Nintendo Glad 3DS Isn't Sold Out

[Tom Goldman]

Nintendo Glad 3DS Isn't Sold Out

Nintendo is happy the 3DS didn't completely sell out, because that's the way it planned the handheld's launch.

Success is measured in many different ways. A successful product is often one that sells out of its initial print run and remains tough to get for the coming weeks or months because of high demand. Though consumers can easily waltz into their nearby videogame or electronics store and purchase a Nintendo 3DS [http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Aqua-Blue/dp/B002I090AG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302978013&sr=8-2] in North America just two weeks after release, Nintendo still considers it a success.

Comparatively, the Nintendo Wii [http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Hardware-Bundle-Black-Nintendo/dp/B0045F8QDE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302978008&sr=8-1] was sold out for years. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told USA Today he's actually glad that the 3DS didn't pull a Wii-peat, because it means Nintendo achieved its launch goals.

Fils-Aime said he is "satisfied" with the approximately 400,000 launch week sales [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109285-3DS-and-Pokemon-Make-March-11-Nintendos-Best-Ever] of the 3DS in North America, and he's looking forward to the system's momentum going into the future. As for why the system is still available, Fils-Aime said: "We staged supply so it would not sell out."

"We had product going direct to store and we also had product in retailers (distribution centers), so they could easily replenish when they had stores running low on inventory," he revealed. "That strategy is why you didn't see massive sellouts on Nintendo 3DS. Obviously, a sell-through of 400,000 units in one week is exceptional. And the fact that we achieved that without people being worried about massive stockouts and shortages just underscored how we properly executed our supply chain."

The strategy with the 3DS was reportedly influenced by the issues consumers faced trying to purchase a Wii through somewhere around 2008 or 2009. The Wii sold approximately 600,000 units in its launch week.

The true test for the 3DS is to see if it'll keep selling well. With big titles like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D [http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Zelda-Ocarina-Time-Nintendo-3DS/dp/B003O6E800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1302978942&sr=1-1] not due out until June, it certainly has potential to keep acquiring new customers.

Source: USA Today [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/04/q38a-nintendo-of-americas-reggie-fils-aime/1]

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[Radeonx]

Well the library right now is terrible, so once some good games come out for it the sales will most likely skyrocket.

 

[Shiftysnowdog]

Well the library right now is terrible, so once some good games come out for it the sales will most likely skyrocket.

Yeah I hear that, my brother picked one up with 2 games.

The sims, and Nintendogs.....

 

[aeroblaster]

Just wait 2 years for the 3DS xl to come out. That thing is WAY too small right now.

 

[Clockwork Scarecrow.]

I don't know, if your plan for a product is to not make enough money to cover costs then you may have made a mistake somewhere.

On the other hand it could just be a lie.

 

[Fasckira]

I don't know, if your plan for a product is to not make enough money to cover costs then you may have made a mistake somewhere.

On the other hand it could just be a lie.

Aye, I think the tag line use of "glad" is a bit wrong. Never heard of a company saying they're glad they didnt sell loads. I think its highly probable they did have some strategy to try and keep the stock levels, well, stocked but I think any company wouldn't mind if they sold out!

 

[Mr. Omega]

Hah! You just failed 'cause it was a GIMMICK! /typicalEscapistresponsetoanythingNintendorelated

Serious: Well, with the weak launch line-up, there wasn't much incentive for people to buy one. Just wait a little. Also, a price drop would help, and maybe a game to come with the system? Right Nintendo, you used to do that. What ever happened to including a game to go with the system? You were the last company still doing that. Please don't let it stop now...

 

[rembrandtqeinstein]

street fighter is REALLY good for 3ds, the over the shoulder mode makes is interesting

I'm excited for the future though, 3ds metroid would be tight, metroid prime hunters almost worked but with the power of the 3ds it will be great

also if you haven't seen them yet take a test drive of the augmented reality games, those are really nifty and I would be excited to see expansions on those concepts

 

[SD-Fiend]

I'm just hoping they make the limited edition pokemon ones before any good games come out

 

[SaintWaldo]

"We had product going direct to store and we also had product in retailers (distribution centers), so they could easily replenish when they had stores running low on inventory," he revealed. "That strategy is why you didn't see massive sellouts on Nintendo 3DS."

Thanks for explaining a fucking SUPPLY CHAIN to us, Reggie. Glad you figured that out.

 

[BlueGlowstick]

I can't actually get a 3DS since I have seizures but I want a regular DSi XL. that way if I decide to upgrade I can get $50 off.

 

[Jumwa]

I'd call BS on this except it IS what they said they wanted BEFORE launch. They made a big deal about how they were annoyed both the DS and Wii were being re-sold by other vendors for much larger prices, and so for the 3DS they'd up the price and make sure they had enough supply to meet demand so they wouldn't get a repeat of the situation.

I can see their point. It loses them the nice press bites about how people are trampling each other to death to get one, but it ensures they maximize their own profit off sales.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I can't actually get a 3DS since I have seizures but I want a regular DSi XL. that way if I decide to upgrade I can get $50 off.

Well, the 3D is totally optional, you know. It's a little slide bar on the side, like the volume meter.

Anyway, good for them. Making a shit-ton so stock wouldn't run dry and result in the Wii insanity.

 

[Catalyst6]

"Oh, we didn't sell out"? *pause* "No, that's okay. We planned it that way. See? We even have a diagram"!

*shows hastily made supply chain diagram, sketched on the white space underneath a scribbled out but beautifully drawn party scene with a banner reading "We sold out on the 3DS!"*

"See, proof. Now, the Nintendo execs want to be left alone now. And order us up some ice cream... for research."

 

[Uber Waddles]

The reason I didnt buy a 3DS at launch is because of the lack of launch titles. Seriously, only about 2 games were vaugely interesting: and not interesting enough to warrant my purchase.

This kind of does make sence. If Nintendo wanted the 3DS to sell well, it would have sold well. If they packed a Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, Kirby, or Metroid game at the launch, it would have sold a lot more copies. And it does alleviate Nintendo of the Wii problem, where they sold an extreme ammount, followed by a huge downturn. Steady as it goes.

If its Nintendo trying to look badass for a lack of success, thats alright. But Nintendo has survive for this long for a reason. In most cases, I like to think they know what they're doing, so Ill take their word on it.

Atleast Nintendo isnt having press releases telling us how the gaming industry sucks because of us gamers, or some equally flawed BS logic on a weekly basis... You know who you are... *glares at Activision*

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Well, it is kind of like the original DS's launch. There was pretty much nothing when the system launched until games like Brain Age and New Super Mario Bros. came out and the system sold like hotcakes. Likewise, the 3DS's launch line up is, for lack of a better word, barren, but there's an entire line up of games coming during the summer and onwards that'll justify buying the 3DS.

I just don't think "Glad" is the right word to use. There's a potential for sales to rise, but the 3DS has a lot of problems when it comes down to how to market the thing. As it stands, marketing the 3D feature alone just seems like a bad idea in an era where the 3D feature on a movie or game is being marketed on just about everything you see.

 

[knighthawk42]

Well I would hope they did not plan to sell out. One thing I always say is you want to have just enough product. You cannot sell a product you do not have, thus you cannot make money on a out of stock product. Nintendo just wants to almost sell out. Also they do not get the extra money from people selling them for twice as much on e-bay. Another reason they launched this far out from the holidays.

 

[Dexiro]

Pretty much everyone I know is just holding off until some better games come out. I mean the 3D gimmick is fine and all but it's definitely the games that matter.

 

[BlueGlowstick]

I can't actually get a 3DS since I have seizures but I want a regular DSi XL. that way if I decide to upgrade I can get $50 off.

Well, the 3D is totally optional, you know. It's a little slide bar on the side, like the volume meter.

Anyway, good for them. Making a shit-ton so stock wouldn't run dry and result in the Wii insanity.

I was actually at GameStop in the days leading up to the 3DS release & they said if you bring in a DSi XL you get the 3DS for only $200, or you just have to pay $50. It varied for the DSi & DS Lite. But I still wouldn't want one because $250 is too much to pay for a game system. I didn't go through the Wii Mania a few years back, but my cousin & my aunts did at Game Stop & they got one of like 10 in the store.

 

[Baresark]

I am looking forward to some of the later titles, and accordingly, I will wait to purchase it as well. I am glad their initial goal was met though. A lot of people see this as BS I think, but from a business standpoint, you don't want to oversell and create a shortage on purpose. This could also point to the overall intelligence of a strategic spring launch, rather than a holiday one, something every console developer has done up until now. It creates a nice spread, and there will probably still be a shortage in the holidays, but most people who are interested aren't sold short because of psychotic parents waiting all night to get something they aren't going to give to their kids for a month and half. Good job Nintendo, you're a business savvy bunch, as anyone should be able to tell by your past history and profitability.