@vGInfidel, Well, I do hope for more shipment to Europe, to deprive US from getting replenishment, but I am sure that Nintendo is not that stupid :). If they are that stupid, it is a wonder they had survived for such a long time.
I think Europe will get somewhere from 20K - 100K for next 2 - 3 weeks, just to keep it available (as you said). However, I don't think it is that easy for the pre-release hype and marketing to be forgotten so quickly (in just 2 - 3 weeks). I mean, Cabbage Patch Kids, Pokemon, and recently Wii H/W itself (sold out status for 1 year), has proven than US market didn't forget hype that quickly.
I don't know about Europe market, but I have a feeling that it is also the same. As long the item is STILL available (in small quantity, sold out within first day of receiving shipment), people will NOT forget about it.
Well if you're short on the May future shouldnt you be hoping for it to be the other way round? :D
I doubt the UK will get any substantial numbers for at least 2-3weeks at least. Just enough to ensure some are available so it keeps the consumer interested in searching for it. If you definetly cant get something for a month then its easy to forget about it altogether and the pre-release hype and marketing would have gone to waste.
@vGInfidel, Nice find. We'll see how true the representative statement in this week / next week ELSPA chart :D.
I have a feeling that with US launch only on their second week (this week), UK will still feel the pinch (minimum replenishment) this week and next 2 weeks.
@Bobuido, "Do companies not ship enough quality games on purpose. So they can strengthen the appetite of the consumer? People always want what they can't have. One thing must be clear to Nintendo; It's going to sell a lot of copies "
Do you think it is prudent for Nintendo (or Sony) to produce more than 1 Million / month Balance Board (or Eyetoy) ? What they have to do with the production line when the demand decrease in the future (as most product did 6 months / 1 year down the road) ? Should they just stop production, and let the space (rent) and labor (salary) go waste ? In manufacturing company, go steady (minimum fluctuation) is better than up and down (big fluctuation).
It is normal to prudent business (business 101) to test the water by small size production, and later on increase their production, gradually, when the demand has been proven to be bigger than current forecast. It is better to underforecast (Wii Fit) than overproduced (GCN). I believe the same thing happen with iPOD products.
Nintendo’s latest motion-control hit has debuted to one day sales of more than 650,000 units in the Americas. At a penny shy of $90 in the USA, the game debuted to a day sales total of roughly $60 million. Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Nintendo’s top week one debut ever in the Americas, by comparison debuted at 950,000 units in the Americas bringing its total to $47.5 million on day one.
I do not think VC/WW/XBLA/PSN sales are very high yet compared to normal retail software sales. The recent Penny Arcade game is already 3rd fastest selling XBLA game with only 16.5K sales in 3 days.
UK runs out of Wii Fit, Nintendo will replenish ASAP
Nintendo tells GI.biz that it will replenish the UK's stock of Wii Fit "as soon as possible." A Wii Fit shortage in the UK became quite obvious this past week as the fat-reduction simulator practically disappeared from the UK sales charts.
A Nintendo representative put semi-adequate spin on the situation stating that there are "pockets of stock shortages" around the UK. When a game goes from the #2 spot on the sales chart to dropping off the Top 40, that appears to be more than just "pockets" of shortages. Nintendo claims consumers in the UK will be able to pick up a Wii Fit soon enough as the company continues to replenish stock on a weekly basis.
Do companies not ship enough quality games on purpose. So they can strengthen the appetite of the consumer? People always want what they can't have. One thing must be clear to Nintendo; It's going to sell a lot of copies
There are so many quality titles out at the moment but so little play time. I know my Ma's interested in playing Wii Fit, so I will definitely will be buying WF at some point
Mario Kart and Dr Mario are probably next for me (Wii Fit is pricey) but I'll have to beat my GTA (PS3) addiction and set aside some funds before I can move on.
Side note: I'd be interested to see WW / VC numbers. Distributing software over the internet clearly has different restrictions and fewer excuses
Personally, I believe that Nintendo production capacity for Wii Fit is around 800K - 1 Million per month (it could be lower, like 600K/month, but I don't think that is the case here).
If we assume that Dec production (launch in Japan) is only 200K / month (testing water), and later on, say Feb / March 08 the production capacity is increased (after proven saleability in Japan), say to 800K /month, then Europe launch April have 1.6 Million - Japan March & April Sales = 1 Million unit. US might have 1 Million unit (since there was no shipment to Europe and Japan, all production diverted to US for launch).
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Well, I do hope for more shipment to Europe, to deprive US from getting replenishment, but I am sure that Nintendo is not that stupid :). If they are that stupid, it is a wonder they had survived for such a long time.
I think Europe will get somewhere from 20K - 100K for next 2 - 3 weeks, just to keep it available (as you said). However, I don't think it is that easy for the pre-release hype and marketing to be forgotten so quickly (in just 2 - 3 weeks). I mean, Cabbage Patch Kids, Pokemon, and recently Wii H/W itself (sold out status for 1 year), has proven than US market didn't forget hype that quickly.
I don't know about Europe market, but I have a feeling that it is also the same. As long the item is STILL available (in small quantity, sold out within first day of receiving shipment), people will NOT forget about it.