Jeremy Miller, video game analyst for DFC Intelligence, says that the company expects Wii U sales to be slightly higher than the GameCube, which launched in 2001 and 2002. Miller says that the machine will appeal to the hardcore Nintendo fans, but it won’t capture the mainstream audience in the same way as the original Wii console did in 2006. He went on to say that he thinks initial sales for this generation will be better than last generation for Microsoft and Sony because of limited competition from Nintendo.
“The Wii U is more of a loyalist Nintendo system right now and is looking more like the Gamecube, but our forecasts are higher than for the GameCube. The Wii U and its lineup is very much targeted to a core Nintendo fan. In that it seems pretty successful. The problem is many people are expecting another Wii in terms of sales and we don’t see that happening. As a company Nintendo probably needs to learn to make due with a smaller but more dedicated audience.”
“We actually think initial sales for this generation will be better than last generation for Microsoft and Sony because of limited competition from Nintendo. Consumers are ready for new game hardware, but they are also fairly savvy about purchase decisions. There is a great deal of pent-up consumer demand and it creates opportunity. Right now, we see both PS4 and Xbox One selling as well as or better than their predecessors in the first year.”
“A Wii U price drop would help drive sales into a more casual audience. The Wii U is a great family system, but Nintendo has done a poor job of even communicating its existence. What they need to do better is have a more dedicated marketing campaign that explains to the average person what a Wii U is. Right now, many consumers still think the Wii U is just an add-on pad for the Wii.”
Edited by VGCrasher, 25 June 2013 - 04:54 PM.
