Wii in Brazil to cost $640-$690

[bapenguin]

GameTV.com (http://www.gametv.com.br/story.show.chain?story.id=3179) has a story (in Portuguese).

During a games convention that happened this weekend in São Paulo, Brazil, an executive of Lamatel (the company that distributes Nintendo products in Latin America) revealed that the Wii will make its way into Brazilian stores on the first week of December, costing between 1,400 and 1,500 BRL (640 and 690 USD). The only launch title confirmed for Brazil so far is Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess.

It's important to remember that due to very high import taxes, prices here do not directly reflect North American ones. For instance, the DS Lite here costs 800 BRL (367 USD). A little math suggests that the North American price for the Wii would be around 250USD.

Nintendo has a history of letting its minor distributors leaking information before the proper time - like Nintendo of Norway revealing the working name of the GameCube (StarCube) before the official unveiling.

It's probably cheaper to fly to America, buy the Wii and fly back than to buy it in Brazil.

Thanks to tenguman for the translation.

[Morangie]

And I thought Europe got screwed on prices.

[Borys]

Same with God forbidden, ass of a country Poland. Everything is so damn expensive here it's ridiculous.

[Kelegacy]

Screw that. Screw that.

[Kamalot]

What do the other consoles cost in Brazil?

[Adam Blue]

I'll be in Sao Paulo in September, meeting my girlfriend's family. Checking it out for gaming.... My girlfriend told me it's bad. I'm not surprised. She says the PS2 is $1000. I think Stormwatcher can confirm that.

[GabeCube]

Yes, Brazil is, indeed, a very sad place to be a gamer.

Piracy is rampant - you can find counterfeit games in DVD cases with printed covers just about anywhere.

[ChaosDent]

Yes, Brazil is, indeed, a very sad place to be a gamer.

Piracy is rampant - you can find counterfeit games in DVD cases with printed covers just about anywhere.

Could that be part of why the system prices are so high?

[tenguman]

You can get a modded PS2 for some 800 BRL ($367) here in São Paulo.
And yeah, we're screwed.

(Thanks for posting the story bapenguin)

[Adam Blue]

Could that be part of why the system prices are so high?

Well, no that's just taxes. It's too many people without jobs. The government can't stop them because their complaint is there's no other way to make money...so they resort to piracy.

My girlfriend says I can't even wear my watch in Sao Paulo...

[GabeCube]

My girlfriend says I can't even wear my watch in Sao Paulo...

It's really not THAT bad in most of the city (I definetely wear mine daily just about everywhere), but yeah, taxes are the main problem. If I order a game (US$49,99) through Amazon, I will usually pay over 50 dollars in taxes (100% for the product, plus a small % on the shipping).

You can find smuggled games for a slightly more reasonable price - usually R$180 (around US$82).

No wonder I wait until my yearly trip to E3 to haul a bunch of games back to the country. I perfect quite a few tricks to get them through customs.

[KIllrazor]

Thank god I left that place some years ago... It's a sad sad place to be a gamer. Actually, not only a gamer. If you're young it is damn hard to make a living in that place and that's why I still have some friends back there that are almost 30 years old and still living with their parents, because they can't afford to rent their own places.

[Kamalot]

She says the PS2 is $1000. I think Stormwatcher can confirm that.$640-$690 for Wii sounds like a good deal then.

[Jiguryo]

Well, I've got to say that some aspects take a big part on why game consoles are expensive down here: the legislation for video game taxing is filed under "gambling" instead of electronics, as incredible as it may sound. And that alone makes it way more expensive than it should be.

Add that to each vendor's margin of profit, shipping and handling, and there you go: crazy high prices.

[captainstrombosis]

Holy shit. No way in hell would I pay prices like that...

[Kamalot]

Holy shit. No way in hell would I pay prices like that...
No shit. $600 for a game system is freakin' crazy!

[Kamalot]

How much will the PS3 be in Brazil?

[Arphahat]

Same with God forbidden, ass of a country Poland. Everything is so damn expensive here it's ridiculous.

I'm of Polish heritage, and I am pretty sure I remember my grandparents saying that their parents came to America to avoid the high prices on video games. ;)


Could that be part of why the system prices are so high?

It was noted that it is really the taxes, but I'd still like to chime in on this. This is a good example of what happens when things become priced higher than people are willing to pay. While I am not advocating the piracy of games, is it a surprise to anyone that it is rampant there?

[GabeCube]

How much will the PS3 be in Brazil?

Trust me, you don't want to know.

Case in point:
http://www.submarino.com.br/games_productdetails.asp?Query=ProductPage&ProdTypeId=12&ProdId=1085288&ST=SE

If you want to figure how much that is, the US Dollar is about 2,20 Brazilian Reais.

[Stormwatcher]

Kamalot, the 1000 bucks refer to brazillian Reais, not dollars.. :) A modded PS2 goes for something between 250 and 380 dollars. Smuggled, of course.

Thing is, EVERYTHING related to console gaming is imported, and, as Jiguryo mentioned, games and consoles are in the WRONG taxing bracket.

OTOH, pc games are pressed in local manufacturing plants, so they usually cost between 30-49 dollars, with localised manuals. It is a hell lot better being a pc gamer than a console gamer here.

Piracy is both a consequence and one of the reasons for the the big 3 not being here for real. Sony never even considered releasing their consoles and games here, because of the rampant piracy, but the piracy exists because we have to pay US$100+ for a new PS2 game.

Nintendo had local manufacturing of consoles, but games were imported. Same with sega. MS has announced the 360 here, but we have no details so far.

And Adam, things are not as bad as your GF said, at least not in Rio. You just have to be careful, make sure you're not an easy target... but you can wear watches.

[easi]

Yet another negative Rev article. You're really reaching with this one. Getting panicked close to launch?

[Stormwatcher]

How much will the PS3 be in Brazil?

It will probably cost at least 1500-2000 dollars, but then, after the smuggler secure a steady supply, it should get less expensive...

Online and B&M stores will ALWAYS charge stupid amounts for it. or any other console.

I could buy a 360 for a lot less than that link gamecube posted. I would be from a shady dealer, but I'm not made of money :S

[Arphahat]

It will probably cost at least 1500-2000 dollars, but then, after the smuggler secure a steady supply, it should get less expensive...

Online and B&M stores will ALWAYS charge stupid amounts for it. or any other console.

I could buy a 360 for a lot less than that link gamecube posted. I would be from a shady dealer, but I'm not made of money :S

This is what the lawmakers (everywhere, not just in Brazil) don't get. If they put outrageous taxes on things, they are going to see less money from said taxes than if they had simply put a reasonable tax on them.

[Stormwatcher]

Yet another negative Rev article. You're really reaching with this one. Getting panicked close to launch?
WTF is your problem?
We are debating BRAZIL, not bashing on the Wii.

RTFT

[Maskatron]

My uncle is semi-retired, working in So. Cal part of the year, and then flying back to Brazil to hang out with his kid and his hot Brazallian wife. Whenever he goes back, he's usually bringing a laptop or 2 that he got from Costco or Dell (to sell to a friend or family memeber). The markup on pretty much all electronics is crazy there.

[Deadend]

Damn those prices are insane. I am also guessing very few people in Brazil make as much as their American counterparts AND are expected to pay 2-3x as much?

Hell, I would still be playing at arcades with consoles being that expensive.

[anakin876]

Damn those prices are insane. I am also guessing very few people in Brazil make as much as their American counterparts AND are expected to pay 2-3x as much?

Hell, I would still be playing at arcades with consoles being that expensive.

When I was there there were arcades of consoles set up and for a relatively cheap price you could play one out of 100 or more playstation games for however long you were willing to pay for. I had a lot of fun in those places :-P

As for Brazil being dangerous - you have to be smart. Don't wear things that look super expensive to bad parts of town.

[bapenguin]

Yet another negative Rev article. You're really reaching with this one. Getting panicked close to launch?

Yeah this has to do with Brazil, and the retarded prices they are charging for things.

I'm picking up a Wii at launch...the only way I'd panick is if I couldn't get one!

[divinechaos]

It isnt JUST Brazil, its ALL South America. I swear, we played our Nes and Snes until the year...1999. Only a few of us had a PS because its so goddamn expensive. But you know what, the games are all pirated, so when you think about it, it aint all bad. To a person that has lived in South America, this aint really news, its just a reminder of how much it sucks to be a gamer there.

[Savok]

I think these guys get the award for most fucked territory quite easily.

[camberiu]

It's probably cheaper to fly to America, buy the Wii and fly back than to buy it in Brazil.

Thanks to tenguman for the translation.

Nope. Customs when arriving in Brazil are pretty strick too. They will X-Ray everyone's luggage looking for undeclared electornics & computers, and then tax the hell out of it once you get caught.

[Stormwatcher]

Nope. Customs when arriving in Brazil are pretty strick too. They will X-Ray everyone's luggage looking for undeclared electornics & computers, and then tax the hell out of it once you get caught.
Erm, I don't think that's true... I arived from NY last year and just had that random search thingy, like, press a button and a light goes on, if it's red, your luggage is being searched, if it's green, just pass unhindered...
The color of the light is random, and the ratio favours green.

[F3nyx]

Yet another negative Rev article. You're really reaching with this one. Getting panicked close to launch?:confused: Are you the most batshit paranoid Nintendo fanboy ever, or are you just trolling?

2 news posts side by side. Both about the Rev. One positive, one negative. Why does the negative get 3x the replies?

And why couldn't you just let the Rev bask in the feelgood for a day?If any console around here is unfairly maligned, it's the PS3. Almost everyone comments positively on the Wii, and it never gets worse than slightly pessimistic speculation. I'm probably just shoveling fodder into your gaping troll maw, but... lighten up.

[Kenshin Br]

I´m brazilian and I live in Brazil at the moment. So I have some info about this subject for you:

The news is about a official importer. Its products have many taxes (all taxes), then because this the final price is high (very high).

Well, here there are others importers, that woks with minimum taxes. At unofficial stores, the final price of the videogames are lower than this.

For exemple: In this news the Wii should cost $640-$690. But, a XBOX 360 Premium in Brazil cost about $650-700 (R$ 1400-1500) at some stores. :D

So, at the end of the year, we (brazilians) will have two choices: yo buy in an official importer or to buy in an unofficial importer. :rolleyes:

I think that, if the Wii will be launched by $250 in the USA, the unofficianl stores will go to sell the Wii about $450 (R$ 1000). More than this I don´t think so. It´s still a high price, but not nonsense. :)

Oh, yes, I have videogame. My GamCube I bought in 2002 by $ 400. Actualy a new GC cost about $200-220.

- yes, my english is bad, I know - :D

[DoubleUranium]

Yet another negative Rev article. You're really reaching with this one. Getting panicked close to launch?

Congratulations! You've reached a new level: Grand Master Paranoid Nintendo Fanboy. I hope you're at least getting paid by a marketing firm to be such an asshat.

[Adam Blue]

Well I can't wait to head down there in September, but can I have a future with a girl that lives where gaming is too expensive? The only reason I'd move down there is if it gets more serious...once she's done with her school here, she'd be able to get paid really good in Brazil.

It hurts my brain to think about it. And makes me cry, too.

[GabeCube]

Trust me, Adam Blue, I am a Brazilian gamer, living in Brazil, married to a North American woman. It actually gets to be pretty good. You just need someone who can send you the stuff from abroad as "gifts". You can still buy games in the black market (imported through less than legal means) by more reasonable prices.

Not only that, but as a foreigner, you get to go through Brazilian customs pretty much ignored. You can make a lot of money selling consoles every time you come from the US.

If you do decide to move, let me know and I'll tell you where to get the good stuff around here.

[Fodão]

I am a brazillian and indeed the prices are abusive IF you don't know where to buy(especially videogames), for example the article says 640 US dollars for a Wii but I've there are some people here that paid 700 dollars for an Xbox 360, so i don't doubt that it will be possible to find people that sell that will sell the Wii for about 400~450 Dollars, of course you have to be careful because you can lose a lot of money if you don't buy from someone that you can trust.

Off topic but i expect to see at launch people selling Ps3s at insane prices like 1200+ dollars but after that i would not be surprised to see a PS3 at 800/900 dollars

Adam I think the main problem here is the games price not the Consoles price.

I paid about 520 bucks in my PS2 back in 2001.

[Maskatron]

Well I can't wait to head down there in September, but can I have a future with a girl that lives where gaming is too expensive?

The exchange rate for most other things is pretty good though so your general cost of living would be pretty cheap. But if you actually were working and living there for awhile, your pay rate would be lower there here of course.

I do have to say Brazil is a pretty awesome place to visit - I'm going again in December. :D

[Adam Blue]

Now...slightly off topic, but do I REALLY need a Visa to get into Brazil? I have a passport, but don't feel like spending another $150+.

[Johan]

- yes, my english is bad, I know - :D

-slight thread derail...forgive me-

I'm a high school English teacher, and you're doing better than many of my students! I understood everything you were saying; that's what language is for; communicating ideas! My students, on the other hand, often have difficulty in putting a coherent thought down on paper. Their writing comes out looking like alphabet soup that's been chewed up, partially digested, and vomited back onto paper. It's difficult to correct their grammar, because I often have no idea what they are trying to say.

YOU are doing VERY well!

[Maskatron]

Now...slightly off topic, but do I REALLY need a Visa to get into Brazil? I have a passport, but don't feel like spending another $150+.

Yes, absolutely. I already had a valid passport, but was required to get a Brazilian one too. We have a Brazilian consulate here in San Francisco and I took care of it myself, so it was cheaper than having a travel agent do it for me.

[cp#]

If you think video games are expensive, take a look at the prices of cars.. Brand new cars imported from the US are 70,000 there while they are 25,000 here

[camberiu]

Erm, I don't think that's true... I arived from NY last year and just had that random search thingy, like, press a button and a light goes on, if it's red, your luggage is being searched, if it's green, just pass unhindered...
The color of the light is random, and the ratio favours green.


Might have been right back last year. I visited my family in Brazil this May (I am originally from Brazil) and had to go thru the X-ray. No more green light- red light thing. Now, everyone goes thru the X-ray.

[camberiu]

Now...slightly off topic, but do I REALLY need a Visa to get into Brazil? I have a passport, but don't feel like spending another $150+.

Yes, due to a policy called "reciprocity". Because Brazilians are required to get a VISA to visit the US, the brazilian law dictates that every American needs a VISA to visit Brazil. Citizens from countries that do not requires VISAs for Brazilians are also exempt from any VISA requirements when visitng Brazil.

[Stormwatcher]

Might have been right back last year. I visited my family in Brazil this May (I am originally from Brazil) and had to go thru the X-ray. No more green light- red light thing. Now, everyone goes thru the X-ray.

Which airport?

[Stormwatcher]

Adam, relax. it is not impossible to be a gamer here... and there are more important things than that, you know.

and yes, as explained above, you must have a visa, thanks to the US govt.

Funny thing is, I don't need a visa to visit the US, because I have an italian/EU passport :) Double-citizenship FTW.

[camberiu]

Which airport?


Guarulhos.

[Savok]

Just how many people connected to Brazil are here anyway?

[rahvii]

Same thing happens here on Venezuela. I just bought an iPOD Video (30GB) for aprox. 420$ and it was TEH CHEAP.

On the gaming side, the Nintendo DS is around 250$.

And the real problem is not on the price, but to say that the minimum work payment is around 230$ :S.

[anakin876]

It's fun to go to the consulate in Los Angeles and get your visa - it's in a building know as the Flynt Publications building and houses at least some of the offices for Hustler.

[saulob]

Just how many people connected to Brazil are here anyway?

I'm from Brazil... :o

[Stormwatcher]

Well, Galeão International has no such devices, yet.

And Savok, Brazil has the 5th biggest population in the world... Two of the biggest cities on the planet... What did you expect :)

[Savok]

Huh, well there you go. I know surprisingly little about South America actually, other then Australia is in the same DVD region as you guys.

[Stormwatcher]

Well, most (but not all, of course) people from developed countries know nothing about SA. Unfortunately.

It is not your fault.

[valdirfv]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/fitbabits/BanHammer.jpg

Banned.

[Jotoco]

You know, we are here discussing the prices of wii here, in Brasil.

But the saddest thing there is, is that Brasil WAS the THIRD biggest videogaming market in gold ages of super nintendo and mega drive. Just behind USA and Japan.

From there on, the prices scaled really high.

We even had videogames being produced here, even games thenselves. we even got our own softhouses!

But the government seems to be against videogaming, as is in the mentality of most people that are more than 30 years old.

And yeah, now about 99% of the consoles and games are pirated because almost no one can buy an official one. I, for instance, don't own a videogame for more than 4 years.

[Leiella Elf]

Oh God, I couldn't believe what I read in the beggining of this post. 1.400 reais! This is SO expensive! I hate Brasil, cuz everything here is so expensive, including games, like Wii and PS3, computers, cameras and all this eletronic stuff. This is because we have very high taxes, that the government does, to poor people to pay their corruption.
But, that's why we have PARAGUAY! We can buy Wii there for 300$ dolars. No tax, illegal, yes, but for people that can't afford 1.400 reais, 600 reais is much less.
:D
Incentive to piracy? Yes. I buy illegal dvds and stuff. I will not send my money to taxes, for the politician steal people's money.
Panicking?
Of course we are, because there will be only 10.000 Wiis here, and there are more than 2 million people who wants to buy this stuff.
I''m brazilian, but I hate living here. It will take one year to play wii... that's too sad.
:(