Nintendo getting cocky already - Wii to outsell PS2?

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Nintendo's executive shares his long-term goals for the Wii system.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata declared a bold claim during an interview with Reuters, stating that the Wii could pass the record-setting PS2 sales number of 100 million through the course of its lifetime.

"Sony's PS2 sales of 100 million units is an extraordinary number that our home game console business has not achieved. But if we can make our bid to expand the gaming population a continued success, we could exceed that," he told Reuters.

Iwata believes strongly in his claims because he feels that Nintendo is succeeding in attracting new players to the Wii console. Nintendo sold 5.8 million Wii units by March 2007, and expects to sell 14 million more during the current business year. Unlike its competitor, Nintendo's hardware division has already reached profitability early in its life-cycle and has quickly reach affordable pricing levels for many consumers.

He continued, "I wouldn't say there is no overlap between the group of customers Sony is targeting and the group of users that Nintendo is targeting. But that overlap is quite small."

VERY premature in my eyes. The Wii might be selling now because its still new and relevant. But a year from now? Lets face it, a big reason the PS2 sold so many units was because it was a cheap DVD player, the fact that families got a videogame system with it for the kids was a bonus. That and it had loads of games. The Wii doesnt have that multimedia thing going for it. Its still strictly a game console as of now. And Nintendo is famous for only releasing a few big games at a time and then going dry for months on end. Not sure the exact number of units the Wii has sold now, but 100 million is A LOT of units.

Also something to keep in mind is the fact that they still cant meet the demand now, wouldnt be surprised if they arent even able to produce 100 million Wii's, let alone sell them all. They are banking purely on the fact that casual gamers will be interested. Dont think that is quite enough to sell as well as the PS2 though. Only time will tell I guess, but I am of the opinion that Nintendo is just talking out their butt because of the succes the Wii has had thusfar. I still think the Wii sales will slow down significantly soon.

Also, I wonder just how much hard evidence there is regarding the number of "new gamers" Nintendo has attracted. Teufelhuhn

There's not much hard evidence, but I do believe that 50% of people I know have heard about the Wii, think it's a good idea and even purchased one - and I feel that's the general concensus around here.

Either way I don't think it really matters, Nintendo should be happy that they have been born again, but I don't believe it's wise to predict they are going to break 120 million mark, not just yet anyway.

Also, I wonder just how much hard evidence there is regarding the number of "new gamers" Nintendo has attracted. Teufelhuhn

I saw something about this last week. The Wii's current audience isn't exactly full of new gamers. Supposedly only 10% of all Wii owners never owned a console before.

[QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"]

Also, I wonder just how much hard evidence there is regarding the number of "new gamers" Nintendo has attracted. Robio_basic

I saw something about this last week. The Wii's current audience isn't exactly full of new gamers. Supposedly only 10% of all Wii owners never owned a console before.

Assuming Nintendo has sold around 10,000,000 Wiis, I don't think 1,000,000 is anything to scoff at. Iwata is showing results for his goal of tapping into the non-gamer demographic.

Sony could sure use 1,000,000 new PS3 owners.

[QUOTE="Robio_basic"]

[QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"]

Also, I wonder just how much hard evidence there is regarding the number of "new gamers" Nintendo has attracted. MarcusAntonius

I saw something about this last week. The Wii's current audience isn't exactly full of new gamers. Supposedly only 10% of all Wii owners never owned a console before.

Assuming Nintendo has sold around 10,000,000 Wiis, I don't think 1,000,000 is anything to scoff at. Iwata is showing results for his goal of tapping into the non-gamer demographic.

Sony could sure use 1,000,000 new PS3 owners.

I wasn't suggesting that 1 million new gamers is nothing at all. I was just saying that after hearing Nintendo's speach at E3 you'd be under the impression that most of the Wii customers had never heard the word "videogame" before buying a Wii, when in reality the overwhelming majority of their customers are still previous gamers and not part of the big blue ocean.

I don't see what the problem is, all he is saying is that it COULD happen, that there is a POSSIBILITY. You make it sound as if he was guaranteeing it, lighten up :P.

PS - And really, don't even try to pretend like cockier things haven't come out of Sony's mouth, even since the PS3 has been released, despite the fact that Athlete's Foot spray is selling better than the PS3.

[QUOTE="MarcusAntonius"][QUOTE="Robio_basic"]

[QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"]

Also, I wonder just how much hard evidence there is regarding the number of "new gamers" Nintendo has attracted. Robio_basic

I saw something about this last week. The Wii's current audience isn't exactly full of new gamers. Supposedly only 10% of all Wii owners never owned a console before.

Assuming Nintendo has sold around 10,000,000 Wiis, I don't think 1,000,000 is anything to scoff at. Iwata is showing results for his goal of tapping into the non-gamer demographic.

Sony could sure use 1,000,000 new PS3 owners.

I wasn't suggesting that 1 million new gamers is nothing at all. I was just saying that after hearing Nintendo's speach at E3 you'd be under the impression that most of the Wii customers had never heard the word "videogame" before buying a Wii, when in reality the overwhelming majority of their customers are still previous gamers and not part of the big blue ocean.

For example: Is this worldwide, or region specific to the US?

Did the surveys they conduct treat the DS as a 'console' for the sake of game system ownership?

It would be nice to have more full stats on these things, but as Marcus pointed out, even if the 'new gamers' make up only a modest demographic of owners, that can still make a big impact over time if the ratio stays consistant.

This is probably better off in system wars.

It would be nice to have more full stats on these things, but as Marcus pointed out, even if the 'new gamers' make up only a modest demographic of owners, that can still make a big impact over time if the ratio stay s consistant.

Skylock00

[QUOTE="Skylock00"]

It would be nice to have more full stats on these things, but as Marcus pointed out, even if the 'new gamers' make up only a modest demographic of owners, that can still make a big impact over time if the ratio stay s consistant.

Teufelhuhn

This is one of the reasons why mainstream medias seem to appeal towards Nintendo, I feel, because Nintendo's main press conferences during E3 recently have been focused on getting attention from these venues moreso.

This, coupled with what Miyamoto said about the 'death' of E3...

With the advent of the Internet and providing different opportunities to promote your games a lot of people are wondering whether or not there is the value in spending a great deal of money to put on a great big show like that when you have so many other avenues.

This is all just my own theories on the matter, though.

...all he is saying is that it COULD happen, that there is a POSSIBILITY. Gamefan1986

I don't see what the problem is, all he is saying is that it COULD happen, that there is a POSSIBILITY. You make it sound as if he was guaranteeing it, lighten up :P.

PS - And really, don't even try to pretend like cockier things haven't come out of Sony's mouth, even since the PS3 has been released, despite the fact that Athlete's Foot spray is selling better than the PS3.

Gamefan1986

Exactly he's not saying that it will happen just that he would like it to happen and that it is goal for that to happen.

[QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]

...all he is saying is that it COULD happen, that there is a POSSIBILITY. ymi_basic

"Iwata believes strongly in his claims because he feels that Nintendo is succeeding in attracting new players to the Wii console"

Try and nit-pick and justify his statement all you like but the boy's got a target with the Wii that he's focused on, and he really believes that the Wii will be that successful.

I don't blame him based on how well it's selling at the moment, but if he'd just waited 3 or 4 months to say that he might have had more justification.

They will have to offer more then clever hardware first.Jonas_81

Agreed, although I think it will happen ultimately, but at the moment it's not, it might take a while to gather pace but I think in 6-12 months time we won't be complaining about the software as much as we have done.

I still don't see why many people are having a hard time seeing a possibility that the Wii could outsell the PS2 in its lifetime. As of right now, it almost seems like its a certainty due to rate of it selling. In the coming future, that's still up in the air. Instead of just knocking off the idea as impossible, why not have an open mind about the matter?Kreatzion

Skylock, excellent point in your last post, I was thinking about that myself and I came to the conclusion that the reason we were complaining about the conference was because we check the internet often for news, rumours and leaks, leaving nothing really for the conference, but I can see how your average reporter would find the conference refreshing.Mantorok

It's about the average reader for the periodical/newspaper that reporter works for, which also ties into my theory regarding how Nintendo approached the Press Conference.

[QUOTE="Jonas_81"]They will have to offer more then clever hardware first.Mantorok

Agreed, although I think it will happen ultimately, but at the moment it's not, it might take a while to gather pace but I think in 6-12 months time we won't be complaining about the software as much as we have done.

[QUOTE="ymi_basic"][QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]

...all he is saying is that it COULD happen, that there is a POSSIBILITY. Mantorok

"Iwata believes strongly in his claims because he feels that Nintendo is succeeding in attracting new players to the Wii console"

Try and nit-pick and justify his statement all you like but the boy's got a target with the Wii that he's focused on, and he really believes that the Wii will be that successful.

I don't blame him based on how well it's selling at the moment, but if he'd just waited 3 or 4 months to say that he might have had more justification.

It became obvious at Nintendo's E3 press conference that they've been getting too cocky.

It's going to be extremely difficult for any of the big three to get close to PlayStation 2 sales figures.

Personally I don't think they'll achieve that. It took the PS2 7 years to reach 100 million units shipped (well, at least 6, they're nearing the 120 million now right?) and the Wii just won't last that long. Not only are generations shorter, the Wii's inferior specs will makea new console necessairy sooner then later. I'm not saying they'll dump the Wii in 3 years time, but they'll be quite relieved when the next gen hits.

Also, it's not like Nintendo doesn't have any experience with similar situations. The GBA sold in PS2 like numbers and the DS is performing even better. Again, I don't think that the Wii will do equally well because Mr. dad would rather hand the fruit of his loins a DS to shut it up while he watches sports then watch that same fruit play Wii Sports on his telly instead.

Not content with the DS's dominance I see...you know what happens when companies get greedy (and arrogant)...does a overpriced Blu-Ray player that happens to play games ring a bell? ;)

Maybe Iwata's comment isn't worded arrogantly, but who knows what he's really thinking. I do give him that credit, though. If it was Katuragi or Hirai, I bet it would have sounded differently....waaaay differently.

But I doubt the Wii will sell through PS2's numbers. The DS for sure, but not the Wii. The PS2, I think, is the greatest console of all time and its record won't be broken anytime soon. The PS2's library in itself is just to good with games that appeal to everyone...and this is without a magic wand.

So no way...the Wii may surpass Nintendo's own past numbers, but not the PS2s. The DS on the other hand is a different story.

No console ever can outsell the PS2. azad_champ

I guess this totally ends the argument. We all know that you are the definitive voice of everything that will be true.

I have a hard time believing the Wii selling 100 million in its lifetime and why?

• Given the almost PS2 level tech behind the console in this time
• Quality of ThirdParty support over a long period of time (3-7 years)
• Nintendo system getting software support after 6 years

In the end I will be very, very surprised if the Wii has a lifetime of over 5 years + the HP under the Wii will make it throughly "outdated" not only in the sense of visuals, but other factors such as AI, number of enemies on screens, physics, huge open environments etc..

If Iwata predicts 14 mil a year, and the Wii selling at that rate; it will take the system to be on store shelves alittle over 7 years.

I didn't find his statement to be cocky or arrogant at all really. He's simply using the PS2's success as a barometer for what he would like to see for the Wii, nothing wrong with that. Personally given the tech in the Wii I'm not so sure it will be on the market long enough for that but it is certainly the hot ticket item these days and they seemed to have tapped into a new area in the market so you never know. It is priced pretty affordably right now and depending on how agressively Nintendo works on pricing and how much this new untapped portion of the market grows it could be a possibility.

Nintendo sure is arrogant alright. If they waited until 2012 they would know that ps3 would be obliterating everything. Gaming now is all about high-end HD graphics. Gameplay is last-gen. That is why Killzone 2 is the most hyped game ever. Killzone 1's terrible gameplay is irrelevent because true gamers know that it's all about graphics, overwhelming complexity, and seclusion from mainstream, and the wii does not provide any of that. If a game is enjoyed by majority of people including our grandparents, then it's a bad game, period. That is why Wii was declared a short term fad that will implode any minutes now, just like how the DS itself is destined to become a gimmicky failure that will bomb right out of the gate like the virtual boy, with the PSP taking 90%+ of the handheld marketshare (also have to wait till 2012 to be rightfully fulfilled). So just Nintendo wait, and they'll see why the PS3 was already declared the overwhelming winner back in E3 2005 w/killzone 2 'real-time' footage alone. banjobear_basic

Sarcasm much?

Aside from that, given that most who spout seething sacasm actually suscribe to the opposite viewpoint, I'd say your views are just as jarring as the ones you are trying to subjugate. No matter great sales now and even if they were to continue beyond the forseeable future, the Wii is not without some pretty significant and valid detractions from a number of angles.

Hmm, I don't know if its possible for them to sell that many, but even if they do i wonder how high their attachment rate will be. Non gamers may want one or two games but they dont budget for games like gamers do, most already have hobbies that take up the time/money that gaming does for the gamer. and once they decide to start spening the time and money a gamer does on games then, are they really casual at that point? wont they start asking for what the Hardcore are already asking for? Namely meatier software?

I've had my Wii since the australian launch and I havent bought a single game since the day I bought my console. And I see very little to interest me except corruption.

This is pretty different than the 4 or so games a month i used to buy during the really good years of last gen. Even in the 6 month drought that followed the 360's release there was at least two or three games worth buying.

Ive found myself only renting Wii games, and I havent rented a game since i was 14, because what they offer just isnt worth the price of purchase, its all minigame fluff.

Unless the Wii's library matches the PS2's in terms of depth and variety, who besides stockholders cares how well it sells?

Unless the Wii's library matches the PS2's in terms of depth and variety, who besides stockholders cares how well it sells?

CarnageHeart

Unless the Wii's library matches the PS2's in terms of depth and variety, who besides stockholders cares how well it sells?

CarnageHeart

Sony and Microsoft, they care a lot.

If they keep a steady stream of games going, along with their advertising, they should do well.
I'm not sure if they could surpass the PS2 sales figures.

Most of the wii's advertising is done by the consumers themselves in my experience. This is very good for Nintendo, I don't think Sony had anything like it with the PS2.

He is correct though. He never said that the Wii will outsell the PS2, he said that if the trend with Wii sales continues it will. Quite a difference between these two kinds of statements.rimnet00

Some want to go on their rants. It makes themselfs feel strong. Preconceptions will dicate their actions. In a year another arguement will form from them that dicates their actions in mass. If thought mattered to them the markget and the passaage of time would school them. But they same anti-nintendo pro-establishment rehotoric we have seen for years when nintendo was not on the top is spinning in their soon to be graves. EVery point they can go after they will. They think they dicate teh market but the are just a part of it. They don't lead it they just follow it, and they are scared becasue the bus left them about 4 months ago.