One SKU is the real deal, the other is gimped. That is what people are going to think. This translates to seeing the price of the premium model as the only price that matters. The (likely to be priced) $250-$300 low-end SKU won’t be as visible, and in the end it will be thought that the system is too expensive just because the $350-$400 SKU is there.
Of course, the basic SKU is the exact same system without stands and less internal storage, but we’re talking at-a-glance perception here. If you’re already really interested in the system you’re going to take a closer look, but it used to be that Nintendo wanted to court consumers beyond those who were ‘already really interested’ in their games and systems.
I suppose they’re aware of this issue, but as with the AC adapter-less $200 3DS XL, they’re probably doing this for profitability reasons. If that is the case, it’s the same the business side doesn’t have a long term view of business.
Nintendo has had different bundles and colors for their hardware but never different hardware… ever. This makes the Wii U less of a console and more like a dumbed down PC-In-A-Box. It’s why people like myself didn’t buy a Xbox 360 or PS3. They have all these multiple versions with various harddrive space. It doesn’t feel like a console.
I absolutely agree the white Wii U will feel like a gimped system and be largely ignored by informed consumers. I’m really shocked how Nintendo is going this multiple hardware approach.
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