With handheld sales in the UK reaching the lowest level in the last four years, the European MD at Nintendo, Laurent Fischer, has pointed the finger at a rather unexpected culprit. Fischer feels the Wii is responsible for the drop in DS sales, with its range of big releases hogging the limelight.
Speaking to MCV, the managing director states that:
Whilst Nintendo DS sales in Europe were lower than the previous year, Nintendo's share in the handheld market has not shrunk...What has shrunk is the whole handheld market in Europe, possibly due to a shortage of hit titles and possibly because more attention from the public was paid to Wii with such titles as New Super Mario Bros Wii, Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus.
After a poor start to 2009, the Wii is looking to pick up again thanks to the roster of games that launched towards the end of the year, helping to budge the number of Wiis in European homes to over 22 million.
Do you own a Wii and a DS and has your spending has been leaning towards either side lately?
[source mcvuk.com]
Comments 21
I own Wii, DS and 360 and my spending has been about even on all three but in the last few weeks my Wii purchases have gone through the roof (No More Heroes 2, Galaxy 2, Innocent Aces and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles)
Maybe people should realize that Wii's and DS's are going to slow down because eventually everyone who wants one will have one.
People aren't going to buy 2, unless one breaks. But when all the world has one, they probably still will complain.
BTW, yes I have both lol.
I own both, but I mostly buy Wii games just because I owned it first.
It's probably because most people who want or are interested in a DS, have one.
Thats probly because everybody had a DS since like 5 yrs ago...................
I think Clooney's hit the nail on the head here, if I'm honest.
Would that be because there isn't a damn thing releasing on the DS!
@slapshot82 I agree. There's nothing all that amazing being released on the DS right now.
And with 3DS on the way, DS sales obviously won't go up.
And with the amazing games that have hit Wii recently (MH3, Tatsunoku vs. Capcom, NSMBW, SMG2 etc.) its no surprise really...
And yes I own both.
Plus a broken 360 and PSP...
@Cipher Not just me who saw the Clooney similarity, then?
I've definitely been playing the Wii more than the DS lately. Namely because of all the Wii's surge of GOOD retail support so far this year.
I second the talk about 3DS being a contributing factor.
@Prosody
Nope.
Sorry but the Wii has nothing good coming, asll thqats good has already come, while the DS has KH RE Coded, Scribblenauts 2, Sims 3 (Wii version of Sims 3 was announced to be a watere down piece of trash), and so much other amazing ganes. The DS has a bigger and better lineup than the Wii. The Wii is trash. I have a Wii and hav ahd it since 2007, and I STILL enjoy my DSi alot more.
@Prosody: Nope, not just you...
I own both and yeah, more attention to the Wii. I'm more of a portable type of gamer- always played the GBA over the GCN. More convenient, I guess. HG and SS are holding my interest too, so it's all good. When DQIX comes out, I may be focusing on the DS even more. And who knows: DQX may actually end up on the 3DS. I'm sure. (Rather than the Wii. But then again, DQ on the Wii would be awesome. More traditional RPG's are needed on THAT system anyways).
Well, in the last year I got Spirit Tracks and Soul Silver for DS and Okami, Guitar Hero 5, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, New SMB Wii, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, Wii Sports Resort, Klonoa and Animal Crossing on Wii. Currently I am looking forward to Super Mario Galaxy 2, Zelda Wii, Metriod Other M and at some point I'm sure I'll get Red Steel 2.... but for the DS there is nothing really. Pokemon Black? I guess I should get WarioWare DIY!
but yeah, the software floating around for the Wii has been much more compelling. At least IMO.
I have a lauch Wii and a launch ds and I dont have plans for replacement. My pile of wii games has increased the most as of late though.
I don't buy much packaged software for my LL, most of it is downloads, however there are a few titles I'm looking forward to this summer like Intellivision Lives (sadly probably a US-only import release), Monster Rancher DS and Pang!
The Wii is still my gaming mainstay however, so that's always going to be where my money goes.
The DS isn't selling well because there haven't been many great games released lately with the exception of Pokemon HeartGold SoulSilver. I only bought three games for the DS last year. The amount of great games for the system is declining. Has nothing to do with the Wii.
I think Super Mario Galaxy 2 will shift a lot of Wii consoles, as will Zelda 2. The DS could do with a VC service and for the 3DS to be a new console maybe. They could also do with doing another New Super mario bros 2! I've heard a rumour that Nintendo are doing a 'new' Donkey Kong Country, but I can't remember if it's for the DS or Wii ( I think it's for the DS)
@Kevin: Wario Ware: DIY?
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