Surprise! Nintendo dismisses WiiWare sales threshold as 'rumour and speculation'
by JC Fletcher 
{ Apr 15th 2009 at 11:30AM } 
Whenever a topic comes up that Nintendo doesn't want to address, the company responds with, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation." Basically, anything other than a press release or recorded statement from an executive is considered rumor and speculation. MotionPlus release date? Rumors and speculation! A new DS model? Rumors and speculation! (Well, "research and speculation," just to keep it fresh!)And so it is with the WiiWare sales threshold story presented yesterday. A Nintendo UK spokesperson told Edge that the information was "rumour and speculation." Technically, it's true to say that -- statements from unnamed developers really are rumors, just like estimates of Wii manufacturing costs are speculation. But it's no less frustrating. Even so, it's worth noting that the rep followed up not with a denial of the payment scheme, but, "The terms, conditions and contracts between Nintendo and developers is a private and confidential matter."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DoctorWho @ Apr 15th 2009 11:45AM
Sweet, Fleetwood Mac!
I saw the image and thought that Rumours was coming to Rock Band for a minute, then was sad when I found out it had nothing to do with the article at all.
:(
Bowser Rogozhin @ Apr 15th 2009 11:45AM
Money isn’t made on Wiiware. Any decent content is suffocated by puzzle-nonsense, but the decent content is so few and far between that the search for a worthwhile game quickly becomes an exercise of frustration. Let’s not even get into the dull Wiiware interface, where waiting 10 seconds to navigate each page has quickly become the norm. Considering these, and many other factors, it’s a surprise that companies are even imagining making a profit. It’s a loss-maker from the very start, much like the forgotten Virtual Console.
Good companies like Hudson are wasting their greatest years, their greatest IPs on this shoddy service. Star Soldier R doesn’t deserve to be lost underneath the aquarium and haircut simulators. It’s demoralising. Seeing Hudson hedge all their bets on Wiiware like seeing your best friend take the retard to the school dance. Why, Hudson, why? You have so much going for you.
Noshino @ Apr 15th 2009 11:48AM
Unlikely.
Hudson has a great relationship with Nintendo, more so on the last few years. Not only has most of their content has been going to Nintendo consoles, but also they have developed many games based on Nintendo IPs.
I find it unlikely for Nintendo to not give them a hand.
Now, that's not to say that Nintendo does help most developers out there, from what has been reported, it seems it takes a hell lot of effort to get Nintendo to support a studio.
Feba @ Apr 15th 2009 12:04PM
Yeah, and Ico clearly suffered because it was on the same system as Britney's Dance Beat. We need a platform that only pretentious assholes are allowed to publish on, to keep everything else from being completely ruined.
Clearly, when developers decide to make sequels and more games for WiiWare, it's a sign that the service is failing. The whole "Our sales have doubled since the SD card update! It's even more profitable than before!" thing is a devious lie.
Bowser Rogozhin @ Apr 15th 2009 12:11PM
"Our sales have doubled since the SD card update!"
That could be wonderful or terrible news depending on the actual numbers. Considering Strongbad had long fallen off the top 20 (only the top 20 make money, I read on Gamasutra) I’m not too sure how much stock you should put into that comment. Two is double of one, four is double of two...
Dopple Boppler @ Apr 15th 2009 12:29PM
"Star Soldier R doesn’t deserve to be lost underneath the aquarium and haircut simulators."
I was under the impression that the "haircut simulator" was actually really good. I've heard lots of great things about it, but I'll admit that I haven't bought it because I don't plan on getting any more Wii points until Cave Story comes out.
But when it comes to Star Soldier? Uh, yeah, I'll just stick to Super Star Soldier on the Virtual Console.
Mr Khan @ Apr 15th 2009 1:04PM
I'm still shocked about that Aquarium thing. It almost makes me want to try it, just to see why exactly its been topping the WiiWare lists for so long
madhat @ Apr 15th 2009 2:10PM
I tip my hat to you you, Bowser Rogozhin. Worst simile I've read all week. That takes some doing.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 15th 2009 6:05PM
@Mr Khan: ...it's a great screensaver for parties. :P
Massmass @ Apr 15th 2009 12:12PM
I wouldn't put it past Nintendo to screw developers. They only have a very long history of doing so all in the name of "quality control".
At the same rate, devs can choose to publish elsewhere so, meh. Still sucks nonetheless.
fffunfarm06 @ Apr 15th 2009 1:04PM
i cant help but feeling how greedy nintendo is. from making mass amounts of profit from their systems to seemingly shitting on the little guy; the developers, and making crap games, i wish we could boycott somehow or petition something to make them i guess the word is ethical.
Geist @ Apr 15th 2009 2:21PM
Damn these capitalistic enterprises for making money! They should be giving money away and doing stuff for free! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
Feba @ Apr 15th 2009 2:25PM
You can boycott it, somehow.
By boycotting.
Good heavens, did you fail English, or civics? Boycotting is not exactly a hard subject to understand.
fffunfarm06 @ Apr 15th 2009 3:04PM
but its more than likely true that nintendo does do that to the devs. unlike apple with their 70% earnings per app, or xbox 360's 50%.
and not lowering an overpriced console? i guess thats cool.
my 360 has been staying very competitive and thats why all my friends have an xbox and live and we can all play it together....
im high. like really high...
ScottG13 @ Apr 15th 2009 1:21PM
PR people are the best.
And by best, I mean worst.
Makes you realize how awesome having a Major Nelson out there can be. At least his denials are amusing.
Sexy Lando @ Apr 29th 2009 3:21AM
How is this a "rumor" or "speculation"? It's true. Maybe what they should say is, "Nintendo doesn't comment on the shafting that's policy to 3rd party developers."
In all truthfullness, this isn't much different than any other nickle-and-dime job people get. Avaon, Amway, Mary Kay, paper routes, etc... all the same.
Double J @ Apr 15th 2009 2:18PM
All I can contribute to this conversation is that Mick Fleetwood has balls dangling around his crotch on the Rumors album cover.
Moptimus Slime (Gobot in disguise) @ Apr 15th 2009 7:27PM
as opposed to around his mouth?
Geist @ Apr 15th 2009 2:23PM
It's like they're telling the truth. It's all rumours and speculation. Companies have been doing this for years; one as entrenched as Nintendo isn't going to get all buddy-buddy with everyone. They release information on their terms, not on someone else's. Why are we surprised by this, every company is the same.