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Forums - Sales Discussion - Switch Launch Sales Numbers are Manufactured?

mountaindewslave said:

absurd logic. The only thing your theory, if accurate, would prove is that former Nintendo releases (console wise) could have been bigger than they were. It wouldn't change the amount of Switches Nintendo is selling now.

And obviously there's demand. People are paying like $400 online for the thing, if anyone is willing to pay over the MSRP store ask price then that says something.

Absurd conspiracy theories.

The reality is that forgetting casuals and other fanbases, a lot of Nintendo fans (like myself) didn't really like the Wii U and kind of skipped out last generation. I think one thing you're seeing is a lot of us being excited about the Switch and returning. I'm discussing regarding the launch and why they did sell out immediately of a decent launch number of systems. I do know that there were like 70 people at my Best Buy in line on launch night and most people appeared to be pretty pumped to get the system.

Again, the concept that there is some sort of ploy by Nintendo by providing MORE systems at launch is just stupid. They undership dramatically and you say they're trying to build hype, and then they ship more at this launch than they have previous launches and you say they're now bragging about sales numbers because of deliberately small previous ones. Its just ridiculous, whatever they do you guys say stuff.

All I know is I dig the Switch and skipped out for the Wii U (for the most part) so there's definitely a fraction of gamers who way more identify with the Switch than they did with the Wii U.

its a mega powered handheld system (for the gaming world), what's not to like 

I don't remember saying that Nintendo purposely held back previous launches.

I do think the Nintendo would have normally launched their system in November of 2016.  But, the decided to avoid the holiday crush which would have sold all of the systems anyway, and waited for march to accomplish just what they did.  They can sell 1 more unit than the Wiis launch and claim that it was the "best Launch Ever for Nintendo".  To do so, the presells and consumer demad built up even more to ensure they could sell it out on launch week.  With the internet world the way it is now, companies products HAVE to have a successful perceived launch in order to make it.

Does there have to be demand to accomplish this?  Of course, but it is obvious that the worlds population is alomst a billion more than when the Wii launched.  Like you said, Nintendo fixed many of the problems from the WiiU and launched the system with a Zelda game(also held back for the launch) to ensure that it would maximize the exposure.



It is near the end of the end....

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Landguy said:
mountaindewslave said:

absurd logic. The only thing your theory, if accurate, would prove is that former Nintendo releases (console wise) could have been bigger than they were. It wouldn't change the amount of Switches Nintendo is selling now.

And obviously there's demand. People are paying like $400 online for the thing, if anyone is willing to pay over the MSRP store ask price then that says something.

Absurd conspiracy theories.

The reality is that forgetting casuals and other fanbases, a lot of Nintendo fans (like myself) didn't really like the Wii U and kind of skipped out last generation. I think one thing you're seeing is a lot of us being excited about the Switch and returning. I'm discussing regarding the launch and why they did sell out immediately of a decent launch number of systems. I do know that there were like 70 people at my Best Buy in line on launch night and most people appeared to be pretty pumped to get the system.

Again, the concept that there is some sort of ploy by Nintendo by providing MORE systems at launch is just stupid. They undership dramatically and you say they're trying to build hype, and then they ship more at this launch than they have previous launches and you say they're now bragging about sales numbers because of deliberately small previous ones. Its just ridiculous, whatever they do you guys say stuff.

All I know is I dig the Switch and skipped out for the Wii U (for the most part) so there's definitely a fraction of gamers who way more identify with the Switch than they did with the Wii U.

its a mega powered handheld system (for the gaming world), what's not to like 

I don't remember saying that Nintendo purposely held back previous launches.

I do think the Nintendo would have normally launched their system in November of 2016.  But, the decided to avoid the holiday crush which would have sold all of the systems anyway, and waited for march to accomplish just what they did.  They can sell 1 more unit than the Wiis launch and claim that it was the "best Launch Ever for Nintendo".  To do so, the presells and consumer demad built up even more to ensure they could sell it out on launch week.  With the internet world the way it is now, companies products HAVE to have a successful perceived launch in order to make it.

Does there have to be demand to accomplish this?  Of course, but it is obvious that the worlds population is alomst a billion more than when the Wii launched.  Like you said, Nintendo fixed many of the problems from the WiiU and launched the system with a Zelda game(also held back for the launch) to ensure that it would maximize the exposure.

I think they did say actually after they got stuck with a ton of unsold GameCube inventory that they became very cautious with inventory again. 

That was one of the main reasons the Wii was supply restrained so badly early on. 

People should just let Switch be its own thing. It's not going to be a Wii, but it's not a Wii U either. 

2 million total shipment worldwide for a month was always a relatively small amount factoring in that you are launching with Zelda, that works out to about 650,000 for each major market, probably less because ancilliary markets also have to factor in (ie: US can't just have 650k, some have to go to Canada, Mexico, South America, etc.) ... we know there are at least a good 2-3 million hardcore Nintendo fans in every market minimum, so those systems were always going to go fairly quick with a launch game like Zelda. What happens after that when supply normalizes and the launch honeymoon is kinda over is anyones guess. 



mountaindewslave said:
SWORDF1SH said:
The OP is an example of a plausible opinion that wasn't explained well. I think I understand what OP is trying to say but since they aren't explaining themselves that great, it's going to get torn apart. The community here aren't forgiving enough to try and understand the OP so it's important you explain yourself properly, back it up with good reasons and debate your opinion. OP has failed on all 3 fronts.

but even in the most direct way what he's trying to say is a silly accusation based on whims. Yes, Nintendo, like any other console manufacturer, is aware of what their previous systems sold.

but simply making more systems available at launch than ever before doesn't gurantee a breaking of records. In fact the Wii U had a ton of systems available at launch (you could walk around into any store worldwide practically and there would be a pile of them), but that didn't magically make it 'break records'.

Nintendo's literal LAST home console generation stocking situation at launch sort of contradicts what the OP is saying. Because Nintendo already did this last gen, they provided a ton of Wii U's (and got burnt).

as someone else mentioned a few posts ago- you could put a million Ouya's out for sale at launch but they wouldn't have magically sold. You can't force the market to embrace your product. The OP is acting like Nintendo has some sort of gurantee that if they simple launch 2x or 3x their previous generations hardware numbers at launch that they'll sell through and then Nintendo will have some sort of artificial control over demand for systems/games.

But that's backwards thinking, the only way you can maintain demand is if people actually WANT and like the device. You can't ignore that.

 

no to mention the OP suggests that NIntendo launched in March because A) they wouldn't have enough hardware available  in time for a holiday 2016 launch, yet also B) that Nintendo artificially is doing this to 'break' records. Which totally is a contradition in logic.

If launching in March supposedly is some sort of method to 'break records', then launching in the holiday would have doubley broken records.

 

The OP's post is just a complete fallacy in logic and somewhat embarassing. Talk about clutching at straws. 

I mean, jesus, tells 'tales of record presales'? They can't accidentally lie about that information when the stock they provide is given to third party retailers and the retailers then have the information themselves.

You're welcome to hate but at least come up with some more logical accusations than this. Anyone can make up random stuff out of thin air based on nothing. "NIntendo is lying!" blah blah blah. Grow up.

I didn't know it was an accusation?  If so, I am accusing Nintendo of being smart, not crooked.  

Your assertion that sales would have doubled at christmas is completly wrong.  If you can only manufacture 1 million consoles by Dec 15, it wouldn't matter whether it was christmas or not, as they would only sell the 1 million at most.   If they could manufacture 2 million by march, now the ceiling on sales is 2 million.  Everyone knows that systems sell a ton at launch either way.  So, why bother launching in December when you wouldn't get the media hype or the quantity of units to make a bigger splash?  Right now, no hype about Xbox/PS4 black friday deals or some other holiday gadget.  Nintendo owns the video game press right now.  THey own it only because they had enough units to say that it "was the biggest Nintendo launch ever".



It is near the end of the end....

mountaindewslave said:
SWORDF1SH said:
The OP is an example of a plausible opinion that wasn't explained well. I think I understand what OP is trying to say but since they aren't explaining themselves that great, it's going to get torn apart. The community here aren't forgiving enough to try and understand the OP so it's important you explain yourself properly, back it up with good reasons and debate your opinion. OP has failed on all 3 fronts.

but even in the most direct way what he's trying to say is a silly accusation based on whims. Yes, Nintendo, like any other console manufacturer, is aware of what their previous systems sold.

but simply making more systems available at launch than ever before doesn't gurantee a breaking of records. In fact the Wii U had a ton of systems available at launch (you could walk around into any store worldwide practically and there would be a pile of them), but that didn't magically make it 'break records'.

Nintendo's literal LAST home console generation stocking situation at launch sort of contradicts what the OP is saying. Because Nintendo already did this last gen, they provided a ton of Wii U's (and got burnt).

as someone else mentioned a few posts ago- you could put a million Ouya's out for sale at launch but they wouldn't have magically sold. You can't force the market to embrace your product. The OP is acting like Nintendo has some sort of gurantee that if they simple launch 2x or 3x their previous generations hardware numbers at launch that they'll sell through and then Nintendo will have some sort of artificial control over demand for systems/games.

But that's backwards thinking, the only way you can maintain demand is if people actually WANT and like the device. You can't ignore that.

 

no to mention the OP suggests that NIntendo launched in March because A) they wouldn't have enough hardware available  in time for a holiday 2016 launch, yet also B) that Nintendo artificially is doing this to 'break' records. Which totally is a contradition in logic.

If launching in March supposedly is some sort of method to 'break records', then launching in the holiday would have doubley broken records.

 

The OP's post is just a complete fallacy in logic and somewhat embarassing. Talk about clutching at straws. 

I mean, jesus, tells 'tales of record presales'? They can't accidentally lie about that information when the stock they provide is given to third party retailers and the retailers then have the information themselves.

You're welcome to hate but at least come up with some more logical accusations than this. Anyone can make up random stuff out of thin air based on nothing. "NIntendo is lying!" blah blah blah. Grow up.

And I agree with you. 

In fact reading the OP again, it's complete nonsense. I understood it a different way reading it the first time. 

Even what I thought he meant first time around doesn't add up so I revoke anything I've said in previous post. 



The problem with the Wii U wasn't really the launch. For the immediate launch it was more or less in line with the Wii and Switch.

It's what happened afterwards though ...



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SWORDF1SH said:

And I agree with you. 

In fact reading the OP again, it's complete nonsense. I understood it a different way reading it the first time. 

Even what I thought he meant first time around doesn't add up so I revoke anything I've said in previous post. 

It's Nonsense only if you agree that Nintendo is stupid.

Why would they launch at christmas if they didn't have the hardware to sell as many as people would buy?  

They were smarter than most people give them credit for, they held back the launch to gain mindshare through social media and internet news cycles.  

The only responses I have read up until these last few were related to "Huh?".  If you think that the posters on this site are proven to want well thought out opinions, then your response proves otherwise.  Most people here want the same thing from everybody.  Say something they agree with or your an idiot.  Most of the responders simply didn't understand the OP or disagreed and responded as such.  If people need the post to include charts and pictures along with a quote from Pachter to make fun of, then they will find that I didn't bother.  I will say that almost no response was filled with any counter logic until just now.  So I replied.



It is near the end of the end....

Soundwave said:
The problem with the Wii U wasn't really the launch. For the immediate launch it was more or less in line with the Wii and Switch.

It's what happened afterwards though ...

Clearly, I should have simply said what you just did and people might have understood my point more.  But, the Nintendo apologists thought I was trying to knock Nintendo and the rest simply didn't get it. 

To your point(and mine), that is the truth of the matter.  We will see 4 months from now if the revved up Buzz helps to carry this forward.



It is near the end of the end....

gatito said:
naruball said:
What's with all the negative responses?

Part of what the op said makes sense. They made more consoles this time around so they sold more.

This is clever since they can create buzz with gaming sites reporting how it's breaking records, beating even the mighty ps4. Consumers see it as a must have item to own, the way they did with ps4. Weren't there stories of people going to stores to buy an xb1 and leaving with a ps4 because of everyone else getting a ps4? Casual gamers are much more easily persuaded than most of us here.

Hype and buzz can do wonderful things for a produce. Just look at iphone. I bought a wii because everyone was talking about it. And even though I was planning on buying a psvr, I may not any time soon. Companies need to rethink their console launches.

Even if they put 20 million consoles out that doesn't mean they were gonna sell out.

who said anything about 20 million consoles?



mountaindewslave said:
naruball said:
What's with all the negative responses?

Part of what the op said makes sense. They made more consoles this time around so they sold more.

This is clever since they can create buzz with gaming sites reporting how it's breaking records, beating even the mighty ps4. Consumers see it as a must have item to own, the way they did with ps4. Weren't there stories of people going to stores to buy an xb1 and leaving with a ps4 because of everyone else getting a ps4? Casual gamers are much more easily persuaded than most of us here.

Hype and buzz can do wonderful things for a produce. Just look at iphone. I bought a wii because everyone was talking about it. And even though I was planning on buying a psvr, I may not any time soon. Companies need to rethink their console launches.

the Wii U had a massive amount of consoles available at launch. They did not sell through. You could find a Wii U practically anywhere in its first few days and week. 

the Wii U in itself already would have been an attempt at what the OP is implying Nintendo is magically doing now. They stocked heavily. But it didn't happen, systems do not always sell out at launch, despite what some of you may think.

I am almost certain the Wii U at launch had as many systems out in the wild as the Switch so this sort of breaks the OPs argument. Also, the argument that consumer buzz is what it causing an item to sell well on its own is absurd. There is buzz because a product is well liked, therefore the quality of the product is why its selling well.

To simply say "you can stock a ton of something and then it will do great!" is one of the worst economic arguments I've ever heard. Its entirely contingent on the device being well received. Which, again, the Wii U is an example of that NOT happening. The Switch so far is an example OF it happening. Not all devices launch to success.

Too many of you seem to be only following Playstation and Apple releases and don't keep an eye on the plethora of electronic devices that have poor launches.

So many problems with this post, it's not even funny.

1. No one said that they could make any number of consoles and that any console would have sold out no matter what. Wiiu was a failed product that the market rejected just like they did with gamecube. Hence my point about ouya. Most systems are guarenteed to sell out at launch. Xb1 could have sold more, wii could have sold more, and ps4 out of all consoles could have sold a lot more.

2. It doesn't break the op's argument. It simply doesn't work this way. There is a clear trend here. You may wanna look up terms like "the rule" and "the exception" (that proves the rule)

3. "To simply say "you can stock a ton of something and then it will do great!" is one of the worst economic arguments I've ever heard". Yes, that's because I never said it. And the OP said all Ninty had to do was look at preorder numbers. If they are close to wii/ps4 numbers, make sure you ship some more units and you easily beat everyone else and make the headlines. Not "ship 10x the preorder numbers and they will all be sold out". Don't change the argument to make it look ridiculous when that's not what the other person is saying.

4. You talk about plethora of other releases, yet you keep bringing up wiiu. Strange.

5. What's absurd is you stating this ("Also, the argument that consumer buzz is what it causing an item to sell well on its own is absurd. There is buzz because a product is well liked, therefore the quality of the product is why its selling well") as a fact. I'd advise you to do a bit research on what you just said. Plenty of products of low quality do well. "Beats by Dre" is another good example of a low quality product which does better than the compeition for a number of reasons. To claim that if something does well, it is necessarily because of good quality, is completely absurd.



That's a special kind of logic.