Nintendo is to blame for poor Wii U sales, says Iwata

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Deleted_171835

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Unlike many executives who might obfuscate the issue with corporate doublespeak or finger-pointing, Satoru Iwata is blunt in his assessment of the company's recent troubles.

"We are to blame," he said. "We relaxed our [marketing] efforts, so the consumers today still cannot understand what's so good and unique about the Wii U. Because we're always trying to be unique, it takes some energies on our side to [make] people understand the real attractions about whatever we are doing."

To date, the Wii U doesn't have that sort of flagship title. And, as a result, said Iwata, it's harder to get people to even try the system.

"We have been unsuccessful in coming up with one single software with which people can understand, 'OK, this is really different,'" he said.

"As long as people have hands-on [experience], they can appreciate the value of the Wii U, but because there's not software that's simple and obvious for people as 'Wii Sports' for the Wii, potential consumers do not feel like trying the Wii U. Our challenge today is with the software lineup we are introducing now, we have to encourage [people] to experience the Wii U in the first place."

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100810130

IwataSurprised.gif

secret camera footage of iwata looking for wii u games
 

Qtis

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Surprising quotes, but then again, they're from the a Japanese company. As for the reasoning behind the quotes, I pretty much agree. Quite a few people still seem to regard the WiiU as an accessory for the original Wii ("HDMI output and a touch screen controller for the Wii? Cool, but I'm fine with the basic Wii").
 

the_randomizer

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Better to admit one's own faults and learn from them than to live in a dreamland of denial as though nothing was amiss. Now for the tricky part, improving the marketing behind the console and attract potential buyers. It won't be easy, but the only direction to go now is forward.
 

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They seems to acknowledge the problems well enough actually ..that's a good first step ...now it's more then time to stop the talking and take action Nintendo
Games and marketing now!!
 
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Eerpow

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Exactly what I've been saying. First party titles to sell systems and investments in 3rd party studios like Sony is doing could very well turn things around, they're purposly delaying games and not advertising as there's no need to do much right now. So far they've got Platinum Games, and hopefully once they sell more systems it will be worth funding and helping other devs to start making games. Nintendo should be as bold as they can on that front instead of thinking that they'll come automatically. Will be interesting to see what they do as money won't be a problem.

The rush for an early release didn't turn out as expected (due to lack of 3rd parties willing to take a risk) but they still feel comfortable enough to not do anything about up until the latter half of 2013. They know the Wii U isn't going anywhere during that time and has instead kept pushing the 3DS. Advertising will come when they need it, right now that's not the case as there's not much to advertise.
I believe that if they manage to put out all the games shown at E3 this year to early 2014 like they've promised following that up with a good 2014 lineup they have nothing to worry about. As they mentioned at E3, thanks to the directs they could focus on this years releases at E3 announcing their Q3-Q4 2014 lineup at a later date.

Nintenotdoomed yet
 

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Wow... We certainly won't be hearing something like this from Sony or Microsoft (especially Microsoft, but Sony still is at fault with Vita). As for what he said, good points, and I really hope they will make up for it. And fast, before the PS4 will be launched. (or else, I'll probably start thinking of joining the Nintendoomed club here on GBATemp).
 

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Wait, it's NINTENDO'S fault that their OWN console is failing? Gee, and all this time, I was blaming potatoes.

Not the potatoes!

Exactly what I've been saying. First party titles to sell systems and investments in 3rd party studios like Sony is doing could very well turn things around, they're purposly delaying games and not advertising as there's no need to do much right now. So far they've got Platinum Games, and hopefully once they sell more systems it will be worth funding and helping other devs to start making games. Nintendo should be as bold as they can on that front instead of thinking that they'll come automatically. Will be interesting to see what they do as money is not the problem.

The rush for an early release didn't turn out as expected (due to lack of 3rd parties willing to take a risk) but they still feel comfortable enough to not do anything about up until the latter half of 2013. They know the Wii U isn't going anywhere during that time and has instead kept pushing the 3DS. Advertising will come when they need it, right now that's not the case as there's not much to advertise.
I believe that if they manage to put out all the games shown at E3 this year to early 2014 like they've promised following that up with a good 2014 lineup they have nothing to worry about. As they mentioned at E3, thanks to the directs they could focus on this years releases at E3 announcing their Q3-Q4 2014 lineup at a later date.

Nintenotdoomed yet

Sony would be more likely to admit fault long before Microsoft would, and they have apologized for issues in the past, so it's possible. Now that Nintendo has admitted fault (a step in the right direction), it's time to pick themselves up and dust of their legs and do everything they can to fix it. The sales haven't been the best, no, but at least it wasn't like the Virtual Boy launch :rofl2:
 
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So all the talk about them learning their lessons from the 3DS launch was just nothing? Granted the 3DS managed to get better with time but the Wii U has got almost a year head start before the PS4 and Xbox One launches so I wonder if can still use up the time to their advantage.
 

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So all the talk about them learning their lessons from the 3DS launch was just nothing? Granted the 3DS managed to get better with time but the Wii U has got almost a year head start before the PS4 and Xbox One launches so I wonder if can still use up the time to their advantage.

Oh, I'm sure they've something up their sleeves:ph34r:

Edit: Whoops, meant to say that I hope Nintendo can get themselves out of this sticky situation.
 

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Wait, it's NINTENDO'S fault that their OWN console is failing? Gee, and all this time, I was blaming potatoes.

Well, the price of potatoes has gone up quite significantly here in the UK, so they could be partly to blame ;)

Wow... We certainly won't be hearing something like this from Sony or Microsoft (especially Microsoft, but Sony still is at fault with Vita). As for what he said, good points, and I really hope they will make up for it. And fast, before the PS4 will be launched. (or else, I'll probably start thinking of joining the Nintendoomed club here on GBATemp).
Sony already accepted responsibility for the Vita's poor sales, admitting they "have to do better" at promoting it. Microsoft, well, they extended warranties on XBox 360s to 3 years for RRoD-related faults.
 

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The problem with the WiiU

1. Little third party support anywhere, a gamer can't survive on first party games alone. All the 3rd party support is on the 3DS.

2. The first party titles aren't selling anyone on the system, 3D Mario, 3D Zelda yay (sarcasm) which leads to my last problem

3. You can get just as good of an experience if not the exact same experience with a graphics downgrade, a few unimportant features removed, or different artstyle of 1st and 3rd party titles on the 3DS, Smash Bros is on the 3DS don't need a WiiU for that and the characters are rendered using Cel Shading on the 3DS version which I like as well in other words there's no downgrade at all just a change in art style. Another game in which I will get that same experience just scaled down a little is Sonic Lost Worlds. Then there's the fact that the 3DS games deliver a potentially better experience than the WiiU games, I have no interest in 3D Zelda, but I'm going to preorder The Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, since the trailers actually sold me on the game near instantly, the game looks fun as hell.
 

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The problem with the WiiU

1. Little third party support anywhere, a gamer can't survive on first party games alone. All the 3rd party support is on the 3DS.

2. The first party titles aren't selling anyone on the system, 3D Mario, 3D Zelda yay (sarcasm) which leads to my last problem

3. You can get just as good of an experience if not the exact same experience with a graphics downgrade, a few unimportant features removed, or different artstyle of 1st and 3rd party titles on the 3DS, Smash Bros is on the 3DS don't need a WiiU for that and the characters are rendered using Cel Shading on the 3DS version which I like as well in other words there's no downgrade at all just a change in art style. Another game in which I will get that same experience just scaled down a little is Sonic Lost Worlds. Then there's the fact that the 3DS games deliver a potentially better experience than the WiiU games, I have no interest in 3D Zelda, but I'm going to preorder The Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, since the trailers actually sold me on the game near instantly, the game looks fun as hell.

The other problem (at least from my perspective) is that many third parties have the mentality that their games won't sell on the Wii U prior to porting them over; "oh, they probably won't sell, so let's not bother". The first batch of ports were rushed, glitched and sold poorly, for whatever reason, but unfortunately, companies like EA decided to withhold until the console becomes more profitable. From a business perspective, it makes sense. But then you hear excuses that the Wii U console is too weak or is missing a few features on an API, etc and they opt out of porting a game or two. The ports can be made with negligible/imperceptible losses to the average gamer. I sincerely hope that more third parties will be attracted to work for the Wii U, as it is a very capable machine hardware wise, so that right there shouldn't be used as an excuse for not porting; the gap between PS4 and this won't be as dramatic as the Wii vs. Xbox 360, esp. if games like Project X are any indication.

It all boils down to one thing = profitability.
 
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Dork

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The problem with the WiiU

1. Little third party support anywhere, a gamer can't survive on first party games alone. All the 3rd party support is on the 3DS.

2. The first party titles aren't selling anyone on the system, 3D Mario, 3D Zelda yay (sarcasm) which leads to my last problem

3. You can get just as good of an experience if not the exact same experience with a graphics downgrade, a few unimportant features removed, or different artstyle of 1st and 3rd party titles on the 3DS, Smash Bros is on the 3DS don't need a WiiU for that and the characters are rendered using Cel Shading on the 3DS version which I like as well in other words there's no downgrade at all just a change in art style. Another game in which I will get that same experience just scaled down a little is Sonic Lost Worlds. Then there's the fact that the 3DS games deliver a potentially better experience than the WiiU games, I have no interest in 3D Zelda, but I'm going to preorder The Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, since the trailers actually sold me on the game near instantly, the game looks fun as hell.

1. There needs to be first party support for there to be third party support. If the system isn't doing well than 3rd parties have no reason to latch on.

2. Uh, that's not true?

3. I could easily say that Smash Bros is on the Wii U, don't need a 3DS for that, what's your point? And you're just putting your own tastes in good light and speaking for everyone.
 

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Also Nintendo isn't the only one doing the same experience with minor scale downs either, not one but two of my most wanted games on the Sony side (Dragon's Crown and Super Heroine Chronicle) have PS3 and Vita version, but it's better or worse depending on what system you like as those games often play better on Vita or even look better on Vita due to controls and Vita's OLED screen and it's added touchscreen options (especially Dragon's Crown since the only major feature of the PS3 version is LAN mode, really just a LAN mode oh come on). As for Super Heroine Chronicle, it will look better on Vita due to the chibi and cel shaded artstyle, not sure of controls as it was only announced recently, but there's a good chance any possible touch screen features may make it better
 

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The other problem (at least from my perspective) is that many third parties have the mentality that their games won't sell on the Wii U prior to porting them over; "oh, they probably won't sell, so let's not bother". The first batch of ports were rushed, glitched and sold poorly, for whatever reason, but unfortunately, companies like EA decided to withhold until the console becomes more profitable. From a business perspective, it makes sense. But then you hear excuses that the Wii U console is too weak or is missing a few features on an API, etc and they opt out of porting a game or two. The ports can be made with negligible/imperceptible losses to the average gamer. I sincerely hope that more third parties will be attracted to work for the Wii U, as it is a very capable machine hardware wise, so that right there shouldn't be used as an excuse for not porting; the gap between PS4 and this won't be as dramatic as the Wii vs. Xbox 360, esp. if games like Project X are any indication.

It all boils down to one thing = profitability.


But third party titles generally don't sell on Nintendo consoles. Look at the Wii, the biggest third party gaem was fucking Just Dance.
 
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