Topic: Nintendo Expects Wii U to Sell 8.5 Million Units in Six Months

[smallsharkbigbite]

Yes, as I have an affinity for Nintendo despite nearly all my college friends having a PS2. You have to realize that you are in the minority though and most people from that era will want to introduce their kids to Sony franchises. That's why I think it took so long for Nintendo's policies to negatively affect them. They had the benefit of going through a generation of parents who were nostalgic to their games and wanted to introduce their kids to it. Now that benefit lies with Sony.

[Ceric]

Or they could just opt for a ps4 or xbox 1.

I think 10 years ago the expectation was that 30-40 year olds don't game and the video game console was for the kids. Now I think most 30-40 year olds play video games.  If you want a ps4/xboxone it's an easy justification to pick that up for your gaming and then pick up some family specific games for the kids rather than spend another 300 for the Wii U. Yeah it's not as fun as Mario but there are buches of kinect games or Sly collection or whatever. Nintendo doesn't own family gaming. Plus most 30-40 year olds grew up in the ps1 era as children and want nastolgically to give those games to their children.

Most 30-40 Years old grew up with NES and SNES.  Your thinking 20-30 year olds but that is somewhat of a stretch too.  Ironically enough 30-40 are the ones that keep gaming.

[smallsharkbigbite]

Not sure what your last sentence means. Nostolgia isn't what you experienced first but what you have the fondest memories of. I'm in my mid 30s and most of my friends that are interested video games have a strong ps or xbox brand bias. Not scientific for sure, but the ps1 released in 94. A 40 year old would have been 21 possibly in college. That may be stretching it slightly but certainly my d 30s eould have had some prime gaming in the sony domain. Either way based on Wii U sales, I think we can safely assume nostolgia is not helping Nintendo at this point.

[Hibern81]

I'm a 32 year old father of 3 who grew up with Nintendo. It's pretty much the only video game company I invest in, having a total 3 3ds' and a Wii U.  90% of the games we buy are Nintendo first party games.  To those saying the Wii U is going to struggle because of the launches of the PS4 and Xbox1 are mistaken IMHO.  There is going to be residual effect that will actually trickle down to the Wii U, and help it a lot more than hurt it. Even if Nintendo doesn't market this holiday (which would be the biggest mistake they could make at this point) the launches of the other 2 consoles will still bring attention to the video game market, which in turn will bring attention to Nintendo and Wii u as well.  Do you think that when these kids start to clamor for a $500-$600 console (which is what it actually comes out to after the purchase of a game) that the Wii U's $299 price point is going to look more and more attractive to the average parents?  I know it would to me whether I was video game literate or not.  Do I think they are going to reach their fiscal year goal? Realistically, no. Not unless they can release Mario Kart 8 no later than the end of February.  I guess time will tell...

[smallsharkbigbite]

Yes, there are still some Nintendo faithful out there.  I consider myself one.  Although I'm no longer Nintendo exclusive, I still grab Nintendo products first.  You just have to realize that you are in the minority or the Wii U would be doing better.  Most experts have the PS4/Xbox One moving 2.5-3 M boxes this holiday.  That's basically going to wipe out the Wii U lead and put the systems neck and neck after just a couple of months. 


There is some truth that the market is ready to move on from Wii/PS3/Xbox360.  As such, most consumers will wait until all options are released before they jump into a new console.  But the Wii U is no longer an unknown.  It's known that most big games will not only be optimized for PS4/Xbox One but will skip Wii U entirely.  It's known that the Wii U is not a hot commodity while the other two will be at least this holiday season.  Consumers love hot products it's in their DNA.  I just don't see the bump being very significant for the Wii U.  It has games now, has better bundles, and is still selling poorly.  It needed to move 300,000-400,000 a month during the game slow first year.  Not, 460,000 over like 9 months.  That's abysmal and difficult to recover from. 


While I've argued that $ is important in the handheld arena (you have 3 3DS and most families have multiples) I don't think it's that important in the console arena.  I know families with multiple Ipads for their kids and they think it is the best thing ever.  Most 11 year olds have smart phones of their own.  Ipad can charge more than Androiod tablets because it's perceived that it's a better product with better apps.  Sony/Microsoft will have this advantage over their Nintendo this round. 


I know you seem to be a reasonable parent with reasonable limits for your children.  But don't expect most parents to be this way.  Tommy's going to come home and say "Mommy I played the PS4, it is the greatest thing ever!!!!  I love it, I want one, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please!"  And most parents will buckle.  Especially because $300 is still alot of money.  If you have trouble justifying the extra $100 between something your kid wants and something your kid doesn't want, you might as well save your money and say no to both options. 

[ymeegod]

"Wii U's $299 price point is going to look more and more attractive to the average parents?"

But the PS3/Xbox360 are still cheaper and still in demand.  I have annephew and his friends (8-9) and not one of them wants an WII U.  It's either games for current system (Minecraft very popular still) or they want an PS4/XBOX One. 

Some of them wanted an 3DS and most of them didn't even know what a Vita was (lol--I had mine to show them).