Analysts: Wii in 30% of U.S. homes by 2011

Analysts: Wii in 30% of U.S. homes by 2011
According to analysts at Merril Lynch, almost a third of all U.S. homes will have a Nintendo Wii console by the year 2011. The prediction comes after NPD research showed Wii to be the biggest selling console in the U.S. in January, selling 436,000 units. The prediction also directly contradicts critics' claims that the motion sensing Wii controller, and the console itself are just a gimmick.

"There has always been a strong concern that the Wii was gimmicky, but each passing month assuages that," Credit Suisse analyst Jay Defibaugh said. A third of all homes in Japan are predicted to have a Wii by 2011 also. Success of the Wii console is definitely pushed by its price tag also, selling for $250 in the U.S.



Source:
Games Industry.biz


Written by: James Delahunty @ 23 Feb 2007 14:20
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  • 14 comments
  • tabletpc

    right right and right

    the reason why the wii sells are up

    1. cheaper

    2. fun titles

    3. creative uses of the wii remote

    23.2.2007 15:39 #1

  • Moomoo2

    4. Appeals to the masses

    23.2.2007 17:03 #2

  • Edgewise

    thats bull how could they possibly predict that with any amount of accuracy, the thing's been out for 3 months. idc if it was the ps3 they're talking about, they still cant do that.

    23.2.2007 21:35 #3

  • Dela

    @Edgewise, they're analysts, u'd be surprised at how accurate they can be, and its the ones who make most of the correct forecasts that make the news, they know the entire business of whatever market they follow.

    24.2.2007 03:53 #4

  • error5

    Dela is absolutely right. Merrill Lynch, NPD Research and Credit Suisse are highly respected names. If an analyst has a record of making inaccurate predictions his investors lose money and he goes out of business really fast.

    24.2.2007 04:27 #5

  • limelight

    I was at Walmart yesterday, and i saw a brother and sister (about 13-15yo) with huge smiles on their faces hurrying themselves over to the electronics section, only to find out that the store didnt have any Wii's in stock. The sales rep told them that once they get thier shipment in they get sold out in an hour or two. The kids were disapointed until their mom said they could check out some more stores.

    So no, the Wii is not a gimmick, and thank God it is selling well. Its nice to know that graphics alone shouldnt be the main selling point of a system, because it is obviously not the first thing people want according to 5 Million Wii users around the world, compared to ps3's 1.9 million.

    Thanks Nintendo, for always thinking outside the bun.

    24.2.2007 05:21 #6

  • megadork

    I was at Best Buy yesterday, I counted 24 PS3's on the shelf, and they laughed at me when I asked if they had any Wii's.

    24.2.2007 05:41 #7

  • AirGaijin

    A third? Lets hope it's more than that but it's still all good. Not only does nintedo need this but more importantly the industry does too.

    24.2.2007 09:50 #8

  • jetyi83

    the wii is fun ill give it that.. but at the same time it has so many limitations.

    The accuracy of the controllers is mediocre at best, and the games are so unsophisticated. So, yes, thats the idea they were going for, and yes the games are still enjoyable even though the graphics arent the best, but it seems to me that it is so ridiculously simple, that it shouldnt be a console, but an add on for a ps3 or an xbox 360.

    the controllers need to be more accurate during fast paced movements, like in boxing. Bowling and golf are both slow paced so its accurate enough, but when you get into bowling there is always a delayed response. If they used a newer technology other than infrared that would follow motions more quickly and accurately and sold it as an add on feature for the ps3, that would be ideal. You could fit every nintento wii game onto one Blue Ray disc since they are so simplistic.

    The wii is fun, but you cant compare it to a real gaming console. Wii shouldn't even offer any of the same games ps3 and 360 offer, and stick to extremely simplistic games that don't require graphics. Far cry was horrible. and it seems like most other games would be horrible as well in comparison. Not only do the graphics suck, but the controllers suck too for action games.

    So when you say the wii is cheap.. only 250, i still think thats too much. Even though its worth 250, it's so simple it should only really cost 100. It would be sooooo much better if ps3 just stole the idea, developed a better working remote control than the nun chuck infrared controller, and just sold it as an add on feature, with games designed specifically for it.

    like the gun and duck hunt.. or something like that. thats what i think anyway.

    24.2.2007 12:04 #9

  • jetyi83

    Originally posted by Dela:@Edgewise, they're analysts, u'd be surprised at how accurate they can be, and its the ones who make most of the correct forecasts that make the news, they know the entire business of whatever market they follow.
    analysts are accurate to a certain degree. in business they say you you must always make forecasts, and then go on to say, forecasts are never accurate. But, they are extremely important none the less. That being said. analysts are not that accurate, youd be surprised how inaccurate they really are depending on what exactly they are forcasting. To generalize analysts and say they know the entire business market and therefor can make an accurate prediction is a far stretch. They are wrong more time than they are right, especially when forecasting a time so far ahead in the future.

    24.2.2007 12:13 #10

  • SProdigy

    jetyi83 ... dumb post! Are you the only Sony fanboy on here? I happen to own both the Xbox 360 and the Wii, and yes, they serve different purposes, but how can you say that the games are simplistic? It sounds like you've only tried Wii Sports out for 5 minutes and yourself, possibly have one hand or a nervous twitch to call the controls muffed! Have you tried Zelda, Monkey Ball or Red Steel??? Each game has several unique ways to use the control, and they all seem to be pretty responsive. In fact, if more games take the Red Steel 1st person control scheme to the next level, I can't even see myself trying to play Halo 3 with the Xbox contoller; that's how fascinating the controls are! Closest thing to PC gaming that there is right now. The Wii is behind Xbox Live, but weren't not sure how much longer. Microsoft has taken the HD road and is trying to win the living room in different ways than Sony's SIMPLISTIC "they'll find value in buying our system as Blu-ray player." Nintendo already have the Live Arcade matched and maybe close to surpassed with the Virtual Console. Plus, ALL GameCube games work on the Wii; a claim that Xbox and PlayStation cannot make! The Wii's first online killer app will be either Super Smash Bros. or a Mario Party or Mario Kart game. They will sell because the control scheme, as well as the premise of the game, will promote fun. Let's not forget that the Wii is a next generation console, at a price people can, and are willing to afford.

    24.2.2007 14:16 #11

  • ZippyDSM

    The main reason the WII is everywhere is price,the 2nd reason is its innovation,Sony has failed to understand both and has been having a very rough time at it,MS is slopping along more or less.

    25.2.2007 06:54 #12

  • mpstash

    No way it will happen
    The NES sold 60 million systems
    SNES 49 million
    N64 33 million
    GC 21 million
    Sure the wii may start an upward trend but there is too much competition

    and analysts are not always accurate... most companies have forecasting error of 40% which is actually pretty good for industry standards

    26.2.2007 07:28 #13

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by mpstash:No way it will happen
    The NES sold 60 million systems
    SNES 49 million
    N64 33 million
    GC 21 million
    Sure the wii may start an upward trend but there is too much competition

    and analysts are not always accurate... most companies have forecasting error of 40% which is actually pretty good for industry standards
    because of the world wide price tis every where saling more consoles than the PS3 can dream to sale,sure sales will slack off but mostly when the PS3 is under 400$ in 2 or so years.

    26.2.2007 08:09 #14

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