Nintendo: Wii U appeals to different type of consumer than Wii does

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 1 December, 2011

DS now appeals to parents with 5 or 6-year-olds.

The Wii U will appeal to a very different consumer than the Wii does today, Nintendo has said.

Nintendo expects the Wii to sell well this Christmas, buoyed by The Legend of Zelda and a cheaper price point, US boss Reggie Fils-Aime told Time.

The Wii U, however, will launch with a different price and games.

"The consumer buying Wii hardware today is going to be a different consumer than the one who will be buying Wii U in the future," Fils-Aime said.

"This is the first holiday that the Wii is available at $149.99 or below, so it's an expanded demographic we're reaching. These are consumers who have heard about Wii for the past couple years, but at $199 or $249 it was economically out of their reach.

"We haven't announced pricing for Wii U, but you can definitely expect that pricing is going to be different and that the games are going to be different."

Despite this the Nintendo of America boss expects the Wii U, due out next year, to overlap with the Wii - and hopes Wii gamers will migrate to Wii U, which is backwards compatible.

"We do believe that Wii and Wii U will coexist for some time. As we drive the install base of Wii, we're really setting people up to take their gaming library and be able to transfer it over to Wii U."

Meanwhile, Fils-Aime said Nintendo remains committed to the DS family of consoles, despite the strong push on 3DS.

The DS, he said, now appeals to parents who wish to buy their young children their first console.

"We think the DS is going to sell well this holiday season," he said. "It's going to appeal to a different consumer. You can buy a DS Lite for $99. For a parent with a five or six year-old, maybe that's the first handheld you buy them. It's got a fantastic library of games - Super Mario Bros DS, Mario Kart DS - I think over 1400 games. I think it's a different kind of consumer than those who really want to experience the 3D of the 3DS.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 6 months ago

    I would have thought that Nintendo would dream of retaining mass market Wii casual consumers and attract the serious gamers of X360/PS3/PC ilks.. As first would give huge number of hardware sales and second the games per unit.

    Got sinking feeling that won't succeed as much with either as they hoping, too much serious competition? Just focus on making great games, and hopefully things ll take care of themselves.

  • sega #2 6 months ago

    I'd prefer it if it was the games that appealed to different audiences rather than the console. Can't consoles just be for everyone with a nice selection of games to satisfy all types of people? Can't they? This never used to be an issue!

  • roz123 #3 6 months ago

    The title to the article is misleading, hes not saying it appeals to the different type of gamer he is saying that the cheaper Wii is now being picked up by people who couldn't afford it before.
    Edited by roz123 at 01/12/11 @ 09:35

  • nickthegun #4 6 months ago

    Will another zelda, another mario, another mario kart and another smash bros. really appeal to a different kind of gamer?

  • captainCandy #5 6 months ago

    I think they are just going to re-release every Mario and Zelda and whatnot game for Wii U...

  • Histeria #6 6 months ago

    @nickthegun He's talking about the WiiU appealing to a different kind of consumer to those picking up the Wii cheap this Xmas, not a different kind of gamer. The article title totally misrepresents the content.

  • robbiejc85 #7 6 months ago

    Of course I'll probably get one on bloody launch day, but I struggle to see the 'new type of gamer' they're going for. They and we know that Nintendo fans alone are nowhere near numerous enough to break even, let alone match the profits of the Wii.

    I just fail to see the 2.4 children, Wii-owning family upgrading to this now that Jonny and Sophie are obsessed with their iPod touches and Mum and Dad use the iPad for everything else. All they have to do is keep their Wii and get out WiiSports resort every now and again. In fact it's really interesting to see that Ninty has all but dropped motion gaming since WiiSports resort - this is excepting Zelda SS of course, but then the next one won't be motion contolled if it uses a tablet.

    Then there's the real gaming mass market - the people who don't call themselves gamers, but have an Xbox and buy COD and Fifa religiously, and then splash out on big budget titles like Red Dead or Batman. Why would they get a WiiU when the uber-cheap Xbox 360 does those games better?

    And then finally, the non-Nintedo hardcore gamers - why would they convert to Nintendo IP they've ignored in the past, and why would they want ports of 6-month old titles like Darksiders 2, Aliens etc?

    For me it's great - I'll get one, and enjoy probably 10ish awesome first party titles. And the rest of the time I'll be on my 360 downloading XBLA arcade games, playing online and enjoying massive third-party titles.

  • RoOhDaMite #8 6 months ago

    5-6 year olds? This must have something to do with the parental paranoia towards 3D I guess. That said, it is a nice example of how to use the customers fear to your advantage. Sell them the old model this year. Sell the new one next year, when it is OK to get one, because it says on the package 3D is for children of 6+ years.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #9 6 months ago

    @GamesConnoisseur: Got sinking feeling that won't succeed as much with either as they hoping, too much serious competition? Just focus on making great games, and hopefully things ll take care of themselves.

    They will have enough success to easily survive the next generation just as well. They are focusing on making great games, in fact Nintendo never focused so much on the games like this generation. That's the whole reason why the hardware is weak compared to others; Nintendo focuses on the games, not the hardware.

    It would be a huge stretch to say that Nintendo will be #1 next generation but really, who cares? They are a very welcome addition to the market and probably even necessary because when I think about the latest innovations in gaming most of them have come from Nintendo. Not discrediting Microsoft or Sony, both have done an amazing job as well.

  • Dafub #10 6 months ago

    If the next Xbox is announced at CES for christmas 2012 launch and the Wii U is basicly a 360 with a touch pad then nintendo will be in trouble.

  • WillTheSecond #11 6 months ago

    I probably will cave in and buy the WiiU eventually, I can't resist Smash/Kart/Mario/Zelda/Metroid.

    But I only recently bought an Xbox 360 and there's a whole load of HD games (including the first year or two of multiplatform WiiU releases I'll bet) that will like similar on both platforms and make the WiiU irrelevant (I don't find the controller that exciting... ironically I think Skyward Sword's controls are much more exciting).

  • chaywa #12 6 months ago

    All Nintendo need to do is go: "Well we have GTA5 exclusivity" (say for 6 months) and we'll all flock to buy one on launch day, irrespective of the rest of the line-up.

  • wyp100 #13 6 months ago

    I agree using the word gamer misrepresents Nintendo's position, so have changed to consumer. Sorry about the confusion!

  • schnide #14 6 months ago

    @chaywa

    And for that, all we need is Take Two and Rockstar to lose their minds.

  • spekkeh #15 6 months ago

    "We do believe that Wii and Wii U will coexist for some time. As we drive the install base of Wii, we're really setting people up to take their gaming library and be able to transfer it over to Wii U."
    Hmm, this didn't work too well for Sony, where the casuals clung to the PS2 and only a small crowd was willing to pay for the PS3. Might see something similar happen here, especially because the Wii U utilizes the same wiimote as the Wii and for motion games developers it's therefore pointless to develop exclusively for the Wii U and lose the large Wii install base. Resulting in games that can be played on both.

    @Dafub
    If the next Xbox is announced at CES for christmas 2012 launch and the Wii U is basicly a 360 with a touch pad then nintendo will be in trouble.
    Last I heard the new xbox will be wholly geared towards Kinect. The 360 has been my most played on console this generation, but if that's the case I'll be going for the PS4 next time. (here's hoping they ditch DualShock in the meantime)

  • Inmediasress #16 6 months ago

    @Dafub
    Of course they will fail.
    They already did with the WII:U since they want to rely on the old Wii to keep their fanbase but extend to the hardcore market with a new HC console that is sligthly better than the current gen consoles.

    Problem is that when it comes to multiplat games not many will bother to use the extra power since it costs time and effort to implement it, instead of doing their usual shit with the xbox and ps.
    This is the same thing on PC we have a power house but rarely do the devs use it correctly.
    Even now the PS3 almost always suffers in multiplat titles since devs don't arse to figure out how to make it work better than on the Xbox360.
    Now you will have 3 HC consoles isntead of two and devs will still go the easiest route and make their games the same on all platforms or worse on the secondary ones.

    What I'm getting at is that the Wii:U needs a lot of exclusives to make it work and I'm not talking about mario and zelda and whatnot.(well not if nintendo wants to get in on the HC market which they avioded this gen very heavily).

    The end result is that why would any player that has an xbox or ps want to buy a new console to get the same experience, or possibly worse because of devs not utilising the power of the machine.
    The PS3 suffers from this since the beginning ,only the exclusive devs make good use of every feature.
    Edited by Inmediasress at 01/12/11 @ 10:33

  • HornsDino #17 6 months ago

    Reggie doesn't seem that clued in to his own strategy! The DS Lite (i.e. the cheap one) has been discontinued. You have to get a DSi, which is only a few quid cheaper than a 3DS!

  • Ahskay #18 6 months ago

    The Wii U has no chance when the new Xbox gets released. And seeing all the reports and speculation, that won't be so far after the Wii U.

  • spekkeh #19 6 months ago

    What I'm getting at is that the Wii:U needs a lot of exclusives to make it work and I'm not talking about mario and zelda and whatnot.(well not if nintendo wants to get in on the HC market which they avioded this gen very heavily).
    I'm not sure why the HC market wouldn't be interested in what would surely be the best games of the next generation again. The problem with the Wii was that there was not much else going on for them. I do agree with the fact that if it isn't significantly better than current gen consoles, then it will be 'too little too late'.

  • Snake_2011 #20 6 months ago

    spekkeh when Sony release there numbers which will be over 50 million not sure what you mean by small amount?

  • eviroboy #21 6 months ago

    @schnide Take Two and Rockstar lost their minds years ago.

  • Spong #22 6 months ago

    I didn't think it was possible to find a "type" of consumer who was more stupid than those who bought the Wii.

  • Mister-Wario #23 6 months ago

    You can still buy the DS Lite in the US? Or is he talking unofficially about used consoles?

  • robbiejc85 #24 6 months ago

    @Spong You mean the ones that splashed out on a console with some of the best games of the generation? If anything, at the price the Wii is now, you'd be MORE stupid to NOT play it!

  • Mister-Wario #25 6 months ago

    @RoOhDaMite I must admit I don't blame them. Whenever I use the 3D on a 3DS I come away with a splitting headache. Goodness knows how 6-year-old me would react.

  • oupe #26 6 months ago

    Just keep showing that Chase Mii screenshot. Every time I see it I get more and more convinced I shouldn't buy this.

  • megastar #27 6 months ago

    Hmm I was hoping nintendo would see sense and this would get canned.

  • Dave52 #28 6 months ago

    " we're really setting people up "

    Uh-hu...

  • kitsuneyo #29 6 months ago

    I think WiiU will succeed as a web TV device. All they need is a good browser that plays all types of streaming video. Let me find something on iPlayer or YouTube using the tablet then send it to the TV and I'll be well happy.

  • Okamiwolf #30 6 months ago

    Don't see a lot of difference between the kind of games available on DS and 3DS... does that mean the latter is targeted at 5 and 6 year olds too? Uh-huh.

  • anthonypappa #31 6 months ago

    consoles already had games to suit everyone - the wii just hooked casual audiences with the motion fad.

    to be honest, the wii U - i don't know who it is appealing to - the hardcore don't want motion. the causals don't care about flashy graphics. and that controller is going to push the price beyond anyone who is curious.

    seems to be an uncertain of itself jack of all trades.

  • 32768Colours #32 6 months ago

    I think it's a different kind of consumer than those who really want to experience the 3D of the 3DS.

    I'm getting my little one a used DS Lite for Christmas. She's only three (hence the used console - it'll probably get a lot of abuse), but she loves playing stuff like Peggle on my 360. There's loads of good games on the DS for that age group so I can totally see where he's coming from there.

  • Softie2k #33 6 months ago

    Wii U = awesome.

  • Trav32 #34 6 months ago

    @Dafub
    Of course they will fail.
    They already did with the WII:U since they want to rely on the old Wii to keep their fanbase but extend to the hardcore market with a new HC console that is sligthly better than the current gen consoles.

    Problem is that when it comes to multiplat games not many will bother to use the extra power since it costs time and effort to implement it, instead of doing their usual shit with the xbox and ps.
    This is the same thing on PC we have a power house but rarely do the devs use it correctly.
    Even now the PS3 almost always suffers in multiplat titles since devs don't arse to figure out how to make it work better than on the Xbox360.
    Now you will have 3 HC consoles isntead of two and devs will still go the easiest route and make their games the same on all platforms or worse on the secondary ones.

    What I'm getting at is that the Wii:U needs a lot of exclusives to make it work and I'm not talking about mario and zelda and whatnot.(well not if nintendo wants to get in on the HC market which they avioded this gen very heavily).

    The end result is that why would any player that has an xbox or ps want to buy a new console to get the same experience, or possibly worse because of devs not utilising the power of the machine.
    The PS3 suffers from this since the beginning ,only the exclusive devs make good use of every feature.



    First of all the screen shots your seeing are demos.See you people are judging something that hasn't been release yet or you know little about.My opinion of the fact of Wii U is this will be the next gen system everyone with buy cause of its flashy hardware.Not alone its HD and the games will be 100 percent better.This system pricing I believe will be around 350 -450 considering you got a hi tech controller that pretty much does everything.I myself only own a Wii and the new 250 gig Xbox s and play both systems equally.There are games for the Wii like the Zeldas and Marios you can't resist plus others.Xbox has some great titles as well but they only franchise for Xbox.Overall I think Nintendo will be #1 again with this new system coming out and people that are b$$chin and complaining are the ones that will buy cause they will be left in the dust.Mark my fact,Nintendo Created The Gaming Industry!!!!

  • OJSlaughter #35 6 months ago

    Does anyone else get a really uneasy feeling from the WiiU: like all the ill feeling we had about the Dreamcast...

  • Farzlepot #36 6 months ago

    It's the Sintengo WiiCast ladies and gentlemen!

  • layleeloo #37 6 months ago

    Course it does :s

  • evnewell #38 6 months ago

    knowing Nintendo, there will be HD remakes. And, knowing Nintendo these remakes will be done with care and precision.

  • djkav #39 6 months ago

    I'm gonna get a Wii-U to give it a blast. I'm a sucker for Mario and Zelda. Theres too many samey average FPS's for the 360 and PS3. That's great if its your thing, but not mine.
    Edited by djkav at 01/12/11 @ 17:52

  • madeinbeats #40 6 months ago

    @Dafub Also, if they put dog shit in the Wii-U box instead of a Wii-U, they would be in trouble. Also, if they announced they eat children, they would be in trouble. Also, if they blasted all their Wii-Us into space instead of shipping them to stores, they would be in trouble ... ... .. This could go on for a very, very long time.. .. .. ..

  • madeinbeats #41 6 months ago

    @Inmediasress Dev's can't be arsed working out how to program for the PS3? At least they can probably be more arsed than you to know what they are talking about before making a comment on it. Talk about a gob shite.

  • madeinbeats #42 6 months ago

    @Spong If by that you mean to say you have never played Mario Galaxy or Zelda on the Wii, then you are in the wrong place; see, this is a website for gamers, it doesn't deal with people who are in denial of their homosexual tendencies.

  • madeinbeats #43 6 months ago

    @oupe Brain Training was made for people like you. Adult nappies too I fear.

  • spekkeh #44 6 months ago

    @Snake_2011
    spekkeh when Sony release there numbers which will be over 50 million not sure what you mean by small amount?
    Yes now, but it took them a while to get there, it's the reason Kutaragi was 'promoted', remember?

    You could even say, although that's kind of a stretch, that the PS3 didn't start selling well until the PS2 was finally dead and buried.

  • JetSetWilly #45 6 months ago

    We haven't announced pricing for Wii U, but you can definitely expect that pricing is going to be different and that the games are going to be different."

    Or in other words: we fully intend to gouge the living daylights out of you for seven year old tech once again.

  • Jayaitch #46 6 months ago

    Post deleted at 18:50:52 11-01-2012

  • Sid-Nice #47 6 months ago

    Rastamakina Wii U ustmako asbo de Xbox 720; boof manika PS4.

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #48 6 months ago

    looks the same to me lol

  • freethinker101 #49 6 months ago

    @OJSlaughter. I do indeed get that feeling. Especially when I see that controller.

  • Samielo #50 6 months ago

    @robbiejc85 They're still putting out titles like Wii Party (different kind of motion control), Wii Play Motion (comes with Remote Plus, even) and supporting games like Just Dance (they published the version developed specifically for Japan). The Wii U concept video above has teasers for Wii Sports U and Wii Fit U besides new games.

    For me, Wii has the most interesting third party games like Just Dance, Muramasa and the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles games - I'm the guy who bought a PS2 and then a Wii because PS3 or 360 didn't have these kinds of games. Wii U just might be able to repeat that with another round of offbeat, enjoyable third party offerings.