Japan doesn't need their Wiis like those ravenous all-consuming Americans, and Nintendo knows this according to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. While crunching the NPD numbers for July, and trying to figure out where he went wrong, he noticed that the US Wii sales numbers were a bit confusing -- they were high. That's not confusing on the demand side of things, but the supply shouldn't have been there to sell.
Pachter says, "Wii sales remain strong, with an apparent increase in supply during the quarter. This increase is inconsistent with reports that Nintendo has had difficulty in increasing its manufacturing capacity ... suggesting to us that the company has diverted supply from other areas (perhaps Japan) to the U.S." Finally, our societal lack of patience pays off! We want our Wiis and we want them now! There will be "murder, death, kill" if mothers don't get their little ones a Wii by this Christmas.
Reader Comments (47)
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:51PM (Unverified) said
This just in, Microsoft diverting shipments to Japan to meet the holiday '07 demand for Xbox 360's.
Can I have this guys job now?
Reply
Can I have this guys job now?
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:37PM (Unverified) said
It's one inch, thank you very much.
But predictions and theories are hardly news :). More like opinions.
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But predictions and theories are hardly news :). More like opinions.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:51PM Fernando Rocker said
I can't imagine the oddisey to find a Wii this Christmas, specially whit games like SSBB and Mario Galaxy.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:54PM FrankTheCrank said
This whole Wii thing is mind blowing. Just amazing.
And yes, I have one.
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And yes, I have one.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:56PM (Unverified) said
They would be doing it at a manufacturing level.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:05PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, like he said: They're not like taking them from store shelves - they're not reaching stores in the first place. So Japan gets the shaft for a little while to meet the U.S. demand.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:56PM (Unverified) said
They better hurry up and get them here before the word gets out that Nintendo is still making kiddie systems . . . now with waggle.
Yeah I said it.
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Yeah I said it.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:55PM (Unverified) said
It's total speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. Honestly, though, how did this happen? I foolishly thought I'd walk into a store on launch day and pick up a Wii. I only later got mine through blood, sweat, and tears (oh so many tears). Nintendo has created a monster, and the beast needs to be fed. Oddly, enough, I feel it's already guaranteed to be the console winner for this generation.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:55PM (Unverified) said
Hey, check it out. A story about the Wii.
That's a minimum of 50 comments of people arguing, easy.
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That's a minimum of 50 comments of people arguing, easy.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:18PM (Unverified) said
not nearly as many people give a crap about the wii, since most of the debate on joystiq is 360-vs-ps3-centric. but i am happy to add to your predicted tally, so i will add the following:
id get a wii, if the games looked halfway decent on an hdtv, and if the games weren't all gc ports with waggle gimmicks.
i may revise my statement following metroid's release--- but it's unlikely.
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id get a wii, if the games looked halfway decent on an hdtv, and if the games weren't all gc ports with waggle gimmicks.
i may revise my statement following metroid's release--- but it's unlikely.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:01PM (Unverified) said
@Granted's comment
Not really sure why all you people voted this comment done. It seems he was just being honest and stating his own opinion a very civil and non-threating way. If this voted down by Wii fans I feel shame to be one too.
Here's a +1 vote for your honesty and lack of trolling
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Not really sure why all you people voted this comment done. It seems he was just being honest and stating his own opinion a very civil and non-threating way. If this voted down by Wii fans I feel shame to be one too.
Here's a +1 vote for your honesty and lack of trolling
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:50PM Crono141 said
I have a wii, and a Westinghouse HDTV (LCD) Wii looks like shit on it. Do you know why? Because westinghouse uses the cheapest and slowest possible scaler in their TV to just get the job done.
I'm looking into another scaler/hdmi switcher for my setup, and I'm certain wii games will look much better through it.
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I'm looking into another scaler/hdmi switcher for my setup, and I'm certain wii games will look much better through it.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 6:46PM (Unverified) said
Not sure why people faded your comment GRANTED so:
"not nearly as many people give a crap about the wii, since most of the debate on joystiq is 360-vs-ps3-centric. but i am happy to add to your predicted tally, so i will add the following:
id get a wii, if the games looked halfway decent on an hdtv, and if the games weren't all gc ports with waggle gimmicks.
i may revise my statement following metroid's release--- but it's unlikely.
1 heart"
Reply
"not nearly as many people give a crap about the wii, since most of the debate on joystiq is 360-vs-ps3-centric. but i am happy to add to your predicted tally, so i will add the following:
id get a wii, if the games looked halfway decent on an hdtv, and if the games weren't all gc ports with waggle gimmicks.
i may revise my statement following metroid's release--- but it's unlikely.
1 heart"
Posted: Aug 25th 2007 4:46AM BurntMeatloaf said
@Almack64: This is a gaming blog! What would give you the ridiculous idea that people should be allowed to freely express opinions?
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:57PM (Unverified) said
Gotta love the Demolition Man reference tho, good stuff.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 2:57PM (Unverified) said
I Love My Wii
Joystiq seems to harbor some resentment towards the Wii methinks...
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Joystiq seems to harbor some resentment towards the Wii methinks...
Posted: Aug 25th 2007 4:48AM BurntMeatloaf said
Joystiq is totally biased against [insert platform here].
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:07PM (Unverified) said
My guess is they are diverting Wiis to the US since Metroid Prime is more popular over here and they want to boost the US install base for it.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:17PM Fernando Rocker said
According to vgchartz and NPD
Wii: 10.57 millions.
360: 10.51 millions.
PS3: 4.32 millions.
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Wii: 10.57 millions.
360: 10.51 millions.
PS3: 4.32 millions.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:23PM (Unverified) said
And, just for good measure, according to NeoGaf:
Wii: 10,361,287
360: 10,200,937
PS3: 4,145,106
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Wii: 10,361,287
360: 10,200,937
PS3: 4,145,106
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:26PM FrankTheCrank said
It doesn't matter...cause in 6 months Nintendo WILL own the market.
Plain and simple. No if's, and's or but's...they got the console market and portable market locked up.
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Plain and simple. No if's, and's or but's...they got the console market and portable market locked up.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:06PM (Unverified) said
Me too, right now I'm playing Prince of Persia, its a port but its actually really great on the Wii.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:37PM (Unverified) said
I manage to obtain a Wii last year on Black Friday via a campout. I used it for a good solid month or two, but after beating Zelda it's been collecting dust. Metroid is the first game since release that I've actually been mildly excited about.
It's not a matter of graphics for me, their games simply don't have depth to them or are very challenging IMO. Also the lack of online playability really hampers the longevity of games.
I really want the console to succeed (which clearly the sales seem to indicate), but I'm just not feeling it.
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It's not a matter of graphics for me, their games simply don't have depth to them or are very challenging IMO. Also the lack of online playability really hampers the longevity of games.
I really want the console to succeed (which clearly the sales seem to indicate), but I'm just not feeling it.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:45PM (Unverified) said
all console have a drought, especially the Wii since the sales success was such a surprise for many developers.
mine's collecting dust, too, but surely when metroid, mario galaxy, and smash bros come out at the same time, that's going to be crazy.
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mine's collecting dust, too, but surely when metroid, mario galaxy, and smash bros come out at the same time, that's going to be crazy.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:55PM (Unverified) said
That's certainly true Alex K. Q4 2007 boasts a phenomenal lineup on the Wii, so it should help to liven the console for many people. Hopefully SSBB has online playability, otherwise I've virtually promised myself I'll be eBaying the console when I bore with Metroid and Galaxy. It's nearing 2008, and to not offer online playability in this day and age is unacceptable by my standards.
Oh and by the way, Wii Fit looks like a joke.
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Oh and by the way, Wii Fit looks like a joke.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 3:54PM Korova Pamplona said
Ah, mahn, now we are going to have to start talking about the Wii again all the time. I kinda linked the PS360 rivalry bit. But I guess it was getting old.
Welcome the new hottie - W I I ! !
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Welcome the new hottie - W I I ! !
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:07PM hvnlysoldr said
I think Pachter is a little confused. Nintendo of America bought tons of eye patches before deciding to "divert" other territories' supplies.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:08PM (Unverified) said
lol I love people getting upset at comment delays, and the half-broken reply system, and how the reply email links don't work...
wait a minute that all makes me frustrated too
frikin Joystiq
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wait a minute that all makes me frustrated too
frikin Joystiq
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 4:37PM (Unverified) said
This Patcher idiot is wrong on every prediction so far. What a damn idiot. You think he'd give up now
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 7:53PM (Unverified) said
I sold my wii and the only game I'll regret not being able to play is Mario galaxy...
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 5:12PM (Unverified) said
It's interesting I guess Nintendo already sees that Japan is a lock, and if they can get USA to sell even better that will be a big deal.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 5:14PM Paviel said
Maybe the market in Japan has been saturated.
Or maybe Nintendo THINKS the market in Japan has been saturated.
That would account for production shifting from Japan to the US, since the US is bigger geographically than Japan is, and probably has a larger population to boot.
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Or maybe Nintendo THINKS the market in Japan has been saturated.
That would account for production shifting from Japan to the US, since the US is bigger geographically than Japan is, and probably has a larger population to boot.
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 9:22PM Mr Khan said
Please, saturated?
They haven't even saturated it with DS's yet (with about 1 in 12 Japanese owning one already, sales still aren't slowing)
I still say the internet community should change the unofficial Nintendo slogan to "It exudes money from every orifice," because that's about where they are
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They haven't even saturated it with DS's yet (with about 1 in 12 Japanese owning one already, sales still aren't slowing)
I still say the internet community should change the unofficial Nintendo slogan to "It exudes money from every orifice," because that's about where they are
Posted: Aug 24th 2007 9:31PM hvnlysoldr said
While exuding better fits the money creating DS, it's a little harder to design an animated gif for it without getting distracted by the orifices. Hmm.m Shame on you for thinking such disgusting thoughts.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 6:12PM mrmobius said
Surely It'd be wiser to suggest the shift is from Europe since as far as I know Europe doesn't have the same supply problems that America and Japan has had. Saying that though I haven't looked for a Wii since December when I had to fight hard to get one and got lucky by persuading a guy to give me one cause a delivery had just came in. Screw the little kid who'd be crying on christmas day because I stole his pre-order, I'd got my Wii and that was the important thing.
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Posted: Aug 24th 2007 7:39PM (Unverified) said
Joystiq, why do you keep listening to this guy? He is just guessing, why don't you make polls and let us predict the outcome not some silly analyst who keep messing up...
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Posted: Aug 25th 2007 4:55AM BurntMeatloaf said
This article should be titled, "Wii supplies being diverted to US from China"
The proper solution is to stop making the systems in just one place.
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The proper solution is to stop making the systems in just one place.
Posted: Aug 25th 2007 7:22PM (Unverified) said
By the way, this story was totally confirmed by a Nintendo World New York employee earlier today to me:
http://www.thefattytalks.com/2007/08/25/nintendo-world-has-plenty-of-wii-in-stock-carnival/
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http://www.thefattytalks.com/2007/08/25/nintendo-world-has-plenty-of-wii-in-stock-carnival/
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