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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Nintendo: We have failed to establish Wii U as a “worthy” Wii successor

Somini on 01 November 2013

Nintendo: We have so far failed to make propositions worthy of Wii U’s position as a successor to the Wii system

President Satoru Iwata said that the Wii U struggled by selling 3.91 million units, that’s below Nintendo’s expectations from global market since the launch. This all shows the Nintendo’s inability to release games and services that prove the Wii U’s uniqueness relative to the original Wii.

“Except for its backward compatibility with existing Wii software and accessories, we have so far failed to make propositions worthy of Wii U’s position as a successor to the Wii system,”  Satoru Iwata said during Nintendo’s second quarter financial results briefing.

He also said that Wii Sports Club for Wii U and Wii Fit U series to “defining” Wii games, are now accessible in Japan. This will help spur sales in Japan and abroad, but it will took long time, Iwata mentioned.

“I remarked a while ago that it is difficult to change our prospects with just one title. Our objective for Wii U for the upcoming year-end sales season will be to dramatically change the environment surrounding Wii U with multiple key titles that can appeal to a wide range of consumers,” he said.

The “key title” and “central pillar” for Wii U this holiday season, Iwata said, is Super Mario 3D World, which will be released on November 22. Other games that Nintendo has high hopes for are Wii Party U (ideal to play at New Year’s holiday gatherings, Iwata said) and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Donkey Kong Country will also get released by Nintendo: Tropical Freeze in December, before high-profile games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. arrive in 2014.

http://gaoom.com/2013/11/01/president-satoru-iwata-says-far-failed-make-propositions-worthy-wii-us-position-successor-wii-system/

PS: The author seems to have missed the news of The Donkey Kong Country being delayed, so discuss Iwata's words i'd say.



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KingdomHeartsFan on 01 November 2013

I wonder if they'll give up this need to revolutionalize next gen and just make a regular console because they are tramatized by the Wii U, considering it doesn't really pick up speed.  



Anfebious on 01 November 2013

Donkey Kong on december? I think this is old news xD.



"I've Underestimated the Horse Power from Mario Kart 8, I'll Never Doubt the WiiU's Engine Again"

Somini on 01 November 2013
RolStoppable said:
Very well written article. Looking forward to play the new Donkey Kong Country in December.


Any thoughts on Iwata's comment?



dahuman on 01 November 2013

No shit, do better marketing like the past instead of no marketing might help a little? Wii U has no message attached to it right now even though people like it after they put their hands on it. Nintendo would be dead wrong if they think the Wii can work like a shitty iProduct.



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Conegamer on 01 November 2013

Sounds like what we already know really. No surprises here sadly, but I feel as though Nintendo can still turn things around.



 

Here lies the dearly departed Nintendomination Thread.

eFKac on 01 November 2013

I respect honesty.



So it is happening...PS4 preorder.

Greatness Awaits!

DélioPT on 01 November 2013

Unfortunately, it`s true.

The holidays will be good to Nintendo, but they need something to really push the console into the mass market: change the look of the console, the logo, boxarts, etc.
They could really do what Sony did in 2009.



Dunban67 on 01 November 2013

Iwata/Nintendo need to invest serious resources in The Wii U starting now- They never gave it a chance because they never commited the resources to it- Now the Wii U is a he drag on their earnings and they seem even more reluctant to commit the needed funds/effort to get it going.

They have never positioned it properly in the market place, they didn t invest enough in games at launch and it looks like there are not very many games slated for 2014. The games they have announced for 2014 are big name titles but in terms of # s it is pretty low- We can t expect much help form 3rd parties next year so Nintendo is going to have to carry the Wii U until it becomes a viable console in the market place for 3d parties to jump in.

Maybe they will comit the resources, start advertising and announce more games for 2014 but so far it sound like Iwata is not going to do anything different until Mario Kart is reeased



exit52000 on 01 November 2013

The Title is incorrect and typical sensationalism. It makes it sound like Iwata is saying that the Wii U is not a worthy successor to the Wii whereas what he actually saying is they have failed to promote the Wii U as the successor to the Wii.