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Analyst: Nintendo sold 55,000 Wii Us in March, 85,000 Wiis

"analyst", nice try

My question is, what are the big guns?

Is it Mario, Metroid, and Zelda? Because those sure didn't help the Gamecube, and they showed them all off at the same conference.

Yeah but think about how they were perceived, even though they turned out good.

Toon Zelda, Mario pollution sprayer, and Metroid in first person. Didn't that kind of hurt its appeal?

If they reveal another amazing, varied Mario, a traditional, sharp-looking Zelda, and any sort of Metroid Prime revival I think that people would be much less hesitant now. Basically if they seem as good as the Wii iterations.
 

Chamber

love on your sleeve
So it's looking like a gamecube era? Well, that era wasn't too bad.

Wii U looks closer to the Saturn era at this point.

I just don't think the market is the same as it was 7 years ago. I'm assuming the PS4 and new Xbox will be $499 (for a premium SKU) and at that price point, I really don't see them selling extremely well.

Everything this new generation that we've heard about and the Wii U has feels like it's lacking. I don't know what it is, I'm just not excited for this generation. At all.

There's legit excitement surrounding the PS4 right now. Of course, they could always fuck it up with some $599 type of announcement but I've heard more talk about PS4 from "casual" gamers in the last 2 months than I've heard about the Wii U in the last 2 years. I don't know whether talk translates into sales but I don't see a reason to project the Wii U situation onto PS4/Durango.
 

clem84

Gold Member
Oh man, this post is somewhere between not being realistic and lying altogether. "Bright future"?

It's going to have all of Nintendo's amazing games. Those games are always well received by the critics and the fans. So yes it has a bright future. Anyway you look at it. 3rd party support is a big question mark but that doesn't mean the console won't be worth the money. N64 and Gamecube both had terrible 3rd party support and they were great consoles IMO.
 

Fox Mulder

Member
The console needs games, but it also needs more power. I agree with Pacther that the 360 and PS3 will cannibalize the Wii U when next gen hits in the fall. The prices of those consoles will fall (which are similar power wise) and then the Wii U will be completely buried.

Nintendo would be best off axing the Wii U and bringing out a console with no tablet controller with beefed up hardware specs. If third party devs still ignore it then call it a day, but at least the power/controller argument won't be relevant. As a Wii U owner I say axe the thing, start over, and add some power to the machine and get rid of the tablet controller.

I think the tablet streaming tech is cool, and possibly the future. Too bad they delivered an underpowered console with no games that alienated third parties again and a tablet controller with horrible battery life.
 

Snakeyes

Member
The console needs games, but it also needs more power. I agree with Pacther that the 360 and PS3 will cannibalize the Wii U when next gen hits in the fall. The prices of those consoles will fall (which are similar power wise) and then the Wii U will be completely buried.

Nintendo would be best off axing the Wii U and bringing out a console with no tablet controller with beefed up hardware specs. If third party devs still ignore it then call it a day, but at least the power/controller argument won't be relevant. As a Wii U owner I say axe the thing, start over, and add some power to the machine and get rid of the tablet controller.

A move like that would only deter plenty of potential buyers from being early adopters of future Nintendo systems.

Tightening their belts and taking all the necessary steps for their next console to be a compelling proposition is a much better solution.
 

Ninjimbo

Member
I'm sure Pikmin 3 and the Wonderful 101 will save the system. And if they don't, Bayonetta 2 will. And if that doesn't, Mario Kart and Mario Infinity will. Maybe Wind Waker? Project X? Fire Emblem x SMT?

Thinking about it, the Wii U is probably fucked in all likelihood. Japanese games dont have mass market appeal here. Whatever. I'll still get all those games.
 

BigDug13

Member
They should have never called it WiiU. If I wasn't a gamer who actually researched these things, I would think it was a redesigned Wii and as a Wii owner, I wouldn't have bothered. I'm betting many people are thinking in that way.

Should have at least put a number after it. Wii 2 or something.
 

Ridley327

Member
Yeah but think about how they were perceived, even though they turned out good.

Toon Zelda, Mario pollution sprayer, and Metroid in first person. Didn't that kind of hurt its appeal?

If they reveal another amazing, varied Mario, a traditional, sharp-looking Zelda, and and sort of Metroid Prime revival I think that people would be much less hesitant now. Basically if they seem as good as the Wii iterations.

If I'm not mistaken, Metroid Prime is actually the best selling game in the entire franchise, so it wasn't that much of a detriment!

I think the problem is that a lot of fans never wanted to admit to the series being among the lower rungs of the Nintendo popularity ladder, so it going first-person wasn't really the scandal that a lot of people made it out to be.
 
So is there a particular reason why sales would go down from the previous month after the Wii U gets its first retail titles since December?
There isn't a lot of precedent for a February -> March increase, there's very little momentum for the system and people are overestimating the effect of a Monster Hunter port and Lego City.

From brief look, Monster Hunter Tri didn't appear to drive sales of the Wii when released.
 
Oh look, the monthly [sometimes bi-weekly, and sometimes weekly] Nintendo doom thread!

Let me just ask this.

Why the hell would anyone want to buy something that doesn't have games that interest them that are available?

It's that simple - it's not some major flaw with the controller; yes, of course it could be improved: it's not a flaw with the system itself, it's because it has no content for anyone - casuals, kids, core, nothing!

The real shame is that the console is aging with no releases when the system could have been beefed up and released later this year when Nintendo had titles ready.
 
Analyst: Nintendo sold 55,000 Wii Us in March, 85,000 Wiis
QtoHVL3.gif
 

serplux

Member
I could have sworn it was a retail release....ah well, you're right then, January and February had zero retail releases.

Yup. I'd been playing it out with indie games (with most of my focus on my 3DS) until Monster Hunter came out.

There isn't a lot of precedent for a February -> March increase, there's very little momentum for the system and people are overestimating the effect of a Monster Hunter port and Lego City.

From brief look, Monster Hunter Tri didn't appear to drive sales of the Wii when released.

As stated before, I think any games > no games.
 

B.O.O.M

Member
Do Americans even know what Monhun is?

lol well it's one of those franchises that have a small but dedicated following. It's definitely not a big/popular franchise

Yeah, I think people are looking at it the wrong way. Nintendo is using the time it has to make sure that it has software to beat the other two systems when they arrive in the fall.

I disagree. You are ignoring PS360 in that argument. Both PS360 will (most likely) will have their prices dropped for the holiday season. I doubt MSony will aim their next systems for a mass market success at launch. They will focus on the core gamers and will use the ps360 to target the other markets. Wii U will be competing with all four systems then. Nintendo isn't using this time...they were just unprepared for this launch. It's not going to get easier for them later in the year
 

FroJay

Banned
I think the tablet streaming tech is cool, and possibly the future. Too bad they delivered an underpowered console with no games that alienated third parties again and a tablet controller with horrible battery life.

I do like the tablet controller in some instances, but my main concern is the cost that seemed to be tacked on by using it. They really are screwed this gen with the Wii U, I don't see a way out of this one. They either axe the console and leave day 1 buyers like myself in the cold to an extent, or they wait this thing out 4 years with little to no software library further turning off customers starved for games.

I want Nintendo to do well, but in all honesty they're screwed if they don't do something about it. I'd rather they burn the early adopters like myself, discontinue the console and call it a limited collectors release or something like that while announcing a new more powerful machine.
 
Q

qizah

Unconfirmed Member
There's legit excitement surrounding the PS4 right now. Of course, they could always fuck it up with some $599 type of announcement but I've heard more talk about PS4 from "casual" gamers in the last 2 months than I've heard about the Wii U in the last 2 years. I don't know whether talk translates into sales but I don't see a reason to project the Wii U situation onto PS4/Durango.

It's just a feeling I have that these consoles are not going to move that many units when they're released. I'm basing this mostly off of the price that I'm guessing, $499. I just don't think they average person is going to put down $499 for a console, let alone $349 on a Wii U. I put $349 to get a Wii U, because it's my hobby, but I don't think the average person who doesn't go on GAF will.

Though people might be more willing depending on the software. The Wii U had big names but it was clearly lacking Nintendo support from the get go and is still lacking that support. Nintendo has definitely blown the year head start.

It's hard to tell so soon, but that's my guess!
 
I'm sure Pikmin 3 and the Wonderful 101 will save the system. And if they don't, Bayonetta 2 will. And if that doesn't, Mario Kart and Mario Infinity will. Maybe Wind Waker? Project X? Fire Emblem x SMT?

Thinking about it, the Wii U is probably fucked in all likelihood. Japanese games dont have mass market appeal here. Whatever. I'll still get all those games.

I don't think Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, or Baoynetta 2 will "save the system," also known as selling units. Mario Kart, the next Mario, and Zelda certainly can. It also might be time for Nintendo to pull out the stops and make the legendary Pokemon MMO.
 
They need to:

1: Market the WiiU (explain to consumers that it's a new console)
2. Drop the price. Just $50 off each set.
3. Announce some kickass games at E3 .

I'm pretty sure even the GC had better sales at this point.
 
I don't even know what to say to the "PS4/720 are going to bomb too!" comments anymore.

All I know is that threads like these are going to be funny as hell to revisit a year from now.
 

Deadstar

Member
Damn. They need to rebrand the system or something. I am at a loss for words at what they can do to revive the system.

Uhh. How about release some games? Monster Hunter is awesome and I'm loving it but it's not for everyone. When did the last big game come out? The last games I bought were launch titles and there has been nothing since. You can't release a system with no games and expect it to sell.
 
As stated before, I think any games > no games.
And as I stated earlier, other systems have had major titles released in March, with fewer or no major titles released in February, and still not managed to increase their unit sales or weekly average unit sales in March.
 

FroJay

Banned
I don't even know what to say to the "PS4/720 are going to bomb too!" comments anymore.

All I know is that threads like these are going to be funny as hell to read a year from now.

Agreed, those two consoles aren't going to bomb. They'll have 3 things people want that the Wii U doesn't have.

1) Hardware power
2) Games
3) Good online gaming features/systems.

Three areas where Nintendo is struggling right now, one of which they can't fix, and the other two are iffy at best.
 

Madao

Member
can a price drop + ambassador games + new games even turn this thing around?

the 3DS wasn't doing this bad when it received the price drop. the GC and N64 didn't do this bad until they were dying. being the CEO at Nintendo has to be the worst job ever at this moment.
 

botty

Banned
Did Nintendo invest too much into Nintendo Land? I'm looking at the list of available games for Wii U, and it seems like Nintendo Land is the only thing they put out to draw in consumers.
 
I don't even know what to say to the "PS4/720 are going to bomb too!" comments anymore.

All I know is that threads like these are going to be funny as hell to revisit a year from now.


As long as MS and Sony actually advertise their systems instead of relying on previous console success, they should be fine.

I worry about MS though, I get the impression that they think people buy gaming consoles for things not related to gaming. :/
 
I do like the tablet controller in some instances, but my main concern is the cost that seemed to be tacked on by using it. They really are screwed this gen with the Wii U, I don't see a way out of this one. They either axe the console and leave day 1 buyers like myself in the cold to an extent, or they wait this thing out 4 years with little to no software library further turning off customers starved for games.

I want Nintendo to do well, but in all honesty they're screwed if they don't do something about it. I'd rather they burn the early adopters like myself, discontinue the console and call it a limited collectors release or something like that while announcing a new more powerful machine.

I've thought they could do this as well and then offer redeemable vouchers for like 6 Nintendo X games [Physical copies preferably]. It's sort of an imaginary sales loss that really wouldn't burn early adopters in the process or hurt Nintendo directly. If they want to go with a tablet, then make sure the damn thing has multi-touch. The tablet is really fun to use, but the lack of multi-touch sucks.
 
can a price drop + ambassador games + new games even turn this thing around?

the 3DS wasn't doing this bad when it received the price drop. the GC and N64 didn't do this bad until they were dying. being the CEO at Nintendo has to be the worst job ever at this moment.

Iwata has himself to blame for this. Its not like when Obama came into the WH in 2009 dealing with all of the shit that his predecessor did. All of this falls squarely at the feet of Iwata.
 

Fantastical

Death Prophet
Did Nintendo invest too much into Nintendo Land? I'm looking at the list of available games for Wii U, and it seems like Nintendo Land is the only thing they put out to draw in consumers.

And NSMB U. They bet wayyyy to heavily on those two titles.
 

serplux

Member
And as I stated earlier, other systems have had major titles released in March, with fewer or no major titles released in February, and still not managed to increase their unit sales or weekly average unit sales in March.

But it's not a difference of no major games to major games. It's a difference from no games period to mid-tier games.

We'll see. I think we both have a valid argument here.
 
But it's not a difference of no major games to major games. It's a difference from no games period to mid-tier games.

We'll see. I think we both have a valid argument here.


Nintendo's March software refresh strategy was in line with industry precedent:


1. PS3 had one retail release in its first January and two retail releases in its first February.

2. 360 had zero retail releases in its first January and two retail releases in its first February.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
It's not practically zero, it's literally zero. It's just hard for me to fathom, personally.

When Nintendo releases games third parties whine that they can't sell games on a system that have to compete with Nintendo's

Iwata talked about how they wanted to give third parties some room on the WiiU to shine and I think they got bit in the ass. It really is the very last time Nintendo should make that mistake.
 

synce

Member
Things will turn around when next-gen consoles launch. If the WiiU was $200 I'd buy one today even though there's no interesting games for it, so when there's actually games and the other options are double the cost... well...
 

BigDug13

Member
They need to:

1: Market the WiiU (explain to consumers that it's a new console)
2. Drop the price. Just $50 off each set.
3. Announce some kickass games at E3 .

I'm pretty sure even the GC had better sales at this point.

They called it a Wii. That's the first time since Super Nintendo Entertainment System that their (nonhandheld) console had basically the same name. And since we all knew what the S meant...Super...we had no doubt that it was a new console. WTF does the U stand for?

People don't realize that it's a new console. They don't get it. We live in a world where the next console is "console name" with a "number" behind it. Even non-consoles.

iPhone 4 must be a different phone than iPhone 5. PS3 is a different console than PS4. Xbox is a different console than Xbox 360.

I guess if Nintendo's console could market graphics that looked better than 360/PS3, they wouldn't have this marketing problem.
 

serplux

Member
As long as MS and Sony actually advertise their systems instead of relying on previous console success, they should be fine.

I worry about MS though, I get the impression that they think people buy gaming consoles for things not related to gaming. :/

Well, I know a lot of people did bought the PS1 for CD's, the PS2 for DVDs, and the PS3 for Blu-Ray. It's not unfathomable.
 

Anth0ny

Member
I really do think PS4/720 will sell like shit those first few months following launch.

That being said... selling like shit is a position the Wii U wishes it was in right now.
 
Did Nintendo invest too much into Nintendo Land? I'm looking at the list of available games for Wii U, and it seems like Nintendo Land is the only thing they put out to draw in consumers.


Obviously. Their embarrassing E3 conference where they spent a minute showing off N64 level fireworks in Nintendoland clearly illustrates how important thw title was for them.


Nintendo was hoping that Nintendoland would act as a converting tool to introduce Wii gamers to traditional Nintendo franchises, but they sabotaged all their plans for the game with their abysmal presentation.
 

Darryl

Banned
Did Nintendo invest too much into Nintendo Land? I'm looking at the list of available games for Wii U, and it seems like Nintendo Land is the only thing they put out to draw in consumers.

they banked big on that game. they clearly put a lot of production effort into it. huge amounts of content in it. some of the the minigames alone (like Zelda) could probably be torn apart and repurposed into full games. if it ends up delaying their major titles like 3D Mario & Kart, they're in for some serious trouble.

Nintendo was hoping that Nintendoland would act as a converting tool to introduce Wii gamers to traditional Nintendo franchises, but they sabotaged all their plans for the game with their abysmal presentation.

i don't agree with you here. i don't think its purpose is really that crazy. it's a game that pleases all audiences, hardcore and casual. that aligns with nintendo's branding of the Wii "U". i don't think its main purpose was put there to convert audiences, although it might also that as an additional purpose as well.
 

serplux

Member
Nintendo's March software refresh strategy was in line with industry precedent:

1. PS3 had one retail release in its first January and two retail releases in its first February.

2. 360 had zero retail releases in its first January and two retail releases in its first February.

Interesting. How many titles did those systems have in March?

When Nintendo releases games third parties whine that they can't sell games on a system that have to compete with Nintendo's

Iwata talked about how they wanted to give third parties some room on the WiiU to shine and I think they got bit in the ass. It really is the very last time Nintendo should make that mistake.

Agreed completely.
 
It's just a feeling I have that these consoles are not going to move that many units when they're released. I'm basing this mostly off of the price that I'm guessing, $499. I just don't think they average person is going to put down $499 for a console, let alone $349 on a Wii U. I put $349 to get a Wii U, because it's my hobby, but I don't think the average person who doesn't go on GAF will.

Though people might be more willing depending on the software. The Wii U had big names but it was clearly lacking Nintendo support from the get go and is still lacking that support. Nintendo has definitely blown the year head start.

It's hard to tell so soon, but that's my guess!

What about the rumored $399 price got the PS4?

I don't think anyone would blink twice at a $50 difference. I also think people are ready for next generation. Wii motion was new... Tablet gaming is not new to the casuals. Nothing feels next generation on the Wii-U to me.

I think it's still to early to call the Wii-U out until the twice AAA games are released.

WTF does the U stand for?

Uber, Undeserving, Umbrella?
 
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