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Nintendo Promises 4 Million Shipped Wiis By Year-End

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that's-a-thick-stream dept.

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime wants to share some good news and some bad news. The good news is that by the end of the year Nintendo expects to ship 4 million consoles. The bad news is, they still expect to sell out. From the article: "Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime hyped up the console launch, saying, 'Because of demand, we're urging shoppers not to get complacent. The level of demand we're seeing goes beyond the ordinary. Retailers are telling us a significant fraction of customers pre-ordering Wii are nontraditional gamers...' The company expects to ship 6 million Wii units globally by the end of March 2007, on par with Sony's worldwide shipment targets for PS3. Microsoft has sold 6 million Xbox 360 units to date since its launch in late November 2005, and hopes to sell 10 million by the end of the calendar year." So, fewer units than the analysts wanted. Still an impressive number.

69 comments

  1. This makes sense! by gt_mattex · · Score: 1

    A popular system at a great price point. Hell I've been unable to preorder one myself and I've been diligent in my efforts. I foresee an early lead between Nintendo and Sony. Only I'm one of the few who predicts their lead will stick.

    --
    "No doubt one may quote history to support any cause, as the devil quotes scripture." - Learned Hand
    1. Re:This makes sense! by Ruud+Althuizen · · Score: 1

      And this after the news that I got that the Netherlands will probably see a shortage as well. Most retailers will recieve 3 at most. I just hope the webshop I'm getting mine from gets enough, since I'm currently #20 on the pre-order list.

      --
      **TODO** Steal someone elses sig.
    2. Re:This makes sense! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      By few you mean every other person who posts about the Wii on Slashdot, right?

    3. Re:This makes sense! by the+honger · · Score: 1

      That's a lot of Wii.

  2. Waiting to pre-order... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    Amazon still doesn't have the pre-order option for the Nintendo Wii up yet. I'm not sure if I want to pre-order to do the EBay thing or wait until January to get one for myself. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

    1. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      There is hope. No matter what EB/Gamestop has said, Wal-Mart is getting more units than any other single company, and they're not taking pre-orders.

    2. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by SScorpio · · Score: 1

      Walmart took preorders on their website this morning and it sold out in 15 minutes. That's with the $600 of a console, extra remote and nunchuck, Wii points card, and four games with tax and shipping.

    3. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe that the Amazon pre-orders have already been up and run out, since I heard about them being mistakenly put up for a second time...supposedly they'll do their best to get launch systems to the accidental 2nd round folks, but they might have to wait a bit longer.

    4. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      From what I heard, though, they aren't taking pre-orders in their stores. It will simply be first-come, first-served.

    5. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by dolson · · Score: 1

      Most likely true, since this is what they did here with the 360, and a close friend of mine works there and she said that they won't do pre-orders for Wii or PS3 either.

      My local EB Games told me that they wouldn't do pre-orders either, but then I was in there the other day and they were doing it.. So. Whatever.

    6. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by jugglerjon · · Score: 1

      Does anyone know how walmart does it's console releases? will it be at midnight?

    7. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by damiangerous · · Score: 1

      Wii preorders were available from Amazon for one day on 9/15. They had a huge volume so they closed them after that until they knew more about their allotment. It was available again briefly on 10/28, no one is sure why yet, Amazon hasn't given an explanation like they did in Spetember.

    8. Re:Waiting to pre-order... by sudnshok · · Score: 1

      They attributed it to a testing slipup.

      --
      People who say "money does not buy happiness" are just people without money trying to make themselves feel better.
  3. Commentary on Sony vs. Nintendo releases by volpone · · Score: 1
    Here's excellent commentary on the differing strategies between Sony's and Nintendo's upcoming console releases:

    http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=212

    1. Re:Commentary on Sony vs. Nintendo releases by Zelucifer · · Score: 1

      The really sad part of that is, the VGcats strip doesn't take into account that Sony is losing massive amounts of money on each sale. So 1 unit for 600 dollars, with a 200 dollar loss, versus 10 units for 250 dollars with 50 dollars profit per unit. (Sorry, numeric values are just guesses)

      --
      The corner of a round room
    2. Re:Commentary on Sony vs. Nintendo releases by Raenex · · Score: 1

      That comic strip is a bit shallow. I'm sure Sony would love to ship millions for Christmas, but they have production problems. Even if those problems are their fault, it's not like they intentionally want to be short on supply.

  4. 'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think it would be better to say "4 million shipped Wii" instead of "Wiis". Treat it like 'fish'!

    1. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 1

      Remember all the people who insist on saying "fishes". Dunno if you get it happens much (or at all) in America, but here in the UK you still get older people stuck in their ways of murdering English (the language, not the people...much).

    2. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      fishes is correct in some cases. You can have hundreds of different varieties of fishes (all the fishes in the sea) and 100 of a certain type of fish.
      In short: 1 carp is a fish, 2 carp are fish, a carp and a pike are fishes.

    3. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by revlayle · · Score: 1

      murdering? do you mean like "sleepin' with the fishes" murder?

    4. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 1

      Every day's a schoolday, as my boss says. Thanks :) I always thought "fish" was like "sheep".

    5. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wahoo!

      As a Scotsman, I can tell you that fish are -nothing- like sheep...

    6. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 1

      As a Fifer, I can agree with you.

    7. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by Bender0x7D1 · · Score: 1

      Fishes is actually correct of you are talking about different species of fish.

      From the Australian Museum Online site.

      A group of fish of the same species are called fish. Two or more species of fish are called 'fishes'.

      For example, a number of Eastern Australian Salmon swimming together can be called a school of fish. But if one Tarwhine starts swimming with the Eastern Australian Salmon they are called fishes.

      --
      Reading code is like reading the dictionary - you have to read half of it before you can go back and understand it.
    8. Re:'wii' should be like 'fish' . . . by fbjon · · Score: 1

      It's the same as with 'people' and 'peoples'.

      --
      True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
  5. Let me be the first to say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wiii.iiii.iii.iii.iiiii.ii.iiii iii.iii iiiiiiiii.iii iiiiiiiii !!

  6. Nintendo practices Fordism by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 1

    From Henry Ford:
    "History is more or less bunk. It's tradition. We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history we make today."

    Also attributed to Ford:
    "Exercise is bunk. If you are healthy, you don't need it: if you are sick you should not take it."

    --
    Demented But Determined.
    1. Re:Nintendo practices Fordism by G-funk · · Score: 1

      Also attributed to Ford:
      "Exercise is bunk. If you are healthy, you don't need it: if you are sick you should not take it."


      Fair enough too, back in his day. Before he invented the modern production line, people actually had to work for a living, and we weren't all morbidly obese.
      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
  7. Camping out by justinbach · · Score: 1

    I, for one, am definitely planning on camping out for these suckers the night of the 18th if I have to. Does anyone know whether Best Buy will allow preorders? I know that Gamespot and EB had preorders a few weeks back but they sold out incredibly quickly, and was just wondering whether anyone that's ever camped out for a console before can recommend where to do it (I was thinking Best Buy, but I've heard Walmart is good too...) Suggestions?

    --
    I left my wallet in El Sigundo!
    1. Re:Camping out by Zinnian · · Score: 1

      Best Buy says no preorders last I heard. http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/best-buy/best-buy-no- ps3wii-preorders-206764.php Walmart did an online preorder though I'm sure they will get a few in each store (good if you have a local one that is open 24/7 for the midnight buy). I lean more towards Target myself and will most likely be camped out there.

    2. Re:Camping out by PrescriptionWarning · · Score: 1

      It'll be funny seeing how many of these people who campout actually never intend to play it and instead sell it on ebay for like 1000 bucks. Its truly a shameful way to make a buck. Though I guess if only an extra couple hundred bucks profit on a free ride makes you that happy, you have more problems anyway.

    3. Re:Camping out by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      Just for anecdotal evidence, I asked the guy at the Walmart electronics counter how many Wiis they were getting in. He said 7. Then I asked about PS3. He said they were getting 3. Either way, it's pretty low numbers to expect to get either one at launch, although it's interesting to know that they are getting more than twice as many Wiis.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    4. Re:Camping out by justinbach · · Score: 1

      Which walmart? I'd imagine that city walmarts will get more than rural ones.

      --
      I left my wallet in El Sigundo!
    5. Re:Camping out by twistedsymphony · · Score: 1
      In my experience the best places to camp out are Sams-Club and Costco.
      • They typically get just as many units as the Best Buys and Walmarts
      • People don't typically think to camp out there
      • While they usually only open at 7am for premium members and 10am for regular member they almost always let console campers in at 7am (which confuses a lot of would-be campers)
      • They'll probably sell you a bundle but it wont be more then $50 over the price of the console and at a savings compared to the individual components
      • The cost of the membership deters a lot of people but I've found the discounted prices of the bundle and a game or two even after the membership cost (if you don't already have one) will still cost less then if you bought it at a best buy or walmart.
      • Since walmart/best buy will often do their pre-orders at midnight you can head over there after work, check out the line and wait if there is room, but if it's full up get some dinner and head over to Sam's/Costco where no one else is waiting yet
      One thing I should note is that you MUST make sure you've got your own membership, while it's pretty easy to just buy something during normal business hours and walk by the register jockey without them noticing it's not you on the card, waiting for a console the Manager will probably be standing there going through every ID with a find tooth comb before he hands you a console.
      --
      Collector's Edition
    6. Re:Camping out by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      In my experience the best places to camp out are Sams-Club and Costco.

      Have to agree, I find Costco is one of the best places to buy new game consoles. Another place is Fred Meyer.

      --
      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    7. Re:Camping out by demi · · Score: 1

      Maybe better. There's three Fred Meyers around here and one Costco.

      The thing I like about Costco is they've treated me extremely well with regard to returns. Given the potential horror stories regarding possible problems with early production models (of any console) that could be a big difference.

      Luckily, I'm really old, so I don't care about buying things right away. Now, or in a year, not much difference.

      --
      demi
    8. Re:Camping out by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      It's Ottawa (Specifically the new Walmart on terminal Ave.). Ottawa has about 1 million people, and 3 or 4 Walmarts. That's not a lot to go around. I don't know if the US is getting more or less than Canada. If you add up all the stores that are getting Wiis, and assume they are all getting the same number, then there's probably going to be less than 200 in the entire city. That's going to create some major demand.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    9. Re:Camping out by Al+Dimond · · Score: 1

      People buy things and sell them for more money all the time. It's called a market economy. They're not doing it on a "free ride", they had to have either the foresight to pre-order or the patience to wait out in front of the store before opening time. They also had to somehow obtain the money to buy it in the first place. That's how you make investments.

      In the sense that console resellers are getting a "free ride" all investors get a "free ride". It's just how the economy goes. Some people trade stocks, some people trade commodities and some people that are in for small potatoes trade consoles.

  8. I for one will not be ordering one.. by cybrthng · · Score: 1

    They don't support online play right now, so they won't get my money. Its 2006, darn near 2007 and they want to ship a console that is single player only?

    To have a fun game of Red Steel i'm going to need to invest in 160.00 worth of controllers. That just isn't right!

    1. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shill

    2. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by ProppaT · · Score: 1

      Would you rather see a lot of games with shoddy online support or would you like Nintendo to iron out their system first and then provide developers with proper kits? Unlike Sony, Nintendo isn't a clusterfuck and wants to see a standard implementation that works across the board.

      This is probably the main reason Smash Bro's is pushed to 07...they want to iron out their network issues themselves before making other developers waste their time figuring out the quirks.

      --
      Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
    3. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by dlc3007 · · Score: 1

      >> To have a fun game of Red Steel i'm going to need to invest in 160.00 worth of controllers. That just isn't right! What kind of math are you using??? You'll have to spend $50 for the game. The console comes with a controller and nun-chuk, which happens to be what you need to play Red Steel. If you want a friend to play on the same console, it is $60 for a second controller and chuk. Where the hell do you get 160??

    4. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by Fozzyuw · · Score: 1
      hey don't support online play right now, so they won't get my money.

      Now or later, they're going to have it. Wi-Fi is already built into the system. So, it's $250 now or $250 later. I won't expect price drops for the console for 2 years, when it's possible they might release a more multi-media enabled device with DVD support in the States and Europe, like they're going to release in Japan from the get-go.

      To have a fun game of Red Steel i'm going to need to invest in 160.00 worth of controllers. That just isn't right!

      Controllers will cost either $20 for the classic or $60 for the new-deal ($20 Wii-mote + $40 Nunchuk). It comes with one controller. So, you'll have to spend between $60 - $180 on controllers. I pre-ordered (since controllers are going to be limited just like the consoles) 2 'classic' controllers and one new one. Overtime, I will upgrade remotes if I need to. I only got 2 classics because of their low cost and I expect to have 4 people playing some Marvel action with me. Either way, I think I'll be enjoying Red Steel even if I'm the only one playing.

      Cheers,
      Fozzy

      --
      "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
    5. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by solive1 · · Score: 1

      Note, however, that the classic controller is an attachment for the Wiimote (just like the nunchuck). Also, the Wiimote is $40 and the nunchuck is $20.

    6. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by JimmehAH · · Score: 1

      Nintendo's Wii games will have online connectivity, with 3rd party sometime next year. Maybe even retroactively through WiiConnect24.

    7. Re:I for one will not be ordering one.. by Fozzyuw · · Score: 1
      Note, however, that the classic controller is an attachment for the Wiimote (just like the nunchuck). Also, the Wiimote is $40 and the nunchuck is $20.

      Hmm... I got this one wrong. For some reason, I was expecting the 'classic' controller to plug into the Gamecube slots. But indeed, it's just a Wii mote attachment. This I am a little disappointed by, but not surprised when I think about it.

      --
      "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
  9. Bundles by Detritus · · Score: 1

    Are the retailers going to try to stick everyone with expensive bundles, like many previous releases of new gaming systems?

    --
    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
    1. Re:Bundles by Akaihiryuu · · Score: 1

      Hopefully not. I'm not going for that bundle nonsense...usually that's just Gamestop anyway. I want 2 things: the system, and Twilight Princess. If someone tries to make me buy something else, I'll just take my business elsewhere. I think my best chance for getting one will be Target.

    2. Re:Bundles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A few retailers are doing mandatory bundles for preorders, but I think Nintendo is requiring them to sell the machine by itself.

    3. Re:Bundles by dlc3007 · · Score: 1

      Actually, you'll probably want a second controller and nun-chuk if you want to play the Sports game with anyone else. If you're the only one who will ever be playing the system, then you're correct.

    4. Re:Bundles by Dorceon · · Score: 1

      Conveniently, Wii Play (includes games like Duck Hunt) comes with a Wiimote.

      --
      What sound do people on rollercoasters make? Hint: it's not Xbox 360.
    5. Re:Bundles by solive1 · · Score: 1

      But Wii Play is only available in Japan, Australia, and Europe.

    6. Re:Bundles by Akaihiryuu · · Score: 1

      I'm not really interested in the sports game to be honest...I don't need another controller (or at least I won't for quite awhile) as I'm more into games like Metroid and Zelda and much less into games like Smash Bros. And actually, I neglected to mention one other thing I'll need with the system: either a component or DVI cable.

  10. 4 million times? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's a lot of beer drinking.

  11. Why not start with a higher price? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they can't satisfy the demand, why don't they raise the price until the demand exactly matches the offer, and lower the price later on as production ramps up?

    1. Re:Why not start with a higher price? by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 1
      If they can't satisfy the demand, why don't they raise the price until the demand exactly matches the offer, and lower the price later on as production ramps up?

      Because a) finding that magic price in a largely unknown market (the "Blue Ocean" Nintendo is targeting) is not easy, and b) that'd be insanely bad PR since they've already announced a set price.

      Right now, Nintendo is riding high on community goodwill. That's likely going to be worth considerably more in the long run than an extra few bucks on each early sale in exchange for pissing everybody off.

      --

      Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  12. And still, european shortages rumored by Nemetroid · · Score: 0

    First, a disclaimer: i heard this from a guy that heard this from a guy that heard this from an important person in Nintendo of Germany. The Wiis seem to have been delivered worldwide by now, and England supposedly has got only 45% of the prebooked Wiis. Brussels has only got four Wiis all in all. It is a rumor and should be treated as such. But still, it doesn't seem too farfetched to me. If there will be a shortage, Europe will probably be the first place to screw over.

  13. Look at it this way... by linuxg0d · · Score: 0, Troll

    That's 4 million more than Sony have delivered so far!

  14. How fast can they make them? by Achoi77 · · Score: 1

    Let's say they started production in august, in order to get 4 million units by march, they are going to need to produce 500,000 units per MONTH, which would be on average of 16,000 units per DAY. That's 16,000 final, completed units. WTF? Did Nintendo manage to find Santa's elves looking for work or something?

    1. Re:How fast can they make them? by MrCopilot · · Score: 1

      UBS analysts Alex Gauna and Steven Chin claim that Nintendo already made 2 million Wiis by the end of September.

      --
      OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
    2. Re:How fast can they make them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Didn't Sony shipped/sold 100 million PS2 in 6 years? So that's ~17m per year, which is ~1.45 per month.

    3. Re:How fast can they make them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's hard trying to comprehend the numbers manufacturing can pump out these days but not only can they do it, plenty of other companies can too at the same time. You can thank cheap labor and out of country mega factories.

  15. OMG Wiiiiiii! by snuf23 · · Score: 2, Funny

    There was this guy and he went to the store and he said Wiii!
    And the guy at the counter said pre-orders sold out Wiiii!
    Yo, and then a kid wanted one for Christmas and he told Santa Wiiii!
    And Nintendo was like OMG 4 million Wiiii!
    Mario jumped up and said "No launch title for me! Wiii!"

    When you're a kid and you wanna go "Wii".
    But you ain't got a preorder yet!
    You hold on for your life,
    Hold on to your little nunchuka... in strife...

    --
    Sometimes my arms bend back.
    1. Re:OMG Wiiiiiii! by buswolley · · Score: 1

      No more, please and thank you.

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

  16. Production Concerns by MeanderingMind · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Nintendo: 2 million at launch, 4 million by year's end, 6 million before March.
    Sony: 480k at launch, 2 million by year's end, 6 million before March.

    Looking at these production plans, I can't help but wonder what Sony is planning on doing to make up a gap of 4 million consoles in 2 months. Unless they are sitting on PS3s to create artificial scarcity (which I doubt), they'll need to go from producing 750k consoles a month [(2 million - 480k) / 2] to 2 million consoles a month [(6 million - 2 million ) / 2]. That's more than double their previous production.

    I'm not saying its impossible, but the potential problems and roadblocks for such a plan are numerous and potentially crippling.

    Nintendo seems far more organized in their rollout. I would hope they'd try and ramp up production to get more Wii consoles out there. However, I can see why they might stick to what numbers they have and possibly exceed them, rather than up forecasts and then fall short.

    --
    Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
    1. Re:Production Concerns by ad0gg · · Score: 1

      Sony is probably lieing. They won't be able to reach 6 million by march. They inflate their numbers in an attempt discourage people from buying competitors. They are betting people see the 6 million number by march and say, if i wait 4 more months i can get one, then keep stringing them along till they able to produce more ps3s then the market demand.

      --

      Have you ever been to a turkish prison?

  17. 4M Worldwide is not nearly enough by doormat · · Score: 1

    I was hoping for 6M by year end and 10M for spring. So much for that. Wiis might actually fetch a pretty good premium on e-bay. If demand is for 10M and there are only 2M, thats a pretty big price to pay. Unless N manages to pull a few million untis from nowhere.

    --
    The Doormat

    If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
    1. Re:4M Worldwide is not nearly enough by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      The launch for the DS was supposed to be 2 Mil worldwide (Japan + NA) by the end of 2004, but Nintendo revised the totals in December (they dropped a bunch of money to get a 3rd factory online) and actually shipped 2.5-2.8 million. I'd expect that the 4 million number is again a conservative estimate. I wouldn't be surprised if 5-6 Million actually reach shelves by the end of 2006.

  18. No worries... by Daniel+Wood · · Score: 2

    I'll just order it from Lik....oh wait, never mind.