Today in the US, Nintendo launched the Wii console, not that you'd know it watching the news. In contrast to the lead-story coverage generated by last week's PlayStation 3 launch, mainstream news has largely ignored the Nintendo release.
Although the machine is a sell-out in most areas of the US, Nintendo lost vital publicity that it had hoped would hit its target of lapsed and non-gamers. These consumers, typically disinterested in gaming, simply heard that a new PlayStation had arrived and everyone seemed desperate to buy one. They have probably missed the fact that a Nintendo machine has also been launched, a machine they might very much want to play or at the very least investigate.
Calls to branches of Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart today painted a picture of quiet and orderly satisfaction. Although actual allocation figures are well-guarded, it appears that regional Wal-Mart stores received 20 units, Target and Best Buy had around 60 available per outlet. In contrast to the PS3 launch, queuing began hours, rather than days, before stores opened.
Only Wii's New York launch event gathered a healthy amount of publicity, including mentions in the mainstream media's entertainment and tech pages. The coverage Sony enjoyed is not present, even though more machines reached more users.
In-store pre-orders for Wii sold out in minutes of going on sale. Follow-up pre-orders were available online only and comprised $700 bundles, and also sold out within minutes. Online auctions saw pre-orders sell for around $1,000 in some cases and as far as anyone could see, the Wii was almost as hot at the PS3. However, allocations for both machines went in opposite directions, and the laws of supply and demand came into play.
The fact stands that more people have had a Wii today than bought PlayStation 3 on Friday. More people have one hooked up to their SD televisions playing a greater library of games, some of which are actually very good. So what happened?
Despite its a $600 price tag, limited supplies of PlayStation 3 resulted in pre-orders selling at thousands of dollars over the RRP on auction sites. The US was initially expecting over 400,000 consoles to hit retail, but this figure diminished and by mid-week, it was largely accepted that only 250,000 units would be available at launch. This drove people onto the streets and by Thursday night, retail outlets across the country were besieged by little shantytowns comprising an estimated 70% scalpers and 30% gamers.
Compared to the last big camp out for the Xbox 360, more was at stake with the PlayStation 3 launch. It is a console that promises more than any other, it commands a higher retail price than any other, it is in desperately short supply and promises to be for many weeks.
PS3 also represents the best overnight investment ever in a games machine, with people netting thousands of dollars within hours of launch. Transactions were taking place in car parks, with scalpers seeing big returns for a working week out in the cold. There were sporadic shootings, stampedes and fights around the country, although SPOnG witnessed a standard trouble-free launch here. It was enough to drive blanket media coverage of the PlayStation 3 in almost every single news outlet coast-to-coast. Starting on Tuesday and building to a crescendo on Friday evening, anyone picking up a newspaper, turning on the television or tuning in their car radios was well aware that the PlayStation 3 was such a hot item. The result: Non-gamers and lapsed gamers became aware that everyone wanted a PlayStation 3. That's quite a seed to plant...
Stay tuned for some on-the-spot coverage of Nintendo's New York launch soon on SPOnG and be sure to let us know how you feel things went right and wrong in the US over what has been an amazing weekend for gaming.
Although the machine is a sell-out in most areas of the US, Nintendo lost vital publicity that it had hoped would hit its target of lapsed and non-gamers. These consumers, typically disinterested in gaming, simply heard that a new PlayStation had arrived and everyone seemed desperate to buy one. They have probably missed the fact that a Nintendo machine has also been launched, a machine they might very much want to play or at the very least investigate.
Calls to branches of Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart today painted a picture of quiet and orderly satisfaction. Although actual allocation figures are well-guarded, it appears that regional Wal-Mart stores received 20 units, Target and Best Buy had around 60 available per outlet. In contrast to the PS3 launch, queuing began hours, rather than days, before stores opened.
Only Wii's New York launch event gathered a healthy amount of publicity, including mentions in the mainstream media's entertainment and tech pages. The coverage Sony enjoyed is not present, even though more machines reached more users.
In-store pre-orders for Wii sold out in minutes of going on sale. Follow-up pre-orders were available online only and comprised $700 bundles, and also sold out within minutes. Online auctions saw pre-orders sell for around $1,000 in some cases and as far as anyone could see, the Wii was almost as hot at the PS3. However, allocations for both machines went in opposite directions, and the laws of supply and demand came into play.
The fact stands that more people have had a Wii today than bought PlayStation 3 on Friday. More people have one hooked up to their SD televisions playing a greater library of games, some of which are actually very good. So what happened?
Despite its a $600 price tag, limited supplies of PlayStation 3 resulted in pre-orders selling at thousands of dollars over the RRP on auction sites. The US was initially expecting over 400,000 consoles to hit retail, but this figure diminished and by mid-week, it was largely accepted that only 250,000 units would be available at launch. This drove people onto the streets and by Thursday night, retail outlets across the country were besieged by little shantytowns comprising an estimated 70% scalpers and 30% gamers.
Compared to the last big camp out for the Xbox 360, more was at stake with the PlayStation 3 launch. It is a console that promises more than any other, it commands a higher retail price than any other, it is in desperately short supply and promises to be for many weeks.
PS3 also represents the best overnight investment ever in a games machine, with people netting thousands of dollars within hours of launch. Transactions were taking place in car parks, with scalpers seeing big returns for a working week out in the cold. There were sporadic shootings, stampedes and fights around the country, although SPOnG witnessed a standard trouble-free launch here. It was enough to drive blanket media coverage of the PlayStation 3 in almost every single news outlet coast-to-coast. Starting on Tuesday and building to a crescendo on Friday evening, anyone picking up a newspaper, turning on the television or tuning in their car radios was well aware that the PlayStation 3 was such a hot item. The result: Non-gamers and lapsed gamers became aware that everyone wanted a PlayStation 3. That's quite a seed to plant...
Stay tuned for some on-the-spot coverage of Nintendo's New York launch soon on SPOnG and be sure to let us know how you feel things went right and wrong in the US over what has been an amazing weekend for gaming.
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Comments
Smelly 20 Nov 2006 00:39
1/14
Well i queued at walmart this morning for a wii. Huge queue. 60 units available.
The tickets went along line at 7am, and half the queue were sent home.
At my local bestbuy, they'd handed out all 100 tickets by 6am. Futureshop had people queing up outside for a wii overnight in sleeping bags/tents.
So, whereas people weren't queuing up as long as they did for the ps3..
1. More wii's were availalbe, so less of a panic
2. Most people know there will be more shipments of the wii every week - so again less of a panic.
To say it didnt get the same "hype" as the ps3 is probably therefor a bit nonsense.. It just meant a lot more people got one who wanted one - and if not, they'll get one in a week or two.
That's the way to do a launch.. not over hype it, only to find you only have 5 units available in each shop, and that's all you'll get until next year.. Or wotever.
The tickets went along line at 7am, and half the queue were sent home.
At my local bestbuy, they'd handed out all 100 tickets by 6am. Futureshop had people queing up outside for a wii overnight in sleeping bags/tents.
So, whereas people weren't queuing up as long as they did for the ps3..
1. More wii's were availalbe, so less of a panic
2. Most people know there will be more shipments of the wii every week - so again less of a panic.
To say it didnt get the same "hype" as the ps3 is probably therefor a bit nonsense.. It just meant a lot more people got one who wanted one - and if not, they'll get one in a week or two.
That's the way to do a launch.. not over hype it, only to find you only have 5 units available in each shop, and that's all you'll get until next year.. Or wotever.
Joji 20 Nov 2006 06:40
2/14
Once the games start flowing things will pick up for Wii, but it doesn't have to make big news to sell. Word of mouth will do the rest.
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dr_faulk 20 Nov 2006 09:20
3/14
Yeah, bring a Wii to a party and a lot of people will like it. I brought WarioWare: Twisted to a party and it became the talking point of the night. The girls went mad for the sewing game. Sexist. No. Sexy? Yes!
DoctorDee 20 Nov 2006 09:34
4/14
Smelly wrote:
Well i queued at walmart this morning for a wii. Huge queue. 60 units available.
Yeah we did say that it sold out, in the article.
To say it didnt get the same "hype" as the ps3 is probably therefor a bit nonsense.
Hmm, depends what you mean by hype.
What we (and most people) mean is to overly promote something, often using questionable claims. Nintendo didn't do that.
Sony - well, there was a lot of hoopla, figures available to retail were hyped, but in reality very few units were on sale. As a result, many of those that were available weren't bought by gamers, but by low-life profiteers.
We stand by our claim that the Wii launch was not hyped.
TimSpong 20 Nov 2006 10:03
5/14
Smelly wrote:
Well i queued at walmart this morning for a wii. Huge queue. 60 units available.
[SNIP]
At my local bestbuy, they'd handed out all 100 tickets by 6am. Futureshop had people queing up outside for a wii overnight in sleeping bags/tents.
[SNIP]
At my local bestbuy, they'd handed out all 100 tickets by 6am. Futureshop had people queing up outside for a wii overnight in sleeping bags/tents.
Hi, whereabouts are you in the States?
Cheers
Ditto 20 Nov 2006 10:33
6/14
Joji wrote:
Once the games start flowing things will pick up for Wii, but it doesn't have to make big news to sell. Word of mouth will do the rest.
I think that this is the main point. Looking at Gamespot's list of released and reviewed Wii games shows that only 4 original games have scored 8 and over, which at the moment doesn't represent an amazing line-up to me. Not sure about forthcoming games either, as the killer titles such as Smash Bros. don't have a release date. Yes, I know maybe it's a bit too early to judge.
I'm looking forward to playing on a Wii, but am not sure Nintendo have managed expectations well here.
How are those who have purchased Wiis finding it? Is it good? Are there enough good games out and due out?
soanso 20 Nov 2006 11:35
7/14
I've looked at those reviews on gamespot too and I got the feeling the guy just doesn't like the controller.
Wii looks a lot of fun but it doesn't look like a must have to me. Not yet anyway.
Most of the hype I read about PlayStation 3 was all about stock shortages and evilBay.
Wii looks a lot of fun but it doesn't look like a must have to me. Not yet anyway.
Most of the hype I read about PlayStation 3 was all about stock shortages and evilBay.
ozfunghi 20 Nov 2006 14:10
8/14
Of the handful games GS reviewed, indeed only a few scored over 80%...
Trauma Center
Zelda
Monkeyball
Wii sports that comes free, scored 78% though.
I also smell the bias from across the ocean. GS has been ignoring Wii until last month, when they started bashing it every now and then. That idiot that reviewed Zelda has lost all credibility. His main concerns:
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
Let me start with the voice acting: IS HE KIDDING ME?? The day Link starts to talk is the day i stop playing Zelda. He obviously has a hard time understanding the franchise "Zelda". Link, the stoic hero? Maybe they could let the other people talk (villagers etc, if it's done REALLY well) but Link, never.
Midi music? Ok, maybe, i still think it's ridiculous to have that weigh on the final score so much, but whatever. You'd think he'd score the game HIGHER because of the great music, no, he downgrades it because this exceptional music is done in Midi.
Controls tacked on? Hmm, could it be that the problem is HIM, and not the game? 1UP, IGN, Gamespy, you name 'm, they ALL said the EXACT OPPOSITE!!! Wii version is the way to go, controls are so much better. Not to forget, Myamoto's team spent 1.5 years working on hardly anything else than the controls, yet this schmuck thinks they're tacked on. Please, give me a break. Even Edge, with their harsh and hardly nuanced review scoring system scored the game a solid 9.
This is clearly a bad and biased reviewer, even though he scored OoT a 10 back in the day. The same guy coughing up smart remarks (trolling) about the wii prior to the review. Excuse me for not taking him seriously. People come up with "it's still a good score" or "it's only 1 guy's opinion" but that has nothing to do with it. First, it maybe a great score, but not for a Zelda game. Secondly, it still doesn't change the fact that his review is fundamentally WRONG and unfair. And last, i don't visit Gamespot to hear "some random guy's opinion", i go there because i want to hear a well thought out report of what the game is. I don't like GTA. Personally, i think it sucks. But that doesn't mean i can't rationally understand that it might appeal to 99% of other people who would think it's great. If a reviewer can't get past his own bias or preference, he should give the review to someone who can. I expect a professional reviewer to deliver a professional report, void of bias. Did he really not have a clue the problem could have been him, and not the game, the moment Gamespy and 1up among others posted their reviews? So according to gamespot, Zelda TP is in the same league as <insert random 8.8 game here>
Anyway, i won't be relying on GS for reviews anymore.
Trauma Center
Zelda
Monkeyball
Wii sports that comes free, scored 78% though.
I also smell the bias from across the ocean. GS has been ignoring Wii until last month, when they started bashing it every now and then. That idiot that reviewed Zelda has lost all credibility. His main concerns:
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
Let me start with the voice acting: IS HE KIDDING ME?? The day Link starts to talk is the day i stop playing Zelda. He obviously has a hard time understanding the franchise "Zelda". Link, the stoic hero? Maybe they could let the other people talk (villagers etc, if it's done REALLY well) but Link, never.
Midi music? Ok, maybe, i still think it's ridiculous to have that weigh on the final score so much, but whatever. You'd think he'd score the game HIGHER because of the great music, no, he downgrades it because this exceptional music is done in Midi.
Controls tacked on? Hmm, could it be that the problem is HIM, and not the game? 1UP, IGN, Gamespy, you name 'm, they ALL said the EXACT OPPOSITE!!! Wii version is the way to go, controls are so much better. Not to forget, Myamoto's team spent 1.5 years working on hardly anything else than the controls, yet this schmuck thinks they're tacked on. Please, give me a break. Even Edge, with their harsh and hardly nuanced review scoring system scored the game a solid 9.
This is clearly a bad and biased reviewer, even though he scored OoT a 10 back in the day. The same guy coughing up smart remarks (trolling) about the wii prior to the review. Excuse me for not taking him seriously. People come up with "it's still a good score" or "it's only 1 guy's opinion" but that has nothing to do with it. First, it maybe a great score, but not for a Zelda game. Secondly, it still doesn't change the fact that his review is fundamentally WRONG and unfair. And last, i don't visit Gamespot to hear "some random guy's opinion", i go there because i want to hear a well thought out report of what the game is. I don't like GTA. Personally, i think it sucks. But that doesn't mean i can't rationally understand that it might appeal to 99% of other people who would think it's great. If a reviewer can't get past his own bias or preference, he should give the review to someone who can. I expect a professional reviewer to deliver a professional report, void of bias. Did he really not have a clue the problem could have been him, and not the game, the moment Gamespy and 1up among others posted their reviews? So according to gamespot, Zelda TP is in the same league as <insert random 8.8 game here>
Anyway, i won't be relying on GS for reviews anymore.
Ditto 20 Nov 2006 15:54
9/14
ozfunghi wrote:
His main concerns:
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
The first two are IGN's concerns if I remember rightly not Gamespot's.
Let me start with the voice acting: IS HE KIDDING ME?? The day Link starts to talk is the day i stop playing Zelda. He obviously has a hard time understanding the franchise "Zelda". Link, the stoic hero? Maybe they could let the other people talk (villagers etc, if it's done REALLY well) but Link, never.
Midi music? Ok, maybe, i still think it's ridiculous to have that weigh on the final score so much, but whatever. You'd think he'd score the game HIGHER because of the great music, no, he downgrades it because this exceptional music is done in Midi.
Midi music? Ok, maybe, i still think it's ridiculous to have that weigh on the final score so much, but whatever. You'd think he'd score the game HIGHER because of the great music, no, he downgrades it because this exceptional music is done in Midi.
I think these were IGN's concerns, not Gamespot - address them to IGN!
(I totally agree on the voice acting, but think they should have gone the extra mile with the music.)
Controls tacked on? Hmm, could it be that the problem is HIM, and not the game? 1UP, IGN, Gamespy, you name 'm, they ALL said the EXACT OPPOSITE!!! Wii version is the way to go, controls are so much better. Not to forget, Myamoto's team spent 1.5 years working on hardly anything else than the controls, yet this schmuck thinks they're tacked on. Please, give me a break. Even Edge, with their harsh and hardly nuanced review scoring system scored the game a solid 9.
Have yopu played it? Because otherwise it's not a valid opinion.
Secondly, you need to remember it is basically a Gamecube port regardless of how much they've rewritten it for Wii.
First, it maybe a great score, but not for a Zelda game. Secondly, it still doesn't change the fact that his review is fundamentally WRONG and unfair.
Why? Because it's Zelda?
This game, frankly, doesn't sound innovative to me. A natural evolution of the franchise customised late for Nintendo's new console. Thus I agree with lots of his comments - although I will ammend this after I've played it ;).
I don't like GTA. Personally, i think it sucks.
I don't like OoT, I think it sucks, therefore I probably won't like this one (love Wind Waker though).
So according to gamespot, Zelda TP is in the same league as <insert random 8.8 game here>
Yup, that's what he's saying. Accept it.
Anyway, i won't be relying on GS for reviews anymore.
I will, because they don't give in to the hype!!
Ditto 20 Nov 2006 18:18
10/14
Adam M wrote:
ozfunghi wrote:
His main concerns:
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
Midi music
controls are "tacked on"
no voice acting
The first two are IGN's concerns if I remember rightly not Gamespot's.
Just watched the video review, and yeah, you are right Gamespot do mention them (but IGN do too).
Incidently, after watching more footage it does just look like an updated OoT. Quite disappointing, really.
ozfunghi 20 Nov 2006 19:14
11/14
Ok, you didn't read what i said. That's fine, i'm not gonna argue about it.
Not giving into the hype doesn't mean being biased. I haven't played it But dozens of people just as competent -what am i saying- MORE competent than that guy have, and they all praise the controls. I don't need to have played the game. Yet you feel the need to slam me on that point, while you're basing it being a OoT sequel off of a 2 minute video.
Funny stuff right there.
Not giving into the hype doesn't mean being biased. I haven't played it But dozens of people just as competent -what am i saying- MORE competent than that guy have, and they all praise the controls. I don't need to have played the game. Yet you feel the need to slam me on that point, while you're basing it being a OoT sequel off of a 2 minute video.
Funny stuff right there.
LUPOS 20 Nov 2006 22:35
12/14
Adam M wrote:
I don't like OoT, I think it sucks, therefore I probably won't like this one (love Wind Waker though).
Buh? Besides the graphic change, was there any major difference incontrol or gameplay between the two games?
I enjoyed them both thuroughly and am loving the new one already. I actually liked OoT better than wind waker, mostly cause the sailing got iritating, but as far as the dungeons and the real meat of the games goes they are both (and majoras for that matter) very similar and ver good.
This feel like more of the same (fine by me) but with a more fun control scheme.
I have played the game, and it's great. Dunno how the wolf bit works out yet, not that far but ill get back to you.
____
jodo4 20 Nov 2006 23:36
13/14
ill make it simple
i buy wii and LOZ
i play LOZ
LOZ = kickass to me
ur opinion = ur opinion
controls aren't tacked on but it isnt as seamless as a game MADE for wii, but it still isnt going to harm a grade for it
its not bad enough for that kind of a bringdown
the music is still awesom, i mean i personally work with midi and this stuff is masterpiece if it is midi because i cannot get it outta my head and it was made really well.
and the voiceover complaint is just really really stupid, that does show bias and if some bias is laying around that isn't to say there isn't more hidden deeper bias.
i buy wii and LOZ
i play LOZ
LOZ = kickass to me
ur opinion = ur opinion
controls aren't tacked on but it isnt as seamless as a game MADE for wii, but it still isnt going to harm a grade for it
its not bad enough for that kind of a bringdown
the music is still awesom, i mean i personally work with midi and this stuff is masterpiece if it is midi because i cannot get it outta my head and it was made really well.
and the voiceover complaint is just really really stupid, that does show bias and if some bias is laying around that isn't to say there isn't more hidden deeper bias.
soanso 21 Nov 2006 09:46
14/14
You can't win when it comes to voiceovers.
If this Zelda had voice acting I bet the reviews would be saying "Link doesn't sound heroic enough!"
or
"why does Zelda sound like a scouser?"
If this Zelda had voice acting I bet the reviews would be saying "Link doesn't sound heroic enough!"
or
"why does Zelda sound like a scouser?"