Topic: Is Wii retail support fading elsewhere as well?

I've noticed in the past few months the EBgames stores in Australia (the largest retail chain here) has drastically cut back on the amount of shelf space given to Wii games, while increasing the PS3 and Xbox 360 shelf space by an equivilent amount.

The DS' shelf space remains pretty steady.

Shelf space is an excellent indication on how a console's software is selling, and I suspect that, aside from the first party games, Wii game sales are dying, badly.

At least in Australia. Is it a similar situation elsewhere?

Not here. I was at Wal-Mart, Target, Gamestop, and K-Mart this past two weeks, and all of them had 3 or more whole shelves dedicated strictly to Wii games. At Gamestop it seems like they recently increased their selection since I had last been there in June.

Or it just might be that store have you looked at other EBs???

Yes.

JB Hi-Fi (the other major gaming chain in Aus) still has an equal amount of shelf space dedicated to the Wii, but EB Games has definately cut back.

I'm also pretty sure the EB buyers have stopped acquiring stock from a number of publishers - they've given up entirely on Rising Star Games, for instance.

Well than what is sounds like is a marketing move by EB. More than likely EB did some studies and found that PS3 and Xbox games are better sellers than Wii games. Hence why they have a bigger area for those and a smaller one for Wii.

it varies depending on the store. sometimes, stores keep the newly released games behind the counter though, so you may wanna check that out

The Wii shelves here have always been small. Smaller than the DS, 360, PS3 and PSP shelves. But the console was never that popular in these parts anyway. Even then, they often stock harder-to-find games like GGXXAC+ and Castle of Shikigami III. It's kind of strange.

There are no major game retail chains here, so I guess it's not surprising. It was nice living in the UK where there were those large game retailers and they had a fairly reliable set of games in store.

I'd say they're all about the same, if anything the Wii shelves are a bit bigger (but usually filled with crap). It could also be that PS360 games just make more profit due to price or that people can't justify shelling out so much money for Wii games, but they can for PS360 games in Australia where everything gaming is outrageously expensive - there can't be much of a casual market in Australia at the prices games go for there.

I haven't seen the Wii shelf space diminish here at all. If anything, it's increased, lol.

I have noticed the shelf space in eb getting smaller for wii games, but I can find them significantly cheaper at other places anyway, so I'm not worried. JB hifi still has good shelf space, but department stores like target and kmart seem to have the biggest amount of shelf space from what I've seen.

Actually, all entertainment in Australia is expensive. Luxury goods + small market = higher prices unfortunately.

Trip to the cinema will cost a couple $50, family $80 or so (including snacks). Theatre/ Ballet tickets are typically $50-$150 each. DVDs release for between $30 and $40, a paperback book is around $20-$30. Eating out at a proper restaurant is usually $50-$80 per person

The casual market did very well out of the GFC, because people were staying at home more, and consoles were seen as a relatively inexpensive, and long-lasting form of entertainment at home.

The Wii shelf at my town's Gamestop hasn't shrunk, but gotten bigger, if anything. I'm pretty sure the PS2 shelf has shrunk drastically, though, and the Gamecube shelf was smaller even when the PS3 and Wii first came out, but I'm talking last gen now.

@Waltz Where the hell do you do your shopping?

EB Games, some stores yesh, The one closest to me though have massive amounts of Nintendo Shelf space, and is about half half for both Wii and DS. But I prefer to shop @ JB Hi-Fi, cheap prices, hells yesh.

3 Different EBs throughout Sydney, and a few JB Hi Fis and department stores.

GAME as often as possible too, though the main one I visited closed down.

Under Myer in the city?

nope, still going strong where i'm at.

My gamestop seems pretty even except for the excessive DS shelves.

Gamestop: 1 Wii shelf, 5 PS3 shelves and 5 360 shelves.
Wal Mart: 3 Wii shelves, 2 PS3 shelves and 2 360 shelves.

Chatswood. I don't go into the city that often, actually.

Hey, I visited Chatswood once when I was a little 'un. Forgot why now, Tournament of the Minds or something. The name is definitely familiar though.

Oh, on topic... Gamestop employees tend to be loud douchebags, judging from the one time I ever visited one. That wasn't on topic either, lol.

In the UK, Wii dominates dedicated game store shelf space at least 2 to 1. The console is immense there.