2011 Hindsight: So what has Nintendo been up to?

Avatar image for punk1984
Punk1984

595

Forum Posts

133

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By Punk1984

Step 1) mentally prepare for reader outrage,
Step 2) write blog
 

What Nintendo did right in 2011

There are few things that will push consoles out the door more than a price cut. Nintendo entered 2011 with strong sales after cutting the Wii's price since then retailers have offered sale after sale on the Wii and Wii games. It isn't uncommon to see Nintendo's little box going for $150, I've even seen it go for less! This coupled with the 3DS's price cut in the early fall really pushed Nintendo hardware into consumers' hands.
Also Nintendo released a few Mario games and a few Zelda games and that is always a good thing.  

What Nintendo didn't do right in 2011

"Everything" is too broad a term.
 
There are few things that kill current hardware sales quicker than announcing another new hardware system! The Wii's sales were slowing by time Nintendo announced the Wii U (a system we know nothing about, with games running on other systems, first party games we know nothing about and a controller that you may or may not be able to have two of) but once the new box was trotted out at E3 those slowing sales skidded to halt. Nintendo has had 'big' weeks lately but that is because the hardware is so dang cheap. Come on Nintendo how are your faithful supposed to feel? Like abandoned puppies crying for love? I thought this was just a slight business misstep but when Nintendo of America decided to not localize Xenoblade - wait scratch that - not release the already localized Xenoblade, I was sure that Nintendo just doesn't give a #$% anymore! 2011 has been the worst year I can remember for Nintendo fans. I know that "no one only owns a Wii," but imagine if that person existed, what would they have done with the last 365 days?
The 3DS's price debuted at a price even Sony would consider high and then quickly got a price cut to push sales. Software wasn't there so Nintendo did the only thing it could and start basically giving the things away. The Nintendo fan is the most abused gamer in history after 2011. Nintendo in 2011 seemed to just be willfully stomping on any goodwill its customers had. 
The good news is they are paying for it, with the biggest annual loss in the company's history. 

Wrapping it up and looking ahead

In 2011 there was no new reason to buy a new Wii. Nintendo can keep selling to its fans but for a company with a big "Everyone can play" strategy those fans are not gonna be enough. 2011 will be remembered as the year gamers started to smell the snake oil that Nintendo was selling. These don't look good for the House that Mario built, and that is a shame
Avatar image for punk1984
Punk1984

595

Forum Posts

133

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

#1  Edited By Punk1984

Step 1) mentally prepare for reader outrage,
Step 2) write blog
 

What Nintendo did right in 2011

There are few things that will push consoles out the door more than a price cut. Nintendo entered 2011 with strong sales after cutting the Wii's price since then retailers have offered sale after sale on the Wii and Wii games. It isn't uncommon to see Nintendo's little box going for $150, I've even seen it go for less! This coupled with the 3DS's price cut in the early fall really pushed Nintendo hardware into consumers' hands.
Also Nintendo released a few Mario games and a few Zelda games and that is always a good thing.  

What Nintendo didn't do right in 2011

"Everything" is too broad a term.
 
There are few things that kill current hardware sales quicker than announcing another new hardware system! The Wii's sales were slowing by time Nintendo announced the Wii U (a system we know nothing about, with games running on other systems, first party games we know nothing about and a controller that you may or may not be able to have two of) but once the new box was trotted out at E3 those slowing sales skidded to halt. Nintendo has had 'big' weeks lately but that is because the hardware is so dang cheap. Come on Nintendo how are your faithful supposed to feel? Like abandoned puppies crying for love? I thought this was just a slight business misstep but when Nintendo of America decided to not localize Xenoblade - wait scratch that - not release the already localized Xenoblade, I was sure that Nintendo just doesn't give a #$% anymore! 2011 has been the worst year I can remember for Nintendo fans. I know that "no one only owns a Wii," but imagine if that person existed, what would they have done with the last 365 days?
The 3DS's price debuted at a price even Sony would consider high and then quickly got a price cut to push sales. Software wasn't there so Nintendo did the only thing it could and start basically giving the things away. The Nintendo fan is the most abused gamer in history after 2011. Nintendo in 2011 seemed to just be willfully stomping on any goodwill its customers had. 
The good news is they are paying for it, with the biggest annual loss in the company's history. 

Wrapping it up and looking ahead

In 2011 there was no new reason to buy a new Wii. Nintendo can keep selling to its fans but for a company with a big "Everyone can play" strategy those fans are not gonna be enough. 2011 will be remembered as the year gamers started to smell the snake oil that Nintendo was selling. These don't look good for the House that Mario built, and that is a shame
Avatar image for tehflan
TehFlan

1954

Forum Posts

693

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 11

#2  Edited By TehFlan

Anyone that didn't already have a Wii was probably not going to buy one, in all fairness. Unless they bought one for Skyward Sword; I guess I could see someone doing that. 
 
But yeah, not a lot out this year.

Avatar image for ravenlight
Ravenlight

8057

Forum Posts

12306

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

#3  Edited By Ravenlight

"Yeah?! Well too bad Wii sales still suck in America, where it matters!"

---

This console generation has lead to me completely writing off anything Nintendo. 90% of their catalogue is casual games and shovelware and for a company who lead the motion-control movement, they're doing dick-all to make me care about motion control.

That said, they must be doing something right because they're still in business and people are still buying their products. I can't really fault them because I'm not in their target demographic anymore but I wonder if it's just the same crowd that's buying every Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Pokemon game that comes out, regardless of quality. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

I'm going to bring up the same point again in response to Nintendo instead of Sony: it seems like Japanese companies are (for the most part) out of touch with the US market.

Avatar image for punk1984
Punk1984

595

Forum Posts

133

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

#4  Edited By Punk1984

@Ravenlight: I think Nintendo's problem is that after the Wii was such a phenomenon they kind of believed their own hype and now that the dust has settled they have alienated their base. It seems like Nintendo wants their fans to go away. They are taking the laziest approach, if they take any at all, to please their fans. When it comes to the Wii U; I haven't cared this little about a Nintendo console since the Virtual boy. That isn't good.

Avatar image for awesomeusername
awesomeusername

4651

Forum Posts

242

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

#5  Edited By awesomeusername

My friend only owns a Wii..

Browse Boards
Jump to Top

×

Move topic to another board

Pick a board and hit submit

  • (Or search for a more specific forum)
    • Close