Wii comes to China, South Korea in 2008
by Ross Miller 
{ Oct 26th 2007 at 3:55PM }
"We suffer a global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our responsibility now is to deliver as many consoles as we can to existing markets ... But next year, I think we can bring the Wii (to China)."
Though China received the Nintendo DS in a timely manner, South Korea didn't get an official launch of the portable until January of this year.
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Oct 26th 2007 4:01PM
The Wii is going to encounter stiff competition from the installed user-base of the Vii.
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:04PM
jaja nice.
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:04PM
jaja nice.
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:07PM
Sorry for the dobule post...
... and sorry for this triple post.
Dio @ Oct 26th 2007 4:52PM
I was thinking the exact same thing lol
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 26th 2007 4:04PM
Pfft. Whatever. The Chintendo Vii will crush the Wii.
Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Oct 26th 2007 5:20PM
I wonder if the Vii prints counterfeits?
DarkTetsuya @ Oct 26th 2007 8:00PM
I was going to say, didn't china already get the Vii? :P
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Oct 26th 2007 4:07PM
It beams money. Which I think is illegal in China.
Mr Khan @ Oct 26th 2007 4:14PM
Their Chinese ad campaign:
Wii: It's for the proletariat
Shagittarius @ Oct 26th 2007 4:18PM
"We suffer a global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our responsibility now is to deliver as many consoles as we can to existing markets ... But next year, I think we can bring the Wii (to China)."
Lets put that through the truth-translator.
"We suffer a manufactured global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our gameplan now is to deliver just enough consoles to make it look like its sold out again this christmas to stupid americans...but next year we won't be able to perpetrate this lie anymore beacuse demand will be low so naturally we will be able to bring the Wii (to China)."
Woot!
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:21PM
Why you hate Nintendo so much?
Shagittarius @ Oct 26th 2007 4:24PM
I've answered that so many times I'll spare everyone else by not reiterating it again. I don't have Nintendo, I hate the Wii.
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:26PM
And why you hate the Wii? Because the graphics?
So, how is that past gen your favorite console was the PS2? It has the worst graphics of past gen.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 26th 2007 4:28PM
I noticed you weren't posting for awhile.
You didn't happen to get temp banned, did you?
I'm tired of these manufactured shortage conspiracy theories perpetuated by ignorant sony fanboys who just can't believe their system of choice is getting thrashed by an "inferior" competitor.
Welcome to Nintendoland circa 1998-2005. Hope you enjoy your stay.
MegaSnort @ Oct 26th 2007 4:29PM
It might seem like he hates Nintendo, but I know better. Nintendo gives him a reason to live, without Ninty to focus his hatred on Shag has no purpose in life, or a source of entertainment for that matter. Stuck there playing RFoM for the 100+ time or looking at pictures of MSGIV & Haze while marking days off his calender, he would probably just /wrist if his one fulfilling activity in life was taken away.
Shagittarius @ Oct 26th 2007 4:29PM
My favorite console last gen was the Gamecube. I had a great PC so I didn't need an XBOX and there were just more titles on the cube I was interested in...
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:31PM
Well, at least you like the Gamecube (my favorite console... (I have 93 Gamecube titles).
megaStryke @ Oct 26th 2007 4:36PM
Let me run Shagi's comment through his own patented truth-translator:
"I hate the Wii for no valid reason. Sure, I make up reasons that may SEEM valid on the surface, but I can't back up my own claims! I mean, I don't want to experience a game like Zack & Wiki because I personally feel like holding the box is akin to holding a turd in my hand! See, guys? No logical support for my wild beliefs! So, having said that, I believe the demand for the Wii will magically disappear by the start of next year and no one will buy it anymore. That belief is based on nothing other than that I believe the PS3's 'potential' can in no way possibly lose to the Wii's 'potential', even though if the PS3 continues to sell such abysmal numbers then no companies WILL achieve said 'potential'. I guess in a roundabout way I am trying to say that I suck big time as a market analyst."
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 26th 2007 4:42PM
Seriously Shagi... arent you tired of be Joystiq's official clown and the official half heart guy?
Shagittarius @ Oct 26th 2007 4:43PM
I don't want to play Zack & Wiki cause I'm uncomfortable with playing a game with a shirtless 7 year old and making masturbation motions on my couch.
megaStryke @ Oct 26th 2007 4:47PM
Translation:
"I'm uncomfortable playing some games, no matter how good they are, because games are a reflection of my masculinity."
MegaSnort @ Oct 26th 2007 4:47PM
zomg there are kid games on the wii!!! Resident Evil 4 is rated E right?
megaStryke @ Oct 26th 2007 4:56PM
Shagi's just afraid that one day a bus full of high school freshmen will break down in front of his house and the kids will peak in his window and see him playing games that don't involve manly men performing feats of herculean strength. Of course, a library consisting ONLY of those games might garner an alternative opinion that probably involves an affinity for burly, well-greased men.
playwhutyalike @ Oct 26th 2007 7:00PM
I think Shags doesn't want to play games with a shirtless 7 year old boy in it because his pants will shrink. That's why he is "uncomfortable".
Chris Hanson:"He goes by the screen name Shagittarius, and wants to meet with a person he believes is a pre-teen boy".
Perverted Justice:"Looks like he is coming up the drive now, his Mom appears to be dropping him off."
Sidepocket @ Oct 26th 2007 9:15PM
How is that tin foil hat working out?
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Oct 27th 2007 1:17AM
Fernando:
"(I have 93 Gamecube titles)"
... What the hell. I consider myself a Nintendo fan, but even I only have about 40-50 games for the system!
Mike @ Oct 26th 2007 4:22PM
Thats nice and all,
but when is the Vii coming to the US!!!
animeko @ Oct 26th 2007 4:35PM
Shag, why is it so hard to believe that there is an actual shortage of consoles? I don't think anyone expected the Wii to be so successful, especially when up against Sony's fancy new PS3 and Microsoft's long available 360.
You have no real proof that Iwata is lying about the number of consoles available, just assuming. (Yet Sony's been caught in so many lies... :| ) I don't understand where your opinions surface from, but hey they're your opinions...
...Unless you were being sarcastic and making a joke. If so, ha ha ha. You're a funny guy!
kennethrios @ Oct 26th 2007 4:40PM
They should paint the Wiis that go to China with lead paint.
megaStryke @ Oct 26th 2007 4:47PM
Topical dark humor. Nice.
kennethrios @ Oct 26th 2007 4:54PM
What can I say, I watch a lot of "Lou Dobbs Tonight".
J-Guy @ Oct 26th 2007 5:24PM
Zoidberg Jesus with the low blow to China.
WiNG @ Oct 26th 2007 4:47PM
This is a BAD MOVE.
I do NOT want Koreans playing the Wii, or I am gonna lose a LOT of online Brawl and Strikers games.
It is NOT fair to put normal humans against randomized online matches against the gods of video gaming.
megaStryke @ Oct 26th 2007 4:48PM
Don't worry about it. South Koreans only play StarCraft.
MegaSnort @ Oct 26th 2007 4:52PM
Koreans aren't that good... They just have an interesting ratio of hardcore/casual gamers when compared to the U.S. since they embrace their inner-geek while Americans tend to belittle it.
DonWii @ Oct 26th 2007 4:54PM
Don't worry. Brawl matches aren't ranked anyway.
Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Oct 26th 2007 5:25PM
I got pwned so bad against Europeans it was disheartening. I don't imaging I could be thrashed any more thoroughly.
Let the Koreans Play.
FidliousWong @ Oct 26th 2007 5:47PM
Koreans aren't that good? Ummmmm.... k?
I take it your own experience is limited to elementary school S Koreans.
Also, for the record, and this is for Nintendo...
QUIT TREATING S. KOREA LIKE AN INSIGNIFICANT MARKET!
Seriously, this is THE most wired country on the planet. They televise their gaming matches. And so far, only Sony has established themselves in this market as a focus for local developers. I mean, people complain why DJ Max Portable isn't on Nintendo DS but forget Nintendo DS is less than a year old in Korea. It launched in Korea on January 18th of this year. I mean, Wii is only going to be a year behind the times which beats the three years late of DS, but still. Nintendo is the last to enter that market.
I mean, you want a reason why PC gaming is big in that country compared to console, here's a simple answer. PC devs don't treat that country like a third world country. But then again, this is Nintendo, a heavily Japanese company. S Koreans should just be happy they don't receive a complimentary spit in the eye when they buy their DS's.
Sidepocket @ Oct 26th 2007 9:16PM
Oh boy, a S.Korean patriot, let me explain.
Reasons why PC gaming is popular:
1) South Korea was one of the last countries to get wired. Therefor they could avoid the mistakes of past wired countries and make a better network.
2) While Telecoms rule the internet, in SK the government had it mandated that the country would be the most wired and thus it was.
3) This is the big one. When PC Bangs (which are popular because SK have no privacy, they are the reverse of the US) were getting popular, tech companies realized it and turned PC games into a MTV-like popularity contest to boast there advertising dollars. That is why every single major company in South Korea has its own gaming league, hence to promote the product. (I always wanted a Nintendo one)
Also not to mention that only DS is doing fantastically well in SK. 360 is good but not popular, and PS3 barely scratches anything.
In fact, Iwata is not spitting in your eye. He was the only one that said South Korea is valuable and they should launch there even though none of the other Japanese and American investors would back him and called him crazy for trying. Now he is printing money in SK.
The reason why they are late is because its a hard market to crack. Not only do you have privacy, but you are trying to convince South Koreans who are PC gamers to play console games. Two different beasts. Like what Iwata said "I feel like I am trying to sell women's cosmetics to men."
China is going to be harder because not only is everyone is poor, but Racism > All over there.
So you know what, FUCK YOU! South Korea is shit, America is shit. UK is shit! Everyone is shit! So lets stop dividing our selfs on who is better, play DS and have fun!
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Oct 27th 2007 1:19AM
Koreans also play PangYa.
If Ntreev/Tecmo brings Super Swing Golf PangYa to Korean Wiis, they'll sell out like mad. Especially if there's a preorder bonus like a figure of the loli pirate Kooh or the busty sorceress Arin (the top-two fan favorites).
hvnlysoldr @ Oct 27th 2007 9:58PM
I welcome the Wii to South Korea. I should definitely connect more with the second generation members of the church there as well as here.
MegaSnort @ Oct 26th 2007 6:06PM
You answered your own question, they are the most wired country thus they produce more hardcore gamers who spend exhaustive hours drinking coffee and honing their skills. Doesn't mean they're better than American hardcore gamers by default, you're just more likely to be playing a hardcore gamer than a casual if their nationality happens to be S. Korean. If you don't think the top 10 SC players from S. Korea and the U.S. wouldn't be evenly matched than you're the one with a lack of experience with S. Korean gamers.
Mr Khan @ Oct 26th 2007 7:50PM
Somewhat unrelated, and someone aired this before but
how is it that the hearts go down from 2 to 1, but up from 2 to 2.5?
I've never seen 1.5 hearts...
drun @ Oct 26th 2007 8:42PM
Finally a Chinese ver...though I already bought one.
The Console will be popular I guess, since iQue the agency usually name a right price but the games...It's not necessarily pirates' fault but we have to wait one or two years for a Chinese version game 'cause the censorship here is (censored). And Wii is region-not-free, so...hello chips.
However a mod one of course receive no warranty, ah, a tough choice.
An unmodified Wii(JP) here is about 1500 yuan, about 200 USD, but usually not provided by retailers, have to pre-order.
Lee @ Oct 27th 2007 8:54AM
yay! the wii to replace the vii.