Hidden costs of a Wii

**Epaphras** · 10-28-2009, 03:00 PM

My mother-in-law is offering to get my wife and I and Wii for Christmas along with Wii Fit (game and pad). It is a very generous offer!

My only concern is the peripheral costs and other hidden costs. Off the top of my head I can think obviously of more games, which seem to be $20-$60 each. I can also think of perhaps another controller set. We are also huge Beatles fans so I can see us saving up to buy The Beatles: Rock Band which is $160.

Am I missing any other hidden costs? Is this a gift or a curse? Our budget is tight as it is.

Neither of us can think of another "big" gift to ask for instead of this. I hate to ask for cash that would just go into savings.

I can't honestly say that if we got the value of all this in cash, that a Wii would be my first choice of a purchase (besides saving it).

**DaGeek** · 10-28-2009, 03:05 PM

I would accept is as a blessing, then fit buying games into your budget without stretching too far. It'll only become a curse if you let it. Otherwise, it'll just be really fun (the Wii is a great console). So, as long as you save up and buy games reasonably afterward, I'd say it'd be a great idea (and who knows? Maybe you can ask other people for Wii games for Christmas).

**JayCarrFan** · 10-28-2009, 03:19 PM

I think between Wii Fit and Wii Sports, you should be plenty entertained for a while. But yes, you will need another controller, and perhaps another nunchuk accessory.

Other than that, there are very few hidden costs of owning a Wii. In fact, the Wii might have the lowest hidden cost of any of the three current systems.

bravesfan007 · 10-28-2009, 03:34 PM

Games do run from $20-60 typically but I have seen them for as low as $9.99 depending upon the title and the store. There are a lot of good $20 games right now that will last you for some time. Typically the games the Wii are cheaper than the other consoles as new releases.

With a Classic Controller you can pick up old school games to play too. A lot of those are priced in the $5-6 range if I remember correctly. You just have to download them.

**Cam42** · 10-28-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrFan

I think between Wii Fit and Wii Sports, you should be plenty entertained for a while. But yes, you will need another controller, and perhaps another nunchuk accessory.

Other than that, there are very few hidden costs of owning a Wii. In fact, the Wii might have the lowest hidden cost of any of the three current systems.

I've gotten away with 2 wiimotes and 1 nunchuck since last Christmas. there aren't too many games that require 2 nunchucks.

**Epaphras** · 10-28-2009, 04:11 PM

Are all games played with the stick and nunchuck, or will I need the classic controller to play anything besides the classic games?

**DaGeek** · 10-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epaphras

Are all games played with the stick and nunchuck, or will I need the classic controller to play anything besides the classic games?

All Wii games can use the Wiimote and Nunchucks. They will not require you to use a classic

.

TFK14 · 10-28-2009, 04:32 PM

and I believe you can use a GCN controller in Lieu of a Classic Controller...

**Pre-Ex-Girlfriend** · 10-28-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGeek

All Wii games can use the Wiimote and Nunchucks. They will not require you to use a classic

.

Unless they buy a virtual console game that require a classic controller (like Paper Mario).

The hidden costs are minimal, imo. It is possible to go quite some time without buying new games and still enjoy the games you have (as someone mentioned already). With Wii Sports, you need two controllers to do the vs. tennis and baseball, and you need two controllers and two nunchucks to do the vs. boxing, but if you only have one set, you can still play the computer. You can share remotes with the other two sports.

Anyway, my point, I guess, is that you can spend a lot or a little and still have fun.

luvinjesus · 10-28-2009, 05:04 PM

When I bought my wii last year it came bundled with Wii Play that came with an extra remote and nunchuk. I honestly don't know what kind of bundles they have this year, but ask her to look for one that has extra controllers, so that you don't have pay the $30 out of pocket for a second one.

I have a Wii and I really only play wii sports, wii fit, ncaa 09, and nhl2K9.
Plus I bought 2,500 points from the nintendo wii shopping channel and got around 6 games for it. I got Super Mario 3, which you can use a wii controller to play, and some other old time nintendo games.

I haven't bought a new game since January of this year. I play the games I have over and over. My brother in law told me to buy games that you can play over and over and you won't get bored. So I stayed away from games that you can only play until you "win" the last level, cause it takes the fun out of it with later plays.

My only other "hint" is to buy your games off half. com. I was able to get almost of all of my games for way cheaper from people who used the game only once or twice and either sold their wii, or didn't like the game. I was able to get my wii fit for under $75 off of half.com. Shipping for games is usually only $2.99-$4.99.

***Art*** · 10-28-2009, 09:07 PM

Just as a throw in here, regular Wii games (the ones that do not come with an accessory) generally max out at $50, unlike PS3 and XBox 360 games at $60.

**Epaphras** · 10-29-2009, 04:23 PM

Thanks for the input everyone! It makes me feel much better about it.

Our friends are letting us borrow their Wii for a week or two to see how we like it.

I'll ask my MIL what pack she is looking to get us, as far as what's included.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-29-2009, 04:29 PM

If you get one, Mario Kart for wii is my absolute favorite.

I use ebay to get games a month or two after release. Most are cheap.

Batteries are probably the biggest hidden cost.

**Cam42** · 10-29-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

If you get one, Mario Kart for wii is my absolute favorite.

I use ebay to get games a month or two after release. Most are cheap.

Batteries are probably the biggest hidden cost.

+1 on everything here.
You may wanna pick up some gamecube controllers if you don't have 'em already. Makes Mario Kart so much easier.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-29-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam42

You may wanna pick up some gamecube controllers if you don't have 'em already. Makes Mario Kart so much easier.

I could not disagree more because I always sucked with the controllers. Its truly a YMMV. I love the motion control where you start steering and turn the controller like you always did... only it turns now.