Wii - what is keeping the demand so high?

[ascender]

IMO its something different that the whole family can play. Its very inclusive and I bet word of mouth has done more for sales than anything else. The price probably helps too.

We've kind of discussed this before, but I wonder how many of the other console's features are being used in the majority of homes. I also wonder what software sales will be like over time as most owners I know are only interested in Wii Sports. I'm betting Nintendo could actually have made a cut-down Wii with Sports as some sort of pre-loaded ROM and they'd have sold just as many as the fully featured Wii.

[Number45]

kicking themselves over it's success? seriously though..wii sports had to be included..to demonstrate why it's so great.

Kicking themselves that it's the one real must have for the console and, in the west at least, they can't make any extra money from it.

[Mr_Pie]

There is still no sign of the Wii in Singapore!!

[Richard.John]

I admit that my Wii is sitting there, unused these days. I enjoyed it at the beginning but maybe the novelty has worn off or it's just that I am getting old and really no longer have time for games.

That said, I am lusting after Halo 3, PGR4 and an 'Elite' to play them on. A shiny,new HDTV would be nice as well.

[usman]

I'm not a fan of Nintendo's and am not particularly taken by the Wii. The hideously overpriced and thus fat underdelivering PS3 is currently my choice of this gen.

But I know this - after two generations, this is Nintendo's renaissance of its once-vaunted position in the industry, though this time, it was actually done through their own hard thinking and innovation.

Well done.

[simon33033]

I have had the same experience as others. I waited in-line outside Nintendo World in New York to get my Wii in January. I've played it, but not really hammered it.

I had the in-laws over to visit for Easter and both of my GF's parents (who have a knee and a hip replacement between them) absolutely loved playing Bowling and Tennis. My GF's sister and her boyfriend have gone away with the idea that they want to get one too. It's amazing watching how competitive folk can get over ten-pin bowling in my lounge !!!

It's accessability to non-traditional gaming people is a killer app. Like the DS wowed people with brain training, the Wii wows with easy, fun gaming.

Who wouldn't want to have a go on a Wii if they saw someone playing on it ?

[Kieran76]

It really is the cross over machine. I got a text from my step mum yesterday saying that she had bought one. They first had a go on mine the day I got it and after I brought it up at Christmas she insisted she would get one. She is only interested in Wario Ware and Sports but I reckon I could try to get her interested in some other genres.

[Lyris]

I'm still astonished at the appeal it has. Was shocked when my uncle said he was getting one!

[Juha]

There are more Wii's for sale here where I live than PS2's - and the PS3 is sold out on most retailers.

This is due to two simple facts: 1) Nintendo is considered a toy for kids and thus most teens and young adults used to videogaming will rather spend 600 euros on a cutting-edge machine and, more importantly, 2) There is no Nintendo marketing here. None. Zip. Nada. Rien. Nichts. Which means, noone is aware of Wii, at all.


Which means, all added up, gamers know about the Wii, just don't care about it. Casual gamers, who are what Nintendo is going after, don't know about the system, so it is now stock piled everywhere waiting patiently for *any* purchase.


I bought one on release, being a console addict, but I'm a bit sorry now, I still can only really have interest in Wii Sports - all other 5 games I bought have been played for about 2 days then left alone forever.


So in short I believe whats keeping demand so high is Nintendo's refusal to provide shops with enough machines - and don't give me We-Can't-Make-Them-Fast-Enough crap, the technology behind it is 6 years old and Nintendo know damn well how to make millions of consoles if they were so inclined.

This is a marketing department decision, much like the one-year-delay-so-we-can-have-a-launch-seller of Zelda Wii, one of the most overrated games released in 2006.



J.

[Lyris]

I didn't think Zelda was overrated at all but yes I agree, Nintendo are well known for being conservative with their manufacturing, a tactic they used in the USA in the 80s after the "video game crash" to ensure they weren't left with mountains of unwanted stock. It looks like they've realised that it has other benefits as well.

Juha, where do you live?

[Ginger Tosser]

There are more Wii's for sale here where I live than PS2's - and the PS3 is sold out on most retailers.

And which country is 'here'?

Its the exact reverse in the UK. No Wii, plenty of PS3 though

[elkatas]

So in short I believe whats keeping demand so high is Nintendo's refusal to provide shops with enough machines - and don't give me We-Can't-Make-Them-Fast-Enough crap.

First of all, starting production of new chip is never easy, even though it would be based on old technology. Anyone who has studied at least most basic business / logistics courses knows this. Secondly, Nintendo has produced / delivered 6.5 million Wiis to market in four and half months. It is very good pace, and means over 24 million* Wii's in a year. This is comparable to Sony's PS2 production during its highest peak.

Furthermore, have you ever even thought that there could be supply problems with something else than processors / GPUs? For example, I have heard many rumours that the gyroscope / accelator manufactures have problems to catch up with quickly growing demand.

* And if Wii is out for six years, it means 144 million units.

[Pavey]

Juha lives in Portugal.

[elkatas]

Juha lives in Portugal.

Ah, the portugal. I have heard lots of horror stories about local Nintendo distributor... what was its name again?

[Ginger Tosser]

Juan Kerr, or is that the spanish one