My issue with the "this is intentional" argument is that I just don't see how this benefits them. I'm not purporting to speak for everyone else. I get that demand for this may carry over after the holidays. But I know that I've personally gotten to the point where I just don't care anymore. Like if I see one I'll probably still grab it before Christmas, but I'm not paying exorbitant markup (that wouldn't benefit Nintendo anyway) and I'm done checking nowinstock and brickseek hoping to get a hint. In fact, I got bored of that a couple of weeks ago.
I saw the "shortage in intentional!" logic as plausible but not altogether likely at launch when Nintendo promised adequate resupplies. Create a sense of urgency for when the real shipments start trickling in. OK. I can see that. But given that these things are still near impossible to find 10 days before Christmas I just don't understand why it would behoove them not to ship as many units as they can sell during the busiest shopping season of the year. So I'm still just on board with the idea that they planned this badly.
In my opinion, I do believe this is intentional. I don't think they care how many of these things they really sell, I don't think that is priority to them. I believe they want to ensure it is sold out at stores as there was a lot of buzz when it was announced. I think they are using this as a way to build up value in the Nintendo brand to the general public (importantly I'm talking about the non-hardcore gamers who post in forums). They want the "it" Xmas gift, and suddenly the local news is doing reports about how this is the hot item. Then, using forums like Late night with Jimmy Fallon, they go out to talk about the switch and of course Super Mario Run that is also coming out. Its a big time brand value thing. I think the goal is people will be more excited and interested in the Switch when it launches early next year. Hardcore gamers are already excited either way, but they want to branch out to get a wider audience.
I'm sure in the new year we will see more NES classics come out, as they know they can make some coin from this and its almost certainly cheap as hell to produce, plus its not like this is some advanced new tech that takes time to produce. However, I don't think they ever aimed to sell boatloads of these things, they knew it would sell like crazy, but they just wanted to give a taste to make their name more enticing for their future plans.
I see whenever this comes up there are a lot of people who don't believe in the manufactured scarcity thing, and that is fine of course, but in my opinion there is no question about it, especially when you see how they have done this kind of thing in the past. I don't think that the fact that the Wii U sold poorly and remained on shelves made them hesitant to release enough stock that allows big box retailers like Best Buy only 20 units or so for "launch" day. Even a conservative approach would have seen more stock than that from a company the size of Nintendo and the low tech/low cost nature of the NES classic.
I've been a huge Nintendo fan since the NES originally launched in NA in the 80's and have purchased every system and major game release they have put out since then, but this for some reason, has really put a sour taste in my mouth. I think its because of how blatent it is. In the end its just business, and of course its not like anyone consumer is "entitled" to it, but that doesn't change the fact that I feel like they left me out in the cold.
