WiiU priced and dated

The WiiU has been priced and dated.

November 18th in the US, November 30th in Europe

US Price:

$300 for the White 8GB model

$350 for the Black 32GB model with 1 year premium subscription.

What do you think? I like the system but I'm a little skeptical about the library. I think a price in the $200's would have cheapened the perceived value of the system, but given it's specs, I also think that price range might be more appropriate (even 50$ cheaper for each). I'm going to hold off but keep my eyes close on this one.

Also, apparently the hard drives are SSD's, which is pretty cool and helps justify the price difference.

Any idea if it runs HTML5 games?

Through the browser, but I'm not sure which browser it's using just yet. This was translated from a Dutch at this web site:

The default installed browser on Nintendo's Wii does not support Flash, but does have built-in HTML 5 features. This was announced during the Japanese Nintendo Direct event, where the software of Nintendo's new console is central.

During the presentation was shown how the Wii Gamepad can be used in the free browser to surf the Internet. YouTube was shown how easy approach is to watch videos. Users can browser the web pages by scrolling using the built-in gyroscope into the Wii U GamePad, and the supplied stylus.

Doesn't look overly promising as far as native features go, but maybe something to keep an eye on.

How well it will run HTML5 is yet to be seen though <img src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

I can't see spending $300 on this (and only 8gb's?) when I'm hearing the next XBOX could be $100 and much more powerful.

I'll wait until all the new consoles are released before I make a decision on the next generation.

MrMiller, do you mean the next Xbox could be $100 MORE, or just $100? Somehow I find the latter a tad difficult to believe. <img src="smileys/smiley24.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

It's probable the next XBOX will be a low fee + a submission, putting the total price to much more than the one of the WiiU.

MrMiller, do you mean the next Xbox could be $100 MORE, or just $100? Somehow I find the latter a tad difficult to believe. <img src="smileys/smiley24.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

Well, the believability issue is of course up to Microsoft and the reporters who've reported the information so far. But honestly, it doesn't seem that unbelievable to me because, as Kyatric points out:

It's probable the next XBOX will be a low fee + a submission, putting the total price to much more than the one of the WiiU.

And that's what I've heard; it's supposed to be $99 with a subscription model. I've heard that MS has already been trying this model out with a $99 XBOX 360 that's only $99 if the buyer accepts a $15/month XBOX Live subscription.

$300 is not that bad to be honest, and 50 bucks extra for some more space and a year premium, whatever that means... hopefully it's something more akin to PSN than Xbox Live.

However, if they just use the same numbers for the EU and price it at 300?, I'd be less on board.

I'm pretty much guaranteed to buy one eventually though, since Bayonetta 2 was recently confirmed for it. :3

I'll buy it if they make Zelda for it.