Metallix87
Member
Same here. Release DKC on Wii U, and push MK and Smash to be launch titles for the new hardware.
NPD Sales Results for October 2013 [Up2: 3DS, 360, Pokemon Combined, GTAV]
- Thread starter Takao
- Start date
Same here. Release DKC on Wii U, and push MK and Smash to be launch titles for the new hardware.
CoffeeGames
Member
If what you say is true, then they are paying employees at NOA for nothing. And employees at NOA are sitting by doing little/nothing, and getting paid. That means they should all probably go?
The problems were before Mr. Iwata became CEO at NOA (the Amazon.com situation is directly under OPERATIONS...that would be Mr. Fils-Aime) and from what Mr. Iwata has said, he communicates more with NOA now that he is CEO.
Mr. Iwata can at least point to NCL partnerships with Capcom (Monster Hunter) and Namco (developing Wii U titles). NOA can point to EA, and say, "We got rid of their crap cookie-cutter games!"?
Just because you might have a bad CEO, doesn't excuse you for doing a bad job. There is a reason these companies have so many different positions (Scott Moffit as the executive vice president of sales and marketing), or are supposed to have the different positions. A CEO cannot do it all, and is supposed to rely upon these other people in these positions to let him know what is/isn't working. And to come up with plans to fix problems.
Although some apparently think Mr. Iwata is doing it all...and that NOA employees can't sneeze without permission, and must first get Mr. Iwata's approval before clocking in/clocking out.
metalslimer
Member
There is no way they don't. Just by stuffing the channels they should be able to get near that with the holidays. Unless the situation is so bad retailers say no.
Fun Factor
Formerly FTWer
How the hell did they get those estimates for GTAV? So roughly 500,000 copies sold between the 360 & PS3?
HA, what a load.
HA, what a load.
EmCeeGramr
Member
That's what I was expecting. That Nintendo was going to use November as a soft relaunch of the system and act like the last 11 months didn't happen. I think I even remember some article or rumor more or less saying that Nintendo was preferring to have the public not know about the system for a year rather than have it well known as an overpriced system with no games and half-baked features.
And... unless they suddenly have an ad campaign next week, that didn't happen.
Damn Americans, start buy the Vita!!!
speculawyer
Member
Well, look on the bright side, Nintendo . . . . the WiiU is selling better than the Ouya or the Nvidia Shield. (At least I assume it is.)
It really feels like they gave up on the system. As if the sales after launch made them see the writing on the wall and they are secretly scrambling for a new plan. I see them releasing some weird hardware come 2016.
yep. they gave pikmin 3 a push, but they've been sitting back on advertising things like w101, zelda, the price drop, nslu, wii party u, mario and sonic, wii fit u. i mean they have the software that could reach a wider public and they're just kinda... not... doing... anything.
i think at this point any conspiracy theory makes sense. maybe nintendo doesn't believe in marketing anymore- that somehow, they see nintendo directs as more than enough to reach a wide audience. maybe they're going to really relaunch in 2014 with dkc tf and mario kart, and a gamepadless wii u. maybe they have already decided to dump the system and plan on having something by late 2015 (and maybe launch it with zelda, smt x fe, and a mario thing).
i don't think they're crazy though- the 9m forecast units aren't going to be revised severely downward without something to offer investors. going 'oops, yeah we actually are on track for only 2.5m for the year please understand' has got to come with something else attached. how they respond in january will be telling.
Hugh Buelow
Member
I might overestimate the "long tail" of a Sonic game.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
If you say so, I trust your opinion. You're usually pretty on the ball about these things.
Trevelyan9999
Banned
Yes indeed, they need a new face of Nintendo. Iwata might step down and they will fire Reggie. If they do those things, they need to revitalize the Wii U first and not abandon it or else it would further damage Third Party relations with whatever the console they release will be.
Nintendo is going to make good money on the 2DS/3DS this year and they need to use that money to do some advertising on the Wii U, get some Third Party money hats and keep up the AAA First Party efforts. A new President of Nintendo and a new outlook for the future might be the only option to make things better after the Wii U and not repeat the same mistake 3 times.
Narpas Sword0
Member
You mean the 450,000 kids who just got access to SMB3DL and NSMB2 on their shiny new handhelds?
ItWasMeantToBe19
Banned
Sega finally saves the Sonic franchise with Generations and then the series fucking dies
I want to buy a WiiU for Mario and the 2014 games, but I'm really worried that with these historically bad numbers and the total lack of marketing for the WiiU this year that Nintendo has already written it off and will release a new system in 2015...
This is a great post though.
I want to buy a WiiU for Mario and the 2014 games, but I'm really worried that with these historically bad numbers and the total lack of marketing for the WiiU this year that Nintendo has already written it off and will release a new system in 2015...
This is a great post though.
Duckhuntdog
Member
Again, you just described the flow of power at NoA. Once Iwata is gone and a new CEO can decentralize the power to what it was during the Arakawa/Lincoln era, NCL runs the show.
John Harker
Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
So do you guys believe me yet when I said earlier it was a bummer month?
Things still in the pisser everywhere, save GTA and Pokemon, let's just hope its because people were saving cash for a robust next gen.
Oh and M&L bundle suuuuuper tanked and 2ds > x&Y bundle
Things still in the pisser everywhere, save GTA and Pokemon, let's just hope its because people were saving cash for a robust next gen.
Oh and M&L bundle suuuuuper tanked and 2ds > x&Y bundle
Well, it kind of hurts to possibly see the "Family Friendly" market on home consoles slip away from Nintendo (I thought the "gadgety," toy-ish gamepad, with clever uses in Lego City, for instance, should have been a hit with children who should have loved to get their fingers all over that screen). Though Microsoft is making attempts for that audience too so I hope console gaming can remain more mainstream rather than geared towards young males. Perhaps they'll even carry the torch from Nintendo, with some people saying Nintendo's familiar faces are getting old, maybe games such as Minecraft, PvZ Garden Warfare, etc. can give Microsoft an edge in keeping children gaming on consoles.
shinra-bansho
Member
Yeah, I asked earlier but was this released in October tracking period? So it did nothing then.
Four_Chamber
Member
I just don't see it ever happening here. It's been DOA and I'm fairly certain that Remote Play isn't going to resurrect the Vita. Those sales are abysmally bad.
metalslimer
Member
To be fair didn't this come out like for 2 days in the period? Seems like something that would have its biggest effect near BF.
It released Nov. 1st, I think.
shinra-bansho
Member
Yeah, but "suuuuuper tanked" doesn't really imply any positive effect at all.
Hero of Legend
Member
sörine;89915567 said:
THANK YOU!
My god at the quick doom and gloom for Sonic. He'll do well once things start looking up. Hell the holidays should be good for him, I mean Transformed did 230k WW on Wii U from launch until March and that was a launch title, why would Lost World do worse by then than Transformed?
I want to wait until March when Sega releases their numbers (which always include the newest Sonic game specifically) before we start freaking out.
Supermanisdead
Member
lmao wii u, what a sad joke. nintendo please don't discontinue it before X and SMT vs FE
shinra-bansho
Member
Are you mixing up shipment numbers with sell-through numbers...?
It could bargain bin it's way to a few hundred thousand sure. I don't think that's really what Sega are after for one of their few remaining console franchises.
It could bargain bin it's way to a few hundred thousand sure. I don't think that's really what Sega are after for one of their few remaining console franchises.
creamsugar
Member
WW LTD
Standalone < 100k
Bundle < 100k
Standalone < 100k
Bundle < 100k
Generations took a relatively long time to hit bargain bins. At least on 3DS, the console versions were $40 pretty quick. I think it had already crawled past a couple hundred thousand on 3DS by the time it had a price drop later in 2012.
30k isn't great but it's also just 5 days. Sonic isn't a game that moves everything day one and while I don't expect Lost World to set any records, it could still manage okay sales yet.
So like...can we say 95ish each? Am I reading correctly?
180-190K so far?
Does this include digital that isn't in the bundle?
CadetMahoney
Member
Has Sony made any projections for the Vita this year and how close are they to it?
I doubt this of much interest anyway.
Only Nintendo has that info.
John Harker
Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
No they don't, no it doesn't, and not really yes
SporeCrawler
Member
What a desaster of a month. Why this big fall for wiiu and ps3(cant be just "next gen craze looking at xbox360)?
shinra-bansho
Member
creamsugar, any general indication on Wii Party U?
Also any info on other software for the month (BF4, Ass Flag, Batman)? Numbers and/or splits?
Also any info on other software for the month (BF4, Ass Flag, Batman)? Numbers and/or splits?
Well, it irks me beyond belief that NSMBU might be the lifetime best selling title on the WiiU when I see ambitious freeform 3D games not even getting half of NSMBU's sales. I think Nintendo wanted each game released from Summer onwards to ramp up the sales of the WiiU, but this is showtime, the holiday season, and there doesn't seem to have been much of an appreciable ramping up of the baseline sales of the console. I personally see the underselling of games like Wonderful 101 and Pikmin 3 as condemnations of the userbase. It's like, Nintendo can't even profit much off of their own userbase even when offering it more ambitious, effortful titles.
To be fair, Wind Waker is just an upgraded port...NSMBU, despite being what it is, probably took more effort.
ZSaberLink
Media Create Maven
Btw, I'm wondering what's up with the gloom and doom on this NPD thread for the Wii U compared to last month. Were people actually expecting sales to go up this month? I'm just wondering. Do sales typically go up in October from September? It is possible that GTA V and Pokemon/3DS sales cannibalized all other sales this month...
Was the idea that most of the Wii U titles coming out this year came out at the end of October?
So what titles are we looking at for October on the Wii U?
Assassin's Creed IV
Sonic Lost World
Wii Party U
Batman: Arkham Origins
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut (which I heard was barely stocked anywhere for any platform)
Wind Waker HD
Skylanders?
Was the idea that the price cut in its 2nd month plus these (mostly multiplatform) games would increase the sales? Considering the sales of even the most popular multiplats probably didn't cross 800k across 3-5 platforms, I really doubt the Wii U sales for those titles would suddenly make people buy a Wii U. I think pretty much only a special GTA Wii U DLC may have done something.
Anyways, if the Wii U is now suddenly doomed, nothing has changed since last month. Thus it was doomed last month by the logic that the price cut didn't do enough.
People are also pretty foolish if you think Nintendo could suddenly decide to discontinue the Wii U and release a new console at some point soon. If they have a backup plan, this plan should have already been in motion quite a while back. If they don't, they'll do something to minimize losses on the Wii U, while attempting to pick up some type of steam in a cheap manner, and that's pretty much it. Development of Mario Kart is definitely a sunk cost, so the question is whether the sales would justify its release.
Btw, CoffeeGames, I do agree about NoA having issues. However, I think you don't happen to realize that there is a significant technical portion of NoA that does work. At the minimum, there is the Treehouse translation teams, and I've heard of non-game related software projects that folks at NoA were doing, like working on the 3DS SDK years back. Also there's a really good gamasutra article about Nintendo attempting to market the GameCube and how stupid they honestly seemed at the time. They didn't even think of advertising Resident Evil 4 along with their system b/c it was a third party game, even though it was probably one of the best non-Nintendo exclusives for the GameCube. Instead they did weird things like taking the GameCube to clubs.... Reggie was the VP of marketing at the time, thus I bring it up =).
I think there's something to the fact that Iwata has consistently said "getting the 3DS to be a huge success in the west is our biggest priority". If you look at Nintendo's current actions, they basically sabotaged the Wii U in October to promote only the 3DS and Pokemon. And for the 3DS/2DS, it clearly seemed to work. Now why exactly did Nintendo do that though? That I'm not really sure.
My guess is Iwata is trying to making the 3DS really successful in the West so that the 3DS goes on autopilot and sells pretty well. Then they could focus a lot more resources on the Wii U. However, if the Wii U simply dies over the holidays, I'm not entirely sure what Nintendo would do with their console business even if the portables are doing tremendously well... I guess technically making the 3DS more successful makes Nintendo more money than pouring money into the dying Wii U, which would technically make sense at least in the short-term.
Was the idea that most of the Wii U titles coming out this year came out at the end of October?
So what titles are we looking at for October on the Wii U?
Assassin's Creed IV
Sonic Lost World
Wii Party U
Batman: Arkham Origins
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut (which I heard was barely stocked anywhere for any platform)
Wind Waker HD
Skylanders?
Was the idea that the price cut in its 2nd month plus these (mostly multiplatform) games would increase the sales? Considering the sales of even the most popular multiplats probably didn't cross 800k across 3-5 platforms, I really doubt the Wii U sales for those titles would suddenly make people buy a Wii U. I think pretty much only a special GTA Wii U DLC may have done something.
Anyways, if the Wii U is now suddenly doomed, nothing has changed since last month. Thus it was doomed last month by the logic that the price cut didn't do enough.
People are also pretty foolish if you think Nintendo could suddenly decide to discontinue the Wii U and release a new console at some point soon. If they have a backup plan, this plan should have already been in motion quite a while back. If they don't, they'll do something to minimize losses on the Wii U, while attempting to pick up some type of steam in a cheap manner, and that's pretty much it. Development of Mario Kart is definitely a sunk cost, so the question is whether the sales would justify its release.
Btw, CoffeeGames, I do agree about NoA having issues. However, I think you don't happen to realize that there is a significant technical portion of NoA that does work. At the minimum, there is the Treehouse translation teams, and I've heard of non-game related software projects that folks at NoA were doing, like working on the 3DS SDK years back. Also there's a really good gamasutra article about Nintendo attempting to market the GameCube and how stupid they honestly seemed at the time. They didn't even think of advertising Resident Evil 4 along with their system b/c it was a third party game, even though it was probably one of the best non-Nintendo exclusives for the GameCube. Instead they did weird things like taking the GameCube to clubs.... Reggie was the VP of marketing at the time, thus I bring it up =).
I think there's something to the fact that Iwata has consistently said "getting the 3DS to be a huge success in the west is our biggest priority". If you look at Nintendo's current actions, they basically sabotaged the Wii U in October to promote only the 3DS and Pokemon. And for the 3DS/2DS, it clearly seemed to work. Now why exactly did Nintendo do that though? That I'm not really sure.
My guess is Iwata is trying to making the 3DS really successful in the West so that the 3DS goes on autopilot and sells pretty well. Then they could focus a lot more resources on the Wii U. However, if the Wii U simply dies over the holidays, I'm not entirely sure what Nintendo would do with their console business even if the portables are doing tremendously well... I guess technically making the 3DS more successful makes Nintendo more money than pouring money into the dying Wii U, which would technically make sense at least in the short-term.
Palette Swap
Member
Great news for Arkham. They might finally have enough money to get this broken piece of shit out of beta.
SporeCrawler
Member
The october increase was due to zelda right? Why didnt they push further? Unlike in the beginning of this year they had some games to follow up.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
PS3 boost last month was because of exclusive GTA V bundle consoles.
These Wii U numbers are still blowing my mind. As of right now, the one year head start is officially over. What have they done with it besides kill Sonic the Hedgehog?
People are saying the true test is this November. I disagree. Honestly, I think Wii U will get fucking crushed by next gen hype, PS3, 360 and even the 3DS. 3D Mario isn't enough.
I think their true test as to whether reaching Gamecube numbers is realistic by the time a successor launches will be NEXT holiday. By then, next gen hype will have calmed down, and they will have their two heaviest hitters in Smash Bros and Mario Kart released.
Nintendo sold a Gamecube bundle with Mario Kart for $99 in 2004. While I don't think they will go that low, desperate times call for desperate measures, and they will be selling Wii U with NSMBU and NSLU for no more than $199 next Christmas. That and Kart/Smash is their last fucking hope.
To even come close to Gamecube numbers, it would have to sell decently well from holiday 2014 to holiday 2016, which is when they'll release the successor. Personally, I can't see them pulling it off, but if anything is going to "save" the Wii U, it's not 3D Mario, it'll be a ridiculously low entry price + Smash + Kart.
People are saying the true test is this November. I disagree. Honestly, I think Wii U will get fucking crushed by next gen hype, PS3, 360 and even the 3DS. 3D Mario isn't enough.
I think their true test as to whether reaching Gamecube numbers is realistic by the time a successor launches will be NEXT holiday. By then, next gen hype will have calmed down, and they will have their two heaviest hitters in Smash Bros and Mario Kart released.
Nintendo sold a Gamecube bundle with Mario Kart for $99 in 2004. While I don't think they will go that low, desperate times call for desperate measures, and they will be selling Wii U with NSMBU and NSLU for no more than $199 next Christmas. That and Kart/Smash is their last fucking hope.
To even come close to Gamecube numbers, it would have to sell decently well from holiday 2014 to holiday 2016, which is when they'll release the successor. Personally, I can't see them pulling it off, but if anything is going to "save" the Wii U, it's not 3D Mario, it'll be a ridiculously low entry price + Smash + Kart.
That's the million dollar question.
Nintendo actually had games they could tout and did virtually nothing in terms of widespread, sustained advertising to support them.
I have no clue what's going on there anymore.
SporeCrawler
Member
October usually seems to be a tad lower than september but similar. It is also usually a pretty big month. Also the games i highlited sold a lot on wii so with the release of such games and the mario and luigi bundle (which super tanked apparently) wiiu doing similarly to last month was expected.
John Harker
Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
Oh I dont know, 10k being a number most of those titles wish they could have sold being a factor perhaps.
I simply dont get why literally no one is buying an software. The quality is certainly there. Why aren't you buying? All talk like Pachter not unfairly says? Haha Can't imagine what nintendo thinks.
They probably saw it coming and in an effort to hit contribution goals are only spending against Pokemon and 3d world to get the best return for their spends.
SporeCrawler
Member
I agree that they need to lower the price more. I was sceptical with the 50$ pricedrop but thought with the big lineup of software they would be able to do more. Looks like they do nothing to promote with a console at a state like it was beginning 2013 (dead).
Its amazing if you think about the same time last year where wiiu was actually doing well.
ZSaberLink
Media Create Maven
That's the thing. The Wii U wasn't doing well last year. It debuted worse than the GameCube, sold decently in December, and then just died.
Also doesn't it seem like Nintendo was far more desperate with the GameCube than they are with the Wii U? They seemed to be firing on all cylinders with the GameCube despite all their issues, at least game-wise. Not sure why Nintendo seems so calm with the Wii U in a terrible state like this...
I was resistant to the idea for a while, but it just seems more and more necessary for Nintendo to ditch the GamePad, sell a barebones Wii U console bundle for $199 w/ a Pro Controller with either Mario Kart 8 or 3D World pack-ins... Position the system as a low-end Nintendo box if they want to be able to save face and ride out the cycle with GCN or N64 numbers (depending how lucky they are).
I know it would fracture the userbase, but the gamepad isn't really necessary for any big game save for Nintendo Land and ZombiU so far. (plus the userbase thus far is small anyway...) Anecdotally, I know a lot of people to whom a $199 box to play HD Smash Bros and Mario Kart would greatly appeal.
I know it would fracture the userbase, but the gamepad isn't really necessary for any big game save for Nintendo Land and ZombiU so far. (plus the userbase thus far is small anyway...) Anecdotally, I know a lot of people to whom a $199 box to play HD Smash Bros and Mario Kart would greatly appeal.
I think so, they just can't/don't want to/don't know how to compete with MS/Sony, that much is clear.
End of an era.
ZSaberLink
Media Create Maven
I know I didn't end up buying some of the games b/c I have too many 3DS games to play, and not much time anyways. However, why did no one else buy games? There are around 1 million Wii Us out there in the US (right?), and what are these folks buying anyways? I guess 10% bought Pikmin 3, and 10% bought Wind Waker HD. That's it after buying Mario Bros?