A combination of industry and developer observations has prompted Tech.co.uk to wonder if the Wii's overwhelming popularity is due to end sometime soon. This is based on a report from Japanese business newspaper The Nikkei, which published an article recently entitled 'Software Houses Miscalculate Audience, Demand For Wii'.
"The report goes on to discuss the likelihood that many Wiis are gathering dust in owners' cupboards, citing one software house president as saying, 'People bought it out of curiosity, and it's likely a lot of them haven't used it.' Given that September saw Wii sales fall sharply in Japan for the second consecutive month, it seems reasonable to speculate that the bubble inflated by the novelty factor is starting to deflate, but writing Nintendo off at any stage is a perilous course to steer."
Is this just worrying, or is there validity to this?
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Starting to fade? Yes. "Popularity Bubble" about to burst? No. There has been very little in terms of software to appease a massive audience since Zelda and Wii Sports came out. Thus people have become bored with it. This is a common shortcoming present in all new consoles. Look back at the first-year software line-ups for the PS2, GC, Xbox, or Xbox 360 and they all saw declines in software quantity, quality, and, concordently, sales. However, I think Wii Fit, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Mario Kart all fit the bill for mass appeal perfectly and word will once again spread like wildfire and people will once again be excited about the Wii. Or maybe not, just guessing.
i think nintendo have been unwise releasing some of their most major games so close together eg. SMG & MPC3 if they were to space the game releases out then maybe the popularity bubble would still be at large
I still think that they are just as popular. I mean why else would they need to keep increasing the amount of Wiis that are shipped out and soled?
I still think that they are just as popular. I mean why else would they need to keep increasing the amount of Wiis that are shipped out and soled?
I wonder what would happen if Nintendo was really shipping a large number of Wii's every week. Right now we don't see them in stores often because many stores get around 10 every couple of weeks (if that), but if Nintendo flooded the market, I wouldn't be surprised to see plenty of Wii's sitting on store shelves not being bought.
It's been mentioned before, but I really think Nintendo is creating an artificial popularity for the Wii by shipping on small numbers of units and waiting to release them at certain times like black friday.
I actually think u are right about that, unfortunately.
This might be a better way to look at it. If your really really thirsty and all you can get is a couple drizzles of water every couple minutes, then your going to be standing there waiting for water for a long time. If you can get a full glass of water or even two all at once then your thirst is quenched and you move on.
Nintendo is drizzling the Wii's out and eventually it's gonna catch up to them and consumers are gonna tell them to shove off.
Nintendo's already burst it's proverbial load this holiday season.
It's still as popular as ever and with 86 titles for the holiday season with several online there is a at least one game for everyone until the next big Nintendo title comes along. It's the beginning of Wii's life and already developers are revealing big plans for the system WiiWare included.
i think nintendo have been unwise releasing some of their most major games so close together eg. SMG & MPC3 if they were to space the game releases out then maybe the popularity bubble would still be at large
That may apply for you but not for us. August to November that's decent. In between there was smaller Nintendo titles BWii & DK Barrel Blast, both of which come out in the same month. But they're usually good about spacing their titles out.
This might be a better way to look at it. If your really really thirsty and all you can get is a couple drizzles of water every couple minutes, then your going to be standing there waiting for water for a long time. If you can get a full glass of water or even two all at once then your thirst is quenched and you move on.
Nintendo is drizzling the Wii's out and eventually it's gonna catch up to them and consumers are gonna tell them to shove off.
That's exactly they way I saw it.
Personally I don't think the Wii's all that great. But that's me.
Nintendo is obviously doing a great job at selling their console, they chose the casual approah, and are treating their target market well, those not in the target, like me, may be disappointed however.
its only starting it's arc once the good games are out their were gonna rack em' in
its only starting it's arc once the good games are out their were gonna rack em' in
That was a clearly impartial response
My opinion on all this? The Wii's Popularity Bubble will not burst. As a matter of fact, it's going to get worse once some of the bigger name titles come out. Many developers are planning great games for Holiday 2007 and 2008. Ask this question around this time next year and it'd be easier to answer.
if nintendo dont ship out more console this christmas then people might think that the same will happen on christmas 08 and shy away from buying or trying to buy a wii
Nintendo is drizzling the Wii's out and eventually it's gonna catch up to them and consumers are gonna tell them to shove off.
Much like how gamers told Sony to shove off with their force feeding.
Anyway. Yes I agree, although they aren't creating artificial popularity. The console is popular, to deny that is stupidity. I just think they are milking it for all its worth by only shipping out small numbers to retailers to keep fueling the hype train.
stupid casual games that's what's bringing them all in i know it's been said before and I'm saying again they're making profit think it was like 46 $ a Wii so they should sneak in more hard core games even if there profits go down a small amount about the whole Christmas thing their will be a lot of sales but i think it will be dramatically decreased.....practical enough for ya ?
there will be more hyper when SMG comes out. also when SSBB and MK come out.
the wii's popularity bubble wont 'burst' anytime soon
I think Nintendo can ride this wave until at least this summer. It all depends on what 3rd party developers are workin on, IMO. After SMG, SMK and SSBB are released, they'll hafta rely heavily on them. Unless they've got somethin else up their sleeves. I hope they do.
Well, Nintendo still have to explore their other franchises: Starfox, F-Zero, the Mario Sports line, and maybe even a not crap Pokemon game.
yea there's still many more franchises to expand with on the wii.