THQ predicts strong Wii sales

By Games Industry.biz Published 6 November, 2006

Into the millions quickly?

THQ CEO Brian Farrell has predicted healthy sales for the Nintendo Wii, confirming plans to release additional games for the console next year.

Speaking in a conference call following the release of THQ's Q2 results, Farrell said the Wii is likely "to reach a multi-million installed base quickly", adding that the company plans to " launch an increased number of Wii SKUs in fiscal 2008".

Other executives speaking during the call said there is "a great opportunity" to produce titles exclusively for Wii - saying "it's just a matter of economics" when it comes to considering the value of doing so.

THQ was more cautious when the conversation turned to Sony's new console, with Farrell stating, "We've chosen to release our titles on PS3 as its installed base grows in calendar 2007."

Executives also observed that "the download opportunities don't really kick in until the second half of 2007" and that "Sony is continuing to refine their online and download models". One exec predicted that download revenues won't offer a "meaningful opportunity" until "mid next year".

To hear the conference call in full, visit the THQ website.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tonka #1 5 years ago

    "increased number of Wii SKUs in fiscal 2008"

    OK, what's that. The red and green one? And when is fiscal 2008?

  • Rambaldi #2 5 years ago

    Yet another dev holding back when it comes to Sony. Not good considering they were King of the last gen.

    I suppose it's only THQ though!

  • Zerimski #3 5 years ago

    Woo, so Bratz and Spongebob coming to Wii!

    ...

    @Tonka: Reading it, I think he means that THQ will be releasing an increased number of Wii titles in fiscal 2008 (not sure when this runs from), so expect even more Bratz and Spongebob in a couple of years!

  • Wash #4 5 years ago

    thank god thq are on board, fiscalyear 2008 is april no?
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/06 @ 09:49

  • Huxley #5 5 years ago

    So just from their front page; Saints Row, Warhammer:DC, Destroy Humans 2, Titan Quest, Supreme Commander.

    Not hardcore enough to bother with eh?

    I would love to see a really modern RTS like Supreme Commander running with the Wii remote.

  • Psi #6 5 years ago

    coh on the wii please. you know you can do it.

  • gizmo #7 5 years ago

    Ouch, I wouldn't fancy an RTS using the wand, You'd get a dead arm just as you get tank rushed and be too exhausted to defend yourself.

  • rinoaMW #8 5 years ago

    Some people in here need to grow up. THQ release a diverse range of games for everybody, Such as 40k, Saints Row (as Huxley pointed out) and CoH, not just "more Nickelodeon crap for kids". TBH, its nice to have diverse ranges of titles to suit all ages, my neice loves SB,Bratz etc, But if i let her even see let alone play games like Doom 3 it would put her off games for life, which would be a shame. Persoanlly I think Spongebob and Bratz would suit most whiners mental ages in here...

    Im glad THQ are making the decision to back the Wii.
    Edited by 2 at 06/11/06 @ 10:43

  • UncleLou #9 5 years ago

    So just from their front page; Saints Row, Warhammer:DC, Destroy Humans 2, Titan Quest, Supreme Commander.

    You can add Company of Heroes and Psychonauts.

    Really a terrible publisher noone would want to have onboard...

  • Huxley #10 5 years ago

    @gizmo

    But that would just add another level of strategy to the whole thing. Not only would you have to balance resources for attack/defence but retain your own strength reserves for management tasks. Brilliant, you should patent this immediatly (if not sooner)

  • rinoaMW #11 5 years ago

    @UncleLou

    yeah, terrible ;)

  • Kami #12 5 years ago

    Fiscal years from what I know run from 6th of April to the 5th April, they are the financial year and Fiscal 2008 will be the first 12-month period of the Wii. So Fiscal 2008 would be from April 6th 2007 to April 5th 2008. Simple. Not rocket science.

    And even though Sony were kings of last-gen, maybe companies are wary of growing animosity for the PS3. We know it'll eventually pick up but it's a big financial gamble for all players, so with PS3 - with a raised risk of potential losses - the initial titles will probably be more of a dribble than a flood, when compared to cheaper/already installed userbases.

    It's all about the money.

  • playgen #13 5 years ago

    "So just from their front page; Saints Row, Warhammer:DC, Destroy Humans 2, Titan Quest, Supreme Commander.

    You can add Company of Heroes and Psychonauts.

    Really a terrible publisher noone would want to have onboard..."


    The question is will they release any adult themed games like that on Wii, they certainly only released kids stuff like spongebob on gamecube

  • MadMirko #14 5 years ago

    And even though Sony were kings of last-gen, maybe companies are wary of growing animosity for the PS3.

    See Super Nintendo -> Nintedo 64. Developers grow also tired of a single console manufacturer holding all the power like the evil empire, because that guy can charge whatever he wants for the privilege of selling software for that machine.

    It's like Square put it a few weeks back, no developer in his right mind wants Sony to dominate again. SE's stance is: Support Sony, but not too much.

  • Shadar #15 5 years ago

    It's like Square put it a few weeks back, no developer in his right mind wants Sony to dominate again. SE's stance is: Support Sony, but not too much.

    I want a link. Now.