Resort, Fit Plus, NSMB will sell 10m each

By Oli Welsh Published 10 August, 2009

Iwata puts his mouth where his money is.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said he expects Nintendo's three big 2009 releases - Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii - to sell 10 million copies each within this fiscal year.

Iwata made the bullish statement in the company's first quarter investor briefing. "I believe each of these three software titles have the potential to surpass 10 million copies worldwide in the whole fiscal year," he said.

Their E3 showings gave him confidence, he added. "They were highly evaluated by most of those who actually tried them. Distributors also gave feedback like 'The key player of this holiday season will be Nintendo as expected.'"

Iwata was responding to concerns that Nintendo's release schedule was too heavily weighted towards the end of the year. In its 2008/9 year, Nintendo released Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii in its spring first quarter and sold over 15 million of each. However, Wii Music and Animal Crossing: City Folk floundered later in the year, and led to a slowdown in hardware sales for the company.

"Wii Music and Animal Crossing: City Folk did not fulfil our expectations and only sold through 2.65 and 3.38 million copies respectively," Iwata lamented. "Should those two titles have become long-term selling software, we would not have faced a shortage of software titles in the former half of this year."

He added: "So we find that the reason of downturn in Wii sales can be attributed to two main factors - we could not launch Wii Sports Resort earlier and could not make the software launched in the last holiday season have longer tails."

But "I am not worried about the launch schedules of Wii Fit Plus and Super Mario Bros. Wii," he concluded.

Having admitted that New Super Mario Bros. Wii's E3 unveiling was underwhelming, Iwata's faith in the game is surprising - but not unwarranted. It was our game of the show - and the DS New Super Mario Bros. has sold some 18 million copies to date.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • Jonsend #1 3 years ago

    Article is broken.

  • Eraysor #2 3 years ago

    Firstly, NSMBWii was a rubbish choice for game of show, and secondly this is just more evidence that Nintendo care only about money now.

  • stevetuck #3 3 years ago

    Wait a computer game company wants to make money? this cant be true!!!

  • schnide #4 3 years ago

    Cracks are starting to appear in the Nintendo money making machine.

  • KDR_11k #5 3 years ago

    Eraysor: What's wrong with NSMBWii? 2D Mario is extremely popular, much moreso than 3D Mario. Means more people care about it.

  • penhalion #6 3 years ago

    I'm not too sure that Wii fit plus will sell all that well. Only those who bought the original and actually use it will be interested in the plus edition. I have Wii fit and it's gathering dust under the coffee table and has been for months. I have no intention of buying anymore wii fit products as it would be a waste of money. I doubt very much many casual gamers will bother either.

    As for new super mario brothers. I may pick that up as I'm a mario fan.

  • Monkey_Puncher #7 3 years ago

    It's no wonder Nintendo don't feel the need to release proper games any more, when they can just get away with regurgitating the same tired old crap and have it sell umpteen millions.

    Wii Sports Resort was fun, but New Super Mario Bros? I played that game on the Nes, why should I pay full price for some new levels in 2009? It was nice on the DS, it suited that platform, but as a full console release? Jeez...

    I'm sure it'll sell by the bucket load though.

  • Xerx3s #8 3 years ago

    "If your games collection includes even one FPS or driving game please remove yourself from the gene pool.

    Yet another wag who thinks that Nintendo are required to constantly innovate in unimaginable ways on one day, and then complains when they don't quite like what they see the next."

    Being an elitist twit and then complaining about them in the same post makes you a hypocrite.

    EDIT: But then, looking at your games collection, I welcome the notion that you remove yourself from the gene pool.
    Edited by 1 at 10/08/09 @ 11:59

  • Cloud-Strife #9 3 years ago

    Meh, gimme metroid, galaxy 2 and golden sun this xmas and we'll be square nintendo...

  • Teamallstar #10 3 years ago

    Are there really that many people willing to spend money on something they will play once and then put away for the next six months!

    I knew I should have bought shares in nintendo!

  • Penguinzoot #11 3 years ago

    If your games collection includes even one FPS or driving game please remove yourself from the gene pool.

    Even for a comments thread that's pretty funny ;)

  • spekkeh #12 3 years ago

    I have no doubt NSMBWii will shoot past 10 million in a couple of months, but I'm not too certain about Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort, the updates seem to be too incremental for many to warrant a buy.

  • makeamazing #13 3 years ago

    I am not convinced on Wii Fit Plus.. dont know too much about it, but as many people have purchased Wii Fit, and maybe some of those moved on to Active, I cannot see people getting Wii Fit plus. Will be interesting to see.

  • Alterego-X #14 3 years ago

    "Cash up now Nintendo on the gaming indrustry, you can't pull the same trick twice, go media instead you've got the IPs to focus on fitness and tool products so publish like Sega with the games and go all out media"


    Yeah, I'm sure that the console market leader company, that also has the GREATEST employee/profit ratio on PLANET F*CKING EARTH, desperately needs your business advice, that involves completely changing the ways that made them that successful...
    Edited by 1 at 10/08/09 @ 14:48

  • KrissAkabusi #15 3 years ago

    I love hearing the "nintendo can't pull the same trick twice" line when people talk about the next gen.

    Nintendo were forced into a corner after the relative failure of the Gamecube last gen and would be dead right now if they hadn't differentiated themselves from the other two players. Next time round Nintendo have wads of profits to go with and will be in a far better position to produce a machine with as much grunt as Sony/MS's offerings.

  • electrolite #16 3 years ago

    "Cash up now Nintendo on the gaming indrustry, you can't pull the same trick twice, go media instead you've got the IPs to focus on fitness and tool products so publish like Sega with the games and go all out media"

    One of the funniest things I've ever read. A company that's led 3 out of the last 5 console generations, dominated the handheld market for 20 years, and makes profit on its hardware, should stop making consoles.

  • electrolite #17 3 years ago

    "if they were on another platform they would be laughed at. "

    A new 2D Mario platformer laughed at? Your idea of what constitutes credible gaming is hideous to me.

  • penhalion #18 3 years ago

    @KrissAkabusi

    Next time round Nintendo have wads of profits to go with and will be in a far better position to produce a machine with as much grunt as Sony/MS's offerings.

    With all due respect isn't this the exact attitude Sony had and look what happened there. Consumers are both fickle and very ready to abandon even the most successful ship if they feel they are being taken advantage of or ripped off!

  • kangarootoo #19 3 years ago

    @lord

    Good post.


    Your earlier gene pool comment was still a sack of crap though ;)

  • N.A.T.O #20 3 years ago

    How exactly have Sony and MS added to gaming? Identikit FPS games are not the be all and end all. God bless Nintendo.

  • Alterego-X #21 3 years ago

    @KrissAkabusi
    "Next time round Nintendo have wads of profits to go with and will be in a far better position to produce a machine with as much grunt as Sony/MS's offerings."


    That is true, and a very important part of Nintendo's strategy.
    Since 2006:
    Sony already lost all of the PS2 profits, and half of the PS1's ($3,5 billion)
    Microsoft lost ~$3 billion, added to the ~$6 billion loss on the original xbox.
    Nintendo profited ~11 billion
    [link url= http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=57802&page=1
    ]http://vg chartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=...[/link]
    If, let's say, either of the former two would release a new console, that would suggest PS3-like sales in its first year, they would instantly discontinue it to avoid further harm to the mother-company.

    Even if Nintendo would make such a failure, they would have years to sit down, and carefully design a better plan, and only lose a fragment of their Wii profits.

  • kangarootoo #22 3 years ago

    @lord

    I agree with the point, I just think you undermined yourself in the way you made it.

  • smelly #23 3 years ago

    >"this is just more evidence that Nintendo care only about money now. "

    As opposed to... I dunno... microsoft for example?

    He was giving a presentation to share holders.. of COURSE he was talking money/profit. Gawd.. I hope you never get into business as you have a major case of the stupids


    >"great games yes but not a this gen game "

    What prey-tell exactly IS a "this gen" game? ANOTHER generic grey shooter perhaps?
    Edited by 1 at 10/08/09 @ 17:32

  • smelly #24 3 years ago

    Quote : "With all due respect isn't this the exact attitude Sony had and look what happened there. Consumers are both fickle and very ready to abandon even the most successful ship if they feel they are being taken advantage of or ripped off!"


    After NINE rrod's - i know which company i'm going to abandon next gen.

    (hint - it wont be the one where i just spent the whole weekend replaying mario galaxy on)

  • kangarootoo #25 3 years ago

    @smelly

    You are wasting your time dude. This whole "they care about money!" bollox has been around in games as long as I can remember.

    It is the refuge of fantasists who operate under the illusion than Ginster's make pasties 'cos they like to see a smile on a tired coal miner's face and BMW make cars because they want everyone's kids to get to school on time.

  • smelly #26 3 years ago

    @Monkey_puncher : i'll edit that for you to make a point:

    but Halo 3? I played that game on the xbox, why should I pay full price for some new levels? It was nice on the xbox, it suited that platform, but as a full console release? Jeez...

  • Monkey_Puncher #27 3 years ago

    So I'm not impressed with Nintendo's re-releases any more, that must automatically mean I drag my knuckles on my floor and grunt while I play Halo. I have no interest in either Halo or Gears, but thanks for letting me know Nintendo Defence Force are still using the same old tired "OMGZ JUST COZ ITZ NOT A SHOOTA" line.

  • Feanor #28 3 years ago

    Animal Crossing on the Wii deserved to flounder. If they put some decent effort into it, maybe it would have done better.

  • peterfll #29 3 years ago

    I've been playing Wiii Sports Resort A LOT this week. Is that off topic?

  • smelly #30 3 years ago

    "So I'm not impressed with Nintendo's re-releases any more,"

    Yes you're TOTALLY correct. Mario galaxy was just a re-release of mario 2 with different graphics.

    *sigh*.. now go back to your "generic space marine game #1253"

  • smelly #31 3 years ago

    "adding 4 player to what is basically a 20 year old platformer is not inotive but a SHAMEFULL REHASH "

    (insert comment about adding multiplayer to a 15 year old first person shooter here)


    "Animal Crossing on the Wii deserved to flounder. "

    Agree.. Loved the cube version.. Wii version i got bored of very quickly - seen it all before
    Edited by 1 at 10/08/09 @ 20:10

  • electrolite #32 3 years ago

    CAPITAL LETTERS = expression of futility

  • KrissAkabusi #33 3 years ago

    @penhalion

    "With all due respect isn't this the exact attitude Sony had and look what happened there. Consumers are both fickle and very ready to abandon even the most successful ship if they feel they are being taken advantage of or ripped off!"

    Not really, because Sony put their whole focus on the power of the machine and neglected the gaming. Nintendo wouldn't have to make the same mistake. Point is I don't think Nintendo will stay as far behind the other two, if behind at all, in the horsepower stakes next time round and that should leave things out for conversions of GTA, COD etc, which are a big part of the Sony/MS success of this gen.

  • Alterego-X #34 3 years ago

    "GTA, COD etc, which are a big part of the Sony/MS success of this gen."
    What success?

    If Nintendo would need third party games, they would buy all publishers from the 10something billion dollar profits they had this gen, or at least "convince" them to develop exclusives.

    But they are fine without third parties, so they spend that money on proceeding to take over the market, and allow the third parties to turn to them in case they don't wish to go bankrupt or something...

  • malexous #35 3 years ago

    @MilkybKid1985

    So you can sympathise with smelly then? You know what getting the RROD once is like. Now imagine it times nine.

    There's no need for it. I did go through two PS2s though, as did my cousin, but I gather the PS3 has no significant problems. I also have never had any problems with Nintendo consoles (They are all chugging along, apart from my brothers Game Boy™).

  • KrissAkabusi #36 3 years ago

    @alterego

    Erm, yeah, kinda think you got the point I was making that third parties will likely come to Nintendo next gen if they have a level playing field tech-wise. Right now a lot of companies can't make the games they want on Wii, not that I blame Nintendo at all for that, the situation has been born from circumstances of last gen. And yes, at the moment, Nintendo are fine without real third party support. The point there was, will Sony or MS do fine when they have even more competition on the multi-platform front.

  • smelly #37 3 years ago

    @MilkybKid1985 : You probably wont read this. But most of my RROD's have had to do with them sending me back broken replacements.

    And if im honest - I use "rrod" as a generic term for the thing needing replacing. 2 replacements were for other reasons why it broke. One i had back for 2 days before the drive mechanism stopped working and it stopped recognising games. Bioshock displayed an image telling me that it wouldnt work in a xbox! and that it was designed for a 360?!?!?

  • kaya08 #38 3 years ago

    I think all 3 of the consoles this generation have been pretty dire.

    Didn't think much of the Wii because I've just never been hugely into Mario and Zelda (though I realise both are consistently great games - they just never clicked with me) or nintendo exclusives in general. Theres just no 3rd party support to suplement the exclusives so ... meh to it.
    PS3 - well ... I just don't like Sony more than anything else. Its basically a really expensive 360.
    360 for the rediculously priced accessories / having to pay for live / generally crappy quality of console / general stinginess of MS / lack of eastern support.

    If you threw the 3 consoles together you'd have something worthwhile. As it is I've been using my PC a lot more for gaming recently.