Nintendo, GameStop address Wii shortage

(Credit: Nintendo of America)

The Nintendo Wii launched more than a year ago, and the system is still incredibly hard to find. This long after the system started shipping, people are still camping in front of stores as soon as they hear about new shipments.

Friday morning, Nintendo of America's president and CEO, Reggie Fils-Aime, held a telephone press conference to address the continuing shortage of the Wii.

Fils-Aime said Nintendo hadn't expected as much demand for the Wii as they're getting. Since the launch, he claimed, Nintendo has almost doubled its global production from 1 million to 1.8 million Wiis per month, and tripled its workforce at Nintendo of America's North Bend, Wash., distribution center. The Nintendo president wouldn't say whether Nintendo would further increase its Wii production, but he denied any claims that Nintendo is stockpiling Wiis.

"There was no ability for us to stockpile systems in the summer for the holiday rush," Fils-Aime said. "Enough systems would make everyone, including me, much happier."

According to Fils-Aime, Wiis will be available next week at all major retailers. If past patterns are any indication, however, that "availability" will be limited to shoppers willing to camp out before stores open on Sunday or Monday morning. Since Christmas is just two weeks away, you're probably still going to have some difficulty finding a Wii.

While that seems to be the biggest hope for Christmas Wiis, Reggie also announced a raincheck program in conjunction with GamesStop to get more Wiis out to shoppers in January. Even if Wiis are out of stock, on December 20 and 21, consumers will be able to purchase them for January.

On those two days, if you put down the full retail price of the Wii at a GameStop, you'll receive a raincheck guaranteeing you a Wii in January. The rainchecks will be available only as supplies last, but Fils-Aime said GameStop has "many tens of thousands" of rainchecks available across its 3,000+ stores. Perhaps the Wii-hungry will be camping out next week to get a raincheck for a Wii next month. We'll find out by next Friday.

"We went into the launch with very high expectations," Fils-Aime said. "What we didn't expect was to throw out the whole playbook and essentially create a whole new level of sell-through for this industry. You can't plan for that."

[ljohnso8]

Nintendo Wii's In Stock

I just wanted to let everyone know that I found a site that has plenty of nintendo wii's whether you want to buy the console by itself or a bundle they have tons. They also have a lot of different bundles, games and accessories. I would encourage anyone looking for a Wii to go to www.theshoppingnation.com you should be able to find everything you want and or need, and chances are you won't break your wallet in doing so.<br /> www.theshoppingnation.com Check It Out!

[whidbeyben]

No Excuse other than stupidity for Wii shortages

Nintendo is making a huge mistake in not ramping up production of Wii's to <br />meet demand over the last YEAR. I have yet to see a Wii box in a Walmart or <br />Target store over the last year. With Sony and Microsoft cutting prices on PS3 <br />and XBox 360, Nintendo has shot itself in the foot by not finding additional <br />manufacturing capacity. Gamers will simply not tolerate a Wii shortage two <br />years in a row. 1st season shortages may boost the novelty of a product, but a <br />year later, shortages should be grounds for mass firing of executives at <br />Nintendo.

[Renegade Knight]

Reality Check

When you make a product you take youre best guess as to demand. Ramp up production and then release the product. What happens next is reality. You will find you are wrong.<br /><br />In Nintendo's case they sold more than they thought they would. They ramped up production from 1 to 1.8 million per month. They still can't meet demand. There is only so much you can do. I don't blame Nintendo for merely ramping up production as fast as they can. I don't blame consumers for liking the Wii.<br /><br />Success is not a firing offence.

[Dogmastyle]

Wii for sale!!

I don't know what the scam is on the theshoppingnation.com sales pitch, but <br />they of course DO NOT have wii's for sale at a good price(street). It redirects you <br />to Amazon where they are $499.97!! Dweb....

[BCF1968]

The Wii sucks

Just a gimmick. The sooner everyone learns this the better. They had a demo at wal-mart. tried it. Hated it like I knew I would. Sorry can't stand the controller. Give people an option to play the game with a NORMAL controller and maybe it might be worth something.<br /><br />Let's see Madden on aPS2 or a Wii? The graphics on both are basically the same. I'll take the PS2 and the NORMAL controller veruss that crap the Wii uses. Who wants to flail their arms around like a epiletic on crack just to play a game?

[jazzblu]

America a great Wii country!

That's one of the reasons this is a great country, you can buy any game system you want too. Excuse me I need to flail my arms, sorry!

[prodezigner]

Expected as much...

The Wii is I think, the best next-gen console. It reaches to people that don't care for graphics and emphasizes on innovative gameplay. Kids have energy to burn, perfect way to do it. Hospitals use the Wii for rehab, great way to utilize the Wii. Elder people can play with younger people, especially ones that don't really know how things work. The perks are way far more to an advantage.<br /><br />As for BCF's comment, I don't know about YOU, but I'd rather play with a new controller than one thats been used since the beginning of all consoles, all controllers are pretty much the same, and it's nice to have something fresh. Plus, Madden is MORE fun on the Wii cause it puts you in the game. Get over it if you weight like 500 pounds, I can understand it's not as fun, because you can't sit down on a couch and wiggle your fingers. It's a good way to lose weight also (Google Wii Weight Loss Program).

[treet007]

Wii or New Tires...

Hmm, do I want to purchase a Wii for $499 or a new set of tires for my car??? Just because my tires are down to nubs and probably not pass the next round of inspection AND hydroplane when I drive in the snow or rain, would that make the decision to purchase a Wii more difficult or easier? You decide...<br /><br /><br /><br />P.S. I elected for the tires...

[samsingha]

This is a no brainer.

Buy the Wii, man. The tires will be in stores but the Wii may not.

[RRosal]

Shortage? Riiiiiight...

First off, the Wii is not a "next-gen" system: that seat's taken by the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Innovative gameplay and gimmicky controllers aside, the Wii is not anywhere close to being next-gen; more like an in-between machine like an Xbox 1.5 or Playstation 2.5. As far as the shortage is concerned, I strongly believe that Nintendo is creating the whole thing to boost sales and create a stronger demand among consumers. And before anyone starts on me, I got a Nintendo Wii back in November '06 and quite frankly the novelty of the machine wore off after 2 months. I picked up my Sony PS3 in July '07 after the $100 price drop and have since picked up 10 games for it and have enjoyed it more than the Wii (which has 3 games a full year later) and that's not even going into the games that will be coming out in 2008.

[samsingha]

I simply disagree.

It seems like you are defining a next generation gaming system based on the graphic capability and the CPU speed and not how you play the game. <br /><br />If that's the case, then what's so "next-gen" about the PS3 and Xbox? Compared to hi-end gaming PCs, the GPU in these 2 systems are way behind and the CPU are out powered by these PCs which can cost over $10K. Any hard-core games know that these gaming systems are no where close to what a high end PC can do. The way you can configure your GPU, upgrade your CPU, add more RAM, and ETC to make the gaming PCs up-to-date. These gaming boxes can do no such thing. So, by "my" definition, the PS3 and Xbox are no "next-gen" gaming systems.<br /><br />Beside, we have been playing games using thumb controllers for ages. So, what's so "next-gen" about that?<br /><br />The Wii, on the other hand, has less capable GPU and CPU. However, it opens up a new way of gaming to the world and that's why people love it. If GPU and CPU are what define "next-gen" gaming systems, then let me ask you why the PS3 is not such a big hit by now.<br /><br />Just a though.

[Scott Gardener]

Thinking outside the X-Box

Nintendo has been brilliant in making this thing, in spite of all the gripes from die-hard gamers. Rather than even trying to compete with the X-Box 360 or PS3, they decided instead to market towards a different audience altogether. And that is why the Wii is in such huge demand. Nintendo knew that some die-hard gamers might grouse about its weaker power specs, lack of next generation multimedia playback, and what-not. They were willing to live with that. In exchange, they instead reinvented how to play games and invited game designers to come out with new kinds of games for a wider audience. Rather than cranking out more first person shooters for 18-34-year-old males, they came out with interactive sports games that get kids off the sofa and grandparents interested in playing, too.<br /><br />Kavetch all you want, but the Wii is in terms of inventiveness a part of the new generation of games. Playstation 3 is trying to follow its example with motion-sensing technology and offering at least some alternative approaches to games, but the Wii is clearly the front-runner of thinking outside the box of first person shooters and romp-through-the-levels quests.<br /><br />Not that I'm complaining about PS3 or X-Box 360. The first is definitely a great console, and the second probably is--I haven't played with one myself. Both doubling as media centers are also reinventing gaming consoles in their own way and are perhaps just as revolutionary. But, the Wii takes the lead outside the tech specs and in the realms of breaking out of demographic dogma.

[Mike456177]

Shortage? What shortage?

Just look on eBay, there are scores of Wii's for sale, albeit at absurdly inflated prices. The scary part is that they're selling, selling like hotcakes.<br /><br />One seller claimed to have sold 150 Wii's thus far (with, of course, a 100% feedback rate). The obvious question is where did he get so many units and I'm sure there a plenty of other sellers with similar stories. So the obvious question is there are these Wii's coming from? Perhaps when a shipment arrives at your favorite retail store, employees are getting first crack? Maybe some just disappear from the shipment??<br /><br />The answer is that there plenty of Wii's. Not just many cheap Wii's.

[boopiejones]

the wii is just a reincarnation of the power pad

nothing more, nothing less. the novelty will wear off. if i were reggie, i would be doubling my already doubled production to meet demand now. very few will be wanting wiis by the middle of next year and owners won't even remember which closet their wiis are in.

[brianmv]

Wrong wrong wrong wrong, wrong wrong wrong wrong!

You're wrong. Absolutely wrong. Did the Power Pad sell this well initially? No. Did the Power Glove, or ROB, or the E-reader sell this well? No. People thought the novelty of the video game would wear off in th 70s. Guess what? It did. But Nintendo revived the market, and without them, video gaming would cease to exist. I doubt a system with such historical sales would really be a gimmick. Gamers and average joes alike are not stupid. Clearly, the Wii is victorious here. Just look at their worldwide sales and critical analyses and tell me its a gimmick with a straight face.

[ackmondual]

natch, Wii is doing great

You got a $250 MSRP console system that's 'selling' for $400+. Its competitors on the otherhand aren't selling as much of their $400 MSRP consoles at that price. Never did I see this coming<br /><br />When you're selling, can be VERY difficult to gauge how much demand there will be. No matter what you sell, fried chicken, cookies, ceramic vases, mp3 players, luxury cars, or even video game systems, ideally you wanna meet the demand with the appropriate supply. Since so many ppl suck at The Price Is Right, it's usually a tossup between making too much or not enough. The better choice usually is making not enough. You end up with some dissatisfied customers, but if you make too much, you're sitting on unsold inventory which you wasted $$ on. <br /><br />Honest to truth, I played Wii Sports and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, and thoroughly enjoyed them. The games do accurately reflect real life movement. Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy on the other hand, some of it does feel tacked on. The sword swinging isn't 1:1, so I would've preferred using traditional analog there. However, they're still great games, and I'll play them through the very end as at least the point and shoot interface still rocks

[walrus2.0]

Get all 3 + a gaming computer to understand

First off, the Wii is not a "next-gen" system: that seat's taken by the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.<br /><br />-----------------------------------------<br /><br />hahahaha just goes to show that many of you are not true gamers, much less good at vocabulary. the term next -gen applies to systems that haven't come out yet - is 2 years and running really next gen? Also, people who bash wii for their graphics are also, not gamers. Gamers who only look for graphics will find themselves sadly disapointed in consoles themselves - truly they can not improve until their hardware improves. thus, true graphic hogs are found in computer gaming.

[RRosal]

Wii shortage...

When did computer gaming get into a discussion regarding console gaming? Your argument was shot dead right from the outset. And in regards to your vocabulary slide, I say po-tay-toe, you say po-taa-toe lol

[Thunderbuck]

I love the conspiracy theories...

People keep saying about how the big N is "deliberately" shorting Wii production to maintain demand. Worth noting that in 54 weeks, the Wii had already managed to outsell FOUR YEARS worth of Game Cube sales. No company assumes its new product will sell at 4x the rate of the old one; that's the height of arrogance.<br /><br />The cynics here amuse me. YOU, button-masher, may not like the Wii controller, but frankly, Nintendo doesn't really care about you. They want people who had too much trouble mashing buttons to ever play video games before.<br /><br />I'll tell you why the Wii remains scarce. It's not because there's are people who have been trying to score a system for the past year, it's because as more people have been exposed to the Wii's innovative game play, it dawns on them that they might actually ENJOY gaming.<br /><br />Wii's continue to sell well because they're contageous. It's people who have played tennis or bowling at a buddy's house (or with their grandkids), and had way more fun than they ever could have expected.

[RickyBo]

Oddball computer fan and writer

[RickyBo]

Still more needed as of now

Just went to the Best Buy early this Monday (17 Dec) to upgrade to the Vista system figuring to arrive a bit early before opening, found long line waiting for WII there, 15 minutes before opening they came out and handed out 140 tickets for same number just arrived, knew line was too long, and was right after a nose count found just under 290 already lined up there. (Earliest there according to them arrived around 4:00 AM for the 7:30 opening time A lot of folks left very dissapointed, a few unwilling to go empty handed tried to bribe a few of those with the tickets offering up to $100 for their ticket. Didn't see any takers.

[brianmv]

If you people knew ANYTHING about basic economics!

Stockpiling systems to ride on the demand? Are you kidding me? The first thing any company does (and should do) when it has a hot product is get rid of it as fast and as cheap as possible. In the short run, MAYBE, a company might force people to pony up higher fees in order to line their coffers. But when the iPod became popular, did Apple stockpile them and raise the prices in order to get a great deal of cash? No, and they didn't do that for the iPhone, either. The fact is, when you have a great demand for a product, you have to be rid of it as quickly as possible. Stockpiling costs ridiculous amounts of money, and makes it nearly impossible to overcome the opportunity costs of creating more and more customers. Even if they could ride on the demand by raising prices, there's no way they could afford to stockpile at the same time because the demand would decrease as consumer expectations lowered. Frankly, I think you're all stupid fanboys for foregoing the laws of Economics to create such a fallacious lie. There's a reason Wii is out of stock: it's a damn hot product.

[innocuous]

Stop Comparing the New Systems

Everyone is comparing the 3 systems that came out close together, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii.<br /><br />But here's the thing. You cannot possibly compare them, because in the end, people aren't looking for graphics or space or blu ray.<br /><br />Even if you are a hardcore gamer, you will not pick a system well known for graphics if all it has is games released about Disney shows. You will not pick a game with a cool controller if there aren't any games to go with it. <br /><br />The reason PS3 isn't having stock problems is the price and the small audience it aims at. Though it is, I imagine, the best of the three systems in terms of hardware.<br /><br />I remember I laughed when I heard Microsoft was making a game system. Granted, it's a very impressive system. But it doesn't have overstock issues because it doesn't have the customer loyalty, and the one's whose loyalty it has, bought it when it came out, so they are readily available now. <br /><br />Nintendo not only has a loyal following and revolutionary new controls. (not necessarily new, but it is unheard of. They're pimping that controller, making it the basis for the system, and it is working because people who never tried x motion sensing controller that cost $100 for x system are new to the concept.) They know how to advertise, they know how to systematically release decent games to keep their customers. They know how to utilize their past, keeping old customers happy and giving them new toys with a classic taste. I mean, please, Super Smash Brothers Brawl? That's going back to the days of N64, and will doubtless catch the attention of anyone who used to own it.<br /><br />I mean, I got my first gameboy when I was about 8 or 9. They have nearly a decade of customer loyalty with me. Not only that, they continue catering to 8 or 9 year olds, and older gamers (though admittedly not the best if you want things like Assassins Creed) so they continue to make their following happy, and are raising more kids to know the name Nintendo.<br /><br />And the retail price is $250. I work in retail, part time, roughly twenty hours a week. Being 17 years old, my income is entirely disposable, and I'll tell you up front that I make enough in two weeks to buy that system. And if I saw it on a shelf, I would hand them that money no questions asked. I know the name, I know the potential, I know it is an improvement on gamecube which is what it should be measured against, and I know it will continue to be revolutionary.

[brandonh33]

This wasnt their plan

I am sure that Nintendo had no intention of comming up with this marketing strategy but it has worked. First of all nintendo fanboys will do anything nintendo tells them to do. If Nintendo came out with a machine that killed you, all of the fanboys would be begging to get their hands on it, so that helps. I dont think they expected so many sells, but once they realized what started to happen they were not going to let it go. Lets say you walk into a store, you see all of those ps3's and 360s piled up like pyramids all over the place, and yet no wiis. You see lines at 4:00am for wiis. Now what does that make you think? which console do you want to buy now if you were undecided before? I will let you figure that one out. believe me if it was in Nintendos interest to have wiis stocked up everywhere to meet demand they would. However this strategy they most likely stumbled upon will sell more wiis in the long run. You cant just look at everything short term, Because if you did ps3s would cost you $800.

[tmoran718]

Wii say GOODBYE

I know of three couples that have a Wii. One of them has kids that are at that great age for a Wii. Two of the people (have kids 2 or younger). Now, of the 3 couples 2 of them got the game last year (including the couple with kids old enough to love it). They told me last week that the kids played with it for about a month or two and except for the few times a year they have an "adult" party where drinking and Wii bowling seem to go hand and hand the kids went right back to their PS2. All in all the father told me that it was non-stop play from 12/25/06 to about 02/15/07. From there the adults have played it about 5 times since then and the kids have no touched it.<br /><br />My thoughts. Kids as they get older get bored with it quickly (especially boys) because they like other things. Adults look at it as a grerat party game for a group of people.

[boopiejones]

that's exactly what i was talking about

that is EXACTLY what i was talking about in my other post that was slammed and rubbished. the wii is just a fad. sure it is fun for about a month and all the kiddies want it NOW, but all the kiddies wanted garbagepail kids, gigapets, and powerpads as well. it is not nearly as revolutionary as people seem to think and the novelty will die off soon.

[DADSGETNDOWN]

Nintendo DOES purposely hold back!

Specific posts are refered to here.<br />Selling more than the GameCube in far less time, NOR Unexpected sales (demand) or ANYTHING else has hardly any valid points to the (Supposed) shortage.<br />With so many being produced, 1.8 Million per month (BUT are they being sold that fast?)<br />I would like to see how many PS2 and XBOX were doing in the first year to 2 tears.<br />I was told by a sales manager at a very popular Nation Wide Electronics store, that Nintendo DOES infact tell them when to hold back, save units and stop and start selling. I was even told they had some in back but can not sell them until the next morning (With no sells going on with them at either time).<br />So you know they lose alot of sells because if they do not have any to sell, and someone is finding them hard to find, or only wants it a little bit more than the other systems, guess what is on the shelf there waiting to be bought? and are!. PS2, PS3, XBOX. Personally I have 7 children 6 boys 1 girl, ranging from 9 to 25 most are teens, we own every Nintendo system and nothing but. It's hard to afford even the WII, let alone find one, so we thought waiting for a year we could get one for them plus we wait to see the gossip and facts going around, we've have also loved the type of games SONY has put out for years and years ,a good variety, games the kids really want, even though Nintendo does have GREAT games that I/WE almost can not live with out, Zelda, Mario and the like, Shooters, and sports, SONY has the Kid games, Role playing, shooters, Etc on and on.<br />Guess what the kids are getting this year ?..PS2.<br />You know how much money we people with more than 1 or even 2 children have to spend on these systems, controllers, games, memory cards ?, especially thos of us who "collect"/ keep the games.<br />Welp I had alot more to say but you know what?<br />I'm off to play some Final Fantasy which I haven't got to play since they left Nintendo years ago on my new PS2.<br />Thanks Nintendo, I tried to be Loyal and I did and do still love the games you put out, although I can't get a system (for 2 reasons if you read) and now we wont ever have a WII unless it's free.