NPD May 2007

[inefficient]

Well I guess I had a different idea of what price sensitivity means.

Anyway when thinking about the Wii's success,I can't help but notice it gives off an eco-friendly vibe and I wonder if that's resonating with people as well as the price.
It gets the same job done(more or less) as the other two for less money but in a package that has a smaller footprint, uses les electricity and overall seems more efficient. Even the controller seems to echo that with a streamlined one handed approach and less buttons. Then look at the marketing using healthy people wearing white which represents clean.
In this day when the environment is becoming more in the spotlight I wonder if Nintendo intentionally is trying to ride that wave as well.

But does it cure cancer?!

 

[Mintmaster]

Anyway when thinking about the Wii's success,I can't help but notice it gives off an eco-friendly vibe and I wonder if that's resonating with people as well as the price.

A white PS2 slim with catchy marketing wouldn't be selling anywhere as well as Wii. Nintendo realized two things in preparing for this generation that nobody else did.

1) Video games are about interaction more than anything else. Not just interaction with the screen, but with others too. Microsoft realized the latter with their Live initiative, but Nintendo figured they could do better on both fronts than anyone else in console history.

2) The limiting factor for video game adoption is the interface. This is especially true with girls and parents, and I think you'll agree that I can't overstate the importance of the former. Had the female demographic not taken so well to the Wii, sales could be half (this includes plenty of sales to guys, too, for obvious reasons).

It is such a brilliant strategy. Morever, nobody saw its potential even when we knew about it! As cheesy and gimicky as I thought the controller was, Wii is far and away the least "nerdy" console ever. Whether or not this social phenomenon will last for many years is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't bet against it.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

But does it cure cancer?!

I read a newspost last week about a woman with breastcancer who was revaladating with a Wii.

 

[ninzel]

But does it cure cancer?!

Yes in 4D!!

 

[ninzel]

A white PS2 slim with catchy marketing wouldn't be selling anywhere as well as Wii. Nintendo realized two things in preparing for this generation that nobody else did.

1) Video games are about interaction more than anything else. Not just interaction with the screen, but with others too. Microsoft realized the latter with their Live initiative, but Nintendo figured they could do better on both fronts than anyone else in console history.

2) The limiting factor for video game adoption is the interface. This is especially true with girls and parents, and I think you'll agree that I can't overstate the importance of the former. Had the female demographic not taken so well to the Wii, sales could be half (this includes plenty of sales to guys, too, for obvious reasons).

It is such a brilliant strategy. Moreover, nobody saw its potential even when we knew about it! As cheesy and gimmicky as I thought the controller was, Wii is far and away the least "nerdy" console ever. Whether or not this social phenomenon will last for many years is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't bet against it.

Yep all that was smart thinking on Nintendo's part. I agree about the less nerdy part,but some don't see it.
With the Wii Nintendo has successfully changed the image of gaming being just about sitting in a dark basement alone.