Let's just imagine that it is Nintendo's perogative to limit the production of the more popular Amiibo. It is real and they are doing it for a reason. Nintendo are not one to make a quick buck by the pressures of consumer opinion. They are the company always there for the long run. With this new Amiibo Platform, they are in it for the long term. That means years of limited edition in spirit, but not by name game tie-ins. But no, it won't feel like a tie-in in the sense of The Iron Man Movie and Iron Man the Movie the Game. In limited circulation, by numbers still high accordance to what the company deems it's worth, they'll create that much and be done. On to the next amiibo game tie-ins. Whatever doesn't sell to the main demographic goes to the casual.
Have you ever wondered why you can always find a Mario and a Pikachu? That's because they made droves of those iconic characters. They've been around forever and have garnered so much attention through the years, the casuals would always recognize it, maybe not by name, but my look. And because the core demographic either has a "Mario" or don't care for one because they really want the "marth", they will not buy it. But the casuals will fill that void and give it to a child during christmas time just because they've seen it on a commercial and because it's a cheap $12.96 price tag at your local walmart and they know these kids have a Nintendo device and I'm rambling. Whatever nintendo produces, will sell out until they are no longer producing them.
Nintendo makes how much of each character? If Smash is any indication, they will create up to 50 plus characters for one game. Of the 50 plus characters, additional amiibos will be created to tie-in to other games. Along with smash are the Mario Party 10 amiibos adding a count of 4, and then the splatoon characters in bundle set form at 3 characters, adding up to near 60 characters, oh and gold mario. In the years to come, that number will continue to add. By this logic of increasing characters, we can assume that nintendo will make a finite amount of figures for each character. Let's say the cap is 7 million overall characters produced since they've sold 5.1+ million already. How do you divide 7 million individual characters by 50+? That's 140,000 for each character. This kind of thinking is dumb, 140,000 for each character. It may not all sell out. But it will through limited production. Mario, pikachu and yoshi will always sell out. But riskier Shulk and Wii Fit Trainer amiibo are a unknowns and will likely not sell the same. They may be sitting on shelves and discounted. With Nintendo limiting these amiibos, they will create the buzz and therefor compelling those in the search to give weight to these characters. Really, Jigglypuff is saught after? That just goes to show you the power of supply and demand.
The next high profile nintendo game will have limited amiibo produced as well. And the next Zelda amiibo will as well. The Toad amiibo for Captain told is already hard to find and so will the next amiibos release. How much really does nintendo need to sell of each amiibo tie-in to a game for them to be profitable? It'll always be the case we find ourselves in today. Nintendo will realease a Metroid game in the futre and best believe Amiibo will be made for the game. How much do they need to make to really be profitable, with demand still high, with the knowledge that it was always the time to buy a certain amiibo because they do not stay long. If nintendo does this right, they could make amiibo a continous phenomenon for as long as they are profiting well.
The amiibo problem is a problem for the core consumer, but not for nintendo. Amiibos will be available to you at a store of your choice, but you are always limited to finding the most recognizable. For the casual, it's an entry into the genre. For core, it is a hunt. Despite this, the business is thriving because of it. Gamestop loved the fact that it's online store crashed. Walmart is greatful for the Gold and Silver Mario edition. Target, best buy, Toys R us, and game stop love Nintendo for this. We suffer, but Nintendo is in good standing with where it counts; the profit. But that's a business, that's how it works, and ultimately for nintendo, it's good for them.
