This writer realizes that most people out there will always have an issue or two with each video game console system for some reason or another. For Microsoft's Xbox it was the circle of death, for Sony's PS3 it was the horrible online experience, and for Nintendo' Wii and Wii U it will be consumers are forced to re-purchase games they might already own. Granted, there might be dozens of complaints about the Wii and the Wii U, but this is an easy fix. Another issue that Nintendo did change with the Wii U is finally adding an HDMI port, something that its creators had stated was simply just 'not important enough' for them to do in the beginning. But this other issue is just ridiculous; no one likes over-paying, and especially double dipping. If someone paid for a game, why do they have to re-purchase the game, even at a lower cost? Why not just make it free?
For those who don't know what this writer is referring to, it would be Nintendo's virtual console store. See, Nintendo came up with this amazing idea: have most of their most popular games from the past decades available to download for a small price on their Wii or Wii U. For the Wii, it was great to play Nintendo 64, NES, or SNES games, since the Gamecube discs were still compatible with the Wii (and if one didn't own a certain Gamecube game, most of them could be downloaded onto the Wii as well via the virtual console). For the Wii U, since only Wii games are compatible, it is essential to use if one wants to play Gamecube or older games on their new console. The issue is, some people might actually already own the games that they are paying for again. Now Nintendo has addressed this issue by giving owners a 'special' price that is a reduction of the normal price, but it still begs the question: Why pay at all? Most people who play old Nintendo games might have heard of emulation. It allows one to play old Nintendo games on anything from a tablet to a PC to an iPhone. Best of all, emulations are free, and people have uploaded the entire Nintendo game library to use as they see fit on the internet.
So Nintendo's going for a piece of the pie, and who wouldn't in their shoes, but they have to think of the fan base and customers. It is really worth the few extra bucks over making their fans happy? This is known in the business world, that's why returns are allowed, as well as certain exceptions due to issues that can be fixed via a manager (for example, some stores give away free items if the price is wrong, or substitute any item if they are out of stock of an item on sale). Stores are willing to lose a few extra bucks over 'buying' someone's loyalty and positive feedback. This leads to others coming and spending their money as well as the same person coming back more than once. Nintendo needs to take heed before it comes to bite them where it hurts: their wallet.
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