Can Super Smash Bros Save Wii U?

The only reason i checked NO was because the Wii-U doesn't need saving.

Last i checked all of it's primary 1st party games aren't even out yet with the exceptions of Super Mario & Pikmin 3, and it's yearly sales are at like 9 million worldwide.

So what do you think will happen when a new Punch Out, Metroid, Zelda, Smash Bros, Mario Kart, and Pokemon come out?

Like it or not it will make the Wii-U hardware fly off store shelves.

I think it will increase sales of the console, but I don't know how many units it would have to sell to "save" it.

I think Kart and Smash together already makes for a better holiday (2014) for family fun than 3D World (which was awesome for the 2013 holiday break). So in terms of "saving", I'd say the combination of this software, and if they continue to maintain it ala GCN, then yeah. It'll keep Nintendo in the console business. I mean, how could you resist getting a Wii U if you had a family? You have Mario 3D World, Mario Kart and Smash Bros. These three games alone will get you so much entertainment.

Wii U will be the gamecube of this generation capping out at around 20 million consoles sold.

MARK MY WORDS.

I'm not sure anyone ever says otherwise. At this point, it is trending lower than the Dreamcast. The question is if Nintendo can salvage something from this mess, and that can only happen if some hardware and software sells.

Honestly youll probably see another price cut this year

It's going to outsell the Dreamcast simply because it will have a longer lifespan, imo.

ill just leave it here

I hate to sound doom and gloom. But I honestly believe nothing can say the system now. If the great line-up they offered in 2013 didn't do it, then I just feel nothing will.

Mario Kart, and Smash Brothers will likely sell a lot, but they won't be selling consoles.

not really, especially now that there is a 3DS version with online.

We hear it a lot, but what does "save Wii U" mean?

After all Nintendo is still maintaining marginal profits so it's not like the system is sinking them.

@ghostwarrior786 said:

ill just leave it here

By the end of the generation, if Nintendo comes out okay, then you'll need to erase all of those crosses because it will be the combination of all of those that kept Nintendo afloat: ie "everything on the blackbloard 'saved' the Wii U"

Install rate isn't high enough to currently do much.

Smash is a niche game, popular among gamers but only has a core audience.

WiiU is the best Nintendo can do.

-Super Smash Bros

-Nintendo's biggest console franchise

Pick one

TC to save the Wii U in the terms you are saying, Super Smash would have to attract millions of new users instead of the just the one who played brawl, which the latter won't happen because part of it was inflated by casuals. Add in the fact there is a 3DS version as well and there you go.

It will move a few but one game is not going to do anything. Unless they make it the official bundled game and then give the bundles a lower price point. Then it might do more.

No, it wont save it from last place this gen.

I wouldn't go as far as niche. It's not as popular as the big flagship Nintendo titles, but at the same time, it isn't far off. It did quite well on the GCN, which is comparable to the Wii U. Where melee was in the launch window, so it also had a small install base to sell to. The counter argument is that given that it was in the launch window, most users had not much to play anyway, so Melee was picked up by most at the time. Regardless, I still think niche might be too harsh a term given the franchise's success in similar markets. An even better example would be Mario Kart, which released 2 years after launch (similar to Smash Bros. Wii U), yet Mario Kart DD sales were on par with what you usually see with Smash sales.

(in millions)

Smash Bros:

Average: 7.8

Wiii: 11

GCN: 7

64: 5.5

Comparatively:

3D Mario:

Average:

9.05

64: 11.9

Galaxy: 11

GCN: 6.3

Galaxy2: 7

Mario Kart:

Average:

12.8

Wii: 32

DS: 21

64: 10

SNES: 8.75

GCN: 7

3DS: 5.6

GBA: 5.5

7.8 vs 9 vs 12.8 (arguably the Wii/DS versions of Mario Kart are somewhat exceptions, especially if we are trying to find comparable markets to the Wii U).

Also, "attach rate isn't high enough", this thread is about exactly that, increasing console sales. That statement is illogical in this context. The question is "will it sell consoles", not "will the game sell".

It sure saved the GC from the two headed monsters of Halo and GTA 3 on the PS2.

What exactly is it being saved from? Has it made Nintendo money or not? Genuine question. Does it need saving? Perhaps in the eyes of the contentious SW user it needs saving. But on a more practical level, where is Nintendo financially with the WiiU?

Either way, the more critical successes the better.

Smash is definitely not a niche game. It doesn't bring in the moms/little kids casual demographic, but it is extremely popular with the Madden/CoD casual demographic.

NO.

ZombiU already saved it.

^^This, the whole doom and gloom of Nintendo is ridiculous, not to mentioned that Wii sales of Mario Kart are stronger than Smash Brothers in both GC and Wii.

Do you know what Nintendo's financials look like? Is the WiiU profitable? I really don't know, I have paid literally no attention to it since it was announced.

It will save it as much as Pikmin did.

How does that make any sense?

@musicalmac: Give me five minutes to think about it.

Wii U sales have a small increase, but I think they're taking a hit for each unit sold. What brings them profit right now is Software sales and the 3DS. Nintendo now needs to release software and I wish Wii Sports Club was a full retail game, that could help some sale increase. Then again Wii Fit U is coming out as well.

I see. I figured that perhaps the WiiU was being sold at a profit given the internal tech (tablet controller aside).

I think they really put their foots in their mouths naming this thing the Wii U. They should have done something different. Then the games, nintendo I'd really like to see you calm down with the charming childish themes and subjects. Sure it's fine for a few games but come-on.

I would like to see them take a more mature stance on some of their properties. Delve into versions of Zelda & Metroid where mature and/or adult themes could be explored would have opened the games up a lot.

Here's something you might like http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/steve-jobs-explains-why-nintendos-current-strategy-sucks/

Define save.

Save it from being a complete shit show? sure.

Save it that it has a successful return to form gen? Hell no.

The system is dead and buried as a seller. The best thing it could have going for it is some great exclusives this gen. Essentially the Wii without the sales. Mostly shit console and short library, but the few games it did get here and there were really good, if not exceptional(The Galaxy games, and well that's it).

Nintendo needs to go on a studio acquisition spree to fill the 3rd party gap. Maybe not for the Wii U, but definitely for their next home console. About time they realize that 3rd parties don't give a **** about them.

No. The wii U is doomed. And the longer it's out, the less hope I have for it. I will be shocked if it passes the gamecube in sales. That damn tablet controller killed their console. It's too expensive and if they keep going on it with, they will bleed more money. They are not making money on that console right now and it looks like they will need another price drop soon which will hurt them more. Poor research/marketing on their part.

Its gonna need something that's will blow people's mind at this point..not just "oh that's a great game" or its a good game. :p

+1 make something epic nintendo ..

and it will turn around like 3ds did.

mario kart8 or smash might be it...we'll see.

I fail to see how the 3DS version will hurt it, considering fighting games on handhelds still aren't that popular compared to their console counterparts.

yup it will be up to Nintendo and its other studios like Monolith etc.

The wii u should be in last place by a couple million units by march 2014. The only reason the ps4 has not passed the wii u yet is production can't meet demand. Last I checked in NA gamestop had 1.8 million pre-orders still not filled. Sony said the wanted 5 million by march and the number seems low in light of having sold over 4 million already.

So what can smash brothers really do at this point??

Unless the wii u gets a price drop and some 1st party support I say it's going to be another gamecube.

No, it's a multiplat

Where have I heard this before?

Oh yea, Super Mario 3D World.

Save it sales? No, it's coming last and I would be surprised if it beat Gamecube/Xbox numbers.

Save it in games? No, one game won't change anything, though as part of Nintendo's usual awesome 1st party it will do it's part to make the console worthwhile as a secondary machine.

Save it in reputation? No, the WiiU is unknown to casuals and a joke amongst "the hardcore" so I don't think anything can save it at this point. Once PS4 and Xbox One get rolling and actually, ya know, get some proper next gen games, the WiiU will be mostly forgotten I think. Remembered once or twice a year when something like X comes out.

@ghostwarrior786 said:

ill just leave it here

LOL, looks right.

Most effective one to save the Wi..make that Nintendo, will be firing Iwata.

Every time a new game comes out it seems to be the one like neo. Nintendo needs to change the way it does things on almost everything.

Save it from what? If it'll stay at 30/40k per week then it'll stay afloat through the generation. No game will ever provoke a higher continuous number of sales because the WiiU is a commercial failure. A strong marketing campaign is what can definitely boost the sales exponentially.

I can probably name you more than two dozens good-great-brilliant exclusives/plats for the Wii, it's a great console to own now because everything is available, and it's dirt cheap. That's why i like waiting rather than buying early, so i don't have to experience drought.

The WiiU might be better as far as exclusives go. I have to wait and see how 2015 is to judge.

Every time a new Nintendo wiiu game comes out there are threads saying "Will game X save the wiiu?"

@trugs26: I don't want to go as far as to 'Niche' either, but when you look at it as a system seller it is.

Great game, super popular with gamers... but... but it is a cartoon fighting game on the WiiU. Maybe I'm wrong and niche isn't the right word, but it definitely is in a strange position.

It's likely that it will, given that people bought the Nintendo Wii just for Brawl. However, if Nintendo doesn't release it on time, they might have to rename it to Super Smash Bros for PlayStation 4, Super Smash Bros for Xbox One, and Super Smash Bros for Steam.

No, just no...

A real console Pokemon would save it.