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Forums - Sales - We need to talk about the Wii U sales, what happened?

Tachikoma on 27 January 2013

At least to me, a very bad sign is that despite the console being the newest one out, over here in Japan stores such as book-off and hard-off (second hand stores) have vast numbers of wii u's
I was in the Book-off in Machida yesterday and they had, on my rough count, 22 white wiiu's and 17 black wiiu's, apposed to 5 ps3's and 3 Xbox 360s.
Additionally, a few days ago while in akihabara, i noticed the book-off there had a sign up stating they were no longer accepting wiiu consoles (store refusing to buy them) when i asked a store clerk why he said because they have too many in store and theyre not selling at all.

the wiiu units in these stores are complete and boxed, priced at 19,500yen for 32gb and 14,500yen for 8gb, which is a big reduction from retail prices, and still they don't sell.

If you ask me, that is a very bad sign.



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ninjablade on 27 January 2013
Tachikoma said:

At least to me, a very bad sign is that despite the console being the newest one out, over here in Japan stores such as book-off and hard-off (second hand stores) have vast numbers of wii u's
I was in the Book-off in Machida yesterday and they had, on my rough count, 22 white wiiu's and 17 black wiiu's, apposed to 5 ps3's and 3 Xbox 360s.
Additionally, a few days ago while in akihabara, i noticed the book-off there had a sign up stating they were no longer accepting wiiu consoles (store refusing to buy them) when i asked a store clerk why he said because they have too many in store and theyre not selling at all.

the wiiu units in these stores are complete and boxed, priced at 19,500yen for 32gb and 14,500yen for 8gb, which is a big reduction from retail prices, and still they don't sell.

If you ask me, that is a very bad sign.

looks like i might be a little high on my wiiu prediction, not even japan wants wiiu, wow.



BaldrSkies on 27 January 2013
Tachikoma said:
At least to me, a very bad sign is that despite the console being the newest one out, over here in Japan stores such as book-off and hard-off (second hand stores) have vast numbers of wii u's
I was in the Book-off in Machida yestersay and they had, on my rough count, 22 white wiiu's and 17 black wiiu's, apposed to 5 ps3's and 3 Xbox 360s.
Additionally, a few days ago while in akihabara, i noticed the book-off there had a sign up stating they were no longer accepting wiiu consoles (store refusing to by them) when i asked a store clerk why he said because they have too many in store and theyre not selling at all.

the wiiu units in these stores are complete and boxed, priced at 19,500yen for 32gb and 14,500yen for 8gb, which is a big reduction from retail prices, and still they don't sell.

If you ask me, that is a very bad sign.


Yamada Denki also stopped advertising the Wii U altogether. Hardware, software, nothing. I don't think I saw any advertisement in Yodobashi lately either. ちょっと空気過ぎるだろ？

So big retailers are dropping advertisement too. The consoles are there, but after the initial couple weeks they are just piling up everywhere. There's no new games. Late multiplat Shin Hokuto Musou for January, arcade Tank!Tank!Tank! for February, minigame Game&Wario and late multiplat Need For Speed for March, nothing for April, multiplat HD Biohazard Revelations for May. Nothing else has a set release.

There is no reason to buy a WiiU now, and management made a huge mistake pushing the launch away from Spring 2013. Imagine if Wii U came out in April/May with all these games at once, plus only a month away from E3 for big new game announcements that were actually coming reasonably soon and with set release dates. People would have been much more excited.



Light on 27 January 2013
Mr Puggsly said:
Three problems!

1. Price
2. New controller isn't as interesting as Wiimote.
3. Library isn't impressive and its not getting many of the anticipated 2013 titles.


Pretty much this.



               

Tachikoma on 27 January 2013
BaldrSkies said:
Tachikoma said:
At least to me, a very bad sign is that despite the console being the newest one out, over here in Japan stores such as book-off and hard-off (second hand stores) have vast numbers of wii u's
I was in the Book-off in Machida yestersay and they had, on my rough count, 22 white wiiu's and 17 black wiiu's, apposed to 5 ps3's and 3 Xbox 360s.
Additionally, a few days ago while in akihabara, i noticed the book-off there had a sign up stating they were no longer accepting wiiu consoles (store refusing to by them) when i asked a store clerk why he said because they have too many in store and theyre not selling at all.

the wiiu units in these stores are complete and boxed, priced at 19,500yen for 32gb and 14,500yen for 8gb, which is a big reduction from retail prices, and still they don't sell.

If you ask me, that is a very bad sign.


Yamada Denki also stopped advertising the Wii U altogether. Hardware, software, nothing. I don't think I saw any advertisement in Yodobashi lately either. ちょっと空気過ぎるだろ？

So big retailers are dropping advertisement too. The consoles are there, but after the initial couple weeks they are just piling up everywhere. There's no new games. Late multiplat Shin Hokuto Musou for January, arcade Tank!Tank!Tank! for February, minigame Game&Wario and late multiplat Need For Speed for March, nothing for April, multiplat HD Biohazard Revelations for May. Nothing else has a set release.

There is no reason to buy a WiiU now, and management made a huge mistake pushing the launch away from Spring 2013. Imagine if Wii U came out in April/May with all these games at once, plus only a month away from E3 for big new game announcements that were actually coming reasonably soon and with set release dates. People would have been much more excited.


Indeed, the Bic Camera in Sagamiono, while it has WiiU stuff on sale, doesn't have any advertising anywere, it's just a small section off on it's own with no fanfare.

Frankly, i see more kids gathered around the iPhone 5 demo units than i do anywhere near the console stuff, except for of course the 3DS, where you see lots of people looking at games or playing the demo console. But the WiiU is really, really not rearching the people, they just don't care.



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prayformojo on 27 January 2013

1.) Release a console (Wii) that caters almost exclusively to casual, non gamers.
2.) Spend the following years, using E3 as a show case for all things NON gamer related (Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort debacle etc.).
3.) Completely disregard the obvious, which is that non gamers are fickle and will leave almost as soon as they show up.
4.) Release a successor that features a controller that neither the casual, NOR core gamer wants, with low specs, archaic capabilities and features.
5.) Stand back in shock as the obvious happens.

I have been saying this for YEARS. They sold their soul to casual, fickle consumers and put all their eggs in a collapsing basket. Now half of the core players from the Gamecube era have jumped ship, and the casuals all have ipads. This should shock NO ONE.

Having said that, I don't wish anything bad upon them. After all, I am the NES generation. But it's their own fault.



Tachikoma on 27 January 2013
prayformojo said:

1.) Release a console (Wii) that caters almost exclusively to casual, non gamers.
2.) Spend the following years, using E3 as a show case for all things NON gamer related (Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort debacle etc.).
3.) Completely disregard the obvious, which is that non gamers are fickle and will leave almost as soon as they show up.
4.) Release a successor that features a controller that neither the casual, NOR core gamer wants, with low specs, archaic capabilities and features.
5.) Stand back in shock as the obvious happens.

I have been saying this for YEARS. They sold their soul to casual, fickle consumers and put all their eggs in a collapsing basket. Now half of the core players from the Gamecube era have jumped shit, and the casuals all have ipads. This should shock NO ONE.

Having said that, I don't wish anything bad upon them. After all, I am the NES generation. But it's their own fault.

Pretty much /thread right here.



ninjablade on 27 January 2013
prayformojo said:

1.) Release a console (Wii) that caters almost exclusively to casual, non gamers.
2.) Spend the following years, using E3 as a show case for all things NON gamer related (Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort debacle etc.).
3.) Completely disregard the obvious, which is that non gamers are fickle and will leave almost as soon as they show up.
4.) Release a successor that features a controller that neither the casual, NOR core gamer wants, with low specs, archaic capabilities and features.
5.) Stand back in shock as the obvious happens.

I have been saying this for YEARS. They sold their soul to casual, fickle consumers and put all their eggs in a collapsing basket. Now half of the core players from the Gamecube era have jumped shit, and the casuals all have ipads. This should shock NO ONE.

Having said that, I don't wish anything bad upon them. After all, I am the NES generation. But it's their own fault.

LOL I have been saying the samething, wii won the battle, at the price of losing the war.



Jumpin on 27 January 2013

Nintendo needs to show some big games, the first one Xenosomething, is a small teaser, but it would be really awesome if we could know more about that game or the upcoming Mario Kart and Mario 3DU.

I don't think using the name Wii U has much impact, if any, on sales. I think the main problem with Nintendo is that until the last Nintendo Direct, they have been FAR too quiet about the Wii U, they did the same thing with 3DS. It's stupid to try to act elusive and not to market your own product. This isn't Apple where everyone is watching your every move, it's an industry where if you don't make noise, no one pays attention.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

Jumpin on 27 January 2013
prayformojo said:

1.) Release a console (Wii) that caters almost exclusively to casual, non gamers.
2.) Spend the following years, using E3 as a show case for all things NON gamer related (Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort debacle etc.).
3.) Completely disregard the obvious, which is that non gamers are fickle and will leave almost as soon as they show up.
4.) Release a successor that features a controller that neither the casual, NOR core gamer wants, with low specs, archaic capabilities and features.
5.) Stand back in shock as the obvious happens.

I have been saying this for YEARS. They sold their soul to casual, fickle consumers and put all their eggs in a collapsing basket. Now half of the core players from the Gamecube era have jumped shit, and the casuals all have ipads. This should shock NO ONE.

Having said that, I don't wish anything bad upon them. After all, I am the NES generation. But it's their own fault.

Which imaginary GameCube era are you talking about? 

The one I remember is one where PS2 thoroughly dominated the gaming scene and 99% of GameCube owners only had one because their mom bought it for them.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.