Following the interest raised by Nintendo's introduction of a wireless controller for its next-generation console, the latest rumor doing the rounds has caused a stir among the Japanese company's fans.
The latest Revolution rumor then, claims that Nintendo is aiming for a USD 99 launch price. Such news is best treated with suspicion as the sources are not that clear and neither is the motivation behind them.
There are two ways of looking at this rumor; one examines what it would mean if it turns out to be true. A next-generation console that makes money for its developer while retailing at USD 99 is unlikely to be possible. This would mean that Nintendo would hold-back on the technology making Revolution just a slight improvement on GameCube.
If the rumor is true, Nintendo's console would not be competing with X360 and PS3 as both consoles are unlikely to ever cost under USD 100. A USD 99 price tag would make the new console cheaper than Nintendo's handhelds although the gaming giant has done this before; GameCube is cheaper than the handhelds.
The other way of examining a rumor is to contemplate whether a false rumor serves any purpose. The appearance of a rumor about a console when a rival product is holding its final pre-launch event (X05) may serve as a way of making people think twice before purchasing a more expensive version. The idea that a next-generation console may be available in about 7 months for under USD 100 may cause some parents to renegotiate Christmas holiday gift terms with their children. The damage to the company, on the other hand, in case the price turns out to be well over USD 100 is minimal as an unconfirmed rumor is not a commitment.
It could be that the rumor was started by a gamer trying to make Microsoft and Sony reconsider their pricing policies but we have top say that it seems very unlikely that Nintendo would be willing to go down the low price road especially since GameCube has really not been a raging sales success for the company.
