Aussie Wii shortages possible

  • By Randolph Ramsay, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 25, 2006 3:34 pm PT

Nintendo Australia says it can't guarantee Wii shortages won't happen; will undertake an Australian road show to preview the new console soon.

SYDNEY--While North America gloats over its milion-unit launch, Nintendo Australia has refused to disclose how many Wiis it will be bringing into the country for its December launch and has not ruled out the possibility of shortages come launch day.

Nintendo Australia spokesman Vispi Bhopti says that while the company is bringing in a significant number of consoles for the Australian launch on December 7, it cannot guarantee "total supply."

"We will be guaranteeing preordered stock at retail--so that's definitely the way to go to secure it because we can't guarantee total supply because we don't know how many consumers are going to go wild over this," Bhopti said. "We are bringing in a significant number of Wiis into Australia--it won't be a small drop. But at the same time, our expectations are so big for this product that we would, to err on the safe side, recommend that people preorder."

Australian gamers had to suffer through a next-generation console shortage earlier this year when the Xbox 360 launched in March. Within days of the official launch, 20GB Xbox 360 bundles had all but sold out across the country.

Nintendo announced last week that the Wii would hit Australian shores on December 7 for A$399.95. Bhopti said pricing for games, accessories, and virtual console titles was still being finalised for Australia, although they would be "relative to overseas pricing." In the US, first-party Wii titles will retail for $50 (A$66.50).

Bhopti said that while the number of launch-day titles was also still being finalised, he did confirm that Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would be a launch title locally. The GameCube version of the game would arrive in early 2007, he said.

And for those still holding out hope that the Wii will be a region-free console, Bhopti has some bad news. "You won't be able to play overseas games on an Australian unit," he added.

Bhopti says Nintendo is gearing up national road shows to promote the Wii in the weeks leading to launch. The shows will be similar to its recent DS Connection Tour, which had Nintendo visit major shopping centres around the country. Consumers will be able to get their hands on the Wii and its unique controllers during these shows, Bhopti said.

The Wii's use of wireless controllers means free-standing in-store demo units, however, will not be part of the promotional campaign, Bhopti says.

"We can bolt things down as much as we want, but when we do that it ruins the experience of the wireless controller. You really don't want to pick up that wireless controller unless it really is wireless," Bhopti said.

"Some of these experiences are also quite unique, and we want to be able to explain the experiences to people when we're there. So it's important that when we do have in-store units, they will be manned demonstrations."

91 Comments

  • mjcowley Site moderator

    Posted Oct 5, 2006 2:47 am PT

    Pre-order done. Fingers crossed the release date holds true

  • schmicko

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 6:24 am PT

    Just pre order the damn thing. It will be getting released so close to Christmas that if you can't afford to put a $50 on it now, then it is a sure bet that you won't have $400 come December.

  • Beymaster1

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 1:03 am PT

    omg noooooooooooooooooooooooo i need to pre order quick

  • joshk525

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 7:11 pm PT

    Well I preordered mine two days ago so hopefully I truly am gauranteed one.

  • stephen375

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 7:19 am PT

    this is ridiculous, i mean really dont we have to deal with enough stupidity from nintendo australia.

    1 - get enough to meet demand and u might find people buy the console

    2- release some games for a change and ppl will see a reason to buy it

    3 - if they dont wanna release games here (eg - GC and DS) then let us get them from overseas so we stay fans!

    i think nintendo australia needs to have a management change, and quickfast

  • pieman2906

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 12:45 am PT

    lucky i already pre-ordered... phew... that'll be the next thing though

    "we may have a shortage of pre-order stock" ARG :@

    I just think it sucks that our release is so far behind

    AND REGION LOCKED!!! WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :@:@:@

  • tricache

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 12:19 am PT

    ...I think I'm going to cry


    :'(

  • TheMadDogElite

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 11:16 pm PT

    Noooooooo Wilsooooooooon! They better have enough for me...

  • MarioMainic

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 6:08 pm PT

    Hey im From Australia this slack for me cause i have to buy the wii. Mikeplus2 and Goffee71 you have been racist to me i care about cause i live in australia and im a Nintendo fan stop being mean to me.

  • nfreak

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 7:25 pm PT

    I bet if Sony said it had a shortage then people would just shut up and not say a word against it. But if Nintendo does that then you see how everybody starts insulting Nintendo. This just shows how anti-Nintendo all you people are. All of you just know how to bully and insult Nintendo.

  • jingwa

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 6:38 am PT

    Nice to see the customer getting some warnings and methods to avoid being disapointed, its impossible to know exactly how many consoles will be sold, so u can either estimate and send out the approx amount or overstock. But if u pre-order u wont have to worry about a shortage and if your really want a Wii, then why the hell wouldnt u pre-order? anyways there is nothing to complain about expect Nintendo giving you options and a way around any problems u may encounter, better then what the competition ever does to help the consumer.

  • Mikeplus2

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 3:27 am PT

    plasmabullet said
    "why doesent anyone give a !@#$^% about australia?" plasmabullet you are racist

  • 3smithf

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 12:52 am PT

    Guys seriously stop wingeing.... just go preorder a Wii!

    I know for a fact EB are taking pre-orders at the moment, they only require a $10 deposit and it comes off the top of the unit price, so you dont pay anything extra.

    So, pre-order now, start saving up and get it the day it comes out!

  • dazzzilla

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 12:29 am PT

    THIS IS TOTAL F?$#N BULL&**$ SHAME ON NITENDO THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS WHAT I DONT SEE IS WHY IS AMERICA SO SPECIAL K SERIOUSLY THEY GET EVERYTHING I WOULD RATEHER LIVE IN AUSTRALIA OR SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE

  • plasmabullet

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 6:34 pm PT

    why doesent anyone give a !@#$^% about australia?

  • Sassal

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 5:19 am PT

    no one care about australia do they?

  • Goffee71

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 2:41 am PT

    If a company can't release with decent stock, they shouldn't be releasing their systems at all. I can't think of a release since the MegaDrive that hasn't been appallingly managed by any major hardware producer

  • andrewpcpro

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 2:37 am PT

    that sucks that australia has problems with units

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    hope there aren't big shortages

  • nfreak

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 5:40 pm PT

    Pre-order Wii or not? Pay more for Wii or not? Its still better than getting a PS3 where consumers are gonna wet their pants if they hear the Australian PS3 price. Also Wii is the same as any other console. The only difference is its graphics. So what if Wii sucks in graphics? Are Video Games for playing games or worshiping their processing power? Previously people used to complain about the name Wii. They said it sounded like pee. But after seeing the Australian PS3 price, PS3 is gonna be the one to make people pee and not Wii. I am still going to get a Wii be it shortage or not. Pre-order or not. It is time people start breaking out of the PS3 peanut shell and realise the true power of Nintendo.

  • BlissfulGopher

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 7:47 am PT

    You mean, like they have done with the last two generations?

  • rougehunter66

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 5:33 am PT

    Thank god for pre-ordering. But what if it is all a big scam? I'm an avid Nintendo and Wii supporter, but what if they are just saying this to make us pre-order at $400? Maybe they are planning to drop the price a few weeks later, and just making us pay $400 straight off, like really kick us in the balls. That would just be mean...

  • Princecake

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 1:23 am PT

    wth, region-lock? why? if they worry about retailers' rage then just lock the english speaking region - what if some of us wanting some japanese games? local retailers wouldn't stock them anywayz...

    region-lock will just create some awesome excuses to have mod-chip ~.~

  • Beymaster1

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 11:49 pm PT

    i think it depends on the australian public if they really want this machine or not cause most ppl here havent even heard of the wii all their waiting for is the ps3

  • yo_foo

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 11:42 pm PT

    The Wii Shortage for Australia could quite possibly be the worst thing for the consumer. Nintendo have planned this from the beginning. It all comes back to my famous "Wii Cover-up" thread. What Nintendo are doing is making sure everyone rushes in and pre-orders the Wii. That way when it comes out in stores and ends up being weaker than what the consumer was expecting, they would've sucked dry $400 cash straight from the consumer. Logical thinking!

    I mean, think about it in a non-flaming sense. Consumers won't know what they are actually getting when they pre-order. So if the console turns out to be weaker than what the specs suggest, then they have successfully pulled off one of the greatest gaming scams in history.

    Plus the Wii is NOT Region Free. Therefore they are scamming people into forking out loads more money buying games in Australia than in the US.

    Remember people will want a Wii, therefore they will feel under pressure by this news. Then people will rush out and pre-order the console and then Wii will bring out full launch, reeling in more blind people as they don't know the specs or what they are even going to get. Very low indeed.

    :'(

  • Chironex

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 11:12 pm PT

    Pre-order GET!

    Or should I say, Pre-order GOT! (months ago)

    Edit: I should probably also say that I really hope the guys that did the Freeloader for the GC get to work on the Wii ASAP.

  • maco_cuz

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 10:54 pm PT

    i guess pretty much all consoles have shortages in supply for Aus

  • 3leMenT

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 9:02 pm PT

    god stupid nintendo i better get a wii or eles i will have to pee in a cup and tell every one i got a wii

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 8:05 pm PT

    not good

  • BlissfulGopher

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 7:27 pm PT

    Actually, when you account for GST (I don't think the US price includes taxes) being included in the $399, the difference isn't quite as bad as it seems at first.

    Be glad they didn't apply the usual "we'll just double the US amount" method of pricing that they use for the games/accessories (yes Virginia, a remote will cost $80) to the console, then they'd be suicidally attempting a $AU500 launch.

  • naitpad

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 6:55 pm PT

    I also think the Wii is a little bit overpriced 399$?? exchange rate from us$ to Aus$ ~0.75. So if the Wii in the US is 250$ then it should cost here ~340$ but why 399$. Why everyhting in australia is soo expensive! And that statement that the games will cost ~66 AUS$ is **** If that was the case then the Wii will cost 300$ and not 399$.
    Damn why can't Australia make realistic prices for consoles and games, thats why only a minority of people is interested in playing games in this country.
    And just wait for the PS3 price +1000$ WTF!!!

  • killmcbill

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 1:29 pm PT

    I would like to say that i have been waiting for the Wii since early last year when i first heard of it. And after all of the information supplied so far i would like to announce:
    "SONY AND MICROSOFT PREPARE TO GET OWNED!!!"

  • daqua_99

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 1:10 pm PT

    I dont think there will be many shortages ... but if there is, it won't be long for them to solve the problem ...

  • ariadirossi

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 1:01 pm PT

    Other than the region lock, its still good news for me... Had my Wii preordered since March

    Now all I have to pray for is they bring Super Swing Golf downunder...

  • DemonJD138

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 12:45 pm PT

    Well, I'm not an Austrailian, but if I was, I'd be happy that I was getting the Wii at all, proving that Nintendo cares more about me than Sony does.

  • blacktorn

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 11:14 am PT

    The good thing is that nintendo said "We will be guaranteeing preordered stock at retail".So im guessing that stores can only take pre-orders in nintendo gurantee that particular shop a certain amount of wii's.I've already pre-ordered,so im covered w00t!

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 9:59 am PT

    Possible shortages, that sucks. No region-free Wiis, that also sucks.

  • Omihalcon

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 9:42 am PT

    You mean we're not going to get LoZ: TP till...NEXT YEAR?!? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG JUST GIVE US THE GAME NOW! At this rate i'm gonna stop playing games before it gets here...

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 9:21 am PT

    Atleast Aussies will get some Wiiiis while there will be no PS-3 for them.....
    Before 2007.......

  • noelveiga

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 8:37 am PT

    I assume this all applies to other PAL territories. This sadly means EU Wiis not region free too.

    OK, there are lots of mixed messages on this and I'd like to see a clear statement. Are jap units region free? Because I'm so getting one if they are. Are US units? The statement says australian wiis won't play NTSC games, but not the other way around. It's important, because I only want 1 Wii, and if a Jap console can play euro stuff I'll be saving hundreds of euros in taxes compared to having to import every single game I want.

    Everything looked so good and now it seems I won't be preordering a Wii. I want to know how this works for real before I get one, so my checklist before buying my Wii is:

    1) Go to my import shop and ask to be shown a Jap or US Wii playing a PAL game. 2) Make sure I can plug my import wii to the Internet, browse the Wii Channels and play online.

    3) If those don't check out, go get a Euro Wii... unless I can get import games below 59€, in which case I'll get an import Wii.

    So 1 and 2 could take a few weeks or months.

    Damn Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. Now I get to hate you all at the same time.

  • tutejaa

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 8:28 am PT

    Actually XBOX 360 games for $110 to $120 new release.... I don't see wii game being any cheaper than Gamecube game which go for $89.95 to $99 for resident evil 4.

  • TryMe01

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 7:17 am PT

    "In the US, first-party Wii titles will retail for $50 (A$66.50)."

    Yeah, like that will ever happen. The Australian gaming industry has a habbit of over charging us Aussie gamers. However, i'm seeing xbox360 games selling for $90 retail, so there could be some hope but i highly doubt it

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 6:26 am PT

    this is not a good news for the folks down under ... but they are always welcome to buy it from the rest of asia!

  • Beymaster1

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 4:49 am PT

    NOoOoOoOo not region free for aussie consoles??!?! is it only for aussie consoles?!?!?!

  • djrodgers-pryor

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 4:27 am PT

    Come on everyone, we should be used to getting screwed over by now - its not like this is the first time.

  • redfield_137

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 4:13 am PT

    Region protection is a bit of a blow for the Australian gaming community and the 'yet to be confirmed prices' don't have me in an optimistic frame of mind either.

  • supergeo_2606

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 3:44 am PT

    its less coz we're so goddam isolated from the rest of the world... hmm it might be a good time to pre-order it now...

  • prateekjoshi

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 2:45 am PT

    look at the bright side my australian friends , we back home in india , had to wait till yesterday for xbox 360 for its official launch !!!! so i dare not comment bout the wii availablity , hope it comes out fast!!

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