Getting Mad At Nintendo

[VideoGameCritic]

If stores were getting in dozens of Wiis and selling them out quickly, that would be one thing.  But the stores are hardly even getting any systems in.  Of the 12 stores or so I've checked in the Baltimore area, most haven't received ANY in over a MONTH.  And the ones that have received them talk about getting 3 or 4 every few weeks!  That's just crazy, and when you ask the store managers, they say it's all Nintendo.

When you consider Nintendo insists it's producing them "at maximum capacity", something's not adding up.  I think they're stockpiled in a warehouse somewhere, but I think the "seal" is about to be broken.

Nintendo should have learned from Sony that it's a bad idea to sqander the goodwill you've earned with gamers over the years.

[Paul Campbell]

[QUOTE=The Video Game Critic]If stores were getting in dozens of Wiis and selling them out quickly, that would be one thing.  But the stores are hardly even getting any systems in.  Of the 12 stores or so I've checked in the Baltimore area, most haven't received ANY in over a MONTH.  And the ones that have received them talk about getting 3 or 4 every few weeks! 
[/QUOTE]

Even so, that still doesn't tell me that they aren't just sending them out as fast as they can make them.  I know I am biased for Nintendo, but I still lean away from these types of theories until there is some better proof.  I would feel this way if we were talking about the PS3, and I hate all things Sony.

[HS]

[QUOTE=The Video Game Critic]I I think they're stockpiled in a warehouse somewhere, but I think the "seal" is about to be broken.[/QUOTE]

A few weeks backs, rumor was that Nintendo had met their quotas of Wiis sold for the last fiscal year (ending March 31), so as soon as April began, they would be readily available. If that didn't come true, I doubt your prediction will either. At least the fiscal-year-goals had a reasoning behind it.  If the "seal" isn't broken, will you admit to being wrong?

Besides, store employees may not know the full details (maybe an evening employee knows nothing about the shipment that morning and assumes it's been weeks, etc.). So their word isn't always golden.

[Shawn]

OK. here are the sales figures for March

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6169379.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0

I think the Wii sold like 260,000...which of course is fewer systems then the PS2 (but twice as much as the PS3) but that isn't the point...if Nintendo isn't holding back are you telling me that they could only produce 260,000 units? WOw! When Wii Play is your top performer you are in trouble...I guess people really needed that extra controller. Sorry but Wii Play is BORING!!!!!

[Funkmaster V]

Here is an article summarizing what the Freakomists are saying about the Wii shortage:

Freakonomists dissect Wii shortage

When it was first published in 2005, the book Freakanomics caused quite a stir. Among other things, authors Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner used statistics and economic theory to examine such hot-button topics as the crack epidemic, abortion, and cheating amongst professional Sumo wrestlers.

Now, Freakanomics' authors have turned their attention to something of particular interest to gamers--or their blog has, anyway. This week, guest columnist Paul Kimmelman wrote a detailed breakdown of the causes, effects, and implications of the shortage of Wii consoles, which has been going on since the system was released last year.

"Nintendo clearly made a colossal blunder in setting up their manufacturing," concludes Kimmelman. "Even if they assumed it would not do very well, their inability to ramp up production in four months is pretty unusual in this industry."

Kimmelman sees several groups benefiting from the shortage. First are other console-makers, since frustrated Wii-seekers with excess cash might be inclined to impulse-buy another machine when faced with empty shelves.

Other, equally obvious beneficiaries are Wii resellers. Kimmelman's research finds scalpers are making 150 percent and 180 percent of the console's $249 sticker price on such sites as eBay--with none of  the increased profit going to Nintendo or retailers.

However, Kimmelman does believe stores are benefiting from "increased foot traffic" by customers returning repeatedly in search of a Wii and buying other items while on the hunt. He even theorizes that Nintendo might actually be causing the shortage deliberately at the behest of retailers to artificially create return customers.

When contacted by GameSpot, Nintendo reps said they were "reading over" the article. No official response had been sent as of press time.

[Steerforth]

Well, Shawn, they are selling 75,000 a week in Japan, so that 300,000 a month. I thnk you said 161,000 for USA, plus Europe, Australia, South America, etc. And they got to put a copy of WiiSports AND a Wimote in EVERY box!

So I don't know, maybe ther are doing alright maybe not. I'm not an expert in console production,  maybe you are. Seriously, you would think the Wii would be pretty easy to make compared to the Sony supercomputer that helps cure cancer (truly!).

In fact, I don't really care if they are or are not, that is they're problem. I should have put money in Nintendo's stock a year and a half ago, but all my cash goes into my humble little business and junk software like Wii Play. I is so DUMB! 

[Evan]

I live in a town with a population of only 6000, and yet our local Wal-Mart seems to get a shipment of 15 Wii's nearly every week.  I don't imagine it's worth a trip to New Brunswick, but if the Critic is looking for a Wii, we've got plenty of them up here.

[Michael D]

[QUOTE=The Video Game Critic]
Nintendo should have learned from Sony that it's a bad idea to sqander the goodwill you've earned with gamers over the years.
[/QUOTE]

They already did that last console cycle with the triple whammy of the never used Gamecube Online Adapter, The Gamecube-to-Game Boy Advance cable, and the Gamecube, period.

Oh, and to the people remembering the shortages of the 360, at least Microsoft had things pretty much taken care of almost 6 months after launch.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=Michael D]Oh, and to the people remembering the shortages of the 360, at least Microsoft had things pretty much taken care of almost 6 months after launch.[/QUOTE]

A couple of things:

(1)  Their missing consoles were COMPLETELY missing for all intents and purposes for several months.  It wasn't just that huge sales were occuring.  They missed the boat in a way that even in a hold back, Nintendo cannot be accused of.

(2)  It hasn't been six months since the launch of the Wii.  Given that, how do you think the sales numbers compare between the two consoles in that time?  Last I saw, the Wii was stomping the 360 in that regard.

I don't mind that you like the 360 here.  I like it too, except for a few obvious complaints like the @#$% thing giving me a red light of death every now and then for seemingly no reason, and the lack of full BC.  Heck, I don't even mind that you criticize Nintendo for this silliness.  It's beginning not to matter to me that it may not even be intentional -- it's a blunder not to be putting more output at this point, and it shouldn't be taking this long to step up production.  But let's get real here:  Microsoft made some serious blunders in their launch that led to a famine of consoles until at least March of 2006 and a short trickle for a few months thereafter.  It's not wise to downplay it just because many have had a whole year to forget.  Some of us haven't forgotten.  That's part of why that kind of blunder is so dangerous.  It's the reason why Nintendo has no excuse for it, and why Microsoft didn't either.

[feilong801]

I'm starting to see more and more reports of increased Wii production. It will be a mystery to us, I think, as far as if this increased production was a simple matter of "we hired more factories, it took them until May to get things together," or if it was Reggie and Iwata-san laughing together, dollar bills clenched in their fists, their Machiavellian "hold em' back" plan complete.

Maybe a talented video game investigative journalist, someone like David Kushner (Masters of Doom, a terrific book), can get to the bottom of this someday. For now, though, we guess!

One scenario that did come to mind is that perhaps, realizing that some of the big name titles they expected to be either launch titles or sometime in Q1 (Metroid, Smash Bros., etc.) have been delayed. Realizing the potential these titles have to sell Wii's, and knowing the playing field will be more even later in the year (with the Wii's novelty factors will have worn off somewhat), maybe they held off production so more systems would be available when these important games hit.

Who knows?

-Rob