Nintendo Wii Market Analysis
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
The market for the Nintendo Wii has exploded since it was released in 2006, and only recently has the frenzy slowed down to the point where the supply of available units can meet the demand. This phenomenon can be explained largely because the Wii offers many benefits that are not available in its main competitors, the Sony PS3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360.
For example, while the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are mainly targeted toward teens and young adults, the Wii and its games can be enjoyed by anyone between the ages of 3 and 105. In fact, many celebrities have given unsolicited testimonials about how much entertainment value they find in the Wii. Among them are some names you definitely wouldn’t expect raving about a video game console, such as Queen Elizabeth II, tennis pro Serena Williams, movie writer and director Steven Spielberg, and comedian Conan O’Brien.
Many market analysts believe the long-term scarcity of the Wii was a powerful marketing strategy by Nintendo. Therefore, you may be surprised to hear that 1.8 million Wii consoles were being released each month.
Currently, over 50 million homes and businesses around the world own a Nintendo Wii. And while up until now it has only been offered in white, over the next few years there are plans to manufacture them in black, lime green, silver, and red. While these colors were originally planned as part of the initial release, the short supply forced Nintendo to focus on meeting demand rather than a variety of color specifications.
Another feature planned for the Wii is the ability to play DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. This will make the Wii even more appealing, since its main competitors already offer this ability.
Finally, Nintendo has continued to make the Wii very affordable, with a price tag of around $250. This has also contributed greatly to the Wii’s appeal, as you will pay much more for a similarly equipped PS3 or Xbox 360.