DigitalBattle.com

While their competitors in the gaming console market are slashing prices to obviously entice sales and make their game consoles affordable in the market, Nintendo is taking its sweet time following their lead. Priced at $250, it has already made an achievement as far as the number of game consoles sold.

And with recession obviously forcing the hand to somewhat put game consoles out of their circle of needs, Nintendo may be still studying the market before making any hasty decisions on price slashes.

“Price drops are just not needed by Nintendo at this time,” said Van Baker, a Gartner analyst. “The console occupies a unique position in the market as a fun game console that is for the whole family.”

Nintendo may not have to cut prices just yet, but consumers may wonder about price reductions since Nintendo rivals have already made the cut. Microsoft slashed its Xbox 360 price, and last month Sony cut the price of its PlayStation 2 after 10 years of the device’s availability.

“Microsoft and Sony cannot position their consoles in the same way [as the Wii] because it would alienate their core gamer customer,” said Gartner’s Baker. “There is little price pressure from either competitor.”

The only exception is the PlayStation 2, which will put some pressure on the Wii, noted Baker, adding that the pressure will be minimal because the device is seen as the last generation’s console.

Since the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox 360, 28 million units have been sold worldwide. The console’s figures put it ahead of Sony’s PlayStation 3, which has sold approximately 20 million units since its launch in 2006.

(Source) NewsFactor