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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Satoru Iwata Cites Poor Basic Wii U Sales To Rule Out Price Cut Benefits

 

So...

Iwata, y u so smart!? 23 14.11%
 
Iwata, y u so stupid!? 30 18.40%
 
IsawYoshi for President! 16 9.82%
 
No, seriously, he's right 42 25.77%
 
No, seriously, he's wrong 52 31.90%
 
Total:163

After a tough 2013 to date, Nintendo has been very clear in stating that its upcoming line-up of exclusive content will drive a revival for the Wii U. Prospects of an official price cut have been repeatedly ruled out, with recent confirmation that the Wii U is still sold at a loss further dampening the prospect of a drop this year.

While the logistics of selling the Wii U for less appear challenging enough, recent comments from Satoru Iwata to CVG contributor Steve Boxer suggest that the company's management simply don't believe price is the issue, referencing the fact that the 8GB Basic model has been comfortably outsold by the pricier 32GB option.

If the price is actually an issue [with Wii U], then there is some contradiction between the current sales balance between the Basic and Premium versions of the Wii U.

The basic version should have sold a lot, but the fact of the matter is that people are buying more of the premium version. So the issue is not there.

I understand that the real issue is the lack of software, and the only solution is to provide the mass-market with a number of quality software titles.

The importance of more titles is self-evident, though the issue of the Basic model's sales can perhaps be debated. Considering the Wii U's low sales to date — and the rapid drop in momentum — it seems reasonable to assume that many Wii U owners can perhaps be considered among the most eager Nintendo fans (though some enthusiastic Nintendo gamers won't have taken the plunge yet, of course), and that demographic may feel that with the borderline irrelevant on-board storage, lack of pack-in game and absence of the Nintendo Network promotion may make the pricier system better value. Even at its lower retail price, the white Wii U system is still more expensive than other systems such as the Xbox 360 and PS3, making its lack of pack-in content a tough-sell to any consumer.

Whether you agree with that perspective or the assertion that the white system's poor sales show pricing isn't the main issue, there's little doubt that Nintendo's home console will have a much stronger chance in the market once major releases arrive. Remember, the games are coming.

 

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/08/satoru_iwata_cites_poor_basic_wii_u_sales_to_rule_out_price_cut_benefits



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He's probably right, but Basic models always have the stigma of being a "basic" model. No one wants an inferior product. A Deluxe model for $299 may actually sell much better than a Basic at the same price. But I agree that games are needed more than a price drop, especially with other next gen systems being $100-200 more expensive already.



Considering that no one is buying the system despite the Basic model being beyond super-cheap I'd say he's right.
Wii U's (potential) saviour will be software, not price cuts.



Iwata seems a decent enough guy but this is getting ridiculous.

It's the same old excuse from him over and over again since 2002 Do some research and you will see my point.

1) Slow Gamecube sales a few years back. The excuse: "Lack of software".
2) The Lackluster start to the DS: The excuse: "We should have considered more software with the launch".
3) The wii midlife crisis: The excuse: "Software".
4) 3DS slow start: The excuse: "Not enough software to sell system".
5) The Wii U....you get the point.

I like Nintendo but the gods must surely be getting angry.



It is obvious that they are going to cut the price, they are just waiting until the holidays to do so.



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the cut will price when game is there!



    R.I.P Mr Iwata :'(

That's kind of like being in a boat with five large holes in the bottom, pointing at one and saying, "THAT hole isn't the problem, it's the one beside it."



price cut confirmed for holiday 2013...

:) wanna bet?



 

I agree. People will jump on board if it's got the games to justify the price. But a few more will jump on with a price cut.

It still is a short-term solution though, a price cut. Whereas SW is long term.

Nintendo have money, so why not invest it in studios? It'd help avoid these droughts, for sure...



 

Here lies the dearly departed Nintendomination Thread.

RolStoppable said:
Upcoming price cuts are vehemently denied until the day they are officially announced, so let's hope that this is at work here and not a sincere belief. Still though, even if Iwata actually believes that, the failure to build momentum with the June to September releases should change his mind.


Nope ;)

Holding off the price drop till mario kart. As Kyle Bosman said, Nintendo is like a big dopey elephant that does what it does no matter how much you plead.