Nintendo Boss: “Wii’s Position is Perilous”
- Categories: Games, News
- Date: Apr 10, 2009 10:53 JST
- Tags: Announcements, Business, DS, Marketing, Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, Wii
Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo, recently made the candid admission that the Wii is experiencing something of a crisis in Japan, with sales and releases the worst they have been in since launch.
His remarks were made to press whilst speaking about the future development of the console markets:
“It’s a fact that the Wii in Japan is now stagnant. It is in the most unhealthy position it has been in since release. The Wii’s sales model was that it was being driven by a few very powerful titles, but from 2008 this no longer worked effectively.”
Observers have long noted that the Wii’s release schedule has been looking extremely barren for some time now, and this confirms that. With mass appeal casual gaming titles apparently thin on the ground, the problems the Wii has with securing more “serious” games are highlighted.
The best title he can think to mention is apparently “Wii Sports Resort” due in June in Japan, July elsewhere.
He also remarks that no price cuts are being considered; without price cuts or blockbuster software, his strategy for Japan is not clear.
He does see the Nintendo DS as a core part of the company’s current and future business:
He explains that global economic conditions have left Nintendo largely unaffected so far:
“After we released the DS, our customer base broadened dramatically, beyond our expectations. From 2006 to 2008, our sales in both Europe and America also grew.”
He sees potential for expanding sales:
“Currently, many DS units are used by multiple people. Rather than it being ‘one per house’, our desired challenge is now to make it ‘one per user’ instead.”
He went on to outline a plan to make DS software and services ubiquitous, expanding the hand-held into being a mobile device rather than just a gaming device, a scheme readily visible in the features of the DSi.
Via J-Cast.
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I knew it.
I just knew it.
Yes. I knew that the Wii would fall down to his. Wow, I'm psychic.
I knew it would too. It's one of those things that people can enjoyable for only so long before they go back to their PS3s and 360s.
You both knew it because you are both the same.
We're not. We just have the same avatar. Confusing at first, really.
haha lol I got confused at first too
you're not supposed to do a tsukkomi there!
Crap, I've been watching comedy too much lately ;_;
First X360, now Wii. All according to plan.
Let us walk towards a bright future of virtual rape and chikans in PS Home!
As long as 360 and PS3 come out in the top 2 spots by the end of this console cycle, I will be fine.
You'll be.
The 360's gaining much more support because of windows. I don't even have doubts about it getting a low product release elsewhere.
wat about the possible thought that every family already owns a wii? thats why the market aint growing anymore?
true fact they havent released any epic games in a while though.... wheres my next zaelda installment!!!
The Wii is being seen less as a mainstream console due to its massive piles of crap games, and small amount of good ones. The 360 and PS3 however, have been releasing quality games on a consistent basis and strengthening their position against the wii.
true true.i still have hope for my wii though lol
Did you read this article? His downfall is only in japan. If you look at the stats, the wii is the most popular of xbox360, ps3 and wii. Wii sold around 50 million in world wide, while xbox360 and ps3 are around 20-30 million. Things doesn't look good for Japan, but with how they are doing in north america, I wouldn't be worried about Nintendo future. For a fact, the system who has been sold the most worldwide is the nintendo DS with around 100 million. This article is just a way to show how the fight between system company is going. Just a fight for domination.
yes and if this continue either PS3 or Xbox360 will outsold wii in the future.
I have wii myself and to be honest like everyone said It was fun at first but it got totallly boring in a short time. The question is will you recommend this kind of console to others? NO I WONT - Ironically I'm one of the hardcore gamers that support Nintendo PRE-Wii.
Right now I'm eyeing either for PS3 or Xbox360. Most likely PS3 though. Haah pretty sad actually.
I knew it since years now, I knew it when N64, came out, I knew it when Game cube came out, and I knew it when the wii came out. SAME OLD CHILDISH STUPID GAMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Come on, anyone can see that. I don't understand why peolple keeps spending money in a company that will let you down in less than a year for sure. What happened with nintendo's supernes era, when wave after wave of quality (along with variety)of games were released?
Nintendo dug their own grave, when they couldn't be bothered to up grade the graphics. It was only a matter of time before this happened, neglecting their core market, not a good strategy.
You don't know shit, the gamecube and N64 were miles better than the Wii. Embaressingly better.
But Wii sales are slowing down here too. My Gamestop can't even sell them anymore since no one wants one. Even the Walmart I hate going to can't sell them.
don't forget that nintendo actually makes their own games most of which are its best sellers and they make ALL the profit off of them unlike Xbox and PS3.
also the gamecube (in fact it did terrible) may of not done well but thats all in the past
Gamers everywhere fucking CALLED this. The Nintendo fanboys raised to the Wii's side and went UR JUST JEALOUS CUZ UR NOT #1.
No. We just knew the Wii was floating on a marketing strategy that was eventually going to backfire on them as Soccer Mom Sue and their entire family loses interest on their Wii Fit.
Anecdotal evidence: My workplace has many casual people who are too busy with their worklife to care about video games. They're all classic AMERICAN MOMZ WITH AMERICAN FAMILIEZ and all bought a Wii Fit. They're the type of people who won't put much thought or research into what they're buying - they just give in to the hype of whatever's popular. (see: iPhone, iPod, etc)
These families I've known bought the Wii Fit months ago. Are they still playing it now?
Nope. Did they buy any new fun games? Nope.
Come on Nintendo, you can still go the other route. You still have a huge dedicated audience that wants to play good games.
dont worry at the last E3 they focoused mostly on acutual games not like in E3 2007 and 2008 when they forgot to mention anything about games that dident start with Wii.
I love playing the wii but I haven't played a good game since Elebits (one of the release games). I was hoping for a new fun game but all I see is junk. :(
Its sad. It was fun but when there are no good games then whats the point.
mm... the wii had a good run.. but personally i think its because the concept behind the wii was too far ahead of its time and taht no other companies could throw out decent games that could adapt to it
It's well known that third party games developed for the Wii have not sold well. Most of the casual buyers who bought the Wii have no idea or care if some 3rd party developer releases a good game. All they look for is games that have "Wii" stamped on it, ie. Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Wii Shovelware...
But... but... Imagine Party Babyz was going to save Nintendo!
Its because nintendo wont license any decent games in north America or Europe. They rather release bullshit games like wiicheer,wiimusic and other shovelware instead of games we actually want like fatal frame.
yeah. I keep looking over seas and seeing some interesting games but here they have all these dumb shit games that look like they were designed for some collage project.
I was looking forward to Project H.A.M.M.E.R but the canaled it. >:(
We all know that in the end Playstation always wins.
But seriously am not surprised. I bought Wii and although it was a little fun at first you easily get bored of it. I sold after two months. No one has the appetite to always jump up and down to play a game and there weren't much interesting games anyway.
Sadly that how most wii stories go..
I have mine, but I haven't sold it since I replay Metroid and Zelda every now and then. But my PS3 and 360 are always being played since there are real games on them.
The rise of the PS3 is here, it's true.
Excellent.
Ye who have been suppressing the game industry shall now know the blade of justice.
Aww, to bad for the Wii in japan, it just couldnt be the 360 in america could it :P
Why do they tend in Nintendo of Japan to be often so melodramatic? Expecially when 2009 is one of the best years for Wii with so many great games it has released and it's going to release.
They aren't even outselling the PS3 lately. Not good, considering the price points.
Could be that they've reached the saturation point for casual gamers. Now they need to concentrate on publishing and attracting other publishers to make good games for the Wii and give potential buyers who have been holding out a reason to buy the system.
i blame it to all developers. they seems lazy to make games for wii
Not much profit or sales to be had for outside developers.
HELLO! MARIO? LINK? SAMUS? Why don't they put out some more of these characters and less Wii Sports. These are what gamers want! And make a shooting game that works right, that would help.
Why when Madascar 2 and High School Musical games make more money?
True Nintendo fans who own the Wii are few and far between. The Virtual Console is their consolace.
Meh. Sooner or later the trend needed to calm down. I see this as something positive; it will drive the Nintendo dudes to produce more creative games and not all this mini-game non-sense (they are fun for a while but soon grow tired of them) they keep on spouting.
Its simple demaned has peeked...its time to make real games for gamers or realize you fcked over the WII and made a mistake.....and besides.... its made more money than the PS360 who the hell can it ever be in a crisis?
0-o
In 2 years plug it and bring out a real console/media system!
Wii-tan is so cute it's disgusting. I want to give her a piggyback ride.
That's a great idea for Wii game!
I want to push her buttons.
That is all
Of course this was going to happen, they have like, four titles that people fap furiously over(Smash Bros., Mario, Metroid, Zelda, feel free to add in more, that's the main four I can think of), and the rest of the games are rudimentary graphics wise and gameplay wise, resting solely on the gimmicky Wiimote. I so deeply regret getting caught in the Wii craze when it was released and shelling out an extra $50 for one, I haven't touched the damn thing in months. Their online capabilities are beyond abysmal, for some fucking reason my PS2, PSP, 360, and PS3 all can connect online, but you would not believe how many error messages fly up when I try to play a Brawl match online, it's absolutely shameful that they released such a subpar system in this day and age.
They clearly learned nothing from the lackluster Gamecube, Nintendo just needs to go the path of Sega already.
No! if Nintendo goes the path of Sega they will end up making a kickass console even far beyond its time and then suddenly drop it and blaming piracy and the lack of interest overseas.
Of course I am talking about the Saturn and the Dreamcast, both of them were treated like trash outside of Japan because the genius on the american/european marketing didn't have any faith on either Saturn RPGs, Arcade Ports (MvC, KoF), or late releases (Castlevania SotN), who needs them when you have sports games on those? not to mention programming for the Saturn was a little less complicated than the Cell on PS3 and Dreamcast was so easy to program so people made so many homebrew games an applications.
Yes, I am done...
Uh, I was more leaning towards the part where Sega bows out of the console race, but if that's what you only think of when someone says go the path of Sega, more power to you, or something.
I'll take wiis poor atemp at innovation over the mindless graphical fapping with zero innovation in anything else....safe over priced bland under deved games....DO NOT WANT....same goes for party/non gamer casual crap.....
The Wii's current standing in Japan appears to be similar to the last days of the Atari system. Nintendo should re-organize if they are to keep up with the console wars. I'd recommend less casual games and more hardcore games (Mad World is one of them). Furthermore, Nintendo should lift restrictions on developers to insist having all games done on the Wiimote and instead have them decide the controller that best suits the game - even if it means going to the old Gamecube one or the Virtual Pad.
FINALLY
NINTENDO IS FINALLY FEELING THE CASUALFAG BACKLASH
FUCKING FINALLY