Nintendo of America 'passionately upset' about Wii supply
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Apr 24th 2008 at 2:25PM }
Fils-Aime explains that production is determined by Japan and NoA does its best to remind the folks across the Pacific that there are "missed opportunities" when there isn't enough product. He further points out that North America receives 40% of the 1.8 million Wii consoles manufactured every month, and that NA is the only territory where Wii supply and demand don't match up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Neebs @ Apr 24th 2008 2:30PM
Passionately upset they can't make more cash.
Also Joystiq, is there any way you can remove the We Cheer gallery from the side list? Freaks me out.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 24th 2008 2:54PM
Keep that gallery, actually. I hate to admit it but it's one of the few Wii games I want to know more about...
Dr. Doom @ Apr 24th 2008 3:06PM
"Passionately upset they can't make more cash." -
I agree. I'm jealous their making tons of money too and not giving poor people some. Capitalism is just wrong! Nintendo should re-distribute their enormous amount of wealth and give it to folks that elect to be slaves to our welfare system and China's Communist system too.
Communism rules! Down with Capitalism!
Jesus Christ I want to throw up.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Apr 24th 2008 3:16PM
You missed the point, Doom, you sardonic jack-ass; the reason Neebs is annoyed by the statement is because the only reason Fils-Aime is "passionately upset" is because they're not making as much money as they could. Yes, there's nothing wrong with a company making money, it's what they're for, but "passionately upset"!? Ugh, what prick.
Jerk Face @ Apr 24th 2008 3:23PM
@ Dr. Doom
I... What?
samfish @ Apr 24th 2008 3:25PM
Irrational right-wing paranoia: IT COULD HAPPEN TO *YOU*!
Dr. Doom @ Apr 24th 2008 3:27PM
Thanks for the comments English Gamer. I write these wonderful things just to see if I can get kicked off the joystiq site. I want to see how far our 1st amendment rights will take me. I'm assuming not far.
But in response to your defense of Neebs, by Neebs saying "Passionately upset they can't make more cash" Neebs is implying that he/she is upset that Nintendo makes so much cash in the first place. It's implied.
And thank you for the cursing....it's very professional.
vidGuy @ Apr 24th 2008 3:31PM
Dr. Doom, you have absolutely no First Amendment rights on this board. Joystiq is owned by a private company, not the government, and they can censor or regulate your speech anyway they want.
However, we do have a sense that anyone can speak his or her mind around here, so unfortunately the rest of us will have to continue to scroll past your posts as fast as we can. Just like the myriad other trolls and their posts.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Apr 24th 2008 3:56PM
Well i'm sorry, Doom, but your first post was 100% sarcasm. If you want to be taken seriously don't make crazy over-blown inferences.
Neebs @ Apr 24th 2008 4:35PM
I'll admit to be a socialist - an anarchist too, but I wasn't going for that I was unhappy they were making money in the first place. I was talking about them, being a business, and wanting to make money, are probably not going to be "passionately upset" about not getting enough of a "want" high demand commodity, but that they could be making more money.
But I wouldn't figure you'd understand, considering you toss around such an archaic and ancient term as "communism" to refer to a generic form of socialism and claim I somehow implied my unhappiness a business made money.
Also, you are protected by the first amendment on a privately owned and run website. In fact, you agreed to the terms of service (http://www.weblogsinc.com/terms/) when you signed up for your account and agreed that you may post content (read: comments) but that Weblogs Inc. holds the right to remove content.
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 24th 2008 5:07PM
Communists hanged my great uncle in the public square. My great grandparents escaped Hungary to emigrate to America before World War I. Some stayed and my great uncle was a priest working for more compassionate leaders when the Soviets lifted some restrictions on liberties resulting in the Hungarian Revolution.
Before this devolves into Godwin's law let's stop talking economics and get back about Reggie.
Neebs @ Apr 24th 2008 7:13PM
You aren't protected*
FrankTheCrank @ Apr 24th 2008 2:30PM
Just amazing!
I could find a few other things to be upset about. Like those horrible third party titles across both Nintendo platforms.
SoulBlade @ Apr 24th 2008 2:33PM
I think you have bigger problems to be upset about other than the third party titles on Nintendo platforms.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 2:45PM
I think if Nintendo cared about 3rd party support, they'd offer more incentives to develop for their plaforms. As it stands, every 3rd party game released on Wii is a potential loss of sales for one of their tentpole franchises (which, I've got to admit, I'm getting a little more disenfranchised with each generational iteration.)
Dale @ Apr 24th 2008 3:57PM
@baby sea tuna: not having third party titles is even more of a potential loss of sales. A lack of titles is, after all, what killed the N64 - even if it was graphically superior to the PlayStation and played host to some of the most critically-acclaimed first and second party titles on any Nintendo system.
Ninjakamster @ Apr 24th 2008 2:31PM
God, I still have never seen a Wii in any store since it launched, I dunno if thats shocking. : /
Markez @ Apr 24th 2008 2:36PM
Yeah I've seen them in stores only once...
JerJerBinks @ Apr 24th 2008 2:39PM
Also not shocking ... the majority of purchased Wiis are currently collecting dust in anticipation for WiiSports 2: Electric Boogaloo.
MariosInferno @ Apr 24th 2008 2:47PM
"the majority of purchased Wiis are currently collecting dust in anticipation for WiiSports 2: Electric Boogaloo."
Wow, really...thanks for adding baseless statements to the conversation.
Yeah, I've seen them once and that was when I purchased it. Sunday morning at Target or Toys R Us seems to be most effective in my area...from what I've heard.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 24th 2008 2:59PM
I see em all the time in my area. Granted, I'm usually amused when the soccer moms try to find em on a weekend then run away with this illussion that they were impossible to find.
My favorite Wii supply story is thus.
SSBB lunch day was a Best Buy line. Well, I had the console, just wanted the game. So I went to Target, they had a fresh supply. Had to pick up something at Wal-Mart, once again, fresh supply. Plenty in stock at those places. Needed to get cat food from Meijer, once again, their electronics department had a fresh supply. What you had, essentially, was three locations by each other and all within walking distance of Best Buy. This was a brisk 32 degree morning so I drove by the Best Buy, in my kindness, and decided to inform those waiting in line of the consoles to be found elsewhere, in warmth. Only one took my advice, and she left her daughter in line, just in case. The rest called me a liar who just wants their spot in line....
Gotta love that.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 24th 2008 3:01PM
Mario, your BEST chance is the places people don't look. Like Sears or other niche stores like K's or Alco.
MariosInferno @ Apr 24th 2008 3:07PM
"Mario, your BEST chance is the places people don't look. Like Sears or other niche stores like K's or Alco."
Yeah...I could definitly see Sears. I have no clue what K's or Alco is, so...must be local for you.
With regards to you prior comment. It's still hit or miss around here (MI). I haven't seen one on the shelves in over a year....well, I've never seen one on shelves considering I bought mine in line at customer service with 20 other people. Now, I don't actively look...but, it seems to me the majority of Wii hunts end in failure around here.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 24th 2008 3:22PM
Well of course they'll end in failure because most people who begin the wii hunt are, in fact, asses about it. Five simple rules in arming yourself on the quest for a Wii. These are time tested and proven. Everyone I've shared this info with has found one within a couple weeks of the quests start.
1. If the clerk is noticably busy or frantic or with other customers, now is not the best time to pump them for information. Helping you will often be "just another thing to do" and likely you're about to ask a question they are tired of. Come back when it's slower to try and get information.
2. The customer is NOT always right. The customer is often a dick. You'd be suprised how much better service you can get from an employee just by starting out pleasantly. Be ready for "no" but try to nicely get more information.
3. Nintendo always ships their own stuff themselves. ALWAYS. So no matter the situation, UPS trucks always signify a Nintendo shipment. Most regular employees know those times. Being nice to the employees gets you those times so you know when to start working the phones.
4. Advertised shipments are deadends whereas unadvertised shipments are gold mines. Most of the time, stores ALL get their shipments around the same time. So if one store has a line but had it in their ads, it won't hurt you to check some of the surrounding stores. Think of the shops that SELL video games but no one KNOWS them for their video game selection.
5. With every major release comes a massive shipment. Which means the channels will be full this Sunday and again when WiiFit launches. This is just something Nintendo has traditionally done.
That's it. Those be the steps. They worked for a freidn in california and they worked for a friend in new york. Even for a friend in florida and one in chicago. Be patient, don't be an ass to store clerks, and you'd make real progress.
JerJerBinks @ Apr 24th 2008 3:56PM
@MariosInferno
My comment is not baseless, however the data set I am working with is pretty limited. Of the 10 people I know that own a Wii, 2 of them play it regularly. The other 80% bought their Wii after playing WiiSports at a friend's house. This isn't a bad thing, word of mouth sales are good, as long as the console is selling, and so is the software.
What I have noticed that is kind of intriguing is that of those 10, 5 people bought their Wii used. This isn't off Ebay, but directly from someone they know. Odd and weird at the same time.
Dale @ Apr 24th 2008 3:59PM
I saw several Wiis (albeit in bundles with a selection of tacky third party peripherals) in TJ Maxx near me a month or so ago.
SoulBlade @ Apr 24th 2008 2:34PM
I'll support Nintendo, but they didn't really need to say anything about this. Everyone knows it's an issue, but yea... rather than say you're upset about it, people would rather see you do something about it, or just see the results from your efforts.
Dante @ Apr 24th 2008 2:37PM
If you're still looking for a Nintendo Wii, here are some tips on how to find one:
http://wii-fanatic.blogspot.com/2008/03/where-to-buy-wii-game-console.html
Ted @ Apr 24th 2008 2:36PM
Maybe if they didn't region encode their games there would be less of a supply problem. >:(
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 24th 2008 2:39PM
I still don't think it's enough from 19 million last year to 25 million this year.
Umeadi @ Apr 24th 2008 6:20PM
I love your avatar.
J @ Apr 24th 2008 2:41PM
"He further points out that North America receives 40% of the 1.8 million Wii consoles manufactured every month, and that NA is the only territory where Wii supply and demand don't match up."
I guess they haven't thought of sending us a larger percent... instead of sending more to Norway just to sit on the shelves for weeks. Call me "crazy".
FOXHOUND @ Apr 24th 2008 2:43PM
j00 crazy, mang!
And yeah, I'd be upset if I was Reggie too. I'd like to buy a Maserati for every day of the week as well, but I can't, because we just can't make these cash machines fast enough. :\ Life sucks.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 2:52PM
Poor Reggie. Having to settle for a Masarati just because he can't seem to cram his massive self into a Ferrari.
"This was the largest automobile I could afford. Should that make me the target of ridicule?"
FOXHOUND @ Apr 24th 2008 2:54PM
+1 for the Simpsons reference. XD
Nelson got what was coming to him for years following that situation with the tall guy.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Apr 24th 2008 3:23PM
Ahhh, i loved that scene. Also, he's plain wrong about supply being all fine and dandy over seas; here in England the lack-of-wii is still quite apparent, he just wants his branch to look better in comparison.
Mr Khan @ Apr 24th 2008 4:05PM
That was an epic scene in Simpsons history, just because of the look of dismay on Nelson's face when that giant steps out of the Bug
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 2:47PM
I think it's time you got a new avatar. Might I suggest something in a Viewtiful Jolene?
tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 24th 2008 2:50PM
Please don't fix your supply problem I'm making some good money off of it
Syn @ Apr 24th 2008 2:51PM
I don't believe this demand for the Wii. I know 2 people around here who own one, but they never use it anymore. Everyone else hates the Wii. If you goto Walmart, you'll see bins and bins of Wii games on sale, because no one is buying them. And if you say, thats because there are no Wii to buy, then what about the millions that have sold. Wouldn't they be buying games? I've seen the same sold out signs on every store since launch, makes it hard to believe the Wii is even selling as much as it is.
J @ Apr 24th 2008 2:54PM
The attach rate for games isn't very high, but people are definitely buying the systems.
MariosInferno @ Apr 24th 2008 2:55PM
You know, a couple spaces or an enter would greatly aid this useless comment.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 24th 2008 2:55PM
You've got to understand (key word right there) that the same is not the case for the vast majority of us. Most of the people I know who have a Wii use it daily (including myself, right alongside my PS3 and 360), and they have more than a few games for the system. I myself have 21, not including the VC titles.
The reason you see bins of Wii titles? People aren't buying the shovelware. Shouldn't that make you happy? It did me.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 2:57PM
Even though you're a playstation troll, your comment reflects my (and my friends') personal experience with the Wii, and therefore I must vote said comment up by 1.
FOXHOUND @ Apr 24th 2008 2:56PM
I figure the Wii lately is a lot like the internet in the eyes of the layman-society.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS OR DOES, BUT I MUST BUY IT BECAUSE THAT'S ALL PEOPLE TALK ABOUT!"
With that said, I'm set to fill empty Nintendo Wii boxes with foamcore to be sold on MARIO KART Sunday. Mwa ha ha ha ha. >:]
Fernando Rocker @ Apr 24th 2008 2:57PM
Agains with the Wii doesnt sell games?
Next time, chck those bins full of Wii games: third party crap by unknow developers.
Did't you saw the last month NPD software numbers? Nintendo was on top.
Did you saw the Media Crate numbers from Japan? Nintendo was on top.
Did you saw Mario Kart selling 1.2 millions first week in Japan and Europe? Or SSBB selling 5 millions, not counting Europe?
And did you saw the Fiscal Year report a few threads back? The attach rate is now more than 6.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 2:59PM
21 games, Fatass? You must have a high tolerance for shovelware.
Fernando Rocker @ Apr 24th 2008 3:02PM
Baby sea tuna
I can easily name 21 good Wii games.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 24th 2008 3:04PM
Feel free. I can think of about 5 (and I'm not including shit like No More Heroes, Elebits, or any other game I bought and ended up selling after a week.)
Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 24th 2008 3:04PM
LoZ:TP
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime 3
Paper Mario
RE4 Wii Edition
Okami
No More Heroes
Zack and Wiki
Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Mario Strikers Charged
Bully
Battalion Wars 2
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
Trauma Center: New Blood
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
WarioWare
Guitar Hero 3
Guilty Gear Accent Core
and of course, Wii Sports.
None of those games are bad. None of them are shovelware. Only one is a minigame collection, but it's a good one that my 'hardcore' friends and I often find ourselves playing.
There you go.