To Bundle or Unbundle Nintendo Wii Sports
Everyone has heard about Nintendo Wii. Since its launch it has steadily gained followers. Considering it was launched in key markets in December 2006 it is still as popular as ever. Where did the concept of the Wii come from? At the business and professionals E3 in 2004 the concept was first brought up. Then it was finally introduced at the 2005 E3 when Satoru Iwata showed a prototype of the controller at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005.
November 2006 saw Wii Sports bundle introduced to the USA. Nintendo Wii sports bundle became a run away favorite. From juniors to seniors all are praising the name of Wii. The Nintendo Wii Sports Bundle is the cool present to be giving your loved ones. Nintendo Wii won the Best Hardware and Best of Show Awards from the Game Critics Awards at the 2006 E3. Even after all this time if you pick up any reputable gaming magazine it is singing the praises of Wii as a major game console breakthrough. What other game can claim to have won an Emmy? Will won the award given out by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Game Controller Innovation.
Why Is Wii So Popular? The question that begs to be answered is: Why is Wii so popular? What does Wii have that PS3 and XBOX360 can’t simply surpass its fan base?
The media has been whining about how our kids are getting unhealthier by the day, due to technology (i.e. video games) so Nintendo came up with the revolutionary gaming console that is Nintendo Wii. Inadvertently it seems that aside from addressing the dilemma of our kids becoming couch potatoes Nintendo Wii has provided interactive gaming that makes the player feel like he or she is really in the game.
The driving force behind the rise of the Wii and its popularity is the Nintendo Wii Sports Bundle. Wii consoles are sold together with 5 cool sports games. With Wii you can really express yourself when you play the Wii.
Should Nintendo unbundle Wii Sports? Marketing analysts think it would be best for sales. Why you may ask? It is reasonable to assume that if you break the Nintendo Wii sports bundle up than the price of the console can be lowered to make it “more affordable”. Marketing predictions indicate that the Nintendo Wii Sports bundle sales are heading for a decline but if it is unbundled then it would grow strong again by 2009.
When we view Wii’s popularity it is of value to note that part of what makes it popular is the very fact that it is sold as a bundle. On top of that, one has to question the market predictions of Nintendo Wii Sports Bundle decline when in fact Nintendo is currently scrambling to fill all of purchase orders. When you have this kind of demand that is exceeding the supply even as Nintendo produces 1.8 million consoles a month, one has to question the wisdom of the marketing prophets.
Finally, Nintendo Wii Sports bundle is not just popular with the kids, grandma loves her Wii also. Wii fans are saying that after their purchase they just don’t find the need to buy any other games. So why change a popular game when people are perfectly happy with the Nintendo Wii sports Bundle just as it is?