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[Cornbread78]

As in "breakout" of the sales slump.... With the other "Big two" geared to fight to the death in NA and EU this holiday season, all indications point out that supplies could be very limited post launch for the PS4 and XB1... Does this give the Wii-U a chance to sneak in and get a big boost in holiday sales with bare shelves for the other two? Another factor could be that many Wal-Mart's are currently sold out of premium Wii-U's from their Holiday Layaways, (in my area at least) but there are plenty of PS3 bundles and SS 360's available on shelves. This could be because there has been limited stock ordered by retailers in the past, or people are finally starting to realize it exists and parents need something "new" for their kids. Will the below list be enough to push hardware sales even with Donkey Kong pushed back into 2014?


Let’s take a quick look at what is brewing this holiday season in terms of software for Wii U: (bolded will make most impact)

Just Dance Kids 2014
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Wii U
Sonic: Lost World Wii U
Wii Party U Wii U
Batman: Arkham Origins Wii U
Angry Birds Star Wars Wii U
Wii Sports Club Wii U
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U
Super Mario 3D World Wii U
Ben 10: Omniverse 2 Wii U
Call of Duty: Ghosts Wii U
Watch Dogs Wii U
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Wii U


Wii-U Bundles (confirmed for EU only thus far, but most like for NA eventually)

These make a big value impact to boost sales of current Wii owners looking for an upgrade?


The system hasn't made an impact enough for my own daughter's to put it on their "must have" list yet, but if they would if there was a Wii-U Minecraft or other interesting title for teens (pop culture) market. I'm sure she would be all over it to play games while my wife watches TV via remote play. Maybe there time is right to sneak in and pull some sales while the other two battle it out. What do you think GAF?

 

[Hanmik]

I swore to myself I would never buy a Wii-U... and I ordered one last week for the kids for christmas..

 

[WillyFive]

I think it's going to get brutally savaged this holiday season, especially with it's price point.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Anything is possible, but with new next gen competitors, it's a longshot.

Mario Kart will be the real litmus test.

 

[UNCMark]

Going up against the hype of two next gen consoles? Noooooooope.

 

[Sendou]

Now or never.

 

[Guevara]

No, nothing coming this holiday is big enough to make a difference.

 

[Derrick01]

With 2 behemoth (and very hyped) consoles launching with all of the normal Fall heavy hitters, what on earth would make you think the Wii U could compete when it's been getting slaughtered by the 2 current gen consoles and even Vita in some areas?

 

[granabanana]

I think it will do very well with top quality exclusives and a good price point

 

[BadWolf]

Will be very tough with the two new consoles, the hype for them seems to be through the roof.

 

[schuelma]

I don't think it will do amazing because the price is still too high and SM3D World, as amazing as it looks, doesn't hold the same mass appeal of Mario Kart.

However, I do think with the premium price drop and a pretty decent lineup it will do well enough to stay alive.

I suspect Nintendo do another price drop in the Spring with Mario Kart.

 

[BlackJace]

I don't know, maybe.

 

[sonto340]

I had no intention of buying a WiiU last month.
Last week I came home with a Wind Waker bundle. There are finally games coming for the damn thing; good games at that. Its getting harder and harder to ignore.
Another price drop right before the holidays putting the WiiU at $250 against the $400 and $500 dollar HDTwins Redux would be absolutely killer for Nintendo.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

I swore to myself I would never buy a Wii-U... and I ordered one last week for the kids for christmas..

I told myself I would wait until it's $200 but fuck that, Mario 3D World.

 

[emb]

Well I think it will do a lot better than it's been doing.

Will it do well though? I doubt it.

 

[GenericUser]

Let’s take a quick look at what is brewing this holiday season in terms of software for Wii U: (bolded will make most impact)


Wii Party U Wii U
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U
Super Mario 3D World Wii U

seriously? No, these games will not be system sellers, not at all. The whole WiiU concept does not appeal to the customer. Let it go, this system is finished.

 

[Jotamide]

Too little, too late.

 

[Silky]

With 2 behemoth (and very hyped) consoles launching with all of the normal Fall heavy hitters, what on earth would make you think the Wii U could compete when it's been getting slaughtered by the 2 current gen consoles and even Vita in some areas?

Considering all of the launch titles for both games that are important are also coming to Wii-U, I wouldn't think the average consumer would break that much for a next-gen console when there's a cheaper alternative.

seriously? No, these games will not be system sellers, not at all. The whole WiiU concept does not appeal to the customer. Let it go, this system is finished.

That hyperbole.

 

[Ceadeus]

There is no competition in the eyes of the kids who want the new Nintendo.

 

[AGoodODST]

It will definitely pick up, the questions are, how much and how long will it last?

 

[SnakeXs]

If we lived in a bubble inside which the next gen consoles didn't exist, sure it would deb possible.

 

[flkraven]

I think it will sell more simply because it is the holidays, but I don't see myself calling this the Wii-U's "breakout". Come march, this will be looked at as another disappointing quarter.

 

[Tambini]

Pretty sure I'm going to buy one

 

[liger05]

No and not just because of the new consoles but because of the 3DS, 360 and PS3.

 

[McDougles]

seriously? No, these games will not be system sellers, not at all. The whole WiiU concept does not appeal to the customer. Let it go, this system is finished.

There's not liking Nintendo and there's using reason to figure that a mainline Mario game will help move a system, especially during the holidays. Not to the extent of the PS4/Xbox One, but c'mon, man!

 

[DataGhost]

I would wonder if it had to compete with PS4 and Xbone, will the PS4 and Xbone also have to drop its price for the holiday season. Nintendo can do a holiday sale but can Sony and Microsoft really drop the price after only like a month and do that to all their loyal launch fans?

 

[BigDug13]

Zelda and Mario. Those are heavy hitters. I think in the end that Wii waggle casual crowd is nearly gone and Wii-u will be like GameCube as a second console for Nintendo games. Or a family oriented console for younger gamers.

 

[H_Prestige]

If it was $199 with a pro controller, it might have had a chance.

At $299 most people will probably just spend a bit more for a ps4 instead.

I told myself I would wait until it's $200 but fuck that, Mario 3D World.

Same. Of course, having $200 Best Buy credit helps.

 

[dcx4610]

It's going to get slaughtered at its current price point this holiday. I don't care how many Marios they slap on the cover.

 

[Lo-Volt]

Some of those titles might help hold the faithful in line, and those titles will do good enough business, but there's something fundamentally wrong with this console (that 'uninformed staff' thread should make that clear). Consumers don't have to cough up a lot more to trade up to the PlayStation or Xbox experience and will be encouraged to do so every step of the way.

 

[Derrick01]

Considering all of the launch titles for both games that are important are also coming to Wii-U, I wouldn't think the average consumer would break that much for a next-gen console when there's a cheaper alternative.

People are ready for the next gen systems though and in some cases like BF4 it's practically a different game on ps4/xb1. Even if they weren't buying the usual games for ps4/xb1 they would just buy them on 360/ps3 not Wii U. That's another system they likely don't have given the abysmal sales. So if you're going to fork over hundreds to play the same games why not get the better systems? That will be how people view it.

 

[Prine]

I see mostly disgruntled Nintendo fans that have since warmed to the Wii U buying it. Wider public are going straight for Xbox One and PS4.

 

[guek]

No

 

[Pain]

No. It's competing against 3 cheaper and more popular consoles and 2 new hyped consoles.

 

[Richie]

They could be releasing the best five games of all generation within the holidays and it would be for naught if there's no marketing to let people know they exist.

I seriously believe Wii U could be a reasonably successful product (beating N64's sales at the end of its lifetime) if Nintendo just pulled all stops on marketing and made an effort of telling people all the console is offering, and that it's a new console to begin with.

 

[UNCMark]

In what world is Wii Party a system seller? Are they going to include a controller Pro with every copy? Because that's the only reason the original game sold well.

 

[stump sock]

I'd be really surprised. Even with the price drop, it's not a very attractive purchase for a huge majority of people.

 

[waterydave]

The holidays are the time of the year when kids get the hot new presents.

Xbone / ps4 are the new hotness, wii u is old & busted.

new hotness > old & busted

i know you think its bad but thats what it is.

 

[Conor 419]

Of course it could be, people are being tragically stupid if they think the XBONE in particular holds any advantage over the next year, Mario Kart is coming and the competition are scared.

 

[Metallix87]

Bold prediction: Wii U moves more hardware worldwide this Holiday than Xbone and PS4. Major turnaround? Not necessarily, but it'll do well enough to earn some more respect on here and kill the "it's a dead system" stigma.

 

[RobFox64tm]

Wii U will do well enough, I think. The PS4 will do insanely good thanks to the eagerness of hardcore gamers to grab one. I honestly don't see Xbone making any kind of notable splash due to its high price tag, outside of only the most Microsoft faithful out there. Come March of 2014 though, all console sales will drop off a cliff, just like Wii U's did early this year. A sad truth that GAF will have a hard time accepting. It'll be entertaining to watch the fallout though.

 

[Raistlin]

Yes, I fully expect Wii U to suddenly start selling when it hasn't since launch ... now that it has two next-gen systems to contend with.

 

[Burai]

The price is still too high and the frequency of new releases is too sporadic to maintain any momentum.

Once Mario 3D World is out it'll get a decent spike but it'll crater again in the new year as people wait for the next big game.

 

[Cornbread78]

I'd put it at the empty shelves to cause a stir. True most people will want the 2 big guns coming out, but with all the rumored shortages or stock post launch. Also will parents "settle" for the WiiU to give their kids as an upgrade to their Wii? Getting these causuals to buy a Wii-U could be key for their success, but that also means they would have to market their product this fall successfully, which they have yet to do..

 

[KennyLinder]

I think once PS4 and Xbox One are out and filling store shelves, the Wii U will get pushed into a corner (literally) and it probably won't be able to get back out. I honestly don't think the market wants an expensive last gen spec'd TV console that plays Nintendo games.

My opinion? This will be it's last Xmas, but I am probably wrong.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

I hope the Wii U can outdo its launch performance, but part of me doubts it. Wii U had a far bigger launch and with much less competition and less time for the stench of failure to set in.

If it doesn't, its completely and utterly dead and we should move on from discussing its chances

Bold prediction: Wii U moves more hardware worldwide this Holiday than Xbone and PS4. Major turnaround? Not necessarily, but it'll do well enough to earn some more respect on here and kill the "it's a dead system" stigma.

Are we taking bets? I would love to do a bet with you.

 

[Allforce]

The billion dollar question is, if it does pick up, is that even good enough? The thing is selling 150k WORLDWIDE per quarter. Less than 40k a month In the US. Does a bump to 100k a month in the US even make a difference when other consoles eating into your market are selling 600k-1m a month?

 

[Coolwhip]

Some people still think Nintendo is competing with MS and Sony. Nintendo is competing with Apple, which is actually harder. The kids have iPad and iPhone on top of their wishlists, not Mario or Zelda.

I have a hard time believing they suddenly put Mario on top of that list.

 

[WolvenOne]

I swore to myself I would never buy a Wii-U... and I ordered one last week for the kids for christmas..

One of us, one of us!!!!

 

[UNCMark]

No. It's competing against 3 cheaper and more popular consoles and 2 new hyped consoles.

That's Nintendo's biggest problem. They can't compete spec-wise with the new consoles, and they cant compete on price with the old ones. And they can't compete with any other console when it comes to the most popular games on the planet - third party titles. The fact that GTA set huge sales records without even being on a Nintendo console speaks volumes.