Iwata admits Wii in 'unhealthy condition' in Japan
- April 10, 2009 12:27 PM PST
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The struggling global economy has affected Wii sales in Japan, propelling Sony's PlayStation 3 ahead in sales.
The Wii could be facing a big problem in the "Wii slump," a general malaise in Wii hardware and game sales that's settled in over the past six months or so in Japan. For perhaps the first time, Nintendo acknowledged the Wii slump with a statement from President Satoru Iwata made to Agence France-Presse.
"The Wii is in the most unhealthy condition since it hit the Japanese market," Nintendo Co. president Satoru Iwata said. "The current condition in the Japanese market is not the one we want."
Wither the Wii?
The exact causes are subject to debate -- the economy certainly plays a role, and some people think Japanese gamers are losing interest in consoles altogether -- but it's undeniably going to turn into a problem for Western Wii markets if Japanese developers lose interest in the system. Whatever Nintendo has in mind to turn the slump around, though, Iwata flatly denied that it was going to be a price cut. The company may be banking on Wii Sports Resort to turn things around this summer, but Nintendo's going to be in a world of hurt if that game isn't a monster hit.
In the interview with Agence France-Presse, Iwata also shot down speculation of a Wii price drop.
"A price cut in a difficult economy cannot really excite the market and drive up sales. As of now I really don't think that a price cut is a good option for us," he told a news conference.
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- Apr 10 2009 at 12:39:12:PM PST
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Yeah, they need way better game, not kid crap like cooking mama. Also, they should make it an option for most games to be able to play with a gamecube or classic controller.
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Japanese Market is a tough one for sure. However, more than 10 million Wii machines were sold in the United States in 2008. So it's not in that much of a "Unhealthy Condition" world wide I'm sure.
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Yes, Nintendo needs to change the way the Wii is so, that it can improve sales and step 1 is fixing the games and making them better
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hmm... I couldn't agree more. I think this is a collaboration of a bunch of issues. The economy, but also the novelty and excitement in the public has died down somewhat. A price cut might help... but how much?
PS, if the Wii gets a price cut as well, PS3 is just about screwed.
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Hahaha now its nintendo's turn to suffer in sales.. I mean seriously? NINTENDO?!! you guys outsold and bank on the wii for yearsssss, and now your whining because of 1 month not selling good?? wow grow up!
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Motion controls were exciting and fun at first, but they are starting to get boring, as not that many good wii games are coming out. Madworld was good, and I thought Dead Rising on Wii was fun, they just need more mature games. Where the hell is the next big Zelda game? I don't want another DS zelda, I want a really good Zelda game how Twilight Princess was, but more like the 2 from the N64. Speakign of N64 why aren't there ever any new N64 games on the Wii shop channel? The N64 has some of the best games ever made on it, that would help out the wii a lot.
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