Nintendo ups profit forecast, incoming money storm
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 25th 2007 at 11:00AM }
From the Japanese perspective in the Reuters report, the announcement of Monster Hunter on the Wii earlier this month is seen as a coup for Nintendo against Sony. It showed that the PlayStation franchise support may be eroding. As far as competition goes, Nintendo still holds they aren't in the same field as Xbox and PlayStation, so don't expect a price cut. Senior Managing Director Yoshihiro Mori says, "The way people play with the Wii and the type of games people play are quite different from rival offerings. The products are quite clearly differentiated ... We don't see any need to cut prices." Unless something dramatic happens, Nintendo is gonna see profits for the foreseeable future. And we still have no idea on the WiiFit impact yet.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gonk @ Oct 25th 2007 11:08AM
*yawn* my friend still won't get a raise from em
DonWii @ Oct 25th 2007 11:16AM
Thats why they have one of the highest Profit per Employee ratio of any company.
megaStryke @ Oct 25th 2007 11:11AM
Sure, the management CLAIMS that they aren't competing with Sony and Microsoft, but you just know that Reggie spams their inboxes and calls up Bill gates and Kaz Hirai at 2 in the morning with exclamations of "Suck it down!", "Who's your daddy?", and "Reg Mania will run wild on you ass!"
JL @ Oct 25th 2007 11:30AM
haha!
borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Oct 25th 2007 11:50AM
I can see it happening. And I think he'd have a right to do so. Sony has had to eat a big helpin' of humble pie (witness E3 this year vs. last in tone). But I think the greatest indicator of success is Microsoft's tone.
Microsoft tried to use the Wii to gang up on Sony, but they've shifted over time. First they were dismissive, then they were "buy both", then they shifted to "different market", and finally they are eyeballing the white box with fear.
Of course Sony said the same thing, but I think Microsoft actually believed it for awhile. Personally, I'm appreciating my own karma for wondering why anyone would want a Xbox or a Gamecube last generation.
Jerk Face @ Oct 25th 2007 12:52PM
@FenixKnight
If you do pick one up, you owe it to yourself to grab Metroid Prime 3. It really is great, even if you're skeptical of the Wii you'll love it.
Jerk Face @ Oct 25th 2007 12:53PM
God damned comment system!
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 25th 2007 1:23PM
@ Jerkface
Yeah I thought about that one too. I wouldnt buy a console for just one game. Im lookin at these so far
MarioGalaxy
MarioKart
Metroid Prime
Smash Bros looks like itll be a
decent rent =) and of course,
Im all about that damn Virtual console (why must we want to re-live our freakin past? lol)
Skeffington @ Oct 25th 2007 11:14AM
The fact that they have yet again revised their earnings/profits upwards confirm my impression that even they didn't expect the Wii to be so successful.
I guess the general feeling was 'Well, as long as it does better than the GC, we'll be happy'. Well, whatever happens, it sure will have done better than the GC.
As much affection as I have for Ninty games and its general approach towards videogames, even I am baffled by the continued success of the console. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, but I'm just still as surprised.
jsn @ Oct 25th 2007 11:30AM
I guess it's fair to call it a success, but when you're best selling game to date is the one that comes with the console (and the best game for the sytsem period), it has to be a worried success at best. They have one other title that's broke 1mil sold. That's not good for a console with so many units in homes.
I still have my doubts for the long term viability of the console. Nintendo can only carry it so far with 1st party rehash of its classic characters and with reports of hesitant devs and so many games bypassing the controllers that were supposed to be what made the console unique, it doesn't bode well IMO.
x876543 @ Oct 25th 2007 11:34AM
I think this insane success is due to the "wow"-factor. PS3/Xbox360 has the wow-graphics. Wii has the wow-fun. I've always had fun playing Wii games with people. And always after playing, someone who tried it for the first time talks about it later with someone else. This talk is why people are buying the console. Word of mouth is the best advertising, better than TV/Radio/etc can ever do.
Think about when visiting some place you don't know well. If a friend suggests to go eat at restaurant A, wouldn't you go there above some restaurant B you never tried but only heard of from TV?
PS. while on food, the dominoes Oreo pizza sucks, words from my mouth that tasted that crap.
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 25th 2007 11:45AM
"They have one other title that's broke 1mil sold. That's not good for a console with so many units in homes. "
If you're going to bash the Wii, at least get your facts straight.
Wii Play, Zelda, Mario Party, Wario Ware, Rayman and Red Steel have all broken the 1 million mark.
And Strikers, Big Brain Academy and RE4 are all closing in on 1 million.
Hell, even SONIC has sold a respectable number of copies.
WiNG @ Oct 25th 2007 11:53AM
"I guess it's fair to call it a success, but when you're best selling game to date is the one that comes with the console "
How could any game outsell a game that comes with the system? If 6 million Wiis are sold, 6 million copies of Wii Sports are sold. Unless there is some other game that is so good people buy 2 copies per console they own, nothing can top that. Why do you think Super Mario Bros. and Sonic 2 sold so well? They were also pack-in games.
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 25th 2007 12:08PM
@ Skeffington
I too am surprised about the Wii's success. Ive played it and Ive never been like wow I wanna buy one. My kids on the other hand are obsessed with it. As well as my nieces and nephews. Anyway I think Ima have to buy a damn Wii because Mario Galaxy reminds me so much of Mario 64 which was one of my all time favs EVER =) They need to pack in Mario lol then Ill be set, Wii sports got old already.
Skippy @ Oct 25th 2007 12:21PM
And not only are there several million-sellers, a few of those are multi-million sellers:
Wii Play (4.49 million)
Zelda: Twilight Princess (3.61 million)
Mario Party 8 (2.89 million)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (1.82 million)
Super Paper Mario (1.25 million)
Rayman Raving Rabbids (1 million)
Red Steel (1 million)
Psaakyrn @ Oct 25th 2007 12:21PM
Which is why they raised their profits.
If Wii Sports alone can sell so many consoles, just think how many consoles would be sold by their heavy hitters when they come out. (aka SMG, SSBB)
Dale @ Oct 25th 2007 12:53PM
The last figures I have for the Wii put it at 13 million units sold in the space of almost a year. The GameCube sold around 21 million over the course of six years. The unit's sales are not going to dwindle significantly enough that it won't surpass the GameCube's total.
Whether folks like Iwata and Fils-Aime expected it or not, it's caught a lot of people on the hop outside of Nintendo. I think that's why there's such a dearth of great titles out right now - other than maybe UbiSoft and EA, even the most enthusiastic supporters didn't want to blow their wad on developing games. I really do feel they're going to turn it around in the second year of the system's life cycle.
This is a great contrast to the Sony story.
Cellien @ Oct 25th 2007 11:21AM
Nintendo's very business smart.. Unfortunately, as a gamer, they've sorta alienated some of their hardcore gamer fanbase (like me) with this console. Very interested in seeing what the future holds for Nintendo consoles. They could totally go in any direction.
FOXHOUND @ Oct 25th 2007 11:28AM
Cellien --- I second that.
If it wasn't for 'BRAWL, I don't think there'd be anything on the console I truly could sit down and play for hours on end compared to most the titles for PS3/X360.
As for MONSTER HUNTER, that really only applies to excite Japan, right? I mean, sales of that series there compared to the rest of the world were totally different. I was bored as all hell with the earlier versions, I can't imagine(even with "Wii Waggle")that it would prove much different.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 11:55AM
Zack & Wiki and Mario Galaxy say hi.
FOXHOUND @ Oct 25th 2007 11:58AM
-waves- I'll see you in the bargin bin, Zack. As for Mario... well, I stopped playing those with 'Sunshine.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 12:08PM
Z&W is ALREADY 20 bones cheaper than "next-gen" titles, so y'know, you COULD actually support quality third-party games on the Wii by picking it up now. I'm sure you'll get more enjoyment out of bitching about the lack of such games later, though.
I haven't played a Mario game since Sunshine, either. Maybe it's because there haven't been any (RPG's and sports games don't count).
Synner @ Oct 25th 2007 12:12PM
You know, the "alienated hardcore gamers" Fanspeak is getting as annoying as the "RROD machine", way to get in a stab while sounding like you really care about nintendo. I can do it too: "I loved the PS2, but with the media center features and Blu-ray, sony just totally alienated me as a gamer"
See how retarded you sound?
Mecharine @ Oct 25th 2007 12:24PM
I dont see how the hardcore have been sacrificed. What exactly has changed between Gamecube and Wii, with respect to hardcore games?
FOXHOUND @ Oct 25th 2007 12:25PM
whoa, whoa, whoa... Don't pass off the comment as sounding like a stab at Nintendo. I *like* the console, the inexpensive cost, and their marketing strategy(albeit a bit humorous in the initial one... the Wii guys handing the farmer a controller, the farmer giving the Wii guys a coc--er, rooster).
Zack & Wiki(from viewing articles, gameplay, etc.)doesn't appeal to me at all, and as I said, I personally doubt the experience in Mario Galaxy would differ *that* greatly from Sunshine. The same could be said about MGS, HALO, Final Fantasy, Zelda, et al... if a person's not a fan of the series/genre, they're just not a fan and that's it. No harsh feelings for those titles(Zack/Mario), they've all got something great to offer... just nothing to me personally.
And yes, I *do* feel somewhat alienated by Nintendo's focal point with the Wii(and pretty much any piece of hardware they've released after SNES)as being a much more light-hearted approach. For me, that's good to show off to the non-gaming parentals, relatives, or would-be drunk friends coming over to party that aren't playing FPS(Yay TF2 ;D). But if it's down to the nitty-gritty serious game playing ... well, even YOU have to admit, that kind of experience is in the majority on X360 and PS3.
Dale @ Oct 25th 2007 12:57PM
I don't understand anyone who isn't even remotely interested in Zack & Wiki. The art direction is slightly off-putting, but point and click-style games > all.
FOXHOUND @ Oct 25th 2007 1:22PM
Dale --- It's quaint and obviously 'different', no doubts there. But there's a slew of other games this holiday season I'm after... and yes, at least 3-4 of those games on the Wii alone(I'm hoping like hell GHOST SQUAD makes it this holiday season... the arcade game was surprisingly better than expected). Z&W just doesn't fall on the '07 holiday priority purchase list for me in comparison to Wii games like RESIDENT EVIL(I'm still on the fence about this one), SOULCALIBUR LEGENDS, NiGHTS, and NITROBIKE(not sure if this got delayed). If Blockbuster surprisingly gets Z&W, I'll give it a rental at the very least.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 1:30PM
@ FOXHOUND:
Meh, you sound like just another "better graphics + M-rating = HARDCORE" elitist. As for "nitty-gritty serious gameplay," if Nintendo consoles didn't offer that, I wouldn't buy them.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 25th 2007 2:14PM
Fox, if you liked mario 64, chances are great you'll love Mario Galaxy.
I still don't understand the Sunshine hate. It was different, but still a stellar platformer. And I don't care what anybody says, the ability to place the camera EXACTLY where you needed it was a big plus.
Zootittles @ Oct 25th 2007 11:24AM
Hey Nintendo, how about taking some of that wealth and paying third parties to make better games? Or maybe impose a moratorium on mini-game collections? Just wishful thinking...
dunlop @ Oct 25th 2007 3:52PM
Wii60 owner who really does not care for the Wii...but DAMN, they know what they are doing over there
James @ Oct 25th 2007 11:24AM
It's to be expected when you release a double whammy of awesome console and handheld combination.
I always knew it would have done this well, the pre system hype was incredible, the British press loved it. Worked wonders.
What's surprising for me is Sony's current setup. Dead last in both markets. Going off their previous record you'd never have guessed that.
idioteraser @ Oct 25th 2007 11:37AM
It should be noted that from those same reports the Wii has sold 13.7 million units so far. Beating out the xbox 360.
Software sales are 65,810,000 units.
PS3 is getting annihalted in both hardware and software sales.
FYI just because the titles don't appear on the top ten doesn't mean lots of them aren't selling. If it takes 10,000 or more to appear on the best selling lists then a 100 games selling 8000 copies is still an ass load of software and nothing to sneeze at.
Slaziman @ Oct 25th 2007 12:42PM
Just goes to show that Wii owners are the kind of people that buy games because the cover looks nice.
Jonny @ Oct 25th 2007 11:45PM
@ slaziman,
Sure they do, in the same way that PS3 and xbox360 owners buy games based on if the rating on the cover looks like an "M" and says something about "strong language", or "partial nudity", or "violence". Like that, right?
nintendofan @ Oct 25th 2007 11:37AM
Wrong Wii sports doens't come with the console in Japan.
Several million of it have been sold along with wiiplay.
There are a few other million selling wii titles and the recent financial report shows that close to 66 million pieces of wii software have been sold worldwide.
Zsavior @ Oct 25th 2007 11:48AM
I agree the high end market is not what nintendo is gunning for. People who bought a nintendo WII were not going to buy a PS3 nor xbox360 anyway. Second nintndo now has to make those new nintendo fans into nintendo gamers. Their market isn't the same, all Reggie could particularly gloat about is that the Casual market and the gamer market can coincide.
But many Xbox360 fans and PS3 fans want it to be against Nintendo because they believe if nintendo falls they will some how win. Nothing changes, if the wii is gone. Sony and MS are scraping hard for the same type of gamer, and their is a limited amount of those. Add to that the hardware are not producing vastly different games, and you feel more confident picking on the WII then the 360 or the PS3 because you can always uses graphics as a warm blanket to make you feel better. I mean seriously it was a well played move by Nintendo.
FOXHOUND @ Oct 25th 2007 1:00PM
Based on the above, I guess I'm in that rare faction that bought all three consoles. ¬_¬
WiNG @ Oct 25th 2007 11:51AM
To the theme of DuckTales, courtesy of WiNG
Profits like a hurricane
At Nintendo
Race Karts, Lasers, ported games
F5 at Smash Dojo!!
Even my mom plays
Don't care I'm Mr. Gay
Nintendo! Woo-OO-oo
DS prints the bills thanks to
Nintendo! Woo-OO-oo
Manhunt got re-rated (THANKS!)
Nintendo!
P-p-playstation lurks behind you!
Haters claiming "Just two Gamecubes!"
Wiped your tears with money at
Nintendo! Woo-OO-oo
QQ some more bout your gamerscore
Nintendo! Woo-OO-oo
Online is gay, just try Wii Play
Nintendo!
ok that song was not as good as I hoped.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 11:58AM
I give it a [+]. I lol'd a li'l bit.
johnny g @ Oct 25th 2007 12:03PM
GENIOUS!!
Majortom1981 @ Oct 25th 2007 12:05PM
LOL I thought it was good :)
Slaziman @ Oct 25th 2007 12:45PM
Nice, except "online is gay just try Wii Play", that one really didn't make sense.
Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Oct 25th 2007 6:13PM
"P-p-playstation lurks behind you!
Haters claiming "Just two Gamecubes!"
Wiped your tears with money at
Nintendo! Woo-OO-oo"
Thats the funniest thing I've read since... well, a long long time.
You won an internets and an honorary NDF membership.
Majortom1981 @ Oct 25th 2007 12:00PM
I thought wii sports is a seperate game in japan?
rokerovakero @ Oct 25th 2007 12:04PM
I guess those polls about how much we hate Nintendo are not working. Go Nintendo!
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 25th 2007 12:08PM
I too am surprised about the Wii's success. Ive played it and Ive never been like wow I wanna buy one. My kids on the other hand are obsessed with it. As well as my nieces and nephews. Anyway I think Ima have to buy a damn Wii because Mario Galaxy reminds me so much of Mario 64 which was one of my all time favs EVER =) They need to pack in Mario lol then Ill be set, Wii sports got old already
idioteraser @ Oct 25th 2007 1:02PM
Yes wii sports isn't sold with the wii in Japan. It's sold several million at about 49 bucks US if I am thinking of the right price.
The Japanese Xbox 360 and PS3s have always been the cheapest versions yet have sold terribly. Obviously price isn't an issue. In quite a few regions the wii cost more then a core xbox 360 yet the wii was the one always selling out. Price isn't a factor to a lot of wii buyers they wouldn't have any fun with a PS3 or xbox 360 it's not for them. They don't give a rat's ass what the hardcore supposedly wants and wouldn't have bought the wii if it had what the so called hardcore wanted.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 1:29PM
@ FOXHOUND:
Meh, you sound like just another "better graphics + M-rating = HARDCORE" elitist. As for "nitty-gritty serious gameplay," if Nintendo consoles didn't offer that, I wouldn't buy them.
AstroZombie @ Oct 25th 2007 1:29PM
FUCK. That was supposed to be a reply.