Topic: The biggest disaster in Nintendo history?

[Pittbboi]

I can kind of see cbeer's point. Compared to what we were promised, the Wii's launch was borderline a joke. Only about half the promised amount of Wiis, dog poo for an online infrastructure, no component cables, shortage of extra wiimotes and nunchucks, and shortage of titles in some places. Honestly, the only reason the Wii's launch looked so good was because Xbox360 and PS3 launches were just so much worse. And while that's better than nothing, all this "better by comparison" crap needs to stop. Nintendo needs to make the Wii a worthwhile product on its on merit, and not just because it's doing slightly better than its competition.

[nitsu niflheim]

It's just that Nintendo didn't forsee just how popular and must-have-wanted the Wii was going to be right out the gate.  They knew people wanted it, but just not so many all at once.

[Kairon]

You know what other product launch was the biggest disaster in an acclaimed company's history?

... World of WarCraft. From Blizzard.

Absolute debacle of a launch that people are still talking about today. Even my club's game developer guest speaker had some stuff to say about it.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Pittbboi
I can kind of see cbeer's point. Compared to what we were promised, the Wii's launch was borderline a joke. Only about half the promised amount of Wiis, dog poo for an online infrastructure, no component cables, shortage of extra wiimotes and nunchucks, and shortage of titles in some places. Honestly, the only reason the Wii's launch looked so good was because Xbox360 and PS3 launches were just so much worse. And while that's better than nothing, all this "better by comparison" crap needs to stop. Nintendo needs to make the Wii a worthwhile product on its on merit, and not just because it's doing slightly better than its competition.

Still one of the largest system launches in history, not to mention the Wii had around 3 games purchased with every system. That is not a failure, not even a borderline joke, it is a big success for Nintendo because it is the games that create a systems success not the other way around. By the end of this year there should be around 1 million consoles in people's hands in NA alone, and that is nothing to sneeze at. The Wii is already worthwhile on its own merits, just look at ebay and the amount of Wiis that have been on sale compared to PS3s, a much bigger percentage bought PS3s to sell while many bought the Wii to keep. Heck look at the prices, at the moment Wiis are selling for more profit than the PS3.

[Mario]

I actually think the DS is to blame, not that it's a bad thing they had to make heaps more DS's, it's the new GBA. It worked out well though. The fact that Wii is the first system ever to have a WORLDWIDE LAUNCH, and it became the fastest selling system in history in the two new terrorities that are used to being shafted more than makes it worth not giving the US a billion units. Plus I think Japan will be seeing a fair amount of the worldwide Wiis coming in weekly shipments since that is really the key area third parties will be looking at.

[couchmonkey]

The point that Nintendo is failing to live up to its promises is well-taken - Nintendo would have about 1/4 of the marketshare right now if it had lived up to that, instead it has something like 15%.

However, the claim that this is some huge disaster or outrage is not well-taken.  It's not good, but the overall launch is still more successful than 360 or PS3 (or GameCube or Xbox) in their respective launch periods.  

[D_MaN87]

Well Nintendo might not make projections, but damn they had a worldwide launch to contend with.  December still isnt finished yet as well.  Fact is, although Nintendo might be below targets, they had a hellava launch.  I walked by EB the other day and saw people in line waiting for the possibility of a wii shipment.  Isn't the launch of a product supposed to gather peoples interest? If waiting for the POSSIBILITY of a shipment isn't interest in a new system then i dont know what is.

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: D_MaN87
Well Nintendo might not make projections, but damn they had a worldwide launch to contend with.  December still isnt finished yet as well.  Fact is, although Nintendo might be below targets, they had a hellava launch.  I walked by EB the other day and saw people in line waiting for the possibility of a wii shipment.  Isn't the launch of a product supposed to gather peoples interest? If waiting for the POSSIBILITY of a shipment isn't interest in a new system then i dont know what is.

That's for sure, and I can't help but recall the PS2 launch when I hear stories like this.  The hype for Wii seems pretty massive, and amazingly it seems to be growing instead of shrinking.

[UERD]

I for one could do without the hype. I'd like to get my hands on a system before next summer .

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

The fact that Australia received a formal Wii launch within one month of the first launch (North Amerika's) defeats this entire thread.

INTO A BLOODY PULP OF GROUND BEEF

First true worldwide system launch that mattered, evar.

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666
The fact that Australia received a formal Wii launch within one month of the first launch (North Amerika's) defeats this entire thread.

INTO A BLOODY PULP OF GROUND BEEF

First true worldwide system launch that mattered, evar.

QFT, Pro wins the thread.  Everybody go home.

[Smash_Brother]

For the record, TP is the first Zelda game received by the US first (at least as far as I know).

Typically, localization has always ensured that it goes the other way.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Which coincides with NOA's expansion of their localization team (Bill Trinen & Co).

This can only mean good things, as games that debut in Japan can be brought over elsewhere sooner.