Nintendo of France: Games Will Improve Wii U Sales, Not A Price Cut

Boost in 3DS sales attributed to first party releases

A lot has been said about the Wii U and its slow sales in 2013. For example, research emerged yesterday from ABI which claimed the success of Nintendo's new home console hinged on a price cut.

[lilbroRx]

I have been saying this for months now. I always thought it was common sense, but I have been getting bashed nonstop for stating it.

Software sales hardware. When I bought the PSX/PS2 I didn't do it because I had something twisted love for Sony. I did it because they had the most games that I wanted.

When I bought the Wii it was because it had the most games that I wanted with the control scheme I found the most fun to play them with. The same will be the case for the Wii U when the games like Monolith's new project and Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2 and various big Indie games release.

They got off to a slow start, but in the end, Nintendo will deliver.

[dedicatedtogamers]

There are more articles trying to defend Nintendo than articles discussing the WiiU's upcoming games. Cmon, Nintendo. Less talk. More games.

[Brucis]

To be fair almost every other WiiU article is trying to slam it, but I agree. Talk about the upcoming games, there's plenty announced.

[Root]

@Brucis

Really because articles like this one

http://n4g.com/news/1220856...

Are people trying to slam it...usually them kind of articles end up pointing something out which the PS4 and probably Nextbox can do better then the Wii U. Then people say it's people hating on it, if an article got posted saying "The Wii U sucks because..." then fair enough but when articles have legit criticism against the console then you have to think and question what Nintendo are doing.

Take away, third party support and better specs and what is the Wii U left with....exclusives, thats all.

[PopRocks359]

@Root

Funny you link that article. I was called a delusional fanboy there for pointing out that no one stated the Wii U could not support UE4 and that Mark Rein already stated a year ago the machine could run it but scaled down. And those being insulting received most of the agrees.

It only tells me that people who legitimately criticize Nintendo are incredibly rare and that those who hate Nintendo will grasp for just about anything to slam the company/console/fans in some way.

EDIT: Before anyone jumps down my throat trying to "correct" me, in this new article Mark Rein said that Epic is not doing UE4 games for Wii U. This was stated way back when as well. However it's not stopping another developer from making games with the engine.

Until someone specifically states the contrary, I don't see much reason to believe otherwise.

[cleft5]

Don't worry too much about haters. I keep hearing and seeing people go on and on about price cut this and price cut that, but the reality is that Nintendo has to get games out their to make the console highly desirable before they start thinking about price cuts. Its really like you said.

This isn't a chicken or the egg scenario, before the WiiU can sale more there has to been enough quality games on the console that it has irresistible appeal. Hype can certainly sell consoles, but ultimately it dies away and so do sales a la the Wii.

The WiiU is set to do the opposite, with slow sales at the start, discounting the initial way of purchases, and greater sales in the future. Pretty much what Sony is doing with the PS3 right now. Once all those games you mentioned hits, then and only then, can we start seriously talking about price cuts.

[PopRocks359]

Try telling this to LOL_WUT.

EDIT: Frankly I can't imagine anyone clamoring for a price cut unless they actually intend to buy one. If you think it's simply a good business strategy, the last few weeks have proven otherwise. Without AAA titles and more awareness, the hardware can't sell no matter what price it is at. That's why the Vita, 3DS and PS3 struggled early on as well. A few games and better marketing down the line and all three of those were better off after the first year.

A big problem with the Wii U right now is that there is a huge lack of awareness. Those who are aware either don't care or don't realize it's a new console. That, to me, is an issue in dire need of fixing.

[NastyLeftHook0]

i have faith nintendo will come out of this. i love there games.

[imsocool1234]

Even with a price cut for the Wii U, it's not going to save Nintendo's ass from doom. Why? Because they don't want to change for the most part. They will continue to milk and put out all that same old shovel ware. They're like a generation late.

[lilbroRx]

Did you even bother to read this article? It was saying the entire point is that a price would make no difference as price is not the issue at all.

This has 0% to with price. The price is fine.

The issue here is game. There are few on the console now. There will be many in the future, however. Sales will increase whether people want them to or not.

[Kuya00]

yep. a generation where production costs of games rise and profits are pratically nonexistant.where games have to sell millions of copies just to balance how much they spent. where art direction means crap against graphics based on gray and nothing else. where developers sacrafice creative risks for their products to play it safe. this next gen is gonna be terrifying.

[just-joe]

I hope so, the system has potential, but it hasn't reached it yet.

[josephayal]

Games like FF7, ff13, kingdom hearts hd, battlefield4, mario galaxy, fzero, destiny, diablo 3

[Trago1337]

It's funny because Iwata out right admitted that the games just aren't ready yet. They really are in a tough spot right now.

Like all the retailers keep harping on, the Wii U just needs a Big release, and i mean BIG, must have, Gotta Run to the Best Buy right now kind of game.

And while Bayonetta 2, Wonderful 101, and Pikmin are in fact going to be great games for the system no doubt, we need the REAL heavy hitters like Zelda, or Mario.

Or hell, Even Retro's new game. I can 100 percent admit that i'm more excited about Retro's new game than ANYTHING else Nintendo is cooking up for the Simple fact that we DON'T know what the hell it is. And Taking in to consideration that they recently hired Ex Naughty Dog, Vigil, and Cryteck developers, it really makes you wonder what it could be.

So perhaps with my bias aside, I believe Retro's new game is what the Wii u needs to start flying off shelves, as well as the other Nintendo game we want.

[V0LT]

32gb of storage is one of the most stupid things they have done. 1 or 2 downloads and that 32gb is toast.

$350 for this console is just asking way too much for whats inside.

[lilbroRx]

People have gone down this road many time. The console is being sold at a lost, so what's inside is worth much more than what you "think" it should be worth.

The only people I've ever seen make an issue out of price or storage with the Wii U were Sony fanboys and Nintendo haters who wouldn't buy the system under any circumstance making it a moot point.

[boybato]

sorry but you forgot to account ze controller. lol

[V0LT]

That controller is not really that impressive sorry.

[Gamer-40]

WiiU different way and different games.
I have faith nintendo upcoming unique exklusive games.

[Kingthrash360]

Price drop would appeal to the casual gamer more....its how the wii was a success. My grandama had one...why...price and simplicity. The wiiu does not have that simplicity appeal nor price appeal. Simple as that. People bought it for their kids because of this same with ds... kids understand mario easier than uncharted parents will buy Zelda for thier kids before gow... now they see a lots of mature games and a price bigger than a ps3.... also games are need ...kiddie games...yeah the wiiu can play wii games but that wont appeal to tge casual gamer...they already have a wii...wiiu has many problems and shying away from the casual gamer was a mistake.

[MEsoJD]

Games are a big reason, but the system itself is not worth it considering it's specs/features/offerings. The vita had a price drop and influx of games recently in Japan. The sales wouldn't be as large without the proce drop(IMO). Nintendo will announce a price drop before Sony/MS new consolea launch.

[Nodoze]

Agreed 100%. Come on Nintendo the 3DS is moving along nicely, time to focus on WiiU!

[LOL_WUT]

Games alone are going to improve Wii U sales? LOL @ pop

So far all the games everyone is waiting for won't be here for quite some time. Why won't Nintendo drop the price while everyone waits? That way they'll at least sell something, but no, they rather have the Wii U sitting at store shelves collecting dust. ;)

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Your name is my thought after reading your comment.

Yes games alone can improve Wii U sales. You underestimate the importance of software.

I said this with the Vita and the same applies to Wii U. No duh dropping the price would increase sales initially. Question is how do you make it so that the increase in sales turns into the normal trend and that you are still making money even though you are taking further loss on the hardware?

Dropping the price for the sole purpose of increasing sales is stupid especially if you are already selling it at a loss. You need to maintain profit. So if your gonna take further loss on the hardware you better make sure you have desirable games so that you can make money off of that.

[AKR]

NoF knows what they're talking about.

Doesn't matter how MUCH the system costs - what matters if there are games that make it attractive nonetheless. Although pricey, the Wii U is still at a very good price, either way. If people are complaining about the price now, imagine how they'll be when the 720 and PS4 come out. Heh . . . those systems will have a price point of AT LEAST $400-$450 dollars. Add that to the price of games, which will be about $60 - and that's almost 500-600 dollars you're spending. See what I mean?

The 3DS didn't roar with life JUST because of it's price cut. It roared to life because of it's price cut AND the release of quality first-party titles. If Nintendo just cut the price of the 3DS - it wouldn't have blown up the way it did. The Wii U has games inbound - it's going through what EVERY new console goes through ~ the infancy drought. It's a new console that was launched smack in the middle of the brightest days of the 360 & PS3. Devs had projects in production for the latter two for over 1 or 2 years, and are now releasing them - while the Wii U just came out a few months ago. See?

The 360 & PS3 didn't find their voice until about 2 years after their launches. Give the Wii U some time.