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Nintendo hopes hopes to divert consumer attention to DS instead of Wii

The case of the Nintendo Wii is a wet dream for any business. As the darling of the electronic entertainment industry for the second holiday season in a row, Nintendo is still selling out of every single Wii it makes.

The consumer public’s appetite for the Wii is so insatiable that Nintendo has pulled its usual advertising in the UK for its console in hopes to not “fuel demand” any further.

“We have been running the campaign all year round, but we want to take a responsible stance this Christmas and not fuel demand,” said a Nintendo UK spokesperson in a MarketingWeek story.

Instead, Nintendo will be using its ad space to promote the DS handheld instead of the Wii console.

The move by Nintendo UK runs contrary to the company’s North American branch, where it plans on pulling no punches when it comes to capturing the attention of consumers this holiday season.

“We're still expecting some shortages in December. But we're not going to be pilling back on our marketing,” explained George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s marketing chief. “So even though we'll be selling everything we can get, we'll continue full-blast with our outreach through PR, and through paid advertising and other things.”

Meanwhile, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime can’t find a Wii.

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Doesn't really matter...
By Zurtex on 12/9/2007 2:26:30 PM , Rating: 2
From my experience in the U.K and from people I know, the DS is as hard to track down as the Wii is....




RE: Doesn't really matter...
By AnnihilatorX on 12/9/2007 2:29:35 PM , Rating: 2
This is very true. This is why I am buying some Nintendo DS Lites for my friends from Hong Kong.


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By EuroGamer on 12/9/2007 3:14:27 PM , Rating: 3
Come to Switzerland... Wiis and PS3s and DSs and PSPs for all!!! :D


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By KeypoX on 12/9/07, Rating: -1
RE: Doesn't really matter...
By KeypoX on 12/9/07, Rating: -1
RE: Doesn't really matter...
By GoodRevrnd on 12/9/2007 4:03:25 PM , Rating: 5
Probably because they didn't buy Mario Galaxies.


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By spwrozek on 12/9/2007 7:58:16 PM , Rating: 3
Or Game Party...20 bucks and it kicks ass.

I mean seriously it has beer pong...I mean ping cup...


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By bangmal on 12/10/07, Rating: -1
RE: Doesn't really matter...
By rdeegvainl on 12/10/2007 4:02:26 AM , Rating: 2
seriously though, I work all day and have plans all weekend, I really just want my game system so i can be Link or Mario and save me some princesses!!!


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By StevoLincolnite on 12/9/2007 4:52:52 PM , Rating: 2
Same Story in South Australia as well, But Consoles aren't as "Big" here as it is overseas like the United States, and because of it I have never seen any shops here not have a Wii Console, or a DS since launch.
I have a Wii, But unfortunately my Nintendo DS got stolen last year with 15 games. (Royally peeved about that... I enjoy Metroid)


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By jajig on 12/10/2007 2:03:42 AM , Rating: 2
That might be true in SA, but in Victoria Wii's are hard to find and you got to shop around for a black DS.


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By StevoLincolnite on 12/10/2007 12:47:41 PM , Rating: 2
Well... If you have family over in SA< get them to pick one up and send it to ya ;)
Its a shame though, I wonder if Nintendo will hire extra help to manufacture extra Wii's?


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By Lazarus Dark on 12/9/2007 8:29:31 PM , Rating: 2
This move sounds to me like the UK is getting shafted. Like maybe they are pulling units from the UK's allotment to put them in North America for Christmas.


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By Samus on 12/9/2007 8:45:17 PM , Rating: 2
I doubt it. UK units are manufactured completely differently. Different region codes, firmware, power supply & cable, AV hookup's (SCART)

They can't exactly divert the packaged products anywhere else.


RE: Doesn't really matter...
By retepallen on 12/10/2007 7:48:14 AM , Rating: 2
Also the profit margin on the Wii's in the UK is larger than anywhere else in the world. (Highest retail price when you take into account exchange rates)
You'd think they'd be shipping them into the UK to make more money.


Chick in Pic?
By TemjinGold on 12/9/2007 3:22:58 PM , Rating: 1
Who's the hot chick licking the controller?




RE: Chick in Pic?
By gersson on 12/9/2007 4:09:42 PM , Rating: 2
Assuming that the wiimote is actual size...
that girls may just BE a girl O_o


RE: Chick in Pic?
By drunkenmastermind on 12/9/2007 6:22:30 PM , Rating: 3
I wonder if Nintendo will expand into adult games? With a little protection (for the remote) you could do wonderful "interactive" things ;)


RE: Chick in Pic?
By Lazarus Dark on 12/9/2007 8:24:34 PM , Rating: 2
EW.


RE: Chick in Pic?
By AlexandertheBlue on 12/10/2007 2:01:20 AM , Rating: 3
Living up to your screen name I see


RE: Chick in Pic?
By gamer123 on 12/9/2007 4:35:11 PM , Rating: 3
She is Jessica Chobit. She got famous for a pic of her licking a PSP. This pic was photoshoped to fit a wiimote in place of a PSP.


RE: Chick in Pic?
By Etern205 on 12/9/2007 5:28:24 PM , Rating: 2
It's Chobot, not Chobit!

Chobit actually Chobits is the manga/anime created by CLAMP
set in the future where humans interact more with androids than to humans, however the main plot isn't about this.


RE: Chick in Pic?
By gamer123 on 12/9/2007 6:14:31 PM , Rating: 2
My mistake. Must of been a subconscious error o well. I meant Chobot.


RE: Chick in Pic?
By FITCamaro on 12/9/2007 4:57:05 PM , Rating: 4
Need a name for ol' righty eh?


RE: Chick in Pic?
By Gul Westfale on 12/9/2007 11:54:59 PM , Rating: 3
beat me to it :)

no pun intended...


Isn't it a little strange....
By Noya on 12/9/2007 6:14:39 PM , Rating: 1
...that they're having supposed shortages this season when the Wii has no exotic, low yield component like the PS3's BD drive? I mean come'on, the Wii doesn't even have a multi-core processor...




RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By mmntech on 12/9/2007 7:27:54 PM , Rating: 3
Has nothing to do with parts, but rather how quickly Nintendo can manufacture units. The plants that produce them can only churn out so many per day and currently, demand is exceeding manufacturing capacity.

I don't think any game console has ever consistently sold out over a year after its release. I've never heard of any company pulling ads because they were selling TOO MANY. Checking on eBay, the average going price for them is $350, not including shipping. I don't think we can call Wii a fad anymore.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By The0ne on 12/9/2007 7:37:02 PM , Rating: 2
You mean you're shock that Nintendo is still doing so well despite you disagreeing with them to not include those fancy devices? It's a little late to be complaining that Wii doesn't have this or that isn't it? Or did you mean something like having a BD and HD drive and a few months or years down the road and one or either will be obsolete and you have to buy something compatible again?

In any case, Wii is how it was when the press was released on it. And as the numbers prove it doesn't take a BD to sell the units. I'm not quite sure what you are saying or why you are so pissed? Maybe, just maybe Wii and DS is doing good because there are "FUN" games on it? Just a guess really.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By BansheeX on 12/10/07, Rating: 0
By AlexandertheBlue on 12/10/2007 2:05:53 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Or did you want to buy a new system every four years like MS and Sega wanted you to do?


If the price is right I see no problem with frequent replacement. Although, speaking for myself, that would be on the 50-100 range.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By robinthakur on 12/10/2007 9:11:11 AM , Rating: 2
You make it sound almost like the PS3 is cutting edge, when actually, the Blu-ray is the only reasonably cutting edge item in it. The RSX is years out of date (a single Nvidia 7800GTX which I sold getting on for 2 years ago on my pc, and which seemed underwhelming when it was even announced) and a processor array which really annoys developers and is not well suited to a console so graphically underpowered. Oh and huge initial cost to the consumer with few decent games. I do not speak as a critic solely, I also own one, but until recently, the only games I've bought are Ratchet and Clank and Drake's Fortune. The former was fun for a day or 2 before SMG arrived, but it seriously cannot hold a candle to the mind-blowingly fab Super Mario Galaxy whether its HD or not. The latter is tomb raider 2.0, Looks pretty, relatively fun, not much innovation which affects the gameplay.

By comparison, Super Mario Galaxy is brain-warpingly innovative and charming (All that walking round planets and gravity effects really does make my head hurt) and the most fun I've had since Super Mario 64 and the last Zelda I played.

All I hear from naysayers is that either "Wii is a fad" or the slightly more desperate "You're ruining gaming" and both statements are incorrect. Like it or not, the Wii is a video games console, Nintendo's entry this generation. They took a big risk, did something ambitious and they won in spades. I think the entire industry should congratulate Nintendo, not cry foul. Nintendo correctly gauged that people of your ilk who are seemingly hung up with playing photo realistic games do not form any meaningful majority, yet they have previously determined the direction which the industry is moving. This almost complete reuse of the previous generation of technology is Nintendo putting its foot down about MS and Sony kicking off the next generation much too fast when there was plenty of life left in the previous one. They are proving their point very well I think and there will doubtless be lessons learned in the industry formed from the type of games people play and what they are willing to pay for. They also rightly assume that not everybody in the world has a 1080p capable display device. The invention of SMG with regards to gameplay is not something i've seen on either of the technically superior consoles which have been long on promise but short on delivery. While you are right to go on about the need for progress, there has honestly been very little invention worth a damn in the last 5-10 years in video games. The only thing adding anything close to "new capabilities for gaming" is the Wii, the others so far only offer better graphics, more pointless storage, more processors and more cost over the last generation which really aren't that necessary just to have fun. Also graphics processors get old after a year, so the logic of keeping the same one for 7 years is a bit faulty to me...The biggest problem is that the potential is never fully used. Nintendo's Wii is being picked up by non-gamers because it has a huge buzz and it sells itself, and it is a new paradigm in gaming. Once everybody is comfortable with the control scheme, and it is accepted as the way things should be done, I'm confident you will start to see more quality in the games to approach the first party efforts.

The fact that you compare them to Apple, another very successful comany which understands the power of marketing is a very great compliment. Anyone who remembers Nintendo's past feeble marketing efforts for the N64 and Gamecube will know of what I speak. In the UK at the moment, you can't move for Wii and DS advertising still, yet I haven't seen a Wii in a shop since late Summer. By comparison, Sony's perculiar ads full of Men wearing far too much make-up and colour changing poodles are more likely to frighten kids than sell to them :)

R
T


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By BansheeX on 12/10/2007 10:51:19 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
You make it sound almost like the PS3 is cutting edge, when actually, the Blu-ray is the only reasonably cutting edge item in it. The RSX is years out of date


The PS3 was as cutting edge as it could be when it was released. You can't design a console with the latest hardware on LAUNCH day because the launch titles which need to be released for it need development time and finalized hardware at least a year in advance. You're also directly comparing a console's hardware directly to a PCs in terms of game potential, which is a mistake. Despite superior PC hardware existing for some time, it's still more expensive for the same performance, and it takes much longer for new games to be designed on the "latest" hardware. PC hardware is constantly facing a circular obstacle with regards to development. Even though DX10 hardware exists today, few games have been released using it or optimized for it in the past year because the majority of the userbase hasn't upgraded to Vista and high-end graphics cards, and people won't upgrade until there are games which give them to incentive to. So even though games like Crysis exist, most developers are concerned about sales and are compromising their software potential in order to reach the largest userbase/achieve the most profit. And even Crysis couldn't release at DX10 only. There is no problem like this on consoles.

quote:
Super Mario Galaxy is brain-warpingly innovative and charming


Remember, I lauded Nintendo as a game developer in my post. I'm talking about hardware, and the affect their strategy could have on real gamers.

quote:
they won in spades.


This is how sheeple think and make buying decisions. If something is selling more, it has "won." According to that logic, Britney Spears has won over a lot of more deserving bands. You need to consider WHO is buying it. If half of the Wii's sales are to non-gamers, I fail to see how it has won anything or how real gamers are benefitting. We are severely outnumbered by this market which has just now gotten tapped into, and it could cause a lot of developers to divert resources towards it.

quote:
The fact that you compare them to Apple, another very successful comany which understands the power of marketing is a very great compliment.


Hardly.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By inperfectdarkness on 12/10/2007 9:31:16 AM , Rating: 2
you can always count on dailytech's #1 ps3 fanboi (bansheex) to chime in on any thread that has kudos for nintendo.

to piggyback on what robin is saying...the SNES was a seriously underestimated platform. then along comes donkey kong country, and killer instinct. suddenly, graphics that were never imagined possible for the system were there in quality games.

i've yet to see this type of "stretching the hardware" for any of the last two iterations of gaming consoles. bottom line:

putting out more powerful hardware is the easy way out. squeezing more out of what you have will AUTOMATICALLY translate into higher capabilities for the next hardware upgrade.

if anything, we should be thanking nintendo for opening up a market of millions of NEW potential customers. that translates into more games and more diversity being available in the future--since there will be a larger playerbase to support it.

not fanning the "hype flames" is a welcome change from the marketing machine that is microsoft (not to mention sony). i've seen more ps3 ads than lawyer ads in the last month. and that's saying something.

i wouldn't worry about your "friends" ditching their wii's. it's a non-traditional gaming platform. hardcore fps phreaks and pc powerhouse wannabees are what the 360 and ps3 are geared towards. i'd say it's a pretty fair bet that even if nintendo lost 1 owner every day, there'd be 3 more to replace them.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By BansheeX on 12/10/2007 11:21:24 AM , Rating: 2
It's funny that you go back all the way to the SNES, which, although being undercut in CPU speed and resolution compared to the Genesis (it was released a year later and still had a far slower CPU), it was superior in just about everything else: color palette, effects, and sound quality. The biggest disparity, of course, was the sound quality. The SPC700, designed by Sony and sold to Nintendo, rivals modern wavetable synths. It certainly kicked the sh*t out of the Genesis and the chaotic PC MIDI spec. Anyone who owned an SNES and played games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI know and appreciate this. If Nintendo hadn't dealt with Sony, they would have assuredly used something much cheaper and crappier, and these games just wouldn't have been as awesome as they thankfully ended up being.


RE: Isn't it a little strange....
By The0ne on 12/10/2007 7:52:47 PM , Rating: 2
Which, with your bulleted points, means that Wii even underpowered compare to PS3 and 360 still has potential such as with the SNES AND despite not having Sony making some of the parts. Sony isn't the almighty company that you seem to have made them to be. There could be a whole new thread of flames just for Sony alone. Forcing products down consumers throat isn't a good thing.

And while SNES had good games so did the Genesis with it's 2D capabilities. The hardware will get utilize by good developers. This will and is already happening on all 3 systems. You can either accept it or be a fanboy til your life's end. I say be a gamer and enjoy all the unique, creative and FUN games. When it comes down to it, the only person missing out on something extraordinary is you...the player.


The novelty does wear off....
By jabber on 12/10/2007 5:33:20 AM , Rating: 1
....most of my friends that had a Wii no longer have them.

They all said that they havent used them for several weeks/months and saw what folks were prepepared to pay for them and have sold them on (with just the two games that everyone gets) for around £250+. Some have then used that to buy a 360 or a PS3.

Thats worrying that actual customer loyalty is so low.

The DS is reasoanbly abundant though I reckon they could dry up as they are bought as a stopgap till after Xmas.




RE: The novelty does wear off....
By The0ne on 12/10/2007 7:45:23 PM , Rating: 2
That's hardly enough numbers to consider a sample. Granted some people want more out of the systems and with Nintendo not releasing many games for Wii I can see why. But that's not much different from PS3 or 360 is there. So your friends ditch Wii because they can't stand to wait for games, rightly so. They then buy a ps3 or 360 for much more money and will most likely get bore as they did with the Wii. The reason I say this is because most of these types of people will tend to jump around because they get "bore" easily. To say it nicely, they want to try out different systems and games.

Why would I say this? If they are dedicated gamers, keeping the Wii would have been a good thing. Future games, especially exclusive games, coming for Wii will be awesome to play on with the new controls scheme. Why would a dedicated gamer ditch this to go for that and back? I understand it can be a pain financially but that doesn't justify criticizing the Wii as having low support.

I'm a gamer. I can't and don't want all the systems but if I really want to enjoy all systems and their games then I'll have to save up and buy each system. I might have favorites but if there's a game I want to play that goes out the window. I understand all these fanboy arguments but when it comes down to it you're either a real gamer with no bias on what the game runs on or you're a wannabe. If any of you reading this don't agree then define what you think a gamer is and where you see yourself in that.

Getting bore and ditching the system because you have no patience is not a cause for worry. If anything, there should be concern about the person getting bore so quickly.


Some stuff to think on:
By xphile on 12/10/2007 1:16:06 AM , Rating: 2
Several things strike me as interesting in this one.

"We don't want to fuel demand." Gee when did you last hear that from a corporate entity? Most would just love to have a market ready and waiting to be hyped up on their product - but Nintendo UK is scared to do it.

Which leads to the second point. Nintendo UK IS scared to do it. I guess solely because of an underlying feeling of "Well we know we are going to sell out anyway so we don't want to hype it up to hell and then pi$$ people off when there is no stock anywhere - that just wouldn't be cricket". (US readers see Google on that phrase).

Which leads to the third interesting thing - no such customer forethought in the US - advertise to hell and back. Who cares how fast we sell out or who gets angry - they'll just buy something else (yeah but will it be a Nintendo product and will they come back?) Interesting game to play that one, and it is obviously a very telling dichotomy on the differences in the two market places given the product availability is essentially the same at the end of the day - we don't have enough to supply all demand.

Fourth interesting point - no matter what the strategy, as is clearly pointed out this is Nintendo's second Christmas season where the are likely to be number 1. Isn't that (excuse me if my math is wrong here) well over a year of sales (yes I know it is, I'm just emphasising the point). Wouldn't you think a company that is finger on the trigger; pulse of the marketplace straight into the jugular, like Nintendo, have been able to do at least something or even a little spot of ANYTHING to foresee demand in advance and actually produce enough units - no lets be rash and go for MORE than enough product to simply clean up EVERYWHERE on the Christmas sales? With no less than a YEAR'S warning?

I'm sure they are and will do very nicely but if I was lucky enough to have this goldmine under my ass I think it would be a whole lot more well mined than being in a position where I cant advertise my must have product because the demand is too great! That's pretty out there business acumen in any economics lesson I've ever heard of.




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