Wii Conspiracy Roundup
Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:13AM EDT
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The Nintendo Wii was released on November 19, 2006, nearly four months ago. Got one yet? Of course you don't. And don't go looking for one, either. Unless you've got an insider at a gaming store or the tenacity to call one every day to inquire about their next shipment, you're not going to get one soon.
Yet the Wii is a gaming phenomenon and, unlike the Playstation 3, includes no technology of note that hasn't been around for many years.
So why aren't we soaking in Wiis? Have a look at some of the conspiracy theories on the Internet, strictly for your amusement:
First there's the obvious, that Nintendo is artificially keeping supply low in order to keep demand high throughout 2007. That would make sense if Nintendo was charging higher prices now. But it isn't, and so it's losing out on millions every week by failing to fulfill demand and possibly losing sales to other consoles.
Also popular: Big box retailers are hoarding them for big sale days. The idea is that if they advertise Wiis on the weekend, they'll get big traffic on those days and sell lots of paper towels and Pokemon junk (specifically mentioned are Target and Toys R Us). I can't speak to this, but it sounds plausible at least.
On the more absurd side: A variety of lawsuits have stopped Nintendo from producing more consoles. Ok, except it is still producing consoles, just not enough for everyone.
A game store employee offered this to one Yahoo! Tech shopper: "Nintendo is at the end of its fiscal year so they aren't sending them out." Well, he said "physical year," but we know what he meant. And unfortunately, that argument is inane. When companies get near the end of a fiscal year, they invariably try to sell more, not less, as it makes the numbers look better.
And of course, A-list NBA players have all the consoles. Even B-list players can't get them.
And here's an interesting twist: Independent Wii developers can't even get hardware, as Wii publishers have taken all the consoles.
What's the truth? Well, it should be obvious, if you've ever bought a game console in the past: Gaming companies are notorious for mismanaging their launches by not having enough product on hand for release, and being unable to fulfill demand for months at a time. The Xbox 360 was tough to get for close to a year, if you'll recall, and like the Wii it doesn't feature any outrageously next-gen technology.
What can you do to get one? Be patient. Shop on eBay or Craigslist if you're desperate. And make friends with someone at a store that sells Wii hardware so you can get in line early the day they come in. Or just do what I do: Enjoy your PS2 and 360 for the time being.
Sorry for the earlier "17 million by March" error: That referred to software titles, not hardware. Actually, Nintendo has said it plans to have 6 million hardware units sold by the end of March.
Comments on Wii Conspiracy Roundup
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2 Posted by mystdancer50 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I think the Wii is interesting though I won't buy one for myself, I wouldn't turn down a gift. The PS3 is the one I'm craving and am willing to wait until 2009 when the price is reasonable and there are more games available for the system. This is why I'm often behind the times when gaming exists because I always wait until the consoles are not 300+ dollars. My brother, actually, bought me my PS2...hmmm...I wonder...Cheers!
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3 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Local Target and Toys R Us has shipments of them every week. And the timeframe from Nintendo was "mid-March to end of April" for the huge shipment. So expect it to happen sometime in the next few weeks.
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4 Posted by ka7aok831 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
arlier this week Sam's Club in Avondale, AZ had several pallets of Wii's. They were selling them for about $247.
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5 Posted by cuplacaiazzas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I have another theory to think about. Instead of mismanagement and conspiracy's, I believe it is more about long term production. If Nintendo put in place all of the personnel, equipment, etc. to produce units for everyone who wanted a Wii, there would be a huge boom at the first, then a huge fall in sales afterward, forcing Nintendo to slack production to keep even with sales. This way they are staying at a constant production rate, saving money on equipment and the grief of firing employees after the boom ends. The rate they are at now should last them at least a year or two.
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6 Posted by commorancy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse
Quote: So why aren't we soaking in Wiis? The answer, we are. The problem isn't that people don't want to buy them, instead it's about people not being able to buy them. When even major stores gets a shipment of 2 (or less) each week, there is something seriously wrong with Nintendo's supply capability. Instead of 2, they need to be delivering 200 to the stores. The reason they are popular is that they're priced $250 combined with a unique controller system... and for no other reason. However, considering that the Wii is basically a Gamecube repackaged with new controllers, it really is overpriced even at $250. But, that isn't stopping people from standing in line overnight to get them.
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7 Posted by jholden936 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Funny that they mention knowing someone at a gaming store in order to get a WII because that is exactly how I got mine. I had to make buddy buddy with some guys at my local Game Stop in order to get one off of their next shipment. I have had my wii for almost 3 months now. And now that I made friends with them they put things aside for me that are coming out and keep me updated on all of the new product launches. Making friends with these guys does help.
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8 Posted by jawnrah on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse
sure you can get a wii but you either have to stand in line which to me is crazy to do 4 months after launch. Yes it is true that big box stores are either hording them or not getting them at all. I think the bundles are killing this launch for nintendo. Wal mart toys r us, gamestop all have bundles every now and then. That are almost 600 dollars. the whole point of the wii was supposed to be the price point. But when they bundle it with games you don't want it's not worth it. They would probably sell twice the hardware if they sold them seperate. and you can always go on ebay and pay twice what the wii is worth. That's another thing that might be going on. Since stores are onl y getting a few at a time it's quite possible that ebay dorks are the ones standing in line and buying them all up still. You know what I say about th. get a job and a life. I don't really think nintendo is selling this thing right, they want to be seperate from the console war yet they are still selling it like a console. I never had to buy an ipod in a bundle or a zune in a bundle. I think bundles are the worst thing ever thought of you should have a choice in the matter. But until people stop buying the lame bundles, the game stores will selling them.
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9 Posted by joe_fields_8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse
The reason we are soaking them up is not only the low price, the unique controllers really DO change the way you play games (of course literally, but most certainly figuratively.) Besides all of that, the games are fun as heck and Nintendo has done a great job of offering a TON of free online content with a simple WiFi connection. My friends and I are having a blast with it already, but have fun waiting in line with your old "joystick!"
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10 Posted by mousgirl2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse
to say a store such as Target is hoarding them is silly. I work for a Target, and trust me if we had Wii's for every call we recieve about them we would be rolling in monies. At best we may get 20 at a time. And this is at best. They sale out usually in the first few hours of putting them out. I do feel Nintendo could put out more,for whatever the reasons they don't. I also feel people should boycott the games. But that will never happen, because ads are aimed at making parents feel less than dirt if they don't get their kids the must have games. We are a nation of instant gratification, and most young people have not clue one of having to wait for something that may be worth having
1 Posted by edward.stamper@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't know about the knowing someone in the store part. What I did was check the local stores about once or twice a week. I had my usual rounds; Toys'r'Us, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal Mart. One day, Wal Mart had two in the display case, so I bought one. Persistance won the day.