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GameStop Reserves All of Its Initial Nintendo Switch Allocation
- Thread starter jbug617
- Start date
Voysa Reezun
Banned
I did say "probably," right?
I obviously won't be listing it in my personal top ten until I play it, but I've been starved for a 3D open-world Zelda for decades, and everything Aonuma has said about this game, from hearing what types of games he's played while prepping this, to everything I've seen about it screams that it might be the sort of game our kids and grandkids will talk about as a classic.
I mean sure, I could be wrong, but Zelda being mediocre-to-bad would be legitimately the most shocking Nintendo-related news out of the year for me.
Second month and beyond (in 2017) will prolly be fine. It's 2018 that might be scary for Nintendo.
Third/Fourth month will be the most interesting because the second one could be "inflated" by stock issues from the launch month.
I think Nintendo have actively been trying to hide as much story elements from us as they can.
Heard people talk about comments being made on how the world felt quite empty in the demos from the past year, and how reps responded to that, that this was a certain build that removed quite a lot of elements from the world.
As you know, Nintendo is very averse to spoiling games before release so with a game such as this, I don't think there's any reason to be afraid of there being a lack of a good story.
As a matter of fact, the few things that they did show in the latest trailer show the exact opposite.
To be honest I preordered before I knew it was paid online, and I can't for the life of me pass up Zelda or Odyssey, Xenoblade 2 pretty much sealed it for me.
The gamestop near me had absolutely no line at opening, I was not there either though, as I reserved on amazon. Just looked at the store as I drove by at opening time.
The gamestop near me had absolutely no line at opening, I was not there either though, as I reserved on amazon. Just looked at the store as I drove by at opening time.
Frustrating for me. Not available in my country at launch, but I'll be passing through the US for work on March 10. But in the couple hours I have it looks like I'll have no hope of getting one.
I could get one in Europe (where I'm going) but it's more expensive and all my Nintendo systems are US, and my electric sockets are US.
Gah.
I could get one in Europe (where I'm going) but it's more expensive and all my Nintendo systems are US, and my electric sockets are US.
Gah.
2 million units in its first month would be better than Xbox One right? I know PS4 sold like 2.1M in ~0.5 months worldwide but that was only for US and EU. The fact Switch is also hitting Japan at launch will affect allotment to the US.
This should not be hard to find at all compared to previous Nintendo systems.
Edit: seems XBO did 2M in its first 2 weeks. So If switch does all 2M in its first day it would be the single biggest console launch? Or they may try to spread out those 2M units throughout the whole month.
This should not be hard to find at all compared to previous Nintendo systems.
Edit: seems XBO did 2M in its first 2 weeks. So If switch does all 2M in its first day it would be the single biggest console launch? Or they may try to spread out those 2M units throughout the whole month.
tearsintherain
Member
You can just buy the blue-red joycons for $90 and have the same thing. Or two red or two blue for something no one else would have. I'm sure there will be a million other colors and skins in the future too.
I wouldn't count it out yet, there may be tons on shelves if a lot of people cancel pre orders.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/12471/wii-sells-600000-units-so-far
75% of Launch Wiis were bought with Zelda.
Zelda is a system seller for enthusiasts that are the people that will be advocates of a product.
75% of Launch Wiis were bought with Zelda.
Zelda is a system seller for enthusiasts that are the people that will be advocates of a product.
I think the worst part of its life might be 2017. It will likely have a pricecut for the holidays (250$, something like that) and they may start selling more bundles after that.
But from april to november, it may be really rough. But I don't know, it's such a bizarre situation.
What do you see as the issues?
outunderthestars
Banned
First shipment for 3DS was 3.61 ML , WII U 3.06 ML.
I actually like the idea of 12 switch.
The idea is great. It's the end result I have an issue with. It's cheesy in a bad way.
Well, I can't hope that's the case because then it'll be DoA. So while it would be good for me, I hope for the sake of the long-term that there's none on shelves
True, it's one of my most anticipated game so I just hope it delivers ^^
OrbitalBeard
Member
I actually like the idea of 12 switch.
Me too, but boy oh boy do I hope it's got a lot more unannounced content to justify that $50 price.
The issues that the Switch has, or the ones that it lacks compared to the Wii U?
The things they fixed. Is it more behind-the-scenes type stuff (architectural, infrastructure, dev relations?) or is it marketing? It's hard for me to think the software situation is all that different, at least from what is announced publicly. I think WiiU might actually have had a better "mass appeal" launch title. Clearly behind the scenes with the dev community things could be different.
But I think things sort of have to be. This is the Last Hope™. If it fails, they're finished in dedicated hardware. This is the new handheld.
Yep. Pokemon and Mario Holiday release would alleviate sales at least a few months after the holiday season, but after, let's say, March-April 2018 and beyond what other big franchises do they have? Animal Crossing would help greatly, but it's really third party that will impact it's sales the most after that.
Same here. I loved A Link Between Worlds, but it's been way too long since we've had a big 3D Zelda.
It's been a long, long time since I've been this excited to play a new game.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
Mostly likely the naming and differentiating the product from it's predecessor. That's it outside of a more core friendly launch game.
I wouldn't be shocked if Best Buy threw a few in one of those Best Buy Mobile vending machines. I know the 3DS is in them.
The Wii (the system I was referring to) had huge demand that made getting one extra difficult. The fact that people were still able to preorder systems on Saturday tells me that either supply is fine or demand isn't that high. Nintendo also said that they could increase first month shipments if they need to. Also keep in mind PS4 and XBO came out during the holiday season.
It makes you wonder if Mario, SSB and Pokemon would all come during the same holidays. If Mario is ready and Pokemon is there, I think SSB will come in 2018.
OrbitalBeard
Member
Or Smash comes in October. But early 2018 would make sense too.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
I'm hoping I don't have to camp outside Best Buy to get one on the 3rd.
runnin_blue
Banned
This is one of the biggest myths in gaming and it is getting very annoying.
I see it bandied about religiously and am yet to see any verifiable proof presented that Nintendo purposefully creates "artificial scarcity". I'm happy to accept the evidence if there is any.
Colin Moriarty on IGN's Beyond and Gamescoop podcasts, used to constantly bring this up. Even to the point of one time saying that a Sony system was sold out because Sony couldn't meet demand, but when it happens to a Nintendo system, it's because they are doing it on purpose. He said he "knows that for certain" or something along those lines. So I sent him an email asking if he could provide the reasons why he knows this. He obviously didn't respond.
It goes against just about every fundamental business principle that if there is demand for your product, you intentionally keep it from customers.
It's a dumb fantasy.
I can acknowledge that Nintendo may be cautious in manufacturing too many units at once, but that is not "artificial scarcity".
Splatoon is going to be released before or during the summer holidays in Japan. Even August would be late for such it's release date. It will easily sell over a million before the summer is over and the quieter months for family titles arrive. I personally expect it to release 2 years from the original with detailed future updates until December and indefinite free support. This is how they will get parents of kids in Japan to buy into their online sub - especially if parental controls are a staple of the system.
I think it would be best if the sub service to be based on household and multiple Switch devices to use the same sub - this specifically because any other sub system wouldn't make sense if you want to sell over 20 million Switch devices in Japan. If the online is overpriced I think Japan will reject this so keeping it affordable is a key component for families there. With the expansion of local lan there is obviously alternatives in Japan as well.
It's a question if by consolidating 3DS/Wii U in Japan and using their IPs in anime, movies, theme parks, mobile games and apps will bring a temporary return of the Japanese market. Demographics in Japan are pretty bleak so the Switch might be the last opportunity for any dedicated video game device to sell over 20 million there. I think Splatoon 2 being launched in the first year is the thing that might help this but we shall see. In any case I don't know about the west but at least in Japan the Switch should do better than the PS3/Wii or Wii U if it doesn't everything there has gone mobile. For reference Wii 13 mil and PS3 sold 12 mil. The Hybird is very much a replacement for the 3DS/Wii U combo and it's priced slightly better in Japan than anywhere else.
Also it's not a coincidence that Splatoon 2 and MK8 are leading the way on the Switch after Zelda. One is a system seller and moved 1.5 million Wii Us(in Japan only) with only SMM to back it up. The other is the biggest game they had on the Wii U for every other region.
4 years ago Splatoon was about Tofu - this year it becomes the next Pokemon killer(for Japan sales threads)
You can buy the console and just boycott online by not paying for it or buying games that use it.
tearsintherain
Member
According to Gamestop investor relations
http://news.gamestop.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130125&p=irol-faq
There are 4434 gamestop stores in the USA, 1424 in Europe, 343 in Canada, and 7117 total worldwide.
Assuming 50 units per store (generous) thats 355,850 Switch units sold worldwide, 221,700 if you are looking at USA only. Since Nintendo has said they are looking at producing 2m units for the first month that still leaves a lot of wiggle room, even factoring in amazon, best buy, walmart, target, etc.
http://news.gamestop.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130125&p=irol-faq
There are 4434 gamestop stores in the USA, 1424 in Europe, 343 in Canada, and 7117 total worldwide.
Assuming 50 units per store (generous) thats 355,850 Switch units sold worldwide, 221,700 if you are looking at USA only. Since Nintendo has said they are looking at producing 2m units for the first month that still leaves a lot of wiggle room, even factoring in amazon, best buy, walmart, target, etc.
OrbitalBeard
Member
Your first problem was entertaining Colin Moriarty's industry analysis. I actually like the guy a lot, but he's one of the last people I'd ever go to for serious thoughts dealing with the business of video games. His new "Colin Was Right" show is extremely entertaining for me because of this.
Voysa Reezun
Banned
I can't imagine that this is true unless their shareholders find a way to wrench control from Japan and force Nintendo into an all-mobile development future. They have enough of a war chest to try again at least once or twice more.
Me and my girlfriend were both get neon switch preorders in the last batch this morning. I'm thinking of telling her to wait because even if the switch is what she wants in a powerful on the go console, the software support won't be all that great for her till the fall. But who knows she's really excited for Just Dance, Minecraft, Mario kart, and 1 2 switch.
OrbitalBeard
Member
Then it sounds like she isn't going to need to wait until the fall for games she wants to play.
Ah. Well like I said before, the consumer awareness and interest figures are completely different. People are far more aware of the Switch and what it is than they were for the Wii U. Also the core idea of the Switch (a home console you can bring with you) is hitting people much harder than the Wii U did.
Otherwise, the dev environment is much much better than it was on the Wii U. It's made of good, familiar hardware with straightforward APIs.
The software situation is where it struggles the most. Publishers weren't very interested after the Wii U, and on top of that Nintendo kept kits and information very close to their chest. I can say that after the reveal a few months ago and the positive consumer feedback that engendered, pubs and independents became a bit more interested, but you won't see the effects of that at launch, and if the system doesn't start out strong it could evaporate again.
Dash_Riprock
Member
Just because they can doesn't mean they should. Unless Nintendo enjoys loosing money hand over fist.
Forearm Star
Member
I went in an preordered a 3rd one for a friend the following day. Honestly was surprised they didn't sell out the first day.
Anecdotal and means nothing but still found it surprising.
Either way it's Nintendo, they'll be fine.
Anecdotal and means nothing but still found it surprising.
Either way it's Nintendo, they'll be fine.
toosejuice786
Neo Member
Ppl can say what they want but Nintendo still has the opportunity to succeed with the hybridness
DashReindeer
Lead Community Manager, Outpost Games
It's interesting that you say that, and then list a bunch of games that appeal to her that will release before the Fall. Most likely, picking the Switch up at launch is what she wants to do, and she can play the games she's interested in until even more games hit in the Fall.
Hell, you listed more games for her around launch than interest me, and I am still picking the thing up...
Voysa Reezun
Banned
I mean, I think that they can be profitable at 20-30M units sold worldwide. They sell millions of sixty dollar games and keep full proceeds from those games. If they just understood their consoles as a vehicle for the IPs that everyone loves and not as a risky innovation machine that demands top dollar on the market, they'd be a lot better off in this market.
I don't think that it behooves them to go mobile/third-party development. They probably aren't ever selling 35M copies of a Mario Kart game again, but selling six, eight, ten, twelve million copies of entries into a few key IPs is a profitable business for them and always will be.
Yeah I can get behind this. End of the day, we have no template for this kind of release, and if any company can make a non-traditional launch work, it's Nintendo.
I am looking at 50m by 2020.
ElMexiMerican
Member
I actually like the idea of 12 switch.
The one thing that keeps coming to my mind when I see the game is "Why isn't this a Warioware game???'" I hate seeing one of my favorite series continually get pushed to wayside.
That's delusional, the only reason I'm not outright betting Stars outsells Splatoon 2 is that one is an enhanced port and the other is a sequel.
Or they are taking considerably less in Japan to try and help the market, given its current tirefire status.
While I completely agree with you in theory (and in fact argued many times on this forum that NSMB U was a great launch title), in retrospect I think you can make a compelling argument that by the time of the Wii U's launch 2D Mario was completely over as a impactful series and the game did absolutely nothing to get early adopters excited about the system.
I think Zelda is a much much better launch game than NSMB U. But of course, the proof will be in the pudding- it will have to carry the system for 4-5 months essentially.