By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
TheLastStarFighter on 03 March 2014
Edit Thread
oniyide said:
TheLastStarFighter said:
oniyide said:
TheLastStarFighter said:
The definition of "saved" is obviously the key here. I think these titles such as MK8, Smash and others will push Wii U to solid sales. Also, the early launch will help in the long run, along with price cuts. I would expect between 40 and 60 million lifetime right now, unless said life is cut short for an early successor.

If by "saved" you mean contend with PS4 near the top of the market, no they won't. The only thing that can do that now is a key new innovative IP like Wii Sports or Brain Training that catches fire; or possibly the acquisition of a major 3rd party publisher, bringing their titles exclusive to Wii U.

its tracking below GC and you still think it will do 40-60 mil? ok

The Gamecube launched 1 year after PS2.  If you use the Sony system as a benchmark for a generation timeline, Wii U is nearly 6 million ahead of GC, because GC hadn't even launched yet.  Wii U is in a much better position, with most consumers having not picked up an 8th gen machine and Nintendo having a much bigger software library and time to adapt than when buyers were looking at a Gamecube.

im not using PS2 as a benchmark, that makes no sense. Im using GC, its tracking below it. FACT. Im using cold hard numbers. If Wii U is in a better position then why is it selling worse?

Actually, it does make sense.  What doesn't make sense is comparing two systems with very different designs launching under very different circumstances.  A perfect example is the original XBox, which sold a solid 1.53 million units 3 months after its launch in 2001.  This is better than the XBox 360.  However, XBox was late to the show and all consumers gravitated to the PS2 which had been picking up consumers for a year already.  The 360 had a rocky launch, but because it had hit the market one year earlier than competing systems, MS had time to correct errors, make new games redesign the interface, mimic the Wii Mii's and introduce Kinect.  The early launch also helped for streamlining production costs and executing price cuts.

In the case of Wii U, Nintendo has lots of potential customers and lots of time to make a more compelling case for picking up a Wii U instead of the competition than they did with the GC.  They are also coming off a better place with Wii than they were with N64.  Nintendo has lots of options to spur sales right now.  By the time this Christmas roles around they should have a solid software library, and have production costs down to the point where they are making money on Wii U's or perhaps drop the price lower.  They could redesign the system.  They could put out a flashy new IP or control device.  They could implement achievments or some other new UI hook.  Surely Nintendo will likely do one or all of these things, or something unexpected to push sales well beyond GC levels, and they have the time (due to the early launch on the Gen 8 timeline) to do it before 80% of potential customers have even considered an 8th gen system.