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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Report: US Wii Fit shortages intentional

Nintendo has been plagued with hardware supply problems since the launch of the Wii console in December 2006. The issues continued throughout 2007, with the company unable to meet demand for its latest console in both the US and UK.

It would seem that a similar problem is now arising with Wii software. Last week, Wii Fit dropped out of the UK charts as gamers couldn't get hold of the title. Nintendo commented that there were "pockets of stock shortages" across the country, although it was continuing to supply stores with the game. Wii Fit comes with the Balance Board peripheral, and tasks gamers with a number of exercises including balancing and aerobics in order to improve their body mass index.

Nintendo has not released figures as to how many copies of Wii Fit it has sold around the globe--the only official numbers available show that it has sold 2 million in Japan.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter told the LA Times that according to his estimates, 2 million copies of the game have been shipped to Europe, but only 500,000 have made it to North America. He believes this is because Nintendo is strategically directing its stock to Europe to benefit from the strong euro.

Pachter said, "The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar. We're seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere. They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now."

Another factor cited by analysts in the LA Times story is that they believe Nintendo is now wary of setting aside too many factory resources for its stock, after being burned by its experiences with the GameCube.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6191889.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1

Could they be using this same tactic for the Wii?Which would explain the constant shortages in the US. 



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Oh pachter! *Facepalm*



end of core gaming days prediction:

 

E3 2006-The beginning of the end. Wii introduced

 

E3 2008- Armageddon. Wii motion plus introduced. Wii Music. Reggie says Animal crossing was a core game. Massive disappointment. many Wii core gamers selling their Wii.

 

E3 2010- Tape runs out

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2009/ICG_Tape_runs_out.jpg

only 500k? so less than half of what vgchartz is saying

pachter = fail



Bets:Missed by 420k I bet leo-j vg$500 that wii will sell 31 million by 7/31/08.  Sorry, I don't think he has enough vg$ to make it with all of u that wish you could. Hit, with room to spare I bet kingofwale a 1-week ban that wii Americas ltd sales>360 Americas ltd sales as of the numbers for week ending 7/05/08 (using vgchartz homepage #s)

Predictions:

Wii will sell 18-20mil by 12/31/07  CHECKWii will sell 45mil+ WW by 12/31/08Wii will surpass PS2 sales WW by 11/17/11 (5yr anniversary)Wii Fit will hit 12mil sales in 2009MKWii+SSBB+Wii Fit+SMG > 50 mil sales by 2010 > gta4+mgs+gt5+ff13+haze+lbp

I wouldn't be surprised if what he was saying was true though, Nintendo can make more money with no more effort selling in Europe. Why wouldn't they?



hmm, Pachter did get it perfectly right about GTAIV's number way before the launch when everybody (including myself) called him an idiot for predicting such a ridiculous amount.

Although I wouldn't be surprised if it's true. US dollars is WEAK, and they can make so much more profit in Euro.



Soriku (Feb 10/08): In 5 years the PS3/360 will be dead.

KH3 bet: "If KH3 comes to Wii exclusive, I will take a 1 month of sig/avatar by otheres open a thread apologize and praise you guys' brilliance." http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?start=50&id=18379
Original cast: Badonkadonkhr, sc94597 allaboutthegames885, kingofwale, Soriku, ctk495, skeezer, RDBRaptor, Mirson,

Episode 1: OOPSY!
selnor
: Too Human I even expect 3-4 mill entire life and 500,000 first day. GoW2 ( expect 7 - 9 million entire life and over 2 mill first day), Fable 2 (expect 5-6 million entire life and 1.5 mill fist day) BK3 (expect 4 - 5 mill sales entire life and 1 mill first day).. Tales/IU/TLR should get to 2 or 3 million! post id: 868878
Episode 2:
Letsdance: FFXIII (PS3+360) first week in NA = 286K
According to pre-order rate in week 13 (post id: 2902544)
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I think that they are forcing shortages with the wii also.I mean Japan and Europe have had steady numbers for awhile,and the US continues to fluctuate.



*bleu-ocelot* said:
I think that they are forcing shortages with the wii also.I mean Japan and Europe have had steady numbers for awhile,and the US continues to fluctuate.

 nope it's occasionaly outsold in japan and almost always where I live in Europe.



I have never seen Wii fit available in a shop in the UK.



lvader said:
I have never seen Wii fit available in a shop in the UK.

 same, ive only ever seen display cases, its sold out everywhere.



There's just too much data outside vgchartz that says his 2 million WiiFit's shipped to Europe is bogus. The U.K. has greater shortages than the U.S. does, and they've sold less than 500k. Honestly, this sounds like Pachter is making stuff up. Also, Reggie specifically stated that Europe and the U.S. would have more than 1 million WiiFit's ready for launch.