Nintendo's money pile grows twice as fast as last year

[Bounty]

TOKYO (AP) -- Nintendo's profit for the first nine months of the fiscal year nearly doubled from the previous year, propelled by booming sales of its hit Wii game machine, the company said Thursday.

Group net profit at Nintendo Co., which also makes Super Mario and Pokemon games, totaled 258.93 billion yen ($2.43 billion) for the nine months ended Dec. 31, up 96.3 percent from 131.92 billion yen for the same period in fiscal 2006. Nintendo didn't give a quarterly breakdown.

The Wii, with its wandlike remote-controller, is winning over novices -- including the elderly and women -- to video games.

The machines, which first went on sale in late 2006, have been snatched up as soon as they arrive at stores, outstripping the competing PlayStation 3 from Sony Corp. and Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp.

Nintendo said it has now sold more than 20 million Wii machines worldwide, 14.29 million of them during the latest three quarters.

New Wii games, including ''Wii Fit,'' ''Super Mario Galaxy'' and ''Wii Sports,'' have been a success.

Sales during the nine months jumped rose 84.7 percent from a year ago to 1.316 trillion yen ($12.35 billion) from 712.59 billion.

The Kyoto-based company kept its profit forecast at 275 billion yen ($2.58 billion), for the full fiscal year through March 31, but raised its sales forecast to 1.63 trillion yen ($15.29 billion), up from an earlier estimate of 1.55 trillion yen.

Nintendo said its DS portable machine, which comes with a touch panel, has also been very popular, marking 24.5 million units in sales during the nine months through December 2007, adding to cumulative sales of 64.79 million.

The DS has also introduced new kinds of gaming, including brain teasers, virtual pets and cooking recipes.

Nintendo said it expects to sell 18.5 million Wiis and 29.5 million DS machines for the fiscal year through March 31.

Nintendo shares slipped 2.4 percent in Tokyo to 53,200 yen ($499) shortly before earnings were released.

[Obligatory "Wii will fail and bankrupt Nintendo" comment]

[KlavoHunter]

*Stomp stomp clap*
*Stomp stomp clap*
Wii will, Wii will, Rock you!
*Stomp stomp clap*
*Stomp stomp clap*

[atg]

[Obligatory "Wii will fail and bankrupt Nintendo" comment]

<foaming from mouth> B...b...b...but its a gimmick! Just like the DS! They'll alienate the hardcore gamer! It'll get tired after 10minutes. PS3/PSP/X360 will leave 'em in their wake!</foam>

On a more serious note its not really that surprising. There was an article in the local Adelaide newspaper during the week on the Wii, specifically mentioning how nursing homes are getting them and the carers are playing games with the residents. I can't think of anything else remotely like that. Hospitals are using them for hand eye coordination training for certain patients as well. Nintendo have really opened a market here, not catering to the ZOMG! 20billion polygons! 1080p! "hardcore" crowd.

[Stark]

*Stomp stomp clap*
*Stomp stomp clap*
Wii will, Wii will, Rock you!
*Stomp stomp clap*
*Stomp stomp clap*

You are current title holder of the lamest person in the entire world. Cherish these moments of fame.

It's a bit sad they call Wii Sports 'new', when it was a launch title. And why they don't release 'For Serious Wii Sports', simply being Wii Sports with fucking options and playtypes so you can do more than play tiny 2 round games is beyond me. Overall, it's strange that they keep pumping out relatively uninspired games instead of stuff with a bit more persistence, but still basically Wii Sport or whatever.

[LMSx]

What were the GameCube and N64 life time numbers? 20 million already for the Wii sounds pretty darn good.

[Praxis]

What were the GameCube and N64 life time numbers? 20 million already for the Wii sounds pretty darn good.

GameCube was 21 million. N64 was higher.


Unless the Wii stops altogether tomorrow, I'd say the Wii has passed the GameCube's entire lifetime sales in a little over a year.

REALLY darn impressive.

[Xisiqomelir]

What were the GameCube and N64 life time numbers? 20 million already for the Wii sounds pretty darn good.

Cube has been beaten already. N64 might fall this year, depending on production.

[Civil War Man]

Overall, it's strange that they keep pumping out relatively uninspired games instead of stuff with a bit more persistence

This is really what keeps me from getting a console in general. If I absolutely had to get one, I'd either go for a Wii or the 360. However, between the both of them, I only see a handful of games (out of almost 1500, if Gamespot is to be believed) that I would really be interested in getting. And of course, for most of these games (particularly with the 360 games), it's only a matter of time before a PC version released, if there isn't one already.

[Praxis]

The Wii has hands down some of the best local multiplayer stuff in recent times. It's really fun when you get people over. Problem is that it has absolutely terrible online support and only a handful of good single player games (SMG, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda- and two of these are GameCube ports).

Meanwhile, the 360 has great online support and single player, but a large amount of games are PC ports, there's nothing really that innovative and half of them are FPS. And the system costs a lot more and you have to pay monthly for online play, and there's nothing really good to play with a friend unless you're both Halo fanatics and don't mind split-screen.


I think I'm going to be WiiS3 by the end of this console cycle though.

[Drooling Iguana]

Overall, it's strange that they keep pumping out relatively uninspired games instead of stuff with a bit more persistence

This is really what keeps me from getting a console in general. If I absolutely had to get one, I'd either go for a Wii or the 360. However, between the both of them, I only see a handful of games (out of almost 1500, if Gamespot is to be believed) that I would really be interested in getting. And of course, for most of these games (particularly with the 360 games), it's only a matter of time before a PC version released, if there isn't one already.

If you're curious about the console side of things but don't want to shell out for a Wii, 360 or PS3, I'd recommend that you get a PS2. Both the system and most of the games are pretty cheap these days if you get them used, just about every notable game for the current-gen systems is either an outright sequel to a PS2 game or had at least one quality game in the same genre on the PS2, and the PS2 has more than enough of a back-library to keep you occupied until the new systems go down in price and get a few better games in their libraries.

You could also get an Xbox or Gamecube, but their libraries were substantially more limited, and the Wii has pretty much perfect backward-compatibility with the Gamecube so there's really not much point in getting one if you plan on getting the new system at some point.

[Civil War Man]

I think one of the things is that I don't have any loyalty to any of the console franchises. I've never completed a Zelda game (only even seriously attempted Ocarina of Time, and got about halfway through before getting bored). Never even tried to complete a Metroid game. Only Mario game I've ever completed is Thousand Year Door. Only Final Fantasy game I've completed is six, and looking back that was only really through sheer determination and the save state feature on the emulator. Never played all the way through Halos 1 or 2 (never even had an opportunity to play 3). Never played any of the Metal Gear Solid series.

So the basic effect is that many of the games that are put forth as the centerpiece for these consoles don't bring up any sense of gamer nerd nostalgia in me. And quite frankly, I sometimes find it hard to see where this gamer nerd nostalgia comes from because personally I find the first generation of these franchises to be exercises in frustration and tedium.

It's actually kinda funny, since I have so many characteristics that one would think would be the prime target for most of these consoles.

[Xisiqomelir]

It's actually kinda funny, since I have so many characteristics that one would think would be the prime target for most of these consoles.

Except for liking console games?

[Schuyler Colfax]

The Wii has hands down some of the best local multiplayer stuff in recent times. It's really fun when you get people over. Problem is that it has absolutely terrible online support and only a handful of good single player games (SMG, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda- and two of these are GameCube ports).

Meanwhile, the 360 has great online support and single player, but a large amount of games are PC ports, there's nothing really that innovative and half of them are FPS. And the system costs a lot more and you have to pay monthly for online play, and there's nothing really good to play with a friend unless you're both Halo fanatics and don't mind split-screen.


I think I'm going to be WiiS3 by the end of this console cycle though.

You're forgetting about Excite Truck, Battalion Wars 2, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, and No More Heroes. I'm sure there's a couple more.

[Covenant]

It's actually kinda funny, since I have so many characteristics that one would think would be the prime target for most of these consoles.

It'd probably be less unusual if you look at what you DO like. There's different things that appeal to different people afterall. I like adventure games, but I don't like Zelda games. Why? Not quite sure--but there's a reason in there somewhere.

[Stark]

You're forgetting about Excite Truck, Battalion Wars 2, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, and No More Heroes. I'm sure there's a couple more.

Um, Excite Truck is a disappointingly simple racing game and UC is an *on rails shooter*. They're not even vaguely intereseting.

I've decided BWii doesn't even exist anymore.

[Praxis]

I loved Excite Truck, but it's not exactly a top-notch fleshed-out single player experience. No story to speak of, no imaginative environment.

It's FUN, it's just not on the same level as Super Mario Galaxy, Zelda, or Metroid.

[Stark]

You guys got it at launch, yes? We had to wait like 8 months, and waiting eight months for something so simplistic doesn't make it seem any better.

That's really my criticism of the Wii games I like, as well - as I mentioned, the addition of more options/flexibility/gametypes to most Wii games would make them more fun and last longer. I mean, add 'round options' and 'tournament mode' to Wii Boxing, and you've almost got a standalone retail title. Throw in a SP 'Punch-out' thing vs outragously designed Miis and you DO have a retail game. I'd rather by that than a fucking on rails shooter.

But nah, they'd rather spam out hit-and-miss games and good games with no bloody options. Hiding them is fine: having them unncecesary to the kids/grandparents is fine. Not having them at all means the games get old really fucking fast (even WiiPlay could have been good if there were more options than 'pick a game, look it sucks').

[TheKwas]

I suggest you try either Red Steel or MoH:Heros 2, just to try out the FPS aspects of the Wii. Red Steel has good single player while I'm addicted to MoH's multiplayer with all snipers.

[Stark]

Are you retarded? Red Steel's options are virtually non-existent, andtheir laughable multiplayer options are even worse. We've come a long way down from Perfect Dark's insanely-flexible options to Red fucking Steel.

My point is that there are plenty of good games, but I can't play them for long due to the lack of depth and features. I dig Wii Sports, but you can't keep playing it, it's the same five minutes over and over. Red Steel holds the medal for Worst Multiplayer Setup Ever, and I was literally stunned when I saw how terrible the options were. It wasn't an awful game (the swordfighting was complete balls) but why own an FPS that you can't bash out hilarious multi on?

[Alferd Packer]

Perhaps most importantly to me, I feel immensely satisfied with my Wii. For spending $250 plus the costs for games and accessories, I feel that I have completely gotten my money's worth with it. Despite having grown up as a jaded, antisocial misanthrope, I acknowledge that games like Wii Sports are an excellent to throw on at parties, because the turnaround is quick enough that new people can take over for those who've had enough, and it's simple enough for literally anyone who can see and move their arm to pick up and play.

[Praxis]

Same thing here; I am a lot more social about gaming, I almost play more with friends locally than I do in single player. Games like Smash Bros sell systems for me. Super Mario Strikers has been a huge hit for me.

SMG, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda, and Strikers have made the system worth every dime. But I would have bought it for Smash Bros alone.

[Stark]

Perhaps most importantly to me, I feel immensely satisfied with my Wii. For spending $250 plus the costs for games and accessories, I feel that I have completely gotten my money's worth with it. Despite having grown up as a jaded, antisocial misanthrope, I acknowledge that games like Wii Sports are an excellent to throw on at parties, because the turnaround is quick enough that new people can take over for those who've had enough, and it's simple enough for literally anyone who can see and move their arm to pick up and play.

It's significantly different to my 360, where even now I basically have two games I play infrequently. Shit like Warioware is a fine companion to Singstar.

Praxis, you're wierd. I mean, Zelda stank, but you talk about Brawl like you know it's going to be good. It could still turn out to be a disappointment, especially after all the diamond-polishing they've been doing.

[Praxis]

Perhaps most importantly to me, I feel immensely satisfied with my Wii. For spending $250 plus the costs for games and accessories, I feel that I have completely gotten my money's worth with it. Despite having grown up as a jaded, antisocial misanthrope, I acknowledge that games like Wii Sports are an excellent to throw on at parties, because the turnaround is quick enough that new people can take over for those who've had enough, and it's simple enough for literally anyone who can see and move their arm to pick up and play.

It's significantly different to my 360, where even now I basically have two games I play infrequently. Shit like Warioware is a fine companion to Singstar.

Praxis, you're wierd. I mean, Zelda stank, but you talk about Brawl like you know it's going to be good. It could still turn out to be a disappointment, especially after all the diamond-polishing they've been doing.

I liked Zelda. I liked Wind Waker better (but I absolutely LOVED Wind Waker despite popular opinion), but I still liked Twilight Princess. Far cry from "stank" though.

But Brawl...oh, Brawl will be good. Firstly, I still play Melee often to this day. Secondly...have you seen the people working on this project?

Sakurai, who directed the first two Smash Bros games, is directing it. He came BACK to Nintendo despite working for another company just for this one game.

Then they got the scriptwriter from Final Fantasy VII and Kingdom Hearts to pen the story mode.

Then they added online play and a level editor and practically EVERY character I have even thought to ask for so far (Sonic, Dedede, Metaknight, Diddy, Olimar, Snake? Awesome!). Then we know there's a ton more unannounced unlockable characters.

Then they've got Yoko Shimomura and Koji Kondo, my two absolute favorite video game music composers, and Nobou Uematsu, the favorite of some of my friends, working on the music.

This game is industry all-stars. We've got the scriptwriters and musicians and developers from some of the best games in the industry and most of the original Melee team (IIRC they still have Hal working on the job and went out and grabbed Sakurai just for this).

It can't suck.

I live for Smash Bros, more than any other game.

[Stark]

Yeah, I much preferred WW to TP. TP was ugly as shit and actually bored me, and it barely used the Wii-ness. I found it really disappointing.

I liked Melee too, but ... I dunno. I'm still waiting and seeing, because a lot of waited-for Wii games haev turned out to be pretty average. At least the extra time will hopefully remove the 'GC port' aspect.

I had some questions about SSBB, but I'll put them in the proper thread.

[Drooling Iguana]

Having the same director as a good game doesn't necessarily mean that the new game will also be good. Dreamfall had the same director as The Longest Journey, but that didn't keep it from sucking.

And while I haven't played the Kingdom Hearts games, I wouldn't consider having the same writer as Final Fantasy VII to be a plus.