Wii In One Third Of US And Japanese Homes By 2011
No predictions of Europe – maybe we’ll still have GameCubes
The The Financial Times reports Merrill Lynch analyst Yoshiyuki Kinoshita’s prediction that by 2011, there will be a Wii in one third of all Japanese households and roughly the same number taking up valuable eating space in 30% of U.S. homes.
The paper also reports Credit Suisse analyst Jay Defibaugh as saying, “There has always been a strong concern that the Wii was gimmicky but each passing month assuages that.”
The financial analysts are supported by figures from Japanese gaming bible Famitsu publishers Enterbrain, which state that of the Wii took a massive 68% of the approximately 600,000 consoles sold in Japan during January; Sony's PS3 took 25%, while the traditionally disliked (in Japan) Xbox 360 came away with a meagre 7%.
The paper also reports Credit Suisse analyst Jay Defibaugh as saying, “There has always been a strong concern that the Wii was gimmicky but each passing month assuages that.”
The financial analysts are supported by figures from Japanese gaming bible Famitsu publishers Enterbrain, which state that of the Wii took a massive 68% of the approximately 600,000 consoles sold in Japan during January; Sony's PS3 took 25%, while the traditionally disliked (in Japan) Xbox 360 came away with a meagre 7%.
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Comments
Ditto 23 Feb 2007 15:51
1/6
See, the problem is that for some people the gimmik is wearing off.
My friend bought an expesnive Wii on eBay because he wanted one so much. He's now going to sell it before the price drops as there are no games out for it.
If some good games come out in the future (there don't seem to be many with solid release dates) he says he'll just buy another one.
Nintendo may have started to get Wiis into homes, but that doesn't mean the console will be a success if the drought of games continues.
My friend bought an expesnive Wii on eBay because he wanted one so much. He's now going to sell it before the price drops as there are no games out for it.
If some good games come out in the future (there don't seem to be many with solid release dates) he says he'll just buy another one.
Nintendo may have started to get Wiis into homes, but that doesn't mean the console will be a success if the drought of games continues.
YenRug 23 Feb 2007 15:59
2/6
Weren't there similar comments about game droughts, after the Xbox360 launch? It's not unusual to hit a quiet period after launch; a lot of games will have been pushed to hit that window, then everyone starts trying to figure out if they need to push their game to hit the post-launch fever, or if they should wait and make sure the game is done properly. Most people seem to adopt the wait and see approach, to guage support for the new system, unfortunately this gives the impression of a lack of games at just the wrong moment. Come back and ask the same question 6 months after launch, that will give you a better idea of release schedules.
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ozfunghi 24 Feb 2007 14:31
3/6
"See, the problem is that for some people the gimmik is wearing off."
what gimmick? Still haven't gotten over it? DS is probably still a gimmick too?
"He's now going to sell it before the price drops as there are no games out for it.
If some good games come out in the future (there don't seem to be many with solid release dates)"
Just like any other console launch? So far Wii has a great pack-in game, a Zelda and a handful of "solid" software titles (trauma center, Warioware, Rayman...). Hardly a bad launch considering the new concept developers have to get used to.
Maybe you and your friend just need some more time figuring out what the Wii exactly is.
what gimmick? Still haven't gotten over it? DS is probably still a gimmick too?
"He's now going to sell it before the price drops as there are no games out for it.
If some good games come out in the future (there don't seem to be many with solid release dates)"
Just like any other console launch? So far Wii has a great pack-in game, a Zelda and a handful of "solid" software titles (trauma center, Warioware, Rayman...). Hardly a bad launch considering the new concept developers have to get used to.
Maybe you and your friend just need some more time figuring out what the Wii exactly is.
Smelly 24 Feb 2007 19:34
4/6
LOL! Yeah..
Look back at 3 months after the 360 launch and tell me the games were any better.
Or indeed.. the ps3 launch.. Which has had.. well.. erm.. um... Im sure i can think of ONE decent game if i try hard enough!
Look back at 3 months after the 360 launch and tell me the games were any better.
Or indeed.. the ps3 launch.. Which has had.. well.. erm.. um... Im sure i can think of ONE decent game if i try hard enough!
OptimusP 26 Feb 2007 08:20
5/6
It's like everyone forgot there's a new Sonic on the Wii allready...you made a blue hedgehog cry!! Get ready to be bumped on the head to release the inner fluffy animal within you!
Hypnotoad 27 Feb 2007 02:57
6/6
Actually, what you'll find with the 360 launch drought is that there were actually some good titles to start with before the drought hit.
I'm getting really tired of people claiming that Zelda is a Wii game cause guys, it's about about time you came to grips with the fact that it's a Gamecube title with tacked on waggle, held back a year in preparation for the Wii's launch. It's been long enough now to gage that besides the 16:9 support, it's actually better to play on Cube as 'waggle' just gets f**k off annoying after oh, the 40th hour or so.
So, we remove the AAA Gamecube game from the Wii launch window lineup and you're left with umm, Wii sports. Granted fun at first, but s h a l l o w doesn't come close to covering it. Since then there's been a myriad of crappy mini-games trying to figure out what to do with the new control system, with little evidence of any depth or variety showing through.
Prove me wrong Nintendo - release the coveted piece of AAA Wii software that can vindicate this entire 'revolution' you've been preaching and rub my smug face in it.
I'm getting really tired of people claiming that Zelda is a Wii game cause guys, it's about about time you came to grips with the fact that it's a Gamecube title with tacked on waggle, held back a year in preparation for the Wii's launch. It's been long enough now to gage that besides the 16:9 support, it's actually better to play on Cube as 'waggle' just gets f**k off annoying after oh, the 40th hour or so.
So, we remove the AAA Gamecube game from the Wii launch window lineup and you're left with umm, Wii sports. Granted fun at first, but s h a l l o w doesn't come close to covering it. Since then there's been a myriad of crappy mini-games trying to figure out what to do with the new control system, with little evidence of any depth or variety showing through.
Prove me wrong Nintendo - release the coveted piece of AAA Wii software that can vindicate this entire 'revolution' you've been preaching and rub my smug face in it.