THQ predicts strong Wii sales News

Wii News by Games Industry.biz

6 November, 2006

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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Tonka

06/11/06 @ 09:18

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"increased number of Wii SKUs in fiscal 2008"

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

Rambaldi

06/11/06 @ 09:29

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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

06/11/06 @ 09:35

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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

06/11/06 @ 09:48

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thank god thq are on board, fiscalyear 2008 is april no?

Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/11/06 @ 09:49

azmol01

06/11/06 @ 10:00

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So more Nickelodeon crap for kids, ignoring those of us above the 18 then?

Huxley

06/11/06 @ 10:05

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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

06/11/06 @ 10:24

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

gizmo

06/11/06 @ 10:28

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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

06/11/06 @ 10:41

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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 2 times, most recently on 06/11/06 @ 10:43

UncleLou

06/11/06 @ 10:41

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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

06/11/06 @ 10:42

#11

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@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

06/11/06 @ 10:46

#12

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@UncleLou

yeah, terrible ;)

Kami

06/11/06 @ 11:03

#13

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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

06/11/06 @ 11:40

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"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

06/11/06 @ 11:52

#15

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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

06/11/06 @ 12:16

#16

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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.

azmol01

06/11/06 @ 18:56

#17

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@rinoaMW, I think you missed my point, THQ do release the type of games mentioned by others on this thread, but not ever on Nintendo systems.

The only stuff Nintendo get from THQ is the Nickelodeon 1st school stuff. So when they said they'll be supporting the Wii more it's most likely to be more of the same.

So great for my younger cousins/newphews/nieces, but absoulety pointless for people like myself who want to play their other types of games.

Just look at their launch line-up for the Wii.

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