Where do you get that info about japan? In Europe it not as "sold out" as in America, but the supply is still not "healthy" in the 2 biggest market (France,UK). Even in Germany the biggest retailer is doing a bundle (Wii+Wii play). It is still totaly sold out in America. If you believe VGC sales are currently under production level, lead me to believe that they plan something. The sold out status does not move consoles. The press is not just reporting because it is sold out ;)
Wii Fit is the kind of game like Wii Sports: It sells itself, if you get enough out the gate in the beginning. Believe me, fitness drones and such will not get in line to buy a Wii. So it is likley that they will have more of them.
Reggi said they will get the 360 by June. He wouldn't say that, if it was not at least 80% sure. Makes you wonder, how much Wii supply they have planned for Brawl, Kart or Wii Fit.
@apujanata, "will still benefit from maintaining the "sold out" status" Um, companies don't benefit from such a status. It just costs them sales (revenue that goes towards ebay users instead).
I agree that they don't need oprah to be succesful, but Oprah would certainly help speed things up.
Even if Nintendo doesn't increase their monthly production, they will still benefit from maintaining the "sold out" status for at least another year (and prolonging the media coverage of their "sold out" status).
Personally I don't see Nintendo increase their monthly production again from 1.8 M/month, since : - Nintendo is a conservative company. - Wii are not sold out in Japan - Wii are also not sold out in Europe - 1.8 M/month is a very big amount already.
I think they don't need oprah. But this marketing campaign will help a lot in general. They won't go to the typical gaming audience. This will help Wii Fit (because they advertise it right) this will also help the Wii, bigtime. Makes me wonder, does big N. stockpile Wii's for Wii Fit? Or will they up production? They will need more Wii's in May/June, otherwise the campaign just creates demand with no supply and is basically throwing money out of the window...
Indeed, after all, she was able to get Tolstoy's Anna Karenina to No. 1 on the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list and the New York Times bestseller list (Source 1 and 2). If she was able to do that, she will probably be able to market Wii Fit to the same demographic of middle age women as an effective workout solution and something that can be done with the children, especially since it is the Wii and Nintendo, both brands strong with parents as quality entertainment for children and adults alike.
Michael Pachter reveals that he's "learned that Nintendo of America intends to support the Wii Fit launch with the biggest marketing campaign in its history."
It suggests to me that the marketing will be broad-based and mainstream, meaning beyond the normal online and game magazine ads. My guess is we will see advertising on TV during American Idol, Oprah, etc. as opposed to ads on MTV during Punk'd.
There is rumor going around that NPD may not release the numbers of Wii Fit as a software unit (i.e. will not be reported in top 10 if it is in top 10 software for a month) because it may end up being counted by NPD as a peripheral and therefore be eligible for the top 10 software chart. This is just a rumor that is going around currently and does not affect the stock very significantly at all, but it does highlight that numbers in the U.S. for this title may not be as available for revising estimates as if Wii Fit was counted as software. I personally doubt that they will not count Wii Fit as a software title because NPD already has counted Wii Play as a piece of software and the main value in that case is the Wii-mote and not the game.
@lstormy10, For anyone who is wondering, I converted the Austrailian cost to USD and it ends up being approximately $137.54 at the current exchange rates. This is making a price of $99.99 in the U.S. look all the more likely.
"Starting on May 8, 2008, Nintendo wants Australians to start fighting the battle of the bulge with the Wii Fit exercise platform. Wii Fit will retail for AU$149.95."
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Where do you get that info about japan?
In Europe it not as "sold out" as in America, but the supply is still not "healthy" in the 2 biggest market (France,UK). Even in Germany the biggest retailer is doing a bundle (Wii+Wii play).
It is still totaly sold out in America. If you believe VGC sales are currently under production level, lead me to believe that they plan something.
The sold out status does not move consoles. The press is not just reporting because it is sold out ;)
Wii Fit is the kind of game like Wii Sports: It sells itself, if you get enough out the gate in the beginning. Believe me, fitness drones and such will not get in line to buy a Wii. So it is likley that they will have more of them.
Reggi said they will get the 360 by June. He wouldn't say that, if it was not at least 80% sure. Makes you wonder, how much Wii supply they have planned for Brawl, Kart or Wii Fit.