http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5183&Itemid=2

Wii Shortages 'Could Last Months'

Nintendo says there is no end in sight of retail shortages of its Wii console.

Although the machine launched five months ago units remain scarce at retail. Over 2.5 million units are estimated to have been sold in North America and a further 2 million in Europe.

Speaking to Game Theory Podcast, Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo’s VP of marketing and corporate affairs said, “There is a lot going on behind the scenes in terms of working on what we are producing and the numbers continue to rise but the product is so very popular that we may see a supply / demand situation last for some time.”

She added, “We are at absolute maximum production and doing everything we can. The number of units that we have been able to produce has far exceeded our hardware production in the past and the production levels of a lot of our competitors but demand continues to be really high. People are being really diligent about working with retailers to locate one but we are cognisent of the fact that a lot of fans are not able to get their hands on one yet. We are asking them to be patient and to know that we are working on this as fast as we can.”

Kaplan was asked if, given the high demand, Nintendo could have priced the machine at $50 higher than the $250. She said, “There was definitely that possibility. There are so many people who are very much liking the system and while the price that it’s at is very much mass market we probably could have folded at a higher price but I think that it was always Nintendo’s intent to make it a product that is appealing to the mass market.”

This week’s Game Theory Podcast – co-hosted by Next Generation’s editor-in-chief Colin Campbell and PC Gamer columnist Gary Whitta - also looks at the Game Media Awards, Uwe Boll’s 9/11 ‘joke’, core console systems, online gaming in China and the Guitar Hero franchise.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let's assume this article is accurate.

Vgcharts has

Wii:  2.62 in the Americas. 2.62>2.5 million

Others: 1.82 million..hmm article estimates 2.0 million

Unmentioned: Japan - Wii should cross 2.0 million in M-Create officially in the week ending the 8th.  Add in another half week...and Wii is probably at 2.10 million in Japan.

So next gen says: Wii - 6.4-6.8 million (accounting for the "above" 2.5 million, and Japan w/ the half week)

VG Charts says...6.58 million..although I think at the moment Japan is a touch too high and Europe is a touch too low (only ~3-4% off or less in worldwide total though)

So in other words, the numbers in VGCharts are very accurate ;)

Yes, nice to hear

And we need more types of smilies...

Yay for Vgcharts!, so is there any actual ramifications for the Wii if throughout its entire lifetime(you know...uhhh.. in a machine way) it continues to sell out? I mean is there any way a shameless Sony fanboy like myself could twist that, because its eluding me.

    I have this vision of Nintendo executives in a continual state of supreme bliss over how this situation is unfolding. 

I'm not sure how you could spin it in Sony's favor. Maybe make fun of Nintendo for not being able to produce 5M units (DS and Wii) per month.

Nintendo has the lamest manufacturing... Sony was easily able to manufacture enough PS3s for everyone that wants one.

Well I tried...

So did Perrin say it's 2.5 million + 2.0 million? Or is that number from next-gen.biz? Gonna check the podcast now... Well, she didn't say it. So forget the numbers.

I don't know if I can trust Kaplan, she's just like Sony and MS PR.

I see money fights happening in the halls of Nintendo, Reggie throwing wads of hundred dollar bills at people

 As a NTDOY shareholder, I can assure you there are no fights in that hallway.

I see Reggie checking vgchartz first thing every morning because he never has a clue how many Wiis the guys in Kyoto have sent him.