Topic: Should Nintendo scrap the Basic Set?

They should just discontinue the basic set, localize Japan's White 32GB set, and also make various new bundles.

I think Nintendo should get rid of the Basic, and put the Deluxe bundle at a price between the current Basic and Deluxe prices. 32GB for a current gaming console is abysmal, let alone 8GB.

@LuigiTheGreenFire Lol you can't even buy more than like 4 good games from the eShop with the basic set, and I'm talking the download titles, not the retail/download.

Personally, I think that the "Basic" set is more of a stripped down model than a "Basic" set, the value is just so poor. I think they should make the Deluxe the basic, and introduce a model with an internal drive (This is 2013, no offense people, it wouldn't cost very much to add in and would provide good value)

Having a hard time agreeing with the opinions here about the deluxe model being an automatic choice. People saying that either aren't thinking, are focused only on their own situation, or just suck at math.

What is the meaningful differences between the models?

• color - no value attached, personal preference issue
• 8GB vs 32 GB - if you download content then neither is big enough for the average gamer; an external hard drive will be required either way
• Nintendo Land - available between $12 and $15 new on amazon.com
• system/controller stands - could be nice to have, but far from necessary; controller charge stand available for about $7.50 from amazon.com
• deluxe digital promotion - 10% of digital purchases given back as eShop credit; valid until December 2014

The last point is the one that matters. If you buy a lot of content digitally, then the deluxe model could be a good deal. But how much content would you need to buy digitally between now and December of next year to cover the difference? Assuming the controller charge stand is a "must have" item, you'd need to spend roughly $300 in the Wii U eShop just to break even on the price difference between deluxe and basic models. Not that much money over the course of 16 months, but it's easy to imagine that some people wouldn't get good value there. (Also worth pointing out that buying so much digital content accelerates the need for extra storage space; the 32 GB drive really won't suffice so the built-in storage difference really is moot.)

One final note: Wii U basic sets are being discontinued and have been seen marked down to $200 multiple times at different locations. That changes the equation for some people. So yeah... all of these comments about how "smart people" choose the deluxe are probably oversimplifying things.

As for whether Nintendo is right to stop production on the basic model SKU... meh, probably. I don't think it matters that much though. Consumers might not care about the basic model, but the two SKUs aren't causing confusion and consumers aren't excited about the deluxe model either. What Nintendo really needs for Wii U is software support - that's the magic bullet that will solve their Wii U problems.

Dropping Basic Set will help Nintendo save money, but what will those who bought the set say?
My suggestion: Digital promotion similar to Deluxe Set, it they dropped the Basic set, to Basic set owners.

Maybe they'll turn the current Deluxe set into a Basic set and charge $300, then add a Wii Remote Plus and nunchuck as the new Deluxe set and continue to sell it for $350.

The Basic and Deluxe will both be in black or white, with the inclusion of the Wii remote and nunchuck being the only difference.

I thought they were just liquidating Basics and were going to keep selling them, though.

Whatever happens, I'm sure Nintendo will make either deal seem fair.

they should offer a Wii U w/out the gamepad and just have pro controllers. $200. If you want to buy a gamepad later, it's $100.

Some of these suggestions are amusing.

Why not just go all the way and hand out Wii Us for free!

It's not the system, it's the lack of games that's causing such low Wii U sales.

Eh instead of a Wiimote+ and a nunchuck I;d rather get a Pro controller and two games. Maybe something eshop related to promote the store.

Ya, that's true.

They could charge $300-350 the entire life cycle if they want once it picks up(which I think it will), but I'm sure they'll have deals eventually.
Microsoft did it for the Xbox 360(charging the same all gen), but they also did include other things in the box to make their consoles more worthwhile and to keep the price up.

They were giving like 3 games with the Xbox 360 250GB or extra controllers, then charging the same ammount they did without those things earlier in the life cycle.

@Sony_70
I kinda doubt it, unless they rename the SKUs.
Deluxe consoles will probably eventually be Basic, and the Deluxe pack could vary I suppose.
A Deluxe pack with a Wii-remote and nunchuck, and a Deluxe pack with a Pro controller. SKUs can vary so much, so it would be very difficult to pinpoint what an effective SKU would actually be without being in Nintendo's shoes.

I think that's a very good idea! Maybe both could come with Nintendo Land as a pack-in like Wii Sports with the Wii U, but maybe that's pushing it a little too much

I can't believe the amount of people suggesting Nintendo should do away with the basic set. I am personally sorry I bought the ZombiU pack over the basic. If I never had a Wii U right this minute and I just wanted to play some of the very few titles available what would look more appealing? £150 basic or £200 premium. I would go for the basic its cheaper and does what I need it to do. Play disc based games. If I wanted to download titles I would simply attach my 120gb usb external hard drive to it.

Hell even a friend of mine who has been bashing the Wii U for months as tempted to get a wii u basic pack just so he can play ZombiU and Mario Kart when it comes out.

@PloXyZeRO
They probably don't want to give bigger titles away in a bundle. That Wind Waker HD bundle sounds reasonable, because it's a remake.

I could see Wii Sports U having a Wii remote+ included in a software bundle like they did for Wii, then also have the game just by itself if you already have the remotes.

There are quite a few bundles they could throw together, I'm sure, but they'll choose ones that make the most sense.

It's like the argument I made when the 3DS's price dropped. When you buy a product, you get what you get with that product. No one owes you anything if the product changes or becomes cheaper.

Oh, and the ambassador games were a gift from Nintendo. Nothing more

Basic Set should stay, while i personally wouldnt buy it thats not to say others wouldnt. In fact its good for nintendo as it makes a Wii U purchase that much cheaper and it lowers the barrier of entry onto the console.

The problem with the basic set is simply the hard drive size, what needs to happen is the basic set and the deluxe set get more room in future revisions.

I guess the basic could stay. This is just speculation after all.
Maybe they could just give Nintendo Land to the Basic set, then have Wind Waker HD for the Deluxe.

Well I got a basic set myself because it was cheaper.. and frankly I could get a 500 GB Hard drive with the remainder of the money I saved by not going deluxe.. (It's a small HDD in a case thing.. very portable.. but then I realized I did not have to.. case I had a HDD.. just needed the case for it.. so for ten bucks went an got one.. and used the rest to buy a game.. so it's all good.. I think the Basic is a great deal... really.. so no they should not do away with the Basic