Wii comes to China, South Korea in 2008
On the same day he decreed the Wii's price will not be lowered, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced plans to bring its money-printing home console to China and South Korea next year, following this year's supposed holiday season console shortage.
"We suffer a global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our responsibility now is to deliver as many consoles as we can to existing markets ... But next year, I think we can bring the Wii (to China)."
Though China received the Nintendo DS in a timely manner, South Korea didn't get an official launch of the portable until January of this year.
[Via Engadget]
"We suffer a global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our responsibility now is to deliver as many consoles as we can to existing markets ... But next year, I think we can bring the Wii (to China)."
Though China received the Nintendo DS in a timely manner, South Korea didn't get an official launch of the portable until January of this year.
[Via Engadget]
















(Page 1) Reader Comments
Reply
... and sorry for this triple post.
Reply
Reply
Wii: It's for the proletariat
Reply
Lets put that through the truth-translator.
"We suffer a manufactured global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our gameplan now is to deliver just enough consoles to make it look like its sold out again this christmas to stupid americans...but next year we won't be able to perpetrate this lie anymore beacuse demand will be low so naturally we will be able to bring the Wii (to China)."
Woot!
Reply
So, how is that past gen your favorite console was the PS2? It has the worst graphics of past gen.
You didn't happen to get temp banned, did you?
I'm tired of these manufactured shortage conspiracy theories perpetuated by ignorant sony fanboys who just can't believe their system of choice is getting thrashed by an "inferior" competitor.
Welcome to Nintendoland circa 1998-2005. Hope you enjoy your stay.
"I hate the Wii for no valid reason. Sure, I make up reasons that may SEEM valid on the surface, but I can't back up my own claims! I mean, I don't want to experience a game like Zack & Wiki because I personally feel like holding the box is akin to holding a turd in my hand! See, guys? No logical support for my wild beliefs! So, having said that, I believe the demand for the Wii will magically disappear by the start of next year and no one will buy it anymore. That belief is based on nothing other than that I believe the PS3's 'potential' can in no way possibly lose to the Wii's 'potential', even though if the PS3 continues to sell such abysmal numbers then no companies WILL achieve said 'potential'. I guess in a roundabout way I am trying to say that I suck big time as a market analyst."
"I'm uncomfortable playing some games, no matter how good they are, because games are a reflection of my masculinity."
Chris Hanson:"He goes by the screen name Shagittarius, and wants to meet with a person he believes is a pre-teen boy".
Perverted Justice:"Looks like he is coming up the drive now, his Mom appears to be dropping him off."
"(I have 93 Gamecube titles)"
... What the hell. I consider myself a Nintendo fan, but even I only have about 40-50 games for the system!
but when is the Vii coming to the US!!!
Reply
You have no real proof that Iwata is lying about the number of consoles available, just assuming. (Yet Sony's been caught in so many lies... :| ) I don't understand where your opinions surface from, but hey they're your opinions...
...Unless you were being sarcastic and making a joke. If so, ha ha ha. You're a funny guy!
Reply
Reply
I do NOT want Koreans playing the Wii, or I am gonna lose a LOT of online Brawl and Strikers games.
It is NOT fair to put normal humans against randomized online matches against the gods of video gaming.
Reply
Let the Koreans Play.
I take it your own experience is limited to elementary school S Koreans.
Also, for the record, and this is for Nintendo...
QUIT TREATING S. KOREA LIKE AN INSIGNIFICANT MARKET!
Seriously, this is THE most wired country on the planet. They televise their gaming matches. And so far, only Sony has established themselves in this market as a focus for local developers. I mean, people complain why DJ Max Portable isn't on Nintendo DS but forget Nintendo DS is less than a year old in Korea. It launched in Korea on January 18th of this year. I mean, Wii is only going to be a year behind the times which beats the three years late of DS, but still. Nintendo is the last to enter that market.
I mean, you want a reason why PC gaming is big in that country compared to console, here's a simple answer. PC devs don't treat that country like a third world country. But then again, this is Nintendo, a heavily Japanese company. S Koreans should just be happy they don't receive a complimentary spit in the eye when they buy their DS's.
Reasons why PC gaming is popular:
1) South Korea was one of the last countries to get wired. Therefor they could avoid the mistakes of past wired countries and make a better network.
2) While Telecoms rule the internet, in SK the government had it mandated that the country would be the most wired and thus it was.
3) This is the big one. When PC Bangs (which are popular because SK have no privacy, they are the reverse of the US) were getting popular, tech companies realized it and turned PC games into a MTV-like popularity contest to boast there advertising dollars. That is why every single major company in South Korea has its own gaming league, hence to promote the product. (I always wanted a Nintendo one)
Also not to mention that only DS is doing fantastically well in SK. 360 is good but not popular, and PS3 barely scratches anything.
In fact, Iwata is not spitting in your eye. He was the only one that said South Korea is valuable and they should launch there even though none of the other Japanese and American investors would back him and called him crazy for trying. Now he is printing money in SK.
The reason why they are late is because its a hard market to crack. Not only do you have privacy, but you are trying to convince South Koreans who are PC gamers to play console games. Two different beasts. Like what Iwata said "I feel like I am trying to sell women's cosmetics to men."
China is going to be harder because not only is everyone is poor, but Racism > All over there.
So you know what, FUCK YOU! South Korea is shit, America is shit. UK is shit! Everyone is shit! So lets stop dividing our selfs on who is better, play DS and have fun!
If Ntreev/Tecmo brings Super Swing Golf PangYa to Korean Wiis, they'll sell out like mad. Especially if there's a preorder bonus like a figure of the loli pirate Kooh or the busty sorceress Arin (the top-two fan favorites).
Reply
how is it that the hearts go down from 2 to 1, but up from 2 to 2.5?
I've never seen 1.5 hearts...
Reply
The Console will be popular I guess, since iQue the agency usually name a right price but the games...It's not necessarily pirates' fault but we have to wait one or two years for a Chinese version game 'cause the censorship here is (censored). And Wii is region-not-free, so...hello chips.
However a mod one of course receive no warranty, ah, a tough choice.
An unmodified Wii(JP) here is about 1500 yuan, about 200 USD, but usually not provided by retailers, have to pre-order.
Reply
Reply