Nintendo exec talks tough

Wii News | "Wii will be Euro market leader by Christmas 2007."

The gloves, it would seem, are well and truly off. There's been plenty of fighting talk from both Sony and Nintendo as the PlayStation 3 and Wii prepare to launch, and now a leading figure in the Nintendo camp has made one of the boldest and confident statements to date - that the Wii will be leading the European market by Christmas 2007.

The figure in question is Dawn Paine, Nintendo of Europe marketing director, who told GamesIndustry.biz that the company fully expects to sell every new console released during the coming Holiday season. "I'm absolutely sure it will [sell out this Christmas]," said Paine, adding, "Pre-orders are looking very, very healthy."

Paine seemed largely unfazed by the Xbox 360, and reckons that the unique nature of Wii will secure its success. "We don't want to sound arrogant or complacent about this, but from our point of view, we're just such a different entity and experience from anything else in the marketplace that we don't really see anything else as competition," she said. "Because our product has got such broad mainstream appeal, we're sure that we're going to sell through all of our Christmas stock. We know that retail are so enthused about Wii that we're pretty much going to be taking over retail at Christmas. We're just really confident that Wii's going to be the huge hit."

It was at this point that Paine was asked about whether the Wii would be beating the PS3 in Europe by Christmas next year. "I believe so, yes," she replied. "We're confident that Wii is going to take the UK market by storm, so when I get my crystal ball out, yes, that's what we would see happening next year."

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36 Comments

realitybites

5 years ago

Nintendo are entitled to their own opinion. They should be upbeat they have done better to get to this launch than the last two consoles.

The thing I definitely agree with we will know by Xmas 2007 whose strategy has the most effectiveness amongst gamers.

Personally I don't care for Wii's graphics and sound potential. But they believe the Wii remote is the answer. I have plenty of peripherals for my PS2. Not sure in the big scheme of things is the Wii remote going to be enough or just a passing fad.

If Wii succeeds it will be with a very different market. DS was popular due to Pokemon, Brain games and Nintendogs. Hardly any of these appeal to me and hence one of the reasons why I won't be buying a Wii.

PS3 and the Xbox 360 are not fly by night consoles either. Since I have only so much money these will be my two consoles of choice. Already have the Xbox 360 and hopefully I'll get a PS3 for Xmas 2007.

5 years ago

Frozencry wrote

Xcs:sIVE wrote

Wii man wrote

[PS3 has no ad? I wish!

I didn't see an ad, I saw some garbage that looked like it related to nothing until the playstation 3 logo at the end.
Someone tell the Sony advertising board to get off the crackpipe.
At least the PSP ads were real interesting with their mutating icon beast things fighting.
That was just utter sh!t/tripe/bile inducing stuff.

Really? I thought it was actually quite creative and very clever. IMO the ad will generate alot more hype than you'd think. The subtle use of 3 in it obviously hints at the ps3, then at the end with a simple "playstation 3" and "11.17.2006". The fact that they're not showing games makes people curious as to what the games will be like. Playstation is a trusted brand, so people will be very intrigued and curious by the end of that ad. That's my thoughts upon it anyway.

Sony branding is no longer seen as cutting edge by consumer enthusiasts - in fact, I believe it is seen as outdated compared with their peers in just about every product category.

The evidence is overwhelming particularly when you look at the enormous revenue growth of Lucky Gold Star (LG Electronics) or new consumer home electronics providers (including Apple). Even Sony's Bravia is now 90% dependent on Samsung, as Sony is in full retreat, closing all company owned & operated TV tube & Plasma factories.

Similarly, the corporate brand has lost consumer trust with Sony credibility in deficit.

Sony Marketing is trying too hard to look smart by putting forward the usual "shock" advert in a vain attempt to convince the easily influenced that Sony is still "with-it" - Gag!

Crestfallen

5 years ago

@ Cookie: if sony are closing down their plasma TV factories, how can you tell that its just not a method to reduce cost of production?

outsourcing can be a very smart move

Jellyfish

5 years ago

crestfallen12 wrote

@ Cookie: if sony are closing down their plasma TV factories, how can you tell that its just not a method to reduce cost of production?

outsourcing can be a very smart move

Sony are ceasing to manufacture Computer Displays, no idea TVs though.

5 years ago

Sony does not have a choice - their TV set production business was bleeding. The improved sales results of the Bravia and more efficient production capabilities of Samsung have helped Sony's figures this last reporting year. BUT:

If you close factories, you expel your educated labor. If you later wish to go back into production, where will you find the educated labor again?

Samsung gets to use the Sony supply contract to ramp its production output (now greater than Sharp) as well as build its IP. Sony has very little technology in this market, and now they have no production capability either.

Ellegarden

5 years ago

crestfallen12 wrote

@ Cookie: if sony are closing down their plasma TV factories, how can you tell that its just not a method to reduce cost of production?

outsourcing can be a very smart move

Outsourcing isnt the same as closing down. Its very bad situation for sony, since ratio of profits for their products is heavly on LG or Samsung's hands. It also means Sony has no control over its production line, they will only look at end figures and it also means their products is more expensive, compare to the Panasonic or LG. Well Sony could always help lower loyalities for blu-ray, one way it can help Sony.

David

5 years ago

realitybites wrote

About the bold section:

Funny, I could have sworn that the DS sold almost 30 million before a Pokemon game came out on it (apart from Pikachu racing). In fact, I could also have sworn that the first real Pokemon on the DS is not yet out anywhere but Japan, and only came out in Japan two weeks ago.

And I swear I've heard that the highest selling DS game is actually Animal Crossing, and way up there with Brain/Nintendogs are New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS, Tetris DS and already Final Fantasy III. Not to mention the dozens of other great games that just haven't sold as many, like Ouendan, Phoenix Wright, Meteos, Trauma centre, Kirby, Viewtiful Jow, Lost in Blue.

Seriously, you can not like it, that's fine. But the DS is popular for a whole multitude of reasons and games, not just 'Pokemon, Brain games and Nintendogs'. I have 15 DS games don't even own any of those three.

Bitchacho

5 years ago

David wrote

realitybites wrote

About the bold section:

Funny, I could have sworn that the DS sold almost 30 million before a Pokemon game came out on it (apart from Pikachu racing)...

Wash your mouth out with soap, David. It's not Pikachu racing, it's Pokemon Dash. The only reason the DS was popular is because of this game. From memory this was a very popular launch title (read: pile of ****) which, in a matter of FACT, launched the DS itself.

Crestfallen

5 years ago

Cookie wrote

Samsung gets to use the Sony supply contract to ramp its production output (now greater than Sharp) as well as build its IP. Sony has very little technology in this market, and now they have no production capability either.

good points.

but no production capabilities can be compensated for if sony stays on the ball and spends some of this freed up money in creating new IP's and products that are different to others on the market.

[/u]

David

5 years ago

Mitchacho wrote

Wash your mouth out with soap, David. It's not Pikachu racing, it's Pokemon Dash. The only reason the DS was popular is because of this game. From memory this was a very popular launch title (read: pile of s***) which, in a matter of FACT, launched the DS itself.

LOL

At least I hope you were joking.

It wasn't a launch game in the US, and sold very poorly everywhere - about half a million worldwide to date, when real Pokemon games (eg Red/Blue or Ruby/Sapphire) sell 20-30 million worldwide.

It's sales were dwarfed by other games that came out before or at the same time as it, it such as Warioware Touched and Super Mario 64 DS, and even Spiderman 2! Mario 64 DS actually sold almost TWENTY times more then Pokemon Dash in the US. It's currently only the 24th highest selling DS game in the US, behind even cookie cutter garbage like Star Wars Episode III and Urbz: Sims In the City. And it's only the 21st highest selling DS game of all time in Japan, behind both Tamogotchi Connection: Corner Shop 1 and 2!

(If you were joking, please disregard this rant.

I got carried away researching it, good fun looking all this stuff up actually!)

-----------------------------

By the way - good discussion Cookie and crestfallen12

realitybites

5 years ago

Well Nintendodogs got it all going and so did Brain games.

Here is some of my research:

http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=50110

If the other (Animal Crossing) sold more than thats great. But it didn't kick the DS sales into high gear. End results don't always show where the popularity started.

Nintendo handheld owners always know they are getting Pokemon games and Mystery Dungeon is but another. Nintendo has been lambasting the web channels for ages. Look at the recent rise in sales in Japan after nearly 3 million Pokemon Pearls/Diamonds leaped off the shelves. So your being picky to make a mute point.

Yeah I don't like Mario anymore and I don't like cuddly and I don't like games aimed at female audiences. So sue me.