Nintendo hit by Wii shortage

Shortages of Nintendo's Wii games console are benefiting the Japanese company's rivals Microsoft and Sony in the crucial run-up to Christmas in the US.

Nintendo sought to keep sales going at the end of last week by introducing "rain-check certificates" at GameStop video game stores, guaranteeing delivery to buyers of the sold-out console some time in January.

But retailers have reported that frustrated consumers are in some cases opting to buy Microsoft's Xbox 360 or Sony's PlayStation 3 instead.

[Zhuk]

The only shortage Nintendo has is a shortage of a decent console

[felman87]

You don't fancy the wii?

[Capt CHAOS]

And even funnier 'You don't fancy the Wii?'.

I got one for my daughter just a few days ago.. and yes, it really is a 'toy', I think the controller sucks and you just don't get the fine control you need for most games (i.e. Golf)..

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Capt. Chaos:
All video game consoles are toys...
"3. something that serves for or as if for diversion, rather than for serious pratical use. " (from dictionary.com)

[Prismo_Fillusion]

There's a Wii shortage?
I had not heard this before.
News to me.

/sarcasm

[UnblessedSoul]

Stop with the freaking wii shortages nobody gives a shi!

[FF7numba1]

its actually a good move for Nintendo. Kind of like keeping AD>AS.(economics)

[AzaziL]

Doesn't work if the funnel effect limits sales and allows consumers to spend their money somewhere else. Just think of all the people this Xmas that'll end up with a 360 or PS3 because there were no Wii's available.

[wiizy]

if you say so.. cause the wii has been outselling sony 3 to 1..so sony is either not needed or that shortage is starting to be filled

[DeejayTai]

Yeah, and hamburgers outsells steak cuz it's CHEAPER! What's your point? It must be a better console because it sells more? Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch went multi-platinum too. You sayin' they kick a$$?

[clevernickname]

Nintendo openly admits that they don't want to spend the money to open new manufacturing plants because they are afraid they might flood the market and then be in a position where they would have to carry the inventory, as happened with the Gamecube.

Well, with that kind of logic there will always be a shortage. The fact is Nintendo is playing things too conservatively with supply. In doing so they broke a cardinal rule of business; anticipate failure, but plan for success.

[Dannagar]

It's always been my thoughts that Nintendo has been fearful of opening new manufacturing plants for Wii. I don't think they believed in their own system. You hit the nail on the head.

[bootsielon]

If anyone thinks Nintendo actually cares about the industry they're just plain wrong. They don't care about setting up their own storage buildings and new manufacturing plants just so their profits aren't hit. All companies care about their bottom line, but some JUST care about their bottomline, and that is Nintendo.

Their classiest products are Zelda Games, and even then they're cheap to make, with MIDI sound, lack of voice talents, actors, mocap, and what not. That's why they will never make a game comparable with those of 3rd party in production values, which some of us gamers like.

Sure, Nintendo focuses on gameplay, but some of us are tired of playing with Mario. Others are not only tired, but turned off by just the thought. Simply put, we're tired of Nintendo salvaging old franchises, hardly making an investment into new products.

Seriously, Super Mario Galaxy, Zelda (which is a gamecube game, not made for Wii), Metroid Prime 3, Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Paper Mario... that's the same line-up as the gamecube! Except now they have Wii Play, Wii Sports, Warioware, Wii Fit, Wii Music... a bunch of really CHEAP to make games, if not tech demos of the Wii where Nintendo charges you $20, as if that was cheap.

When is Nintendo gonna really make an investment in us? Sure, they want the money... and I want to see them make an effort, and they're hardly doing it. Remaking and renaming the gamecube, and charging twice its value for the games and the console is an insult which I'm not going to take. I'm not buying the Wii until its price is in the 100-150 zone, has decent 3rd party games (especially new IP for mature audiences), and new, mature oriented IP from Nintendo. If not they can go to hell, and I'll be happy with my PS360.

[DeejayTai]

Hell, i'm just waiting for a great game for Wii that doesn't have Mario, Link, or Metroid somewhere in the title. I've been playing Nintendo's games since Donkey Kong. Why the hell are they STILL AROUND???

[Xanatos]

A bubble for you sir.

[Enigma_2099]

... straight from the "no $#!+ Sherlock department. HOWEVER, The shortage isn't due to them NOT making any more of the consoles... the shortage is due to them selling so FAST!!! My local WalMart one morning sold out of 18 of the things in less than an hr. Apparently SOMEONE wants them!

[DeejayTai]

With this a$$-backward logic you can sell ONE damn unit and still sell out jackass

[Enigma_2099]

... is your screwed-on head...

It's called citing an example, you slow-witted moron... or do you guys like to be called morans? Now if say, the example I stated was the only instance of wiis being sold, I could understand your defiance...

But for argument's sake... and I know this is gonna be really hard for you, THINK!!! Do you honestly believe they're not selling anywhere else?

Honestly... being called a jackass by someone like you is really LOL funny!

[jinn]

the wii sells well, but people hardly even play it, they spend more time with their primary console(xbox360, ps3)

[DeejayTai]

Anyone who has their heart set on buying a wii isn't going to say "oh, what the hell, i'll just grab a 360/PS3", because with the wii it's mainly about the price(everybody with half a damn brain knows this). If the wii is so godd@mned revolutionary why do the controls suck so much? Cuz it's a gamecube with a fresh coat of paint, that's why. And when you cite and example, make sure you cite one with a relevent or valid point a$$bag.

Get off mario's nuts

[Enigma_2099]

Have you even SEEN the mobs that colonize stores and retail outlets days before Christmas? Most of them are older parents buying whatever they can find for their kids. And if the kids want a Wii, and the parents can't find one, what the hell do you THINK they're gonna do? They're gonna buy them whatever they can, because that's what parents DO.

And just how do Wiimotes suck? Are you physically challenged? Do you poses poor motor skills? It's revolutionarey because it's different. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

And I could speak volumes to prove any point I make, but if you're too fvcking stupid to realize it or accept it, then I may as well be talking to a bag of wet mice... which you are apparently no smarter than...

...and just what are you doing thinking about Mario's nuts?

This is the part where you run off at the mouth one last time, then put me on your ignore list, right? Well, I ain't got all day, son...

[DeejayTai]

You totally overlooked the fact that some parents can't afford the other systems. Maybe where you come from there's money up the a$$, but in the real world some parents can only afford the wii. That's it's popularity in a nutshell. The argument you're making is that the controls for the wii are glitch-free(in your fukn dreams). A Pinto with a Corvette's body on it is still a Pinto, jizzbreath. Speaking of motor skills, it looks like you typed that sh!t with your feet; that would explain all the misspelled words. Spell check much? I won't put you on ignore cuz' one of my great pleasures is shoving a wiib!tch's face into a pile of Donkey Kong sh!t!

[Enigma_2099]

Man, I wish I DID have money up my @$$... I'd retire tomorrow. I hate my job so much. But I'm getting off topic here, so let's do the math... the going price for a Wii is about $250. Now for $100-$200 more, you can have a 360 or a PS3... what you seem to completely and BLATANTLY overlook is that, while some parents can't afford one of the other systems, others can. Some parts like you said, sure, but in others, guess what, they can probably afford it... and a nice HDTV to hook it up to... they make those, y'know.

Argument over Wiimotes? Glitch free? I must have missed something here... I didn't say the Wiimote was the best thing since sliced bread, I ASKED YOU A QUESTON!!!! And once again you've proven yourself to be too frickin' stupid to answer!!!

I'm talking game systems, and he's talking cars... well, that proves he's mentally retarded. And other than the slang in my text, just what in my last post looks like I typed shyte with my feet? If anything, I've proven my grammar skills are just a LITTLE bit better than yours.

Oh, and all that foul language that flows from that sewer backup you call a mouth only shows that you're trying REAL hard to overcompensate for a lack of something. They make pills for that, in case you were wondering...

The only thing you've proven with your statements is that... *GASP*... YOU DON'T LIKE NINTENDO. Yeah, I can pretty much come to that assumption. And by going out of your way to show this in your 'colorful' speech, you just come off looking even more pathetic.

I'm holding you to that promise of not putting me on your ignore list. I'd start to get REAL lonely without you, and I might cry...

P.S.: Ohh, I see.. I misspelled revolutionary... THAT'S what you meant... Okay, so ONE TYPO... but that doesn't change the fact that you're an idiot.

[eddierivera]

i cant beieve this kid just said the ps3 is not needed? I like the Wii but these guys that are Wii fanboys are in denial. The only thing the wii has is its first party games,,, noone plays the wii for anything else,, if we could play mario on the wii we would. lol,, give me a break guys..

[eddierivera]

im sorry,, what i meant was if we could play mario on the ps3 we would cause it has better graphics,, imagine mario or zelda on next gen? jesus it sounds to good to be true.