Nintendo's platform business could be "in trouble" if the Wii doesn't perform well this Christmas, president Satoru Iwata has confessed.
Speaking during a recent investor call, Iwata admitted that current sales of the Wii "are not very strong", but reaffirmed that Nintendo still believes it can grow this part of its business.
"When we see the current situation, and when we analyze the mindsets of people who have not purchased Wii yet, our understanding is that the sales will be much more concentrated during the year-end sales season than before," he told investors.
"This is not an observation held by Nintendo alone. In fact, as we discuss with many retailers around the world as to what will become of this year-end sales season, most of them view the trend just as we do.
"Accordingly, when our consumers are ready to select what they want to purchase for a Christmas gift, how we can encourage them to choose Wii, has now become important. In other words, we do not have the mindset that our home game console business will not see any further growth so therefore, we have to do something to sustain the sales."
Iwata named the just-announced Wii Remote Plus as "just one part of endeavours" to help maintain Wii sales over Christmas.
"Having said that, however, in that critical sales season, if everything doesn't go ahead just as we hope, and if we do not do anything about it, our platform business will be in trouble. We will need to prepare for such situations."
In the same meeting Iwata claimed the 3DS will be the first 3D device sold in significant volume.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=268778
I struggle to imagine anyone wanting a Wii this Xmas
