DailyTech - Nintendo Promises Four Million Wiis

Submit News

Gadgets Nintendo Promises Four Million Wiis
Marcus Yam (Blog) - November 2, 2006 2:10 PM

47 comment(s) - last by smaddox.. on Nov 4 at 3:26 PM

The Big N plans to actually supply the demand

With all the warnings of shortages for Sony's new console, Nintendo is sits on the other side by announcing that it will have approximately four million Wii systems available globally during the six weeks between Wii's November 19 launch in the Americas and the end of 2006.

Even with the impressive lot of consoles, Nintendo is expecting sell-outs and plans to maximize all its resources to rapidly replenish retailers' shelves as often as possible.

"Wii is for both experienced and uninitiated gamers, and it will be available for the masses," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Because of demand, we're urging shoppers not to get complacent. The level of demand we're seeing goes beyond the ordinary. Retailers are telling us a significant fraction of customers pre-ordering Wii are nontraditional gamers -- people looking for a better way to play. And that's exactly what Wii is designed to provide."

Nintendo cites several sources for its extreme optimism in Wii sales, one being a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association which estimates a 27 percent spending increase this holiday season on electronic goods.

Wii goes on sale in the Americas November 19 at an MSRP of $249.99 (CDN$279.99), and comes packed with Wii Sports. A total of 62 new and classic games will be available for Wii during the five weeks after launch. The American launch is followed by the December 2 Japanese launch and the December 8 European launch.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

RE: November 19 at an MSRP of $249.99

By aos007 on 11/2/2006 7:57:13 PM , Rating: 1

In fact it should have been $199. I was hoping for that price all along and was fairly disappointed when they announced $250. The only consolation is that I'm in Canada and the pricing here is for a change fairly reasonable (30 bucks extra).

But hey, if that's the reason that they can make money from day one, good for them. At least we get a game bundled with it, so that helps it balance out a little.

Parent

RE: November 19 at an MSRP of $249.99

By sxr7171 on 11/3/2006 12:27:02 AM , Rating: 2

I was also hoping for $199, but hey $250 isn't stopping me for a second. A free game is nice. I have to pick up at least Zelda and Red Steel on day one so - $350 for me not counting extra controllers. Still a better deal than the rest.

Parent

"If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." -- Scientology founder L. Ron. Hubbard