Friday 8-Oct-2010 10:17 AM Boss fears for platform business if Christmas isn't a success

Nintendo's platform business could be "in trouble" if the Wii doesn't perform well this Christmas, president Satoru Iwata has confessed.

Speaking during a recent investor call, Iwata admitted that current sales of the Wii "are not very strong", but reaffirmed that Nintendo still believes it can grow this part of its business.

"When we see the current situation, and when we analyze the mindsets of people who have not purchased Wii yet, our understanding is that the sales will be much more concentrated during the year-end sales season than before," he told investors.

"This is not an observation held by Nintendo alone. In fact, as we discuss with many retailers around the world as to what will become of this year-end sales season, most of them view the trend just as we do.

"Accordingly, when our consumers are ready to select what they want to purchase for a Christmas gift, how we can encourage them to choose Wii, has now become important. In other words, we do not have the mindset that our home game console business will not see any further growth so therefore, we have to do something to sustain the sales."

Iwata named the just-announced Wii Remote Plus as "just one part of endeavours" to help maintain Wii sales over Christmas.

"Having said that, however, in that critical sales season, if everything doesn't go ahead just as we hope, and if we do not do anything about it, our platform business will be in trouble. We will need to prepare for such situations."

In the same meeting Iwata claimed the 3DS will be the first 3D device sold in significant volume.

Source: computerandvideogames

They don't really need to worry, 3DS will be out next year and I imagin Wii 2 or whatever's next is round the corner.

Can't see Wii having a lifespan similar to PS2 at this stage though ..

If they're telling this is because Wii 2 development is going full throttle.

Wii 2 at late 2011, early 2012. I'm calling it.

I don't think we will see a Wii successor till 2012 - 2013.

Why not? Please tell me you have a better reason than just the sales aren't super hot right now.

I voted for "We need Super Wii" because I've heard the Wii been equated to the NES, and I really really really want the Super Wii to be like the SNES, which is my favorite gaming system ever.

Good to see Iwata has a realistic grasp of things, at least. They do need to do something to reverse the slump, but the Christmas lineup might be the cure, though it depends on how Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey catch on.

Interesting....VERY interesting.

I think he is just acknowledging that if the Donkey Kong/Wii Party etc. combo does not sustain some type of decent sales next year, its pretty much all over. Wii sales will probably dangle between the 70k-100k WW range for most of 2011, and Japan especially will be dead meat (~7k every week all year). Zelda may do a little bit for a week or 2 hardware wise but support just is noth there throughout the year.

All companies cram their entire Wii lineups to the last 3 months of the year and leave nothing of note beforehand.

Wii2 is confirmed to be coming soon I guess; 2011 is the Wii's last holiday.

Q1 2012, N6? Announcement at next year's E3?

You should see this: http://i52.tinypic.com/2u44lnc.jpg

omg no way that is sick....BUT I personally think to boost sales big time is to make a minor wii model adjustment and incorperate just a HDMI port in the back which wouldnt cost much or even make a "adapter" type cord that replaces the RCA jack and make it a HDMI jack to plug into HDTV's and that would solve some problems right now. maybe  a firmware update too to upgrade the graphics card to display larger resolutions. to kinda open it up some. i wouldnt mind spending 20 bucks on a cord and update disc. but that red wii looks cool as hell though