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[DICKS AHOY]

If it was a significant enough bump to warrant it, I'd start airing ads for some older titles like 3D World and Wind Waker HD if Mario Kart 8 is getting some more casual people to notice the system exists. Not going to turn the entire system around, but may stop MK8 besides NSMBU being the only Wii U title to sell decently.

 

[Kevin]

Mr. Iwata is pleased...

 

[NotLiquid]

How did MK7 launch? If we figure that out it'd be easier to set an estimate.

 

[AdanVC]

I think that's why it's so close to E3. People playing for two weeks, think "Ok, this is pretty awesome, but what's next?" and then bam, Nintendo's Digital Event.

Exactly, and it's there when will we get release dates for the games we already know such as Bayonetta 2, Hyrule Warrios, X, Sonic Boom, Smash and a new unnanounced game to be released this holiday just like Super Mario 3D World did and last but not least, finish the year with the all-mighty Smash Bros for Wii U.

 

[Rosur]

Also: https://twitter.com/scully1888/status/473387761232519168

"Chart (indiv formats): Watch Dogs (PS4), Watch Dogs (Xbox One), Mario Kart 8, Watch Dogs (360), Watch Dogs (PS3). Amazing achievement for MK"

I was expecting 2nd overall for Mario Kart but beating the 360 and PS3 of Watch_dogs in the indiv formats charts damn. I hope it stays high in the charts for a while.

 

[MarkMclovin]

I hope it has some long legs because it's such a fantastic game. And I've actually seen some marketing for it, whereas I didn't see anything for 3D World.

 

[Dryk]

It's worth remembering that Wind Waker HD led to a 685% increase, although - again - we have no idea of the real effect of the boost without figures. If it had been doing a couple of thousand more per week recently than it was in September, it's great. If it's been selling fewer, it's not.

I haven't been able to find any hardware numbers for the UK :\

 

[RulkezX]

Yeah but it was selling '00's p/w so even with the boost it's not great. This will certainly be a single week boost as well.

 

[SuicidalSteve]

Devil (laughs)

 

[Spades]

If it was a significant enough bump to warrant it, I'd start airing ads for some older titles like 3D World and Wind Waker HD if Mario Kart 8 is getting some more casual people to notice the system exists. Not going to turn the entire system around, but may stop MK8 besides NSMBU being the only Wii U title to sell decently.

This idea is far too sensible for Nintendo to consider.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

Plenty of fairly predictable replies already, but:

• A significant hardware boost and a strong debut is a Good Thing.
• Percentage increases can be deceptive, and a massive percentage increase doesn't necessarily translate to a massive boost in unit sales if the baseline was already low.
• The importance of MK8 is in how it improves the wider performance of the system, which won't be apparent for a while. A strong first week is fine, but sustaining HW sales and driving new customers to the platform is better.
• This doesn't "save" the Wii U, but just as with any other struggling platform a strong software release that gets plenty of attention helps.

 

[JoeM86]

Exactly, and it's there when will we get release dates for the games we already know such as Bayonetta 2, Hyrule Warrios, X, Sonic Boom, Smash and a new unnanounced game to be released this holiday just like Super Mario 3D World did and last but not least, finish the year with the all-mighty Smash Bros for Wii U.

Looking at it, it's a good year, and with the back catalogue that these new entrants to the Wii U fold have, then things may actually gain some momentum.

I have hope!

 

[Village]

Iwata calling in mephesto for the assist.

 

[NIN90]

 

[Guymelef]

It's worth remembering that Wind Waker HD led to a 685% increase, although - again - we have no idea of the real effect of the boost without figures. If it had been doing a couple of thousand more per week recently than it was in September, it's great. If it's been selling fewer, it's not.

That's why % increases means nothing when we don't know how good or how bad was doing last week.

 

[BouncyFrag]

It begins..

 

[The Dutch Slayer]

Yeah but if you sell a few honderd a week +666% is not that much.
UK nintendo market is irralrvent sadly

 

[gogogow]

I haven't been able to find any hardware numbers for the UK :\

That is software sales :/

 

[Nicktendo86]

Fantastic, well marketed game in system selling shocker.

Hope they can keep up a bit of momentum, love the system it really has some fantastic games. Hope e3 brings some big hitters.

 

[Chao]

Amazing, diggin' badass Luigi

 

[DieH@rd]

3->20

 

[Bagu]

Iwata calling in mephesto for the assist.

And all it cost him was his marriage!

 

[JoeM86]

Come on people, see the silver lining for once rather than the cloud.

Mario Kart 8 had the second best launch of any Mario Kart series game in the UK.
Mario Kart 8 had the best week 1 of any Wii U title.

Focus on the good points instead of dwelling on the "what if?"

 

[LiamR]

Oh, man. This gif is fucking great.

 

[Village]

And all it cost him was his marriage!

And after that they will retcon everything that happened for a long ass period before that . Yamauichi coming back confirmed.

 

[Steroyd]

Angry Video Game Nerd was right!

IT WAS KNOWN!

http://youtu.be/Y5wK5Z23hoo?t=3m16s

AVGN always on the case.

 

[Hunter S.]

Plenty of fairly predictable replies already, but:

• A significant hardware boost and a strong debut is a Good Thing.
• Percentage increases can be deceptive, and a massive percentage increase doesn't necessarily translate to a massive boost in unit sales if the baseline was already low.
• The importance of MK8 is in how it improves the wider performance of the system, which won't be apparent for a while. A strong first week is fine, but sustaining HW sales and driving new customers to the platform is better.
• This doesn't "save" the Wii U, but just as with any other struggling platform a strong software release that gets plenty of attention helps.

I am pretty sure some know this already. I hope.

 

[Starwolf_UK]

Second best Mario Kart launch ever while being on a "dead" console.

Everything is going as planned

So it is a phoenix down? But be careful you're still on low HP...

That is software sales :/

The best you can do is estimates from somewhat known numbers (sometimes the chart press releases accidentally leak these, you can use them as a guidepost). If the MKW and MK7 opening weeks can be figured out that would be great. It also contstrains the watch dogs a bit more...

 

[Unknown Soldier]

What happens next month is the more interesting result to watch for.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

This idea is far too sensible for Nintendo to consider.

Years ago and in Australia (so no clue if this happened in Europe or the US) in 2011 I remember seeing an ad that lumped NSMBWii, MKWii and DKCR all together while still giving each title an equal spotlight despite the first two being 2/3 years old at that point. Their marketing has definitely changed now but it's not completely unheard of that they'll use one game's recent popularity to bring attention back to older games in a mainstream context.

Probably just a way to keep some momentum for the Wii's biggest titles that weren't Wii Sports, but a similar ad that groups MK8 together with 3DWorld and DKCTF or Zelda could help leverage the latter titles' lower sales.

 

[cyberheater]

Now show us a proper Mario Galaxy and Zelda sequel at E3 to keep the momentum going you stupid stupid company Nintendo.

Yes. Stupid x2 because that's how stupid they are.

 

[Horse]

I feel... compelled to purchase one.

 

[marc^o^]

MK8 is at this time the #1 best selling game on amazon FR, DE and IT + 2nd in UK. The bundle is well positioned too.

The attach rate will be huge. Once a couple of millions Wii U owners invite their friends to play it, we will probably witness the long waited Wii U tipping point. MK8 is so brilliant I'm sure it will be the phenomenal game some Nintendo consoles successes were made of in the past. You see it/play it, you want it/need it.

 

[JoeM86]

Years ago and in Australia (so no clue if this happened in Europe or the US) in 2011 I remember seeing an ad that lumped NSMBWii, MKWii and DKCR all together while still giving each title an equal spotlight despite the first two being 2/3 years old at that point. Their marketing has definitely changed now but it's not completely unheard of that they'll use one game's recent popularity to bring attention back to older games in a mainstream context.

Probably just a way to keep some momentum for the Wii's biggest titles that weren't Wii Sports, but a similar ad that groups MK8 together with 3DWorld and DKCTF or Zelda could help leverage the latter titles' lower sales.

Just a month ago I saw a 3DS advert on UK TV focusing on New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Kart 7, so it's not that unprecedented.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Another thing to remember that the UK is typically not a strong market for Nintendo, so the strong chart performance is impressive. Ivebseen never ending adverts for watch dogs and was hyped to heaven so kinda shocked to see mk beat the ps360 versions...

 

[SmokyDave]

I'm more impressed that Watch Dogs on XBO outsold it. I expected the PS4 version to top the charts, but thought MK would be 2nd.

Still, percentages!

 

[3bdelilah]

 

[Triggerhappytel]

The deciding factor will be whether it has legs or is just a short-term bump.

I could see the sales being more frontloaded than usual with Mario Kart because it's mostly hardcores owning the system now.

This. It'll be news if it keeps holding up for another month or two.

Give it a month and we'll see what happens.

Agree with these; this is a really impressive bump, but whether it will be a turnaround for the Wii U will depend on how the hardware sales are in the longer term.

 

[televator]

Nintendo got so desperate, they dealt with the devil.

 

[Sodding_Gamer]

Bought the Mario Kart bundle on Friday and have no regrets. Brilliant system. It's feels refreshing. With all this seriousness around gaming as of late and with ps4, and Xbone at each others throats in regards to frame rate and HD it feels nice to own a Wii U and just play great games!

Note: I have a 360, ps3, PS4 and PC

 

[Bagu]

And after that they will retcon everything that happened for a long ass period before that . Yamauichi coming back confirmed.

You sure it's Yamauchi and not some mind swapped Don Mattrick?

 

[illmatic22]

It's a nice bump, I'll start being impressed if it sells a larger number of consoles over the next couple of weeks

 

[Atram]

Now show us a proper Mario Galaxy and Zelda sequel at E3 to keep the momentum going you stupid stupid company Nintendo.

Yes. Stupid x2 because that's how stupid they are.

Please no Mario again, it´s fine for now.

 

[jerry1594]

Iwata gave his soul to the prince of darkness

 

[Recall]

The Wii U's catalogue of games is just getting stronger and stronger.

Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country and now Mario Kart 8, throw in some genuine classics in Monster Hunter, Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3 and Lego City and you have a perfect library of games.

 

[Dryk]

Years ago and in Australia (so no clue if this happened in Europe or the US) in 2011 I remember seeing an ad that lumped NSMBWii, MKWii and DKCR all together while still giving each title an equal spotlight despite the first two being 2/3 years old at that point. Their marketing has definitely changed now but it's not completely unheard of that they'll use one game's recent popularity to bring attention back to older games in a mainstream context.

Probably just a way to keep some momentum for the Wii's biggest titles that weren't Wii Sports, but a similar ad that groups MK8 together with 3DWorld and DKCTF or Zelda could help leverage the latter titles' lower sales.

Well with the Wii U's library, keeping old games in the spotlight is the only way that it's ever going to reach critical mass and attract people so its good they're going with it. I feel about my Wii U the same way I felt about my Wii. I have a ridiculously wide taste in games so it never matters to me how small the library is, but it is definitely a problem for others.

 

[Yaoibot]

Realistically, it jumped from 3-4K to 20-24K. I don't think we can pop open the champagne yet. Why are so many people falling for the % trick? Sustainability or a new baseline is key, and I don't see either of those happening with the Wii U.

 

[Queen of Hunting]

Picking up a Wii u with Mario today, probs pick up wind waker today always liked that

 

[MisterHero]

Nintendo commissioned an army of clones to buy their products en masse in an emergency.

Also the Nintendo Ninja Mafia are fudging the numbers

Realistically, it jumped from 3-4K to 20-24K. I don't think we can pop open the champagne yet. Why are so many people falling for the % trick? Sustainability or a new baseline is key, and I don't see either of those happening with the Wii U.

Pointing out low sales is obvious and repetitive. The longer the mediocre performance lasts, the more barriers to future sales (ex: retail discontinuations) get in its way. Those don't change overnight even if a game sells well.

We can at least conclude that MK moves hardware.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

Now show us a proper Mario Galaxy and Zelda sequel at E3 to keep the momentum going you stupid stupid company Nintendo.

Yes. Stupid x2 because that's how stupid they are.

For a system being criticized by some as a dedicated Mario box, I don't think releasing a third Mario Galaxy game a year after 3DWorld is going to change people's perception. They should just bring some emphasis back on the Mario games they've already released on the system and let Zelda take most of the limelight this/next year.

X is going to bomb hardcore (partially since I don't expect Nintendo to even attempt to properly market it), but it's definitely the sort of variety people have been demanding they have more of.