Hardware The Switch technically could be sold at a low price

[Futurdreamz]

Many people in Japan are actually calling for Nintendo to release a basic package without the dock for closer to 20,000 yen. This makes perfect sense in Japan where handhelds are bigger than consoles. Indeed, my dock is packaged away in the box, I never use it. Many people in Japan will be stuck with a dock they will never use.

Nintendo won't do that however because they seem to be trying hard to promote it as a home console you can take with you, rather than a handheld.

Honestly that makes perfect sense. They need developers on board, and with their history they need to project a very clear image for the Switch. Sure eventually there may be a no-dock bundle and a tv-only bundle, but only after enough time has passed that people don't get confused by it all.

 

[sj33]

Honestly that makes perfect sense. They need developers on board, and with their history they need to project a very clear image for the Switch. Sure eventually there may be a no-dock bundle and a tv-only bundle, but only after enough time has passed that people don't get confused by it all.

I don't know about the west, but here in Japan there's definately a market for a dockless package. Handhelds are king here so there's a lot of YouTubers here complaining about being forced to buy the dock with the console.

I have a wife and kids so my gaming time at home is limited. I commute every day so I've been using the Switch so much, playing all the indie games etc. I used the dock once when I bought the console to try it out, then packed it away and have never used it since. Even when I'm at home, the Switch has a big enough screen that it's just easier to not bother docking.

But as I say, I think it comes down to 'message' i.e. trying to avoid promoting the Switch as exclusively a handheld.

 

[Snitzle]

There is the Razor and Blade model which is where you sell the initial product below value and try to make it back through additional sales.

In the case of consoles, you'd make it back through games and services.

I understand that doing that at the price of the original PS3 may make some sense or when PS4 and XBONE release at a similar time and are competing but for Nintendo it makes no sense.

Prices, in some fashion, convey a perceived value. If they priced the Switch near the portables people would compare it with the 3DS and not even consider it. There is also what I initially stated.

If you had product x and many people said "I would buy that for £10." You wouldn't say great! lets sell for £6. Prices for products with such large reach and high competition as games consoles usually have their prices deliberated over heavily for this reason.

 

[sj33]

Consoles haven't used the razor and blade model for a few generations now. All the current generation consoles have been sold at a profit since launch.

 

[gundamu]

No company would ever sell lower than they possibly could get away with, otherwise what's the point? Business aren't designed to give things away at the sum of their parts + labour cost.

sony says supp dawgg