Nintendo is hoping to expand their audience with the Wii U, the company's upcoming console. Giving the system better hardware and the ability to run games that are graphically demanding, Nintendo aims to lure in gamers who would've otherwise stuck with PC, 360 or PS3 platforms. Mind you, certain developers have shared the fact games on the Wii U still can't measure up to the visual quality we get on systems like the Xbox 360 and PS3. Anyway, prettier games are not the only goal, of course. Other improvements over the Wii were made. The console's controller features a built-in touchscreen, supplementing what's shown the TV screen or replicating it.

Whatever the case, the console is slated to hit the market during the end of 2012. Meanwhile, Forget The Box, a Canadian media collective, brings the word of a possible price for the product. According to a source, supposedly involved in manufacturing of Nintendo, the cost of goods for the Wii U is already set for $180, with $50 of that sum for the tablet controller. Subsequently, Nintendo might decide to begin selling the Wii U for less than $300.

The source made the following statement: "Cutting production costs to maximize profits is Nintendo's main concern with the Wii U. They are cutting costs in the Wii U's hardware to build back confidence in investors. Nintendo wants investors to view Wii U as a less risky proposition. "

"Nintendo chose an economical GPU and CPU that could keep up with the performance of today's current consoles, but keep hardware costs down to maximize profits. Nintendo got a bargain price on the custom GPU and CPU that the Wii U uses. There is a bigger focus on downloadable content, applications, video content, digital distribution, and services to create a stream of revenue. Investors will be ecstatic with the news," the source added.

Thanks, GI.