With the hotly anticipated Nintendo Wii U going on sale at midnight tonight, new research from VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals one in ten (11 per cent) gamers will buy the new system within the first few days of release. Nearly a third (29 per cent) say they plan to buy one in the future.
Brand loyalty will be a major factor in the success of the Wii U as half of those planning to pick up the new console (49 per cent) say they’ll be doing so simply because they love Nintendo products. The new interactive GamePad is also proving a popular draw with nearly half (40 per cent) eager to try it out. A third (33 per cent) are excited about the range of games available, set to include Call of Duty: Black Ops and specially created Zombie U, whilst one in ten (11 per cent) believe the brand new Miiverse social network will be the clincher.
However, VoucherCodes.co.uk’s research reveals price will be the biggest barrier to purchase with a third (33 per cent) of those surveyed claiming the price tag of £349.99 is too expensive. Nintendo still need to win over hardcore gamers loyal to rival brands, with nearly a third (30 per cent) of gamers saying they prefer competitor consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation.
Duncan Jennings, co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk says: “As excitement is mounting ahead of the Nintendo Wii U release, we’re urging consumers to shop smartly and search online as this is where the best deals will be found. To get the best value from the console, look for bundle deals that group games and extra handsets, as these are typically much cheaper than buying everything individually.
“This launch also provides shoppers with a great opportunity to buy other consoles cheaply. We’ve already seen prices drop and we expect retailers to announce further deals as they enter the crucial Christmas trading period so consumers would be wise to keep an eye out online and in store for additional promotions.”
Note: Research was carried out by One Poll with 1000 people between 22rd – 23rd November 2012