't have a dog.

Is that the price of one for replacement outside of warranty or including the manufacturer warranty? Also, I'm taking ¥13,400 to be about 100USD, so DAMN is that an expensive gamepad. NO ONE in my apt is touching it without my expressed written consent or I will kill... that is all

The good thing is that Nintendo has a pretty good QA department, so you would have to be incredibly dumb to break it. Still would take good care of it.

$170? Good freakin' grief.

If I break my pad I think I'll just hang my head... in shame. xD

$170 for a replacement? Yeesh. That's already more than half of the basic bundle's price. So that does make me wonder... Are we really paying for a console? Or are we really paying for a controller? Either way, I'm taking good care of the one I'm getting. Whenever that's going to happen...

@StarDust I don't think you're meant to put it away with your other controllers, that's why the deluxe comes with not only a stand cradle to charge it in but also a cradle to just sit it in when you aren't using it. I'm still hoping for a Mario clock or digital photo frame app.
I'm not worried about breaking it, but I could see someone leaving it on a coffee table and spilling a beer on it. How liquid proof is that screen?
And how's the battery life? My 3 1/2 year old DS3 still works great but my Sony Clio PDA was dead in about a year. My laptop battery died in 12 1/2 months and cost $130 to replace it. That was 5 years ago and I still haven't, bought a $200 netbook instead.

I'm not paying $170 for a replacement... i might as well just put bubble wrap around it lol

@StarDust
The console will cost bugger all to make tbh its all last gen hardware well the best of last gen hard ware i think the controller is costing the most out of this hardware

@Janett lmao wouldnt you be tempted to pop those bubbles while you play or after your not playing cuz i would >

but come on guys its not like it wont have that strap string thing (yes i forgot what its called) to put around your wrist while your playing

i keep seeing someone playing a golf game, getting excited at a good shot and stepping on it! lotsa tears after that one.

I don't think people will be as careless with this gamepad compared to the others. Even then all the nintendium in the world won't protect it from the freak accidents that are bound to happen.

I'm not worried since I'm really careful with my electronics, only my old phat DS and PSP have been had anything happen to them. My DS fell 5ft to a tiled hospital restroom floor and my PSP fell out of my sweatshirt pocket twice while tying my shoe. The DS's touchscreen no longer works and the PSP walked away with chipped finish.

Console innards are just like computer innards and in this day and age they're dirt cheap. As far as the Wii U console goes, I'm willing to bet that the solid state drive (SSD) that comes with it is the most expensive part in it.

And at Nintendo HQ, Mr Iwata is rubbing his hands together,while making an evil laugh.

Nintendo's controllers have always been pretty tough. I don't imagine they'll change that now. The gorilla glass on the iPhone is pretty tough, so it's definitely possible. $170 seems high when repairs for wii and DS were $75 for the system, but it could just be a low-supply issue.

@k8smom I thought the same thing when I saw the golf game demo at E3. That one's definitely not young-child friendly.

Good, my brother is really clumsy.

To everyone above is $170 in japan which doesn't mean it will necessarily cost as much elsewhere specifically us. It also costs $337 for the basic wiiu model there... nintendo adapts prices to the local economy e.g in australia game prices are high because we have higher minimum wage then the us

"accident-prone players, rejoice."
Time to rejoice!

It'll be the most relatively expensive price in the UK...that's the way it works over here.

@StarDust Nintendo or any other company should make a screen protector, so that it wouldn't get so dirty from touching it so much.

@3Dash
Same here

Yeah I do not like the potential price of the gamepad, so I think I'll hold off on trying to get a Wii U until price reduction time...