Satoru Iwata: Customers Understanding The Wii U "Will Take a Little Time"

Nintendolife: ''With a New Year and Nintendo's upcoming announcement of its Q3 financial results, Satoru Iwata and his team have plenty to think about. 2013 will be an important year to continue momentum on 3DS with big releases, and more importantly to grow the Wii U audience as much as possible.''

[PopRocks359]

I'm thinking the Wii needs to fade into history for all of the confusion to completely dissipate. Maybe I'm naive, but it might be a smart move on Nintendo's part to cut down on manufacturing the Wii console.

[exfatal]

I've heard they stop producing games for the wii so im sure the other companies will follow suit soon, so at least Nintendo has their full attention on the wii u.

[Pixel_Enemy]

Tell me more marshabilly5!

[deafdani]

Why would they? The Wii is still selling pretty well, and every Wii sold turns a ridiculous profit for Nintendo. That's the same reason why they haven't discontinued the DS, despite the 3DS having been in the market for a year and half or so.

[PopRocks359]

Correction: They actually have discontinued the DS and DS Lite models. Only the DSi and DSi XL are being manufactured right now while the 3DS and 3DS XL are also manufactured.

I'm not saying to cut off the Wii entirely, I'm suggesting Nintendo may want to ease up on Wii manufacturing so as to move the Wii lineup over and make more room for the Wii U. That way they still make some money off of the Wii while the Wii U becomes more noticed as a unique system.

[Pixel_Enemy]

It's also called "install base" Why make a game for a console that just launched and has a TINY fraction of the install base as the previous console that is still selling?

[deafdani]

Ok, sorry, I meant the DSi. My bad. Point is still the same.

And no, what Nintendo is doing right now is what makes the most business sense. If they do what you suggested, then they would be shortening the Wii's lifespan for no reason at all. Better try and sell as many of them as they can, while the Wii U's install base grows bigger over time. It's better to let the Wii disappear from the market naturally (out of consumer disinterest), than to cut it dramatically, or even try and sell less units like you suggested.

Same goes for the DSi.

[PopRocks359]

Hasn't the Wii's lifespan already been shortened to the point of near death anyway? The last big Wii release from Nintendo was a Kirby collection and as far as I know the Wii has no more releases coming this year.

I already suggested not to cut the Wii dramatically. In fact my suggestion is just as much in line with what you're saying and to make it a gradual thing.

"I'm not saying to cut off the Wii entirely, I'm suggesting Nintendo may want to ease up on Wii manufacturing..."

EDIT: But the basic point here is that the Wii U is the new console and a part of the general public don't recognize it as a new console. Why not slow down on Wii production in favor of the Wii U when there are plenty of Wiis in stock in many stores?

[dedicatedtogamers]

Iwata is being very condescending as an excuse for the WiiU's mediocre performance. Nintendo as a whole has been very condescending over the last few years. When the Wii and DS launched, Nintendo never said stuff like this. They simply asked us to TRY it. They put the systems in our hands. Now, with the 3DS and WiiU, Nintendo is lashing out against consumers and saying "oh, you're not buying it because you don't understand it".

No, Nintendo. No. You are wrong. I understand the 3DS. I understand the WiiU. I simply DON'T WANT IT.

Perhaps if Nintendo spent more time trying to understand their fans, instead of trying to force us to understand THEM, their sales would be better.

[MasterCratosKong66]

if it was normal circumstances i would understand, but the wii u is literally HARD TO UNDERSTAND. they never did this with the wii because everyone could pick up and play the wii very easily. the upgrade from older consoles to new consoles is usually a no brainer but i have a tough time explaining this to other people. i haven't met anyone so far who was able to really get the picture without spending an hour playing the thing first and then deciding whether they like it or not. that being said nintendo should be doing everything they can to help that process with marketing

[doctorstrange]

"It's like a giant DS for your TV"

[exfatal]

"Its like a giant HD ds for your tv"
fixed for ya.. and whats wrong with that? i'd always wanted to play my ds and now 3ds games on the tv somehow, and now they have the next best thing lol

[doctorstrange]

Never said anything's wrong with it, I like my U. Just don't see why it's such a hard thing to convey.

[Clarence]

I don't see it getting better for the Wii u anytime soon. The PS3 and 360 are outselling it. Just think how tough it will be when Sony and M$ release their new console?

[EddieNX]

Mmmm you must be stupid right ?

Well let me explain. The 360 and ps3 are now really really cheap and have tons of games ready even the wii is still selling well for the same reasons...

When the 720 and ps4 launch they're not even gunna sell faster than wiiu , after all Wiiu is outselling the launch of the ps3 and 360. They will be in the same boat as wiiu - Expensive , Not that many MUST HAVE games , And people will think ''why should I upgrade from the 360 I bought last year when the 720 is just a 1080p 30FPS version of my 360.

When PS4 and 720 Launch all you're gunna get graphically is 1080p 30-60FPS Xbox 360 graphics with more AA and some tacked on DX 11 features. The common gamer won't vare for the difference.

After a year of being on the market those consoles will start to display WOW graphics and games and they will start selling really fast as the ps3 and 360 and wii finally stop selling all together...

[jmc8888]

Exactly. Which means compared to a Wii U, it will be modestly better graphically.

So when a person is looking to pick up a console, they'll see most likely $249-299 or so for Wii U or $399-549 for PS4/720. Anyone that doesn't see that as a potential problem during the greatest depression mankind has ever known should go balls to the wall buying subprime mortgage derivatives.

As time goes on all three consoles will scale up as the new features of the GPGPU are utilized and programmers put more time, focus into the console as well as become more experienced with it.

The other thing they forget is that the new consoles won't see as many titles the first couple of years as the 360/PS3 do. They'll suffer from the same 'new console' problems that the Wii U and all other consoles of recent eras before have suffered from.

Basically when a new console comes out, it costs more money to produce games on that console, yet there is a far smaller audience that can even purchase the game. That's why you see some devs every generation that stick with the previous generation for a couple of years. They wait until the consoles have sold enough units to justify making a game on it.

It's why you saw some PS2/xbox games coming out on those systems and not on PS3/360. No one said it meant doom or bad things for the 360/PS3. But for the Wii U, suddenly it's a 'brand new problem' that 'only the Wii U' will suffer from.

It's hilarious. If it wasn't sad that is. How many times does the same stuff need to happen, over and over again before people remember it?

The facts are the PS4/720/Wii U initially will have good support, but many devs will choose to wait until enough units are sold so they don't go bankrupt making a game that can't possibly make it's money back. See Crysis 3 on the Wii U.

Crytek lost alot of money for EA with Crysis 2. It sold well, but the costs were astronomical. Crytek makes very technically advanced games, but EA is their master, and masters have no problem closing down devs like Crytek if their games don't make money. It wasn't about Wii U not being able to run it, it was that they didn't want to lose money making a special port version for a console that only has a couple million units worldwide sold by then roughly.

I highly suspect that the 360 and PS3 will continue to be big sellers when the PS4/720 comes out. Because it plays good games for cheap. As time goes on the Wii U will be competitively priced against those while basically being almost as good as a PS4/720 for probably about half the price.

[WiigotU]

Clarence the cheaper systems are selling with more games out now and ore new games coming soon. The more epensive system with no games out is def going to out sell them.

My niece just got a 360 kinect bundle that she didn't pay for that I used my store discount to absorb the cost. I bet you a thousand that she and thousands of other kids and adults will not be getting a more expensive system.

While everyone is dogging the wiiu where will you be when your new systems don't hit high numbers and sales look bad?

[megamanX2]

"I don't see it getting better for the Wii u anytime soon. The PS3 and 360 are outselling it."

are u a moron? how many years have those other systems been out for now?

[thaimasker]

You do understand that the PS2 outsold the PS3 And 360 in its first year to right? You have no Idea how the market works.

[JohnnyAkiba]

In "little time" real next gen consoles will be released. xD

[Steadyhndz]

Well in little time there's gonna be plenty of other better systems to choose that are actually up to date

[herbs]

Nintendo has always been King at doing more with less...

[Steadyhndz]

Well compared numbers from the Wii and the Wii U...the Wii U is gonna do pretty terrible. But time will tell. I won't make any hard statements about that subject for another year.

[lilbroRx]

The Wii U is already doing well actually. Not making astronomical profits like the Wii did in the same time frame in no ways points to failure as it is still making a profit.

The Wii U only needs games to sale which is currently doesn't have many of. Once games that people actually want to play start hitting the shelf, the Wii U will start leaving the shelf.

[MasterCratosKong66]

there is no such thing as an up to date system

[ZeekQuattro]

Ahh I can seem some trolls stumbled upon this article. Now things should get real interesting.

[danny818]

Will be funny if ps4 and 720 cater to the CASUALS and hardcore and Nintendo stock tanks. Ahaha!

[refocusedman]

The thing is that customers shouldn't need time to understand a product. Most products that excel are simple and easily resonate with the public. I always thought The wii U was a horrible name especially if they are attempting to carve out an identity for a new console at least the ps and xbox has number iterations..

[WiigotU]

So why would you pick a laptop over a mac or vice verca?

[Knushwood Butt]

Yeah, seems like Iwata has lost the plot these days.

I think customers are trying to understand where the games are.

[Plagasx]

First of all, Nintendo is stupid for naming the system the "Wii U"...

That alone confuses customers...

[WiigotU]

Did people get confused with the ps, ps2, and ps3 and possibly the ps4?
Did people get confused with the 360?

I get you can be confused by the games because the box looks the same but if i'm looking a box and there is a system with a tablet I bet bells and whistles would go off and I would say why does this look different.
I get where your coming from but people can't be that dumb.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

People are used to numbers after names meaning a new generation. Letters just mean an update. iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S. PSP to PSP Go. GBA to GBA SP. DS to DSi. DSi to DSi XL. It's when you change the number like in the iPhone 5 or PlayStation 3 or even the DS to the 3DS that people realize it's a new product. You can even use any number you want as evidenced by the Xbox 360.

I have my Wii U sitting next to my Wii under my TV and they look nigh identical. That box art with the big controller on the front with the console hiding behind it doesn't scream "new console" to me. It looks like a new controller called the Wii U, the controller U hold to play the Wii.

I bought a Wii U at launch and use it every day, but I can't pretend that Nintendo didn't screw up the name.

[megamanX2]

Understanding The Wii U "Will Take a Little Time"

yeah thanx for that nintendo, and if these newer systems come out this year i might trade mine in. I just dont know about this system yet something about it doesn't seem right.....where is the excitement?

[Kevlar009]

Nintendo should really create a new IP. Something special and unique that shows off the WiiU's capabilities, both in power and functionality. While releasing core franchises is a must, WiiU won't feel like a true console until that fresh and unique game is released. Miyamoto almost never disappoints

[lilbroRx]

What are you talking about? Nintendo is constantly creating new I.P.

I don't know where people got this idea that they are only capable of selling the same games over and overage again.

The Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games, Wii Fit and Wii Sports were all new I.P.s last gen that broke records.

Nintendo has never been about showing off power. The best looking and performing games on any Nintendo console were always made by a third party, not Nintendo.

[metroidfusion2]

Ha ha people are/will keep saying the same shit over and over and nintendo will keep surprising and keep being successful etc etc I guess those same people will have to wait and see ha ha lol so keep bringing the hate

[wiiulee]

wiiu is a fantstic system and whoever has it understand that and the truly fantastic games built for the system are coming soon, but better commercials from nintendo will help, just better advertisement and a small 30 dollar price cut

[mochachino]

Wii was Nintendo's one major home console success in the past 3 gens.

The way Wii U sales are going, it looks like Nintendo is back to normal appealing only to the Nintendo hardcore fans making Nintendo 1 for 4.

Oh we'll, at least it's not Sega.