Network now...NEWS
Iwata: No Guarantee Wii Will Be in Stock This Holiday
By Tom Ivan
July 23, 2008
See also:
Related Articles:
"What I can commit myself to is that Nintendo is going to do its best to supply as many Wii hardware units as possible in order to meet demand there"
Nintendo’s global president and CEO Satoru Iwata has said that its market leading Wii console may be hard to find in the US this holiday season, despite the firm’s best efforts to ensure a steady supply of units to retail.
“We are really intending to increase the shipments to the US, especially compared to last year," Iwata told Forbes.
"However, I can't give you a 100 percent commitment [that you'll be able to find a Wii this holiday season]. What I can commit myself to is that Nintendo is going to do its best to supply as many Wii hardware units as possible in order to meet demand there."
Since the Wii was launched around 18 months ago the console has sold phenomenally well but has often been in short supply. In April, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said that he was "passionately upset” about the lack of product relative to US demand, and that his division had been reminding its Japanese parent of "missed opportunities" in the US due to the lack of stock. Last fiscal year the US received around 40 percent of monthly Wii shipments.
Nintendo subsequently announced plans to ramp up its annual Wii production level from 18.61 million to 25 million units, and last week the console’s installed US base surpassed that of Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
In the wide-ranging interview with Forbes, Iwata also apologized to core gamers for the company’s focus on mass-market friendly titles at this year’s E3.
“We are sorry about [the E3] media briefings, specifically for those who were expecting to see Nintendo show something about Super Mario or Legend of Zelda,” he said.
“However, the fact of the matter is the so-called 'big titles' need a long, long development period. ... We really didn't think this year's E3 media briefing was the time to do so.”
Who. Would. Have. Guessed?
Your Wii continues to collect dust? Want to sell it then? I have numerous friends who are looking for one, but because there's no stock on store shelves, they can't get one. Even when they wait in line outside of Best Buy 30 minutes before store opening, they're still too late to get one and the lines are too long. If you're not using yours, I know plenty of people that will happily take one?
Also, if you have any copies of Guitar Hero 3, Mario Party 8, Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii Play, Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, or any other AAA titles to sell, they'd happily take those too.
Wii Play a AAA title? Surely you jest! It may have sold a load of copies, but surely that's just because it comes with a Wiimote and is only about £2 more expensive than buying the controller on its own?
Maybe it's just the area of the UK I live in, but there doesn't seem to be a shortage of Wiis at present. Most shops seem to have them in stock.
I really have to wonder if this is a ploy. Nintendo has been accused in the past of holding back supply to increase demand. There are no shortages where I live, every store has them, and has had them for months now. I suppose you could buy one now and hide it till Christmas. The very fact that there is a report that there may be shortage will impact sales by increasing them. Nintendo has an extremely smart marketing strategy with creating shortages.
The triple AAA titles can be counted on one hand, yet I guess the hope is out there more will come out. My Wii continues to collect dust, while shovelware continues to flood the Wii market. Yet Nintendo continues to rake in nasty amounts of cash. I see them releasing an updated Wii every 2 years or so. One with DVD drive, then One with Hard Drive, then one with HD Drive, the list goes on and on, and the nasty amounts of cash will continue to roll in!
No new Zelda or Mario for a year or two at least, then? I wouldn't be expecting a new Mario anytime soon, but Zelda... Twilight Princess was really a GC game, so it would be nice to something announced for the Wii specifically soon. Ho-hum. It would've be nice to have heard about some new DS titles, too. New Super Mario Bros. 2, anybody? Please?
Another Christmas coming with Wiis in short supply? I don't know whether to congratulate Nintendo for the massive sales success, or lambast them for the stock shortages.