Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's global president, had some things to share in a recent interview, and he talks about why the Wii U isn't breaking big numbers and what some of its roadblocks aren't.
In the interview over on CVG [via Polygon], Iwata makes it known that pricing isn't the issue plaguing the slow sales of the Wii U, saying...
"If the price is actually an issue [with Wii U], then there is some contradiction between the current sales balance between the Basic and Premium versions of the Wii U,""The basic version should have sold a lot, but the fact of the matter is that people are buying more of the premium version. So the issue is not there."
Basic logic 101.
So what is the problem? A problem that we've all known existed for quite some time... a problem that doesn't go away because the solution hasn't presented itself just yet... the problem is software.
Despite a few titles releasing periodically for the Wii U since it's launch, the system doesn't actually have much of a system selling killer app releasing enough to warrant big purchases. Iwata goes on to say just that...
"I understand that the real issue is the lack of software, and the only solution is to provide the mass-market with a number of quality software titles,"
Well no duh, Iwata.
The company isn't just sitting on their thumbs waiting for more software, however. Nintendo has gone and done the opposite of what a company like Microsoft would do (viz., throw millions of dollars at studios for timed third-party exclusives) and instead the Big 'N' has reached out to the indie community, the creative video game geniuses of tomorrow.
Nintendo is handing out free Unity Pro licenses to registered Nintendo developers and helping small studios become registered while also offering insight and education into using the design tools of the Wii U so that they can pump out games quickly and efficiently.
Right now the company is suffering from poor home console sales, but 2014 could be the year of the Wii U, given all the awesome indie titles on the horizon and first-party exclusives, such as Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8.
Realistically, Nintendo's plan won't really win over any casuals since casuals don't follow gaming news or care about indie games, they will be competing directly with Sony and Microsoft for core market share... or competing to retain the movers and shakers of the industry, the hardcore gamer.
While the Dorito Pope may have hammered The Regginator on the lack of games available for the Wii U, at least we can all rest easy knowing that the Big 'N' isn't a fish in shark infested waters without a plan. Whether or not that plan comes to fruition in a timely enough manner is a whole other issue, but this holiday season is definitely shaping up to be one of the biggest console war battles of all time.
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