By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
atomicblue on 13 February 2015
Edit Thread
Soundwave said:
atomicblue said:
"Failed"? Depends on how you look at it. In terms of producing good games, I think it's already one of the best consoles I've owned and I've been gaming for nearly 25 years, so I definitely don't consider it a failure.

Commercially, maybe. Although I wouldn't make that call until this generation is over. And even if it hasn't sold as many units as XO or PS4, the thing that matters most is revenue, not units sold. If Nintendo are making a profit, then it's not a failure.

Nintendo is not in the hardware business to sell only 20-million-ish consoles. Iwata said that during the GameCube cycle. They were not happy with that, I think they are bitterly dissapointed with the Wii U. 

The amount of time, effort, expense, manpower goes into pushing a console in the market is massive, just barely turning a profit after 5 years is not good enough. That's like spending two hours to squeeze a few drops of juice from an orange. 

I'd say it's a pretty safe lock to be their worst selling home console too. 

The GameCube has outsold the Wii U something like 24 out of 25 months that the two have been on the market (equivalent time frame) ... that's horrible. 

Again, I'm aware that it's not selling as well as it could/should but I don't necessarily think that's the only mark of success because unit sales =/= profit. Also unit sales =/= a good product. Also I think there's a reasonable chance that the shrinking games industry is going to see everyone except Microsoft see their worst-selling console to date. PS4 might manage to outsell PS3 but at the moment I wouldn't bet money on it. Where do you get five years from, though? I thought it was four years ago that Nintendo first recorded losses.

Anyway, I don't really want to quibble over sales figures. Point is, on the terms for which I define success, the Wii U has been successful. I've been happier with it than I can recall being with just about any other console I've owned. Except, ironically, for the GameCube.