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Zeebo Launches In Brazil
Distributor Tectoy has shipped the download-only Zeebo console to retailers throughout Rio de Janeiro ahead of a wider Brazilian launch in June.
The console, which effectively uses the same Qualcomm chipsets contained in high-end smartphones, together with 1GB of flash memory, three USB slots and a proprietary dual analogue gamepad, will be available this week in more than 200 retail locations for a suggested price of $249 (499 Brazilian Reals).
Zeebo plugs into a TV, outputs at a 640 x 480 pixel resolution and lets users download games from its ZeeboNet service. It comes with FIFA 2009, Need For Speed Carbon and Brain Challenge pre-installed, while purchasers can freely download Prey, Quake and Quake II. Tectoy expects 15 games to be available for the system by the end of June.
Initially targeted at emerging markets, as Zeebo founder Reinaldo Normand explained in a recent Edge article, the console is expected to launch in Mexico this autumn and in other parts of Latin America and India in 2010.
"Brazil is a videogame savvy marketplace and is the perfect place to launch the Zeebo videogame console and its completely wireless distribution system," said Zeebo CEO John Rizzo. "The system provides an intuitive, quick, and easy-to-use home shopping user experience featuring popular, culturally optimised content from leading game publishers and developers around the world. It also delivers high value and warranty protection compared to gray-market."
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
OK, so we've established that the gamecube and comparable consoles were very expensive when launched in Brazil. Surely, if this console is comparable to the GC, PS2 etc, the important point is how much a GC or PS2 costs in Brazil currently?
Anybody know?
This is very cool and if something good comes out for it, I wouldn't mind importing it--I hope it's successful.
Do any of you know how much the GameCube costs back 8 years ago in Brazil? I think you are making the mistake of comparing the price of the consoles in America to the prices in Brazil, its quite the difference let me tell you.
In Mexico for example there is never been a console sold at launch that costs the equivalent of $250 USD, when the Wii came out it was about $450 USD. And on the comment of being "as good as GameCube" it might be but you are assuming that in those markets gamers care about HD and the latest graphics, but did you knew that the Sega Genesis was one of the most popular consoles in Brazil well into 1999-2000? The PSOne was simply way too expensive to even being considered a smart purchase.
Simply put the North America market does not equal the South American market and each country in South America is quite different from one another.
I didn't do any fact checking; I was estimating the timeframe. I did know the Master System was popular at that time. I've always thought it was due to people having less money; not a price differential.
How does importing work? Is the Internet so far behind? They have 3G - Zeebo.
Its a combination of factors, people having less money, high import taxes on consoles, more expensive distribution costs, etc. All those factor just inflate the console's price. Plus games also cost more, currently the Wii's Punch Out! goes for about $73 USD in Mexico just to give you an example.
Regarding the internet its true that countries like Brazil are a little behind on it, mainly due to the infrastructure cost making it more difficult for everyone to get internet access but now the technology has moved faster than expected so with 3G networks which are cheaper than what it used to cost to build an old network infrastructure they basically kind of skipped internet cable and went straight to 3G.
Can't be that savy. This things about as good as a GameCube; sellling at what the 'Cube cost 5 years ago.
What do you mean they can't be *THAT* savy ??
What about those dozens of millions of people, worldwide, currently buying a console that is also "about as good as a GameCube" at a price that is higher than what the 'Cube cost 8 years ago, in fact almost double what the 'Cube cost 7 years ago ?
Good point.