| Soundwave said: I think this kinda hammers it home too, looking at corresponding sales periods NPD US Sales Comparision: Jan-Aug 2014 (Wii U + 3DS combined) = 1.55 million combined hardware Jan-August 2003 (GBA + GCN combined) = 4.7 million combined hardware So basically the narrative that this gen is basically the GBA + GCN is fairly false. Wii U + 3DS are selling nowhere close to the GCN + GBA in North America. |
Regarding the Gamecube to WiiU comparison, I honestly think price is a bigger factor than some people realize. The WiiU is still $100 more than the Gamecube launched at. While WiiU is $299 now in September of its second year, the GC was $99 in September 2003. That's a big difference for a console that has to rely on "second system" status for a lot of its sales.
This is where the Gamepad really makes it a difficult situation for Nintendo, unless they want to take some pretty major losses again, which ain't happening. I think their best bet is to balance profits and price drops accordingly - ride out the holidays with their big titles (Smash along with Kart's evergreen appeal) and the introduction of amiibo, then drop to $249 in the first half of next year when they can afford to do so with zero loss, preferably with a Mario Maker bundle. Maybe it's just me but I think that game has more potential for mass-market appeal than a Wii Sports or Wii Fit is going to have today.
