Nintendo Admits Decline in Demand for Wii and DS

[Logan Westbrook]

Nintendo Admits Decline in Demand for Wii and DS

It's a tough time for the videogame industry right now, and Nintendo UK Boss David Yarnton says that his company is not exempt.

It's no mystery that the Wii and DS have sold exceptionally well; the Wii's install base is larger than its rivals by tens of millions of units, and the DS is the second best selling console of all time, after the PS2. But speaking on BBC Radio 4 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/], Yarnton admitted that sales of the two platforms had declined recently.

Yarnton said the whole industry was experiencing some difficulties at the moment and blamed it, at least in part, on the recession: "We've had very good years," he said. "We're not recession proof. We've probably as an industry been better than other industries."

He denied that interest in the Wii and DS has peaked however, saying that there was still plenty of opportunity for the product and that they were tapping into demographics that didn't normally play games. He also said that Nintendo had innovative hardware in the pipeline with the 3DS, and that the Wii had yet to be "fully harnessed" and had games coming that would wow people when they saw them.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/nintendo-wii-and-ds-demand-declined]


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[Crimsane]

Could be declining because so many people already own them. >.> 3/4 of my gamer friends own a DS or Wii. Granted, most among those friends who own a DS are pirates with R4s, but still.

 

[Chamale]

I think this is because developers stupidly anticipated that this console generation would last longer than most. Computational power has never been a big issue for Wii or DS customers, but the weakness of the Wii's brain is becoming painfully obvious. Now that high-end desktops really blow away the capabilities of a console, gamers are becoming tired of modern systems. If Nintendo tries to keep the Wii in the modern generation until 2015, or if Sony tries the same with the PS3, they'll be unable to port any new PC games to their systems. Microsoft, from what I've read, is still planning to release a new console soon, though they're still riding the sales spike from the Xbox 360 Slim.

 

[FallenTraveler]

I think this is because developers stupidly anticipated that this console generation would last longer than most. Computational power has never been a big issue for Wii or DS customers, but the weakness of the Wii's brain is becoming painfully obvious. Now that high-end desktops really blow away the capabilities of a console, gamers are becoming tired of modern systems. If Nintendo tries to keep the Wii in the modern generation until 2015, or if Sony tries the same with the PS3, they'll be unable to port any new PC games to their systems. Microsoft, from what I've read, is still planning to release a new console soon, though they're still riding the sales spike from the Xbox 360 Slim.

why would M$ release a new console soon when, from what I've read, they are attempting to use Kinect to expand the life of the 360... ps3, imo has more longevity, but you're right, if they dont release new tech in a few years theyre going to have a lot of jaded gamers who go ahead and buy pc's

 

[Chamale]

why would M$ release a new console soon when, from what I've read, they are attempting to use Kinect to expand the life of the 360... ps3, imo has more longevity, but you're right, if they dont release new tech in a few years theyre going to have a lot of jaded gamers who go ahead and buy pc's

It's hard to say, because Microsoft hasn't made official statements either way. However, Sony and Nintendo have both said that they plan to keep their consoles going until around 2015.

If Kinect fails, Microsoft will work for an early release of the new console they're rumoured to be working on right now. Of course, we all remember what happened to the Dreamcast when it was released ahead of its time.

 

[2fish]

[quote="FallenTraveler" post="7.213948.7229191
why would M$ release a new console soon when, from what I've read, they are attempting to use Kinect to expand the life of the 360... ps3, imo has more longevity, but you're right, if they dont release new tech in a few years theyre going to have a lot of jaded gamers who go ahead and buy pc's[/quote]

You are correct I have already been thinking it is time to upgrade my PC and not look into the next consol systems. I have been buying more pc games too, scary as I am a consol gamer .

 

[Plinglebob]

I think this is because developers stupidly anticipated that this console generation would last longer than most. Computational power has never been a big issue for Wii or DS customers, but the weakness of the Wii's brain is becoming painfully obvious. Now that high-end desktops really blow away the capabilities of a console, gamers are becoming tired of modern systems. If Nintendo tries to keep the Wii in the modern generation until 2015, or if Sony tries the same with the PS3, they'll be unable to port any new PC games to their systems. Microsoft, from what I've read, is still planning to release a new console soon, though they're still riding the sales spike from the Xbox 360 Slim.

why would M$ release a new console soon when, from what I've read, they are attempting to use Kinect to expand the life of the 360... ps3, imo has more longevity, but you're right, if they dont release new tech in a few years theyre going to have a lot of jaded gamers who go ahead and buy pc's

And the PC Master Race will return and rule you all *insane cackle*

OT: Market saturation at its finest. Nintendo will be able to keep themselves going with the 3DS for a while though and I'd bet on a Wii 2 (a poo?) to be ready for christmas 2012.

You are correct I have already been thinking it is time to upgrade my PC and not look into the next consol systems. I have been buying more pc games too, scary as I am a consol gamer .

Give into it and soon you will be at peace.

 

[Weaver]

You are correct I have already been thinking it is time to upgrade my PC and not look into the next consol systems. I have been buying more pc games too, scary as I am a consol gamer .

Well, if you start playing PC games as well then you can label yourself as just a plain old "gamer"

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On Topic:
So Nintendo has sold over 100 fucking million DS units and have announced the "soon" to be released 3DS and wonder why sales have dropped? If you want to own a DS the odds are you do, and if someone was going to get one the odds are they're just going to wait for the 3DS which can play DS games anyways!

 

[Vladamir69]

"Wii had yet to be "fully harnessed" and had games coming that would wow people when they saw them."

I call shenanigans on this one. I think we have all seen what the Wii has to offer. If you want proof blow off the dust of your Wii and turn it on.

 

[HentMas]

what most people seem to forget is that Nintendo has had this issue before, in the N64 era everything seemed cool untill the PSone starting packin awesome CG videos, so nintendo released the "expansion pack" wich could be replaced manually by the owner, and it really did improved the graphics A LOT.

now the Wii, it HAVES crappy graphics, and is rather in the "slow" side, but who else thinks they CAN improve the hardware without releasing a new console?? I do!

except... everyone knows its a rip off.

 

[PureChaos]

it was bound to happen sooner or later, what's the big deal? it wasn't going to be in the same demand forever

 

[Worgen]

well not like this will really have much impact on nintendo since the 3ds is coming out soon and its gonna sell like gang busters, whatever that means

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Well, now that everyone has it, no point in getting multiple copies of the same console.

You know, unless your like Paul.

Calumon: Ummm... Boo?

 

[Pinguin]

I'm inclined to agree, I think everyone has one by now!

 

[Cabisco]

The decline is really because you've sold them to everyone. I still think nintendos problem right now is R4 cards. I don't know a single person with a DS who doesn't use one, they need to sort that out for the 3DS otherwise they will crash and burn.

 

[Danpascooch]

In a follow up to Nintendo's report of declining demand, it blames the phenomena on a new threat called GIGA-PIRACY its scary name ensures that it cuts sales of everything by at least 102%, and rapes unborn babies

Yeah, no way they'll just say "yeah, the design of the Wii encouraged a big boom and then a slow stagnating death, our bad"

 

[Stabby Joe]

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

In regards to "fully harnessing" the Wii, the only other development would be a great emphasis on, surprise surprise, what everyone thought you were originally intending in the first place IE more games that use controls as an action of the player to character... not "oh look at the funny waggling".

Other than that, there's nothing else you can do, there's not much to "harness" with the limited power of the Wii.

Also: POST 800!

 

[CyberKnight]

Well, of course demand for the Wii is falling. Why would you want one of those when Microsoft is releasing the Kinect?

[small]Sorry, I crack myself up sometimes.[/small]

 

[V8 Ninja]

Not surprised. Almost everyone's bound to have one by now.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Not surprised. Almost everyone's bound to have one by now.

Which was more or less the comment I was about to make. Seriously, for how long the system's been out, it's a safe bet that just about everybody who intended to buy one already has.