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1 Million Wii Units At Launch 123

Posted by Zonk from the better-than-average-chance dept.
Ars Technica is reporting on Nintendo's announcement that there will be 1 Million Wii units available at launch in the United States. Not only is that an impressive number of units, it's twice what the 360 launched with, and more than twice what Sony will be offering when it launches in the same month. From the article: "If Nintendo sells that many systems on the first day, and they turn a profit on every system sold, Nintendo is going to have some very rosy financials heading into the holiday season. If they're making money on systems as well as games, and gamers embrace the virtual console, this may be one of the most successful launches in gaming history. We'll see if they are able to deliver the numbers they're talking about here; a launch that large would be a major coup for Nintendo, and would give them a running start towards getting their systems into the homes of as many customers as possible." So, despite some disappointment at the later-than-hoped-for launch date, it looks like Nintendo is making good use of its time.
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1 Million Wii Units At Launch More

1 Million Wii Units At Launch

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  • Nice! (Score:4, Funny)

    by RyanFenton ( 230700 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @01:22PM (#16187437)
    I just hope EB and other game stores will start taking preorders based on how many they expect to get soon. Hopefully one or two per customer.

    Ryan Fenton

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by musikit ( 716987 )
      my guess is they wont allow preorders until they get the final list of release titles and accessories so they can "bundle" everything

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by VJ42 ( 860241 )
        Here in the UK shops are already taking pre-orders, and we launch after you in the states. (I wonder how many units we get).
    • I thought pre-orders were basically a scam, in that it really doesn't guarantee that they will reserve one with your name on it, all while selling to people who did not pre-order. Hasn't that been the experience of most people who pre-order?

      • I thought pre-orders were basically a scam, in that it really doesn't guarantee that they will reserve one with your name on it, all while selling to people who did not pre-order. Hasn't that been the experience of most people who pre-order?

        My experiences at different stores:

        • Whenever I've preordered something (anywhere) it's been held for me so I can get it release day (or afterwards).
        • There have been times where I did not preorder and when I tried to pickup something on release day they refused, usuall
      • yeah, I had this happen for a game I ordered on amazon. Back when they were doing it through someone else.
      • Depends. There's a difference between the official pre-orders and unofficial one's. Most major retailers will do them. Then, the Unit is guaranteed by Nintendo to be delivered, and yous should be secured.

        BTW, the official preorders haven't started yet, so anything you put down now is gambling on the retailers ability to secure the units.
        • Unofficial pre-orders (depending on store) are typically entered into the system as gift vouchers. Since they dont have the product codes to assign the orders to and they have to assign it to something, gift vouchers are the easiest option.
      • I've always gotten my pre-ordered systems on launch day without problems. But this was before the 360 launch that taught all the game shop employees that it's cool and profittable to take pre-order systems for themselves and sell them on ebay. I'm so happy that Nintendo decided not to actually make their system affordable since now I don't have to worry about it.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by jferris ( 908786 )
      Some FYE stores have started taking preorders. I preordered a Wii and Zelda: TP this past Saturday. Was in there for something else, and just happened to ask at the checkout.

      • Some FYE stores have started taking preorders.

        The problem is, you're not guaranteed a system on the release date.

        I preordered from Coconuts (owned by Trans World, same as FYE) a few weeks back and I was the fourth person to preorder. That means that I'm guaranteed the fourth system the store gets. However, they have no idea how many they'll get...

        I did it just to be safe, but I'll also preorder from Gamestop once they begin taking preorders as well.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jferris ( 908786 )
          Understood. I just happened to be the first one who asked, so I am first on the list for that location. ;-) I preordered my Gamecube the same way, but through Sam Goody's. They actually had underestimated the number of units that they would get in. It is a crap shoot, for sure. But, the earlier you get in on it, the better the odds are.

      • You are in a maze of little twisting passages, all different

        E S S D E N E E NW. It just popped into my head. Talk about setting the hook deep!

    • I know the EBGames near me (Angrignon in Montreal) won't take pre-orders for the Wii. When I asked why, they said it was because they had too much trouble with the XB360 launch. Apparently, so many people had come back to return non-working consoles that they didn't have enough more non-reserved consoles to exchange them.

      I am not making this up!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hal2814 ( 725639 )
      I just hope I can walk into WalMart or Target on launch day and pick one up. With the Wii controller being a newish piece of hardware, I'm not buying a Wii anywhere that I can't box it up and take it back no questions asked if I don't like it. The controller may not work well or may just not be my cup of tea. After the PSP dead pixel policy, I'm not buying any new hardware from Gamestop/EB again. I'd hate to see some 45 degree motion rule for a flaky Wii controller.

  • It's surprising really (Score:5, Interesting)

    by The MAZZTer ( 911996 ) <(megazzt) (at) (gmail.com)> on Monday September 25, 2006 @01:23PM (#16187447) Homepage
    Considering Nintendo is trying to be the most innovative, it's surprising that they're the only ones sticking to the classic business strategies to actually make money off of a product and to actually make an effort to meet demand.

    • Re:It's surprising really (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Chris Burke ( 6130 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @01:41PM (#16187739) Homepage
      Being conservative and classical in their business management gives them the financial stability to be progressive and innovative in their console design. That's just how I see it.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Rappy ( 712710 )
      Considering the gaming climate in the past decade, launching with significant qualities is extremely innovative and bucks the trend.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Hitto ( 913085 )
      What's outdated about wanting to make a profit NOW, instead of "when third parties start shelling the cash" ;)

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by NekoXP ( 67564 )
      Surprising?

      Do you realise how hard it is to innovate when you're going bankrupt? :)

      With a sound financial status and money rolling in, they can do whatever they damn well like, and even take some crazy risks with games, franchises and so on. A lot of people consider that Wind Waker was a risk; cutesy cell-shaded Zelda didn't gel with a lot of the fans. Maybe it didn't sell as many copies. Would they have done that if they really needed to make money off the franchise instead of try something a little new?

      Pe

  • Virtual Console a Weakness (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Selling individual NES and SNES games is a mistake. There is no reason they cannot be bundling these into packs and selling them at $10 to $15 a pack.

    I would never pay more than a buck for a digitally delivered NES game and not more than $2 to $2.50 for a SNES game.

    Otherwise, I have nothing but love for the Wii so far and will probably buy one shortly after the second batch becomes available, provided no major problems crop up from the early adopter batch.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by mobiux ( 118006 )
      I have to agree, i was hoping to get a "roll your own NES" package for like $30. Get your 15-20 favorite games for one price.
    • Depends on if I can save the game to an SD card or not. If I can "keep" the game and play it at someone else's house, then cool, if not, then eh.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by ElleyKitten ( 715519 )
        Depends on if I can save the game to an SD card or not. If I can "keep" the game and play it at someone else's house, then cool, if not, then eh.
        I want to save it to an SD card or whatever and stick it in my DS or the next Game Boy. That would be sweet.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
          A potential probem with that plan is that the DS has a lower resolution screen than most of the consoles used.
          • Downsample the image. It might look bad for certain games that are text heavy, but a lot of them would probably work just fine.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by grumbel ( 592662 )

            A potential probem with that plan is that the DS has a lower resolution screen than most of the consoles used.

            The SNES and most other early consoles have a resolution of 256×224 (varies here and there, but that one seems to be most widespread), the DS has two screens with 256x192, so it shouldn't be to much of an issue, especially considering that many games use some of the vertical space for HUD and not for the game itself (HUD could go to the second screen on DS). There of course are games were thi

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by miro f ( 944325 )
          unfortunately, nintendo are protecting their games with some proprietry DRM so that you'll only be able to play the game on one Wii console.

          As for playing on the DS, there are plenty of homebrew NES/SNES/etc emulators for the DS if you're willing to put out some money for a supercard or alternative.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
        You can most likely store it on the SD card. That doesn't mean you can use it on any other system, especially since SD cards were designed around DRM.
        • Well, so far they get a potential "half a cool" then. :D

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by reanjr ( 588767 )
          This is where I see people totally missing the point of DRM. By enabling DRM, Nintendo has the opportunity to allow you to play it on a different console without worrying about you copying it for your friend. Not saying they will necessarily do that, but the possibility is there where it is not without DRM because almost no companies would allow you to do that.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AuMatar ( 183847 )
      On the other hand, I'm very willing to pay $5 to play some of my old favorites again. I'd probably pay twice that, but at $5 I'll try some games I otherwise wouldn't have. So I'm very happy.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Aladrin ( 926209 )
      The Virtual Console obviously wasn't made with you in mind, then. There are -tons- of games that I wouldn't pay the $5-$10 for, but there are those few that I will. And that's all that matters.

      It's the same with XBox 360 Marketplace games... Joust was well worth the 400 points to me. Gauntlet, too. But Street Fighter wasn't, so, and here's the surprise... I didn't buy it. -gasp-

      Seriously, if you don't like it, don't fret it. If others don't like it either, they won't buy it, and Nintendo will know.
      • The Virtual Console obviously wasn't made with you in mind, then. There are -tons- of games that I wouldn't pay the $5-$10 for, but there are those few that I will. And that's all that matters.

        I certainly see where you're coming from, and I too will probably buy a few select games (though most of these games I have for my still-functional NES and SNES, may not be getting those either).

        The thing is, for the "casual" gamer who may not have a long history with SNES and NES and who won't have a desperate urge t

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Gulthek ( 12570 )
          How many NES or SNES games did you have? My brothers and I had a couple dozen on each system. That's not too tough to recreate with Nintendo's current pricing.

          Just think, for the price of an XBox 360 game you can get 12 NES games, 7 SNES games, or 6 N64 games. That seems pretty good to me.
          • How many NES or SNES games did you have? My brothers and I had a couple dozen on each system. That's not too tough to recreate with Nintendo's current pricing.

            About 50 NES games and about a dozen SNES. I still have most of them and my SNES and NES still work. I can count on both hands the games that I ever actually play anymore from those systems. Assume that I want the convenience of having them on my main game console rather than having to screw around blowing in the NES. That still puts me, a pretty

            • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

              by poot_rootbeer ( 188613 )
              If they don't flood the VC with all the piles of crap ever produced for Nintendo systems (no Deadly Towers, no Superman 64), then maybe they can make the risk for the consumer low enough that they'll feel $5 is worth it.

              I've had just about enough of your "Deadly Towers"-bashing, young man.

              DT is not a BAD game, just a mediocre one. I could easily name a dozen NES titles which were an order of magnitude worse, and that's not even counting anything by Color Dreams.

              I mean, I wouldn't spend $2 to get it on the
              • DT is not a BAD game, just a mediocre one. I could easily name a dozen NES titles which were an order of magnitude worse, and that's not even counting anything by Color Dreams.

                I disagree. DT is a terrible game. No it isn't the worst NES game, in particular because unlike a lot of the truly shitty NES games, the makers of Deadly Towers seem to have been trying to make a good game. Instead they made one of the most annoying, frustrating, and utterly pointless RPG/adventures I've ever seen. Perhaps it's th

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by reanjr ( 588767 )
          I plan on using this to replace all my NES, SNES, and N64 games that I have lying around. I still have a working NES and SNES but not enough inputs on my TV or outlets to plug in to all of the various things I have. Virtual Console, if and when they release the right games and make them available in perpetuity, will enable me to finally get rid of my old systems and clean up my entrtainment center.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Aladrin ( 926209 )
          There's a price point at which you won't make more money if you sell more items cheaper. Virtual Console games are probably priced right because those who want retro games will gladly pay the $5 or $10, but those who don't want them... There's no price low enough that they'd buy them. No matter what.

          My nephews for instance... They are half my age and never owned any console before the PSX. They simply will not care about 99.9% of the games before that point. There's a few series that still exist today
    • In my opinion, the standard pack model is bad for consumers. There's always something you don't want in the pack, but you still have to pay for it, and it takes up space.

      Custom packs are a little better, because you don't get any of the games you don't want. But if it's a 5-game pack, and you want 6 games, you've got to get 4 more games that you wouldn't have bought otherwise.

      Then you have to consider that getting games in packs only gives marginal savings (especially custom packs - extra infrastructure cos

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by ifrag ( 984323 )
      I can see maybe $5 for a fully working, fully translated copy of Star Ocean. I really doubt Nintendo plans on any such thing, especially considering the game never was imported in the first place.
      • I can see maybe $5 for a fully working, fully translated copy of Star Ocean. I really doubt Nintendo plans on any such thing, especially considering the game never was imported in the first place.
        Or Terranigma! At least that game's in English so they wouldn't have to translate it.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Josiah_Bradley ( 867692 )
      I myself own over 50 classic NES titles and about 20 SNES and N64 titles and a couple Gamecube games as well as some Sega Genisis games. Shouldn't there be at least a discount for those of us who already purchased these games at retail prices years ago? I know of at least 20 games for the NES I want to play again without having to fix my NES, but at around 100$ to do so it would be cheaper to re-build my old consoles. I'm more than happy paying for the bandwidth as some of those n64 games are huge, but anot

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Minced ( 871651 )
        The N64 games aren't THAT large in all honesty. They range in size of 8MB (64Mb) - 32 MB (256Mb). Seriously its not THAT much when you consider how large PATCHES for games like WoW and BF2 are.
  • So there should be one for me in there somewhere. You guys can fight over the other 999,999.

    • Re: (Score:1, Flamebait)

      by Phisbut ( 761268 )
      So there should be one for me in there somewhere. You guys can fight over the other 999,999.

      The summary is off by a couple (tens? hundreds?) units though. It's not 1 million for USA, it's 1 million for North America, which means they'll send maybe 100k to Canada and 2 or 3 to Mexico. USA ain't alone in America.

      • And I'm sure that I will be able to get one of the 1 million coming to NA, leaving the rest of the continent to fight over the other 999,999.
        I really don't care about how they are distributed, as long as one gets distributed my way.

        Really though, way to kill a lame joke with accusations of nationalism.

  • God damn (Score:1, Funny)

    by rob1980 ( 941751 )
    That's a lot of Wii.

  • EB/Gamestop (Score:1, Informative)

    by elmCitySlim ( 957476 )
    EB/Gamestop's policy (in certain areas) on trade-in only pre-orders is baffling. Thats a terrible deal and I hope no one buys into this rip-off.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Klowner ( 145731 )
      It's only in Hawaii, everyone hates it. When it's time for them to take nation-wide pre-orders I think we can assume that their stores would be torched if they did such a thing.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by MBCook ( 132727 )
        Bull. I wish that was true, but I don't think it is. I went into my local Gamestop this weekend (in Kansas) and was told that they weren't taking orders yet (check back start of October) but that they expect to be told to use that exact same "you must trade in $50 of stuff" policy. I'm going to talk to the manager of the store if that turns out true and they will lose my (rather lucrative) business if they insist on doing that. I'm already mad they won't take pre-orders (they've been doing it on the PS3 for
        • Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Huh? You could always go to the WalMart across the street, they're open 24/7 so you won't have to wait till morning to get yours.

  • demand (Score:5, Informative)

    by the computer guy nex ( 916959 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @01:31PM (#16187573)
    "Considering Nintendo is trying to be the most innovative, it's surprising that they're the only ones sticking to the classic business strategies to actually make money off of a product and to actually make an effort to meet demand."

    It also has a lot to do with the hardware - the Wii is an incredibly similar system to the Gamecube architecture-wise. The components are also cheaper and easier to produce.
    • Too bad the controller is ridiculously expensive though.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by StocDred ( 691816 ) *
        Hey, the wireless 360 controller is $50, and that doesn't include a built-in speaker or a tiny bit of memory to hold your player data. So it seems like Nintendo is pretty much right in line, with their $40 remote + $20 nunchuk. I'm sure we all wish everything was less expensive.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by hal2814 ( 725639 )
          Just because the 360's wireless costs $50 doesn't mean we have to be happy about paying $60 for a Wii controller. If anything keeps me from wanting to buy this console at launch, it will be waiting until the controller gets cheaper. You can be happy about paying $50 for a wireless glorified Sidewinder if you want. I'll be happy when I can get a Wii controller and nunchuck for $35-$40. Wii Sports looks like it would be rather dull as a 1 player set of games but $60 is a lot.
          • Wii Sports looks like it would be rather dull as a 1 player set of games but $60 is a lot.

            It looks like Wii Sports, and possibly a lot of multi-player and party games, won't require the nunchuck attachment. So I think you can get the needed extra controllers for Wii Sports for $40.

            I agree though that $60 is a lot. I understand the controller may be pretty sophisticated as controllers go, but that doesn't make $60 less than $60. I was really hoping for 2 controllers in the bundle... If my speculation abo

            • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

              by Cadallin ( 863437 )
              Yeah, I mean, if you have to buy 3 more controllers to play 4-player multiplayer, the Wii is $490! That's more expensive than a 360 and almost enough for the PS3!

              Oh, wait, except you're getting a console, a game, and four wireless controllers for that price. For my Xbox, that would run a grand total of $600 + a game. $700+ for a PS3 and controllers.

              $60 is $60, but seriously people, at launch a Gamecube + 3 controllers would have run, what $320 for system + four corded controllers? It's not that bad

              • Yeah, I mean, if you have to buy 3 more controllers to play 4-player multiplayer, the Wii is $490!

                Which is a lot of money. The base console is $250, and you've basically doubled that price so you can play Mario Party the way it was intended.

                Yeah, it's about the same as an Xbox or Ps3 without anything else, but I'm not buying either of those consoles exactly because they cost so much. I don't give a fuck if I could get a Wii, seven controllers, eight copies of Zelda, and a jewel encrusted chalice for the pr

                • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

                  by Cadallin ( 863437 )
                  Here's the thing, looking this deeply into the economics of a form of entertainment is going to be disheartening. It's pretty much always going to turn out that you're spending a lot of money to do the things you enjoy. If four controllers are too expensive for you, don't buy them (I mean, most of have to make decisions and trade-offs about the things we buy, right?). I won't until there's a fairly significant amount of compelling gameplay out there to justify it, and even then it might be pretty iffy, a
                  • They may be turned off by it, and they're welcome to go the competition, who will be happy to take twice as much money, or more.

                    Who cares? Yes the other consoles are more, but stop thinking about it in terms of the console wars for two seconds, and actually think about that family that can barely afford their three kids and want to get them something for christmas. It isn't a choice between the Wii and the Xbox 360, it's a choice between the Wii and something that isn't a console. It's great that you thi
                    • That makes 360$ for console and roughly 80$ for a controller, so think about that before you think it's god damn expensive in the U.S. So how about the poor people here?

                      That sucks for sure. You guys always get shafted that way, too.

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by |/|/||| ( 179020 )
                You lost me with your math. $490? If you're adding in some extra stuff beyond the console and controllers, you should have noted it, because otherwise it looks like you added wrong.

                Base console = $250
                3 extra wiimotes x $40 = $120
                3 extra nunchucks x $20 = $60
                Grand total= $430

                Or, more realistically, $370 since you probably don't need those extra nunchucks for multiplayer, at least not with the launch software that I've seen described. I'll buy a couple of games, 1 extra wiimote, and some component ca

        • Microsoft is also trying to recoup the losses from selling their console below cost. That's why their prices are so high compared to the current generation. The 360's Wi-Fi adapter at $100 is a prime example of that.

          Nintendo is allegedly selling their console at a profit, so they don't really have any reason for the controllers to be out of line with the WaveBird, which debuted at $35. (Assuming that the Wiimote + nunchuk costs about the same as the WaveBird to produce, which seems to be the case.)

          Com
          • Nintendo is allegedly selling their console at a profit, so they don't really have any reason for the controllers to be out of line with the WaveBird

            Oh great, here we go again. [joystiq.com]

            Assuming that the Wiimote + nunchuk costs about the same as the WaveBird to produce

            Maybe there's something a bit different about these controllers that make them more expensive. Something else that they can do. What could it be?

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by RobDogAlpha ( 739240 )
      Why does everyone forget the massive R&D for the Wiimote and the production costs for it and the motion sensor bar?
      • Why does everyone forget the massive R&D for the Wiimote and the production costs for it and the motion sensor bar?

        1. Because acknowledging those costs would prevent certain fanboys from being able to declare the Wii as a "slightly upgraded GameCube";

        2. Because Nintendo already ate those costs, so game developers will not have to. From a dev's perspective, authoring a Wii game should be very similar to authoring a Cube game; the same will not be true about PS2 vs. PS3. Being able to code effectively f
      • Why does everyone forget the massive R&D for the Wiimote and the production costs for it and the motion sensor bar?

        Why does everyone presume that there was a massive R&D effort for the remote controller? I don't doubt that there was some significant effort involved, but it's not like no one's ever done anything like this before. MS had a tilt controller way back when, Gyration mice (in whom Nintendo is a major investor) have tilt functionality... there's some interesting technology there, but I'm no
  • I'm actually a little surprised that one million is anywhere near enough.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dolson ( 634094 )
      Nobody said it was enough, they just said that it was more. Of course it won't be enough. I'm counting on it, so for the first time in the history of.. me, I will be standing overnight in a lineup for a release of a product.

  • Correction... (Score:4, Informative)

    by mabba18 ( 897753 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @01:39PM (#16187709)

    1 Million units in North America for launch says Rob Bertram, Nintendo of Canada's Vice President

  • "If Nintendo sells that many systems on the first day, and they turn a profit on every system sold"

    All signs point to Nintendo making a huge profit on each Wii, I wouldn't be surpised with a sub $100 manufacturing cost of the Wii. All of the controllers included probably adds another $50 or so.

    1) Nintendos long track record and massive experience with console manufacturing
    2) Highly available and proven components, DVD, 802.11, flash memory, SD memory, USB 2.0
    3) Dialed back CPU and GPU specs.

    specs:
    http://ww [gamespot.com]

    • All signs point to Nintendo making a huge profit on each Wii, I wouldn't be surpised with a sub $100 manufacturing cost of the Wii. All of the controllers included probably adds another $50 or so.

      No onne knows how much profit they make, but it'd be surprising if they made "a huge profit on each Wii". A profit yes, they said so and they did it with every console of theirs, but if their profit was so huge they wouldn't risk their market by princing the pack at $250/250

      http://www.gamespot.com/features/614

      • Re:of course they are making a profit (Score:5, Insightful)

        by poot_rootbeer ( 188613 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @02:38PM (#16188597)
        if their profit was so huge they wouldn't risk their market by princing the pack at $250/250

        If they think 1 million Wiis will sell out at launch at a $250 pricepoint, they'd be fools to make the launch price lower than that, regardless of how large their profit margin is.

        If demand starts to wane after a while, they can reduce the price to $200 and still make a profit on every unit. Until then, they've just made at least $50 million off the early adopters that they otherwise wouldn't have.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
          Depends on how fast demand drops. Generally your customers will feel screwed if you drop the price early, they might even get the idea that your product failed to live up to expectations and you're desperate. If you drop the price one month after launch expect a mob with torches and pitchforks on your threshold.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      All signs point to Nintendo making a huge profit on each Wii, I wouldn't be surpised with a sub $100 manufacturing cost of the Wii. All of the controllers included probably adds another $50 or so.

      Well ... I highly doubt that ...

      Perrin Kaplin (Nintendo's VP of Marketing) claimed that the Wii would be breaking even on hardware costs and would be a system which was profitable from the start because of game sales. She could be lying but I would assume she would not stretch the truth too much. We know that a yea
      • Perrin Kaplin (Nintendo's VP of Marketing) claimed that the Wii would be breaking even on hardware costs


        Well she's not going to come out and say they're making huge markups on it is she?
  • Does that mean that we can get Japanese games for our Nintendo Wii and not worry about region-encoding?

    Or will we have to wait until March before they let us buy those in Seattle?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
      Information about that is conflicting, I'd guess if you're in America you're free to import what you want but if you're in Europe you're screwed, as always.
      • Information about that is conflicting, I'd guess if you're in America you're free to import what you want but if you're in Europe you're screwed, as always.

        Well, since I'm in Seattle, that's cool. I can see why region encoding might matter in Europe. A Japanese or Chinese game frequently will have a (primitive) US English dialog choice, except for cut-scenes and other chrome, but in Europe they tend to want the base language plus English (e.g. in France you get French and English).

        I bought a whole bunch o

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by elrous0 ( 869638 ) *
          There is also the issue of PAL vs. NTSC video formats. U.S. and Japan both use NTSC. Europe and Australia use PAL. This can be problematic.

          -Eric

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
            Not that it matters since all PAL TVs can display NTSC just fine. I'm guessing it's because Nintendo of Europe complained as they offer the shittiest service of all three major regions by delaying all games for months and charging 50% extra. If Europeans were free to import games NoE's sales would drop significantly because it's not only faster to import, it's cheaper than buying local even with shipping and customs added. Granted, non-English speaking people might not do that but the entire UK speaks Engli
      • It's possible that the "region coding" with the Wii will be TV based. Euope TVs generaly run PAL vs US & Japan who run NTSC. I at least am keeping my fingers crossed in that regard (any praying for no region locking). Yes I know it's just a bit that decides PAL or NTSC (anyone with a moded xbox should know this), but Nintendo can fuck up on a minor issue like this. I'd probably think a bit differently however if I was in Europe.

  • What about accessories? (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    A lot of people are going to want to buy a second controller. How many of those are going to be available at launch?
  • -drool-

    I know it's redundant to say, but this article makes me very excited about the Wii.

    However, for a slice of reality, it's not $200 like we all wish it would have been. We'll probably have to spend well over $100 on accessories at launch (almost $60 for an additional Wiimote+nunchuck, $20 for each classic remote, and however much you want to splurge on additional flash memory). And depending on how the Wii system is set up, it may/may not be easy to find your friends and take over the world.

  • Number of Wiis per store (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Gamingboy ( 901447 ) on Monday September 25, 2006 @04:31PM (#16190683)
    I decided to do some math to determine how many Wiis there would be per store if every store in North America that I could find store figures for got the same amount of wiis.

    So here's the math:
    4,500 Gamestop/EB Games (some outside of North America)
    3,256 Wal-Marts (USA stats only)
    90 Rhino Video Games
    786 Best Buys (US and Canada)
    118 Future Shops (Canada)
    32 Fry's Electronics (US)
    635 Circuit Cities (US)
    1447 Targets (US)
    700 Toys 'r' Us (US stats only)
    1 Nintendo World (New York City)

    To come out with 11,565 possible Launch stores in North America. Of course, this doesn't include smaller chains and family owned businesses, but the results that will come from 1,000,000/11565 should give us a rough estimate on how many Wii's will be available at Launch in most stores.

    It comes out at about 86 Wiis per store if we were to only include those chains. Of course, there will not be 86 wiis available at your local Wal-Mart in Hicksville, USA (or Canada), but it's nice to know that, if Wii distribution were communist, every major store would have 86 of them.
    • Don't forget amazon.com and amazon.ca. A ton will go to online outlets, I'd imagine.
    • mmmm... Wii Communists.

      I actually wanted to respond because your post is the closest thing I've ever seen to real analysis of the videogame market that I have personally seen on a website/forum.

      I used to work in the industry and handled analysis as well as retail relations and I always find it funny how many armchair analysts and experts are on the web. And woe-be-me if I try to talk real sense and numbers... all you get are "STFU Show me links!!!" or other such nonsense. I've all but given up trying to eve

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