Support NeoGAF

[glaringradio]

Sounds about right. When your entire shelf presence in a large UK city (Belfast for reference) amounts to maybe 6 shelves spread across 2 stores, then clearly things are fucked up and something needs to be done. I don't think Mario Kart is going to fix it though, or Smash Brothers...

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

The Wii U needs something new and exciting, not Mario Kart Eight.

 

[Huw_Dawson]

Nothing can save the Wii U at UK retail. It's dead.

Smash is not that big in the UK. The MK casual crowd are now staring at their tablets watching Netflix. It's over.

 

[Sanjay]

I would think about buying a Wii U for titles like Mario Kart and Zelda.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

This doesn't make sense.

I'm not expecting a turnaround either, but surely you're aware that Mario Kart is more popular than 3D Mario?

Plus, it'll be the first true online first party game.

Plus, games like Mario Kart have longevity.

I thought Mario 3D World would do better but I wouldn't compare it to the potential of Mario Kart.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I can understand why it didn't appeal to the public tbh. The Galaxy games weren't big with them either. 2D perspective Mario was the one. Mario Kart was even more significant, in fact the most significant after Wii Sports IIRC.

Well hey, 10m is nothing to be sniffed at. Your point is valid though.

 

[Kouriozan]

Well, if Mario Kart (or Smash Bros) can't "save" the Wii U, then absolutely nothing can.

As true as Sony couldn't save the PS3.

Spoiler

But it's Nintendo (no support from everyone), therefore no hope allowed.

 

[bequietdrive]

It's crucial that Nintendo release proper adverts and pushes the 'U HEAVILY when Mario Kat comes out. They'd be wise to release Smash a month after it and with the one-two of those titles they have a chance of gaining almost acceptable sales in the UK.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

As true as Sony couldn't save the PS3.

Spoiler

But it's Nintendo (no support from everyone), therefore no hope allowed.

At this point, Nintendo wishes the Wii U was in the PS3's 2007 position.

 

[Omikaru]

Last chance for what? I would argue the "last chance" for major success has long since come and gone. The "last chance" to still be stocked on shelves? The "last chance" to avoid being decommissioned by Nintendo?

I think when retail -- presumably a UK supermarket at that -- is speaking, they're not necessarily thinking about how Nintendo can turn the system around for Nintendo's sake, but what Nintendo can release that could drive sales enough for supermarkets to keep whatever flimsy amount of shelf space the system still has. Regardless of other territories, I think pretty much everyone knows the Wii U in the UK is on life support at this point thanks to retail not completely taking it off the shelves, and this retailer source is saying that Mario Kart 8 is going to determine whether it stays that way.

My interpretation is that if MK8 fails to find an audience and drive sales enough to justify it using shelf space, immediate availability of Wii U in UK retail is over.

I don't think this will affect availability of the system online, however, which will persist until Nintendo decides the Wii U's time is up. Shelf space at retail is a lot more sparse than some dusty corner in Amazon's warehouse.

 

[Infinite_Daremo]

As true as Sony couldn't save the PS3.

Spoiler

But it's Nintendo (no support from everyone), therefore no hope allowed.

PS3 had 3rd party support. It was also never abandoned by retailers. Different scenario.

 

[Kyūkon]

The Wii U needs something new and exciting, not Mario Kart Eight.

New console colors it is.

 

[Sendou]

3D Mario is Wii U's last chance
Mario Kart 8 is Wii U's last chance
SSB4 is Wii U's last chance
Zelda U is Wii U's last chance

Not sure what the retailer is seeing with MK8 to be honest. Wii U is what it is. Time for everyone to move on and accept it.

 

[Azih]

Last chance to clear out the stock maybe.

 

[opticalmace]

The Wii U needs something new and exciting, not Mario Kart Eight.

Cranky Kart?

 

[Grizzo]

Mario Kart only became a really big thing with DS.

Thing is it also seems to be a game that people will buy if they have the system but not necessarily buy the system for. People bough MKDS and Wii but they already had the system.

A better reference would be MK7 that was actually outsold by 3DLand.

This. Having a new Mario Kart game available for a system you already own is a pretty good thing, but I can't see people rushing to buy a Wii U just to play MK8 once it's out.

On the other hand, Super Smash Bros could help a lot. But then again, the game will also be available on 3DS so I'm not exactly sure it's gonna set the charts alight.

 

[evilromero]

Plus, it'll be the first true online first party game.

Plus, games like Mario Kart have longevity.

I thought Mario 3D World would do better but I wouldn't compare it to the potential of Mario Kart.

IF Mario Kart manages to turn things around, even a bit, for the Wii U it would an unprecedented milestone in video game history. That's why I don't see it happening. We've already had two, count em, TWO previously big Mario games (NSMB and 3D Land) hit the Wii U with a thud. At what point do we honestly think MK8 is going to turn things around almost two years after launch?

 

[Pie and Beans]

Panic price slash Nintendo is the best Nintendo. Since MK8 seems set to release before Bayonetta 2, looks like everythings coming up Pie and Beans.

Unless Nintendo bails out of Europe entirely and leaves its region-locked console owners totally out of luck as they cease all further releases and support and just stick to NA and JP. In which case, fiddlesticks.

 

[H_Prestige]

Who's to say the Wii U will still get a new Zelda?

That's exactly what I was getting at. Nintendo has to realize this.

 

[Captain Smoker]

Was it the success of the Wii and DS that drove record sales of Nintendo franchises or the other way around. SM3DW will sell worse than Sunshine and that is after the phenomenal success of Galaxy and 3D Land, I don't see why MK will do any better than 3D Mario.

Well, Mario Kart drives hardware and hardware drives Mario Kart because it's a "get with the system game",
hardware base is the bigger driving factor for Mario Kart of course, but there are 34.000.000 people that played it, so the awareness for the franchise is there.

3D World was released in a timeframe with NSMBU, NSMBL and 3D Land, so it was a bit "polluted" with Mario platformers.

Mario Kart 7 is already at 8.080.000 units (March 2013, so it should be several 100.000s more by now).

You can argue that 3D Land has 8.290.000 units, but I'd still say that Mario Kart 8 is the bigger game than 3D World.

My money is on the first option. Wii U will never achieve "ok" sales. It is lined up beside Vita as a dead system that is being kept on life support so as not to irritate the few million people who already bought it.

Yeah, that's realistic considering the current situation, we'll see how things evolve.

 

[orioto]

I see what you're getting at, but I know a lot of people prefer the console versions simply because of the local multiplayer.

Good point actually!

 

[Lord Azrael]

This isn't really saying anything that hasn't been said before. Now if what they mean by 'last chance' is that they'll stop stocking it if Mario Kart doesn't boost sales, that's a bit of a different issue...

 

[jett]

Nintendo gotchu

*honkhonk*

Dat Nintendo Innovation™ only possible on dat Nintendo Hardware™.

 

[MDSLKTR]

I can't keep up with all those saviors, what's next after it?

 

[cyberheater]

Nice Red Dwarf quote there .

I'm glad someone got it.

 

[H_Prestige]

Well, Mario Kart drives hardware and hardware drives Mario Kart because it's a "get with the system game",
hardware base is the bigger driving factor for Mario Kart of course, but there are 34.000.000 people that played it, so the awareness for the franchise is there.

3D World was released in a timeframe with NSMBU, NSMBL and 3D Land, so it was a bit "polluted" with Mario platformers.

Mario Kart 7 is already at 8.080.000 units (March 2013, so it should be several 100.000s more by now).

You can argue that 3D Land has 8.290.000 units, but I'd still say that Mario Kart 8 is the bigger game than 3D World.



Yeah, that's realistic considering the current situation, we'll see how things evolve.

But I thought 3D World was "different"?

 

[cyberheater]

I can't keep up with all those saviors, what's next after it?

WiiU2.

 

[Captain Smoker]

But I thought 3D World was "different"?

Has this anything to do with this topic or is this a troll attempt?

 

[jett]

I can't keep up with all those saviors, what's next after it?

The endgame is firing Iwata, of course.

 

[Pillville]

I just don't see MarioKart as a system seller.

Who is sitting around thinking:
exclusive lego game.....nope
HD zelda remake...nope
wii fit.......nope
Mario Brothers......nope
3D Mario..............nope
Mario Kart.... YES, let's spend $300+

 

[Wishmaster92]

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE, OK?????

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

I just don't get how Nintendo manages to do this to itself, following the success of the Wii.

 

[evilromero]

But I thought 3D World was "different"?

Yep. Despite what many on this board would claim, the majority of consumers just didn't see it as "different." A 3D Mario should be an event. But it was overshadowed by yearly installments from games like AC, BF, COD and Batman. If it fails to stick out among such a drab group, then Nintendo needs to rethink its approach to the series.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

But what about X?

 

[DC R1D3R]

Well it's obviously fucking Tesco.

it asda be!

if mk8 is launched with a bundle, i'll dip!

 

[H_Prestige]

Has this anything to do with this topic or is this a troll attempt?

Yes. Because now that you realize that 3D World was never anything innovative or unlike anything anyone has ever played on a Nintendo system in the recent past, it should be perfectly clear why Mario Kart won't do jack squat either.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

As true as Sony couldn't save the PS3.

Spoiler

But it's Nintendo (no support from everyone), therefore no hope allowed.

not even remotely the same.

But what about X?

not sure if serious

 

[Jito]

It'll never recover in the UK. Me and my friends are waiting til it hits rock bottom prices before snatching one up, £150 by the end of the year! Or maybe lower?

 

[Captain Smoker]

Yes. Because now that you realize that 3D World was never anything innovative or unlike anything anyone has ever played on a Nintendo system in the recent past, it should be perfectly clear why Mario Kart won't do jack squat either.

You basically argue that 3D World isn't innovative or new and that's the reason why it didn't sell.

If this was the rule in this industry, COD, FIFA, Madden and the rest would be dead long ago, there are more important reasons for 3D Worlds performance (the biggest one being Wii Us hardware base), therefore Mario Kart 8s projected performance. Regarding it's impact on the hardware sales, as I already said, Mario Kart 8 won't "turn around" things on itself (if anything).

 

[Mael]

I just don't see MarioKart as a system seller.

Who is sitting around thinking:
exclusive lego game.....nope
HD zelda remake...nope
wii fit.......nope
Mario Brothers......nope
3D Mario..............nope
Mario Kart.... YES, let's spend $300+

If you're putting Wind Waker and 3D Mario as system seller as well as Lego City might as well put in MH3U, ACIV and Funky Barns while you're at it.

 

[Pie and Beans]

I just don't get how Nintendo manages to do this to itself, following the success of the Wii.

Its pretty easy when the captain of the ship has been extolling such virtues as "who needs to compete with ever increasing technology" in an age where everyones western style of life is dictated and ruled by cutting edge £300-£400 smartphones and tablets. The Wii was perfectly positioned in an age before everyone went totally gadget mad, HDTV reached total saturation point, and Nintendo's anti-competitive scrimping on tech looks positively prehistoric by comparison. Hell, it even had a "NEW TECHNOLOGY" edge to it as well, lest we forget motion control gaming certainly hadn't reached any real consumer market.

When even the knock-off Chinese smartphones are making a once household name tech companys current products look like a joke, you know you done gone effed up somewhere.

 

[Shahed]

But what about X?

I'm hoping it will be an awesome game and all. But an RPG saving the system in the UK? No chance. Final Fantasy wouldn't be able to do so, never mind niche games like X.

 

[illmatic22]

Price cut+2 games+Super Mario 3D World barely did anything. Wii U is doomed, financially. However, I will continue to enjoy it for the number of exclusives that they are able to produce, just like Dreamcast

 

[KennyLinder]

But what about X?

Madder than a box of frogs.

 

[RobFox64tm]

I'm sure Mario Kart 8 will increase sales of the Wii U a bit, for a little while, but as far as I can see, the system ran out of "chances" a while ago.

 

[Pillville]

If you're putting Wind Waker and 3D Mario as system seller as well as Lego City might as well put in MH3U, ACIV and Funky Barns while you're at it.

It's not so much any one of those games, but ALL of those games our out and still the system isn't selling.
Also, Nintendo thought Wind Waker would be a system seller or else I doubt they would have bothered with the special bundled edition.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

The Wii U needs something new and exciting, not Mario Kart Eight.

MK8 is exactly what it needed. The problem is it needed it much, much earlier.

 

[BGBW]

I just don't see MarioKart as a system seller.

Who is sitting around thinking:
exclusive lego game.....nope
HD zelda remake...nope
wii fit.......nope
Mario Brothers......nope
3D Mario..............nope
Mario Kart.... YES, let's spend $300+

Usually people want to buy a system for a handful of games rather than one. So while MK8 might not sell a system on its own it may be the one that makes the Wii U have enough titles to be worthy of a purchase.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Yes. Because now that you realize that 3D World was never anything innovative or unlike anything anyone has ever played on a Nintendo system in the recent past, it should be perfectly clear why Mario Kart won't do jack squat either.

So are you then saying that system sellers are only games that are innovative and different?

 

[Later Alligator]

is this the new "year of the ps3"?