Wii U in the UK

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Soldato
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As I don't live in the UK, I was shocked during a recent visit home that nowhere was selling the Wii U and it was all PS4 and XBOne. So far the sales figure are: PS4 10 million, Wii U 7.5m and XBOne 5 million... the Wii U is hardly a failure that many people say it is.

Where I live everywhere sells Wii U games even the supermarkets.
 
Supermarket space is at a premium, and there's no space for something that doesn't fly off the shelves in vast quantities. Early doors the Wii U had no games and therefore wasn't selling - so it's no surprise the supermarkets ditched it.

It's turned out to be a slow burner - same as the 3DS - things are starting to pick up (Nintendo have even turned a profit) so it'll be interesting to see if the supermarkets want it back on the shelves around Xmas/new Year.

It's difficult to say how many units the Wii U will end up shifting - probably only likely GameCube sort of numbers. Hard to say at what point something is a failure or a success. Let's say it sells 25 mil units (which some might say is a failure) - but it makes Nintendo a profit, maintains their profile/presence, and keeps people/gamers/family gamers dear to Nintendo in good time for Nintendo to release new handhelds/new consoles - that would be a success imo.
 
My local supermarkets stopped selling Wii U around the time if not a little before ps4 and XONE came out. They do have a 3DS section though and maybe the odd Wii U game. It's all about numbers in the end, if the software is not shifting, it makes more sense to make better use of space.

This is not a big deal for me, as I always buy electrical stuff online anyway.

Nintendo dropped the ball in regards to software and marketing in my opinion, more so the former. If they could churn out those AAA first party games of theirs faster, the system would sell better and then other publishers may publish their games as there is a big enough install base etc.

They also have not made a game that really makes good use of the 2nd display in hand. Only game I enjoyed that made semi good use of it was Zombi U. As much as I love the controller, I hope they don't bother with it for their next system, as it is pointless unless they are going to actually make good use of it. The extra cost could have went on making a stronger system or making the console cheaper.

For example the main game I am currently waiting for is Zelda which is like a year away. I know it will be worth the wait, but still, it should not take them 3 years after system launch to release it.

I not sure how much Super Smash Bros will entertain me, but I am loving Mario Kart 8 and looking forward to the DLC which should be out shortly :D
 
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I saw them clearing out the Wii U space at HMV earlier this year. In the Tesco near me they have the little cards that you take to the sales desk, but no boxes or games on display. I can understand it, as they just didn't sell.
 
I do the entertainment section for a small supermarket; we don't stock Wii U stuff generally and nobody ever asks about it. I get plenty of people asking me for PS3/360 games because we've mostly stopped selling those now. When it launched, I worked for a different, larger supermarket and nobody was bothered then either; most people didn't even fully understand what it was.

As for the sales figures you've quoted, the Wii U had almost two full years lead time over the PS4 and Xbox One and has already been outsold significantly by the PS4 in under a year. It hasn't been a failure but it's never going to catch up at this rate.
 
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peahead said:
Personally i have never given the WII U much thought it just never grabbed my attention :)
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I bet you'd be interested in it if you played one. Nintendo have done a truly terrible job at marketing this generation.
 
merlin said:
Supermarket space is at a premium, and there's no space for something that doesn't fly off the shelves in vast quantities. Early doors the Wii U had no games and therefore wasn't selling - so it's no surprise the supermarkets ditched it.

It's turned out to be a slow burner - same as the 3DS - things are starting to pick up (Nintendo have even turned a profit) so it'll be interesting to see if the supermarkets want it back on the shelves around Xmas/new Year.

It's difficult to say how many units the Wii U will end up shifting - probably only likely GameCube sort of numbers. Hard to say at what point something is a failure or a success. Let's say it sells 25 mil units (which some might say is a failure) - but it makes Nintendo a profit, maintains their profile/presence, and keeps people/gamers/family gamers dear to Nintendo in good time for Nintendo to release new handhelds/new consoles - that would be a success imo.
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Is that even possible though? The next generation is years away yet so they will have to work with what they have, or release a console/handheld outside of the 'schedule'. How do you think that would affect sales? Genuinely interested, I think it would be easier for a handheld than a console as the device pool is much smaller. I think they should concentrate on handhelds as that's where their main success is, and the console market is getting crowded with steamOS, PS, MS and I'm sure I heard about an alienware offering in the works.
 
Zefan said:
I bet you'd be interested in it if you played one. Nintendo have done a truly terrible job at marketing this generation.
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Do you think we will see a successor to the WII U that will compete with the other two? or are Nintendo going the way of SEGA who are more of a software developer now.

I would love to see them do something together probably never happen but i can dream:)
 
Truth is only a handful of people know how close we are to Nintendo's next generation of handheld/home consoles - we don't know when, we don't know the format - there's lots of talk from Nintendo's hierarchy of quality of life/fitness/health type products but we don't know if that's in addition to handheld/home console or what - it's all very confusing as to where they're going after the 3DS and Wii U.

You say next gen is years away but not for Nintendo it's not, it's likely 2016.

Do we know they're working on new products? Yes - we know they are.

Do we know an idea of what those new products might be? No, we're pretty much clueless.

Do we have a rough idea of release calendar of some sort of new product(s)? Sort of - 2016 is the industry guess.
 
peahead said:
Do you think we will see a successor to the WII U that will compete with the other two? or are Nintendo going the way of SEGA who are more of a software developer now.

I would love to see them do something together probably never happen but i can dream:)
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I don't think that will happen.

Nintendo and Sega are not the same.

Sega had Sonic

Nintendo have a genuine arsenal of IP.

A lot about Nintendo is about the whole experience, The controller etc.
It's all in their control and that's part of the magic.
People seem to think Nintendo are in Genuine financial turmoil which is simply so far from the truth its hilarious
 
I'm looking at getting a Wii U more than i'm looking at getting an xbox one or PS4.

Both Wii U and Xbox are on my list of things to buy but looking at some of the games coming out/out on the Wii U I'm more excited by it

Just need it to become a little cheaper then Ill get one :)
 
TheVoice said:
As for the sales figures you've quoted, the Wii U had almost two full years lead time over the PS4 and Xbox One and has already been outsold significantly by the PS4 in under a year.
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Don't disagree with your point but the Wii U was only released one year ahead of the XBO/PS4.

:)
 
To be fair I'm in the fortunate position where I have every platfrom (including PC but not the PS Vita) and my Wii U has seen the most hours of play this year by far. There have been some terrific releases in all honesty and gems such as Mario Kart 8 just continue to entertain and with new DLC on the way will increase its longevity.

The game's that have gripped me most on Consoles otherwise this year so far is both Titanfall and Last of Us. Being in the position of having all platforms is certainly a blessing if you ask me but it would appear Nintendo have essentially given up on the UK retail space as they could increase their exposure if they so desired.

Games such as Alien Isolation, Shadow of Mordor and the like I've picked up on PC because a) It's cheaper b) I have a powerful enough PC for them to look amazing and c) I picked up an Nvidia Shield tablet so I can use my PC like a console without having it next to the TV etc.

With Smash Bros + Amiibo hitting in December they may well see a spike in Sales again but will it be a sustained one? Who know's.
 
Zelda and Starfox will sell some more consoles.

Shame as Nintendo could smash out games, I mean Zelda, Starfox, Metroid, Waveracer, more Mario. The list could go on and on.

But then quality over quanity for me. It really is the most impressive console I've ever owned, and everyone I've seen play with one loves it.
 
I guess most people have grown out of games made for 3 year olds based on old IP's. How many Mario etc.. games can be milked? I mean the UI is the most disgustingly childish thing i've seen.

Eurghh.
 
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