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[Exile20]

Just yesterday, around 5,000 people lined up outside of Bic Camera Ikebukuro in Tokyo. A day later, 5,000 people in Kawasaki lined up as well. They were lining up for yet another Switch lottery. It's worth noting that a day later, another 3,000 people were lined up to try again. Overall, 10% of those people ended up leaving the line with a Switch.

https://gonintendo.com/stories/287014-5-000-people-line-up-to-grab-a-switch-in-japan

https://nintendosoup.com/5000-people-lined-win-chance-buying-switch-japan/

This is pretty insane. Did Nintendo hit another Wii success?

 

[13ruce]

I want to post that marie money pic again but alas. Splatoon 2 is huge in Japan.

 

[AmyS]

They're getting ready for DQXI on Switch.

 

[Jon Carter]

https://gonintendo.com/stories/287014-5-000-people-line-up-to-grab-a-switch-in-japan

https://nintendosoup.com/5000-people-lined-win-chance-buying-switch-japan/

This is pretty insane. Did Nintendo hit another Wii success?

In Japan? It should sell better than the Wii, which wasn't that big a success.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

I want to post that marie money pic again but alas. Splatoon 2 is huge in Japan.

.

 

[Twig and Berries]

 

[sixteen-bit]

The Switch thirst is real!

 

[OrbitalBeard]

This is pretty insane. Did Nintendo hit another Wii success?

It'll be bigger than Wii in Japan.

 

[ScaryShark]

I feel legitimately bad for people who want one and don't have one around Christmas time.

 

[darkwing-buck]

I wonder how many of them are team mayo or team ketchup

 

[UpUpDownDown]

Looks at photos.

I don't wanna be that guy, but...

Riiiiiight.

 

[schuelma]

In Japan? It should sell better than the Wii, which wasn't that big a success.

Wii was a huge success initially in Japan then petered out.

 

[Yukinari]

I wonder how many people in japan buy 1 2 Switch as their first game.

I imagine they all want it for Splatoon 2.

 

[Atheerios]

Isn't it that Bic Camera stores also hold raffles for other products? So it isn't only Switch the reason people are lining up for?

 

[Earthbound64]

Looks at photos.

I don't wanna be that guy, but...

Riiiiiight.

Never seen Japanese queuing pictures before?

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I feel legitimately bad for people who want one and don't have one around Christmas time.

In Japan no one really celebrates Christmas. It's more so a day that everyone, for some reason, pays a visit to KFC. That's about it.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Isn't it that Bic Camera stores also hold raffles for other products? So it isn't only Switch the reason people are lining up for?

This is specifically a Switch lottery. Why would you mix other product lotteries in with the Switch line and arbitrarily make the process longer and not just have them on separate days?

 

[Earthbound64]

In Japan no one really celebrates Christmas.

Regardless of whether that the case or not - you haven't seen year-end sales numbers?

 

[Chindogg]

Isn't it that Bic Camera stores also hold raffles for other products? So it isn't only Switch the reason people are lining up for?

They do hold raffles for other products, but there are specific lines dedicated to those raffles.

This is strictly talking about the Switch lines.

 

[Shin]

5000 PEOPLE LINED UP TO WIN A CHANCE OF BUYING A SWITCH IN JAPAN

That's messed up, a lineup with a chance to win to buy, good publicity but I'd hate to be in that line

 

[UpUpDownDown]

Never seen Japanese queuing pictures before?

I've certainly seen 5000 people before.

People geting a little crazy with their guestimations lol.

 

[Aters]

In Japan no one really celebrates Christmas. It's more so a day that everyone, for some reason, pays a visit to KFC. That's about it.

According to anime it's "lovers go to hotel" day.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

Wii was a huge success initially in Japan then petered out.

Isn't that how it went worldwide? I feel like 2011 and 2012 were very slow for the Wii.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Isn't that how it went worldwide? I feel like 2011 and 2012 were very slow for the Wii.

Happened much, much quicker in Japan. Like, years earlier.

 

[meppi]

This is pretty insane. Did Nintendo hit another Wii success?

I already told you in that poll earlier this year. Yes they did.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Capcom post if you are OK.

Level 5 you too.

I'm worried about you guys.

Don't leave us too soon.

 

[Louis Cyphre]

I feel legitimately bad for people who want one and don't have one around Christmas time.

Is there no way for Nintendo to increase production by then, perhaps triple what they are making now?

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

Happened much, much quicker in Japan. Like, years earlier.

Ah, ok. I remember following the sales threads around that time but didn't recall when it slowed down for the Wii. If anyone has a chart handy I'd appreciate taking a look. I'm curious to see how the Switch is faring in comparison so far.

 

[schuelma]

Is there no way for Nintendo to increase production by then, perhaps triple what they are making now?

Supply is up significantly last few weeks and I'd expect it to be up the rest of the year. Now whether it will be enough to meet demand...

 

[Scrawnton]

Everything is sold out again everywhere. I was at Gamestop today looking for new joycons, everything Switch related except grey joycons were sold out. Walmart had nothing either.

This thing is on fire.

 

[Shin]

I already told you in that poll earlier this year. Yes they did.

Inclined to agree because of the play on the go aspect, it speaks to the whole world not only Japan IMO.
It was a smart move by Nintendo, not sure if kids can take it to school in Japan to play during launch breaks or after school.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Is there no way for Nintendo to increase production by then, perhaps triple what they are making now?

They already ordered in their production amounts, it's just a matter of component manufacturing lines freeing themselves up before Fall, which Nintendo expects them to be.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Everything is sold out again everywhere. I was at Gamestop today looking for new joycons, everything Switch related except grey joycons were sold out. Walmart had nothing either.

This thing is on fire.

I think Splatoon 2 reignited the flames in NA. Not that they ever really went out, but things were certainly looking better for awhile.

 

[MrCarter]

Nintendo need to hurry their ass up with production. It's only a matter of time before people grow tired of waiting for a product and move onto something else. Especially in this day and age where competition is very high.

 

[jellies_two]

It is in stock everywhere in Australia should I be buying them to keep for the impeding drought ?

 

[Astral Dog]

I hope this means better support

 

[forknknife]

I've certainly seen 5000 people before.

People geting a little crazy with their guestimations lol.

But it's a lottery. They know the number of people because of the lottery tickets they give out.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Nintendo need to hurry their ass up with production. It's only a matter of time before people grow tired of waiting for a product and move onto something else. Especially in this day and age where completion is very high.

Somehow I don't think there's much competition for what the Switch is in Japan, because no one else in Japan has Splatoon and Dragon Quest in a single package.

 

[Terrell]

I've certainly seen 5000 people before.

People geting a little crazy with their guestimations lol.

https://twitter.com/ParmSuke/status/893965739316486144

This was the size of the line. It's fairly reasonable that could be 5000 people.

EDIT:

But it's a lottery. They know the number of people because of the lottery tickets they give out.

Also this.

 

[Shin]

It is in stock everywhere in Australia should I be buying them to keep for the impeding drought ?

I just checked and it's available at a handful of stores again in the Netherlands.
Both the Grey/Gray and Neon versions: https://tweakers.net/product/496645/nintendo-switch/

 

[BriGuy]

I'm sore about the SNES classic situation, but stories like this remind me that currently having my hands on a Switch is more important.

 

[Maximo]

It is in stock everywhere in Australia should I be buying them to keep for the impeding drought ?

By the time stock is low in Australia the shortage of components should be near over.

 

[meppi]

Inclined to agree because of the play on the go aspect, it doesn't speaks to the whole world IMO.
It was a smart move by Nintendo, not sure if kids can take it to school in Japan to play during launch breaks or after school.

Agree. It's still early days to see how it'll do worldwide. Lots can still change.
But I've just been going with my gut instincts.
Had this same feeling with the DS and Wii and not at all with the WII U and 3DS. Although that later on redeemed itself due to some very drastic measures taken by Nintendo.

The system just hits all the right notes. The only thing to do now is keep the software coming and the quality top notch and they will be golden.

 

[andymcc]

https://twitter.com/ParmSuke/status/893965739316486144

This was the size of the line. It's fairly reasonable that could be 5000 people.

EDIT:

Also this.

Yeah, that photo taken is WAY away from where the Ikebukuro Bic Camera even is.

 

[Shin]

Agree. It's still early days to see how it'll do worldwide. Lots can still change.
But I've just been going with my gut instincts.
Had this same feeling with the DS and Wii and not at all with the WII U and 3DS. Although that later on redeemed itself due to some very drastic measures taken by Nintendo.

The system just hits all the right notes. The only thing to do now is keep the software coming and the quality top notch and they will be golden.

My sentence was wrong, I fixed it.
I meant to say that it speaks to the whole world not only Japan but I butchered it
But yeah time will tell if it's another Wii success story still hard to say ATM.

 

[faridmon]

To be fair, Japan loves to que for the ''hot'' product in the market

 

[KnightHart]

Man, I had to fucking line up to early in the morning at a Toys R Us here in Toronto to get one around the time of the ARMS launch. They had like, 12 of each, and I was 12th in line and got the last grey Switch lol

Thirst is definitely real

 

[UpUpDownDown]

But it's a lottery. They know the number of people because of the lottery tickets they give out.

Reading again.

The second link makes it sound like just under 20000 people were lining up over two days in a few different locations.

But it's a mess to follow.

 

[schuelma]

To be fair, Japan loves to que for the ''hot'' product in the market

Switch is tracking above every console since Wii and is still seeing thousands of people line up for the chance to buy it. Its beyond the "hot" product at the moment.

 

[ggx2ac]

To be fair, Japan loves to que for the ''hot'' product in the market

The lotteries for Switch have been happening for months though.