Analyst says Nintendo deliberately redirecting Wii Fit to Europe

While the supposed Wii Fit shortages are nothing compared to the now infamous Wii shortages we've seen, at least one of those ever-insightful analysts now claims to deduced the cause of them, and he's laying the blame squarely on the big N. According to Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter, Nintendo has shipped some 2 million Wii Fit units to Europe, while reserving a mere 500,000 for North America, which he surmises can only mean that Nintendo is deliberately redirecting 'em in order to take advantage of the strong Euro. Pachter seems to think that Nintendo will still make out alright in the end, however, saying that, "they know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now," when it'll have more units available.

[Via GameSpot]

[Montusama @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:16PM]

yes first

simply rule of capitalism....supply and demand
simple rule of business....make that money

[Darkroom @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:18PM]

simple rule of internet comments... writing "first" when you're first to comment is fucking stupid.

[Ray @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:21PM]

People should try to get "last" on an article.
It would certainly be harder and less annoying.
Just go to all the year-old stories and spend all day posting "last post!".
Not only will nobody care or notice you, but you'll be doing the world a favor by STAYING THE FUCK AWAY FROM PEOPLE.

[Secret Squirrel @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:37PM]

First only matters if you're actually in-line at a store... with 1 Wii Fit in stock!

[Mr. S. @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

I think they are sending them to a land where they know people might use them... Now, if the Wii had a McDonnalds attachement, then were talking 5 mill in america alone! ( I are a Merican! )

[fanman @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

WHERE IS YOUR CAPITALIST GOD NOW?!?!

[Jesse S @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:27PM]

LAST POST

DOES IT BLEND?

WILL IT PLAY DOOM?

STILL NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR CRYSIS!

MAYBE YOU SHOULD SACRIFICE A GOAT TO GET A WII FIT!

Caps are for added cliché.

[pbase @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:40AM]

You forgot…

I, FOR ONE, WELCOME OUR ROCKBOARD SURFING MOTION SENSITIVE OVERLORDS…

There's no robot here, but god knows this should see it's end as well…

[Nick Ritch @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:18PM]

If the americans are too fat they won't be able to play it anyways.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:19PM]

America will always be fat, let others buy it first before America buys them all.

[Low Ranked @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:00PM]

I'm American and I weigh 650+ lbs.

I bought the Wii Fit because they told me I would lose weight.

But, in reality it is the most uncomfortable seat cover ever! I get my excercise by constantly standing up to rearrange it or to bring it from the couch to the dining table.

It also serves as an excellent TV dinner tray.

[cclaunch @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:19PM]

Yeah what's the weight limit on that thing? hah!

And I don't blame them for sending more to a strong market.

[Lori @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:46PM]

300 lbs

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:47AM]

I think they might be making a secondary, reinforced model for the American market after having so many units collapse...

[Michael Chastain @ Jun 4th 2008 7:08PM]

The weight limit is 300lbs for the Japanese version and 330lbs for the American version. I'm not sure about other regions.

[marcin @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:20PM]

WiiFit is a joke.

Who honestly thinks soccer moms are gonna buy a game to exercise in front of a tv rather than going to a gym, a much more social environment which will ultimately yield better results?

Only nintentards will buy this little toy since theres only one decent game a year on that toy they call a wii.

[Ray @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:24PM]

Sorry I can't hear you.
Your voice just blends in so well with all the shouting 8 y-o's playing COD4.

[Darkroom @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:28PM]

while i, and i'm sure most, agree with you that this is not a replacement for active exercise, is it just as you say - "a game"... however, LOTS of "soccer moms" buy yoga videos and take their kids to the park. just think of Wii Fit as something to do when it raining outside...

oh yeah, and wii is awesome, so get over it.

[Bosco @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

There were plenty on the shelves at the local SoCal Target last weekend when I picked mine up. In fact, there were even a few Wii consoles locked away with the video games. My sister picked one up the other day in Portland, OR no problem.

My only concern is the size of the balance board. It's a tad small for my size 12's barefoot. But last time I was in Paris and broke my Air Jesuses walking across the city, I stopped in a little shoe boutique. The lady there informed me that she only had one pair in my size in stock because "French men don't have such big feet". I told her that's not all that's small on French men. But maybe this has something to do with Nintendo's move. The US market may demand a bigger balance board.

[Aaron08 @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:29PM]

You shouldn't have any trouble with your size 12 feet. I'm a UK size 11 (which i thinkis a US 12) and i've got no problem at all fitting on the balance board. There's loads of space.

[Crazyapple @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

I got lucky and got one on Amazon (from Target) last week, during the 3 hour window where they were available.

So far it's great, my feet are 12.5 (US) and they fit OK, though it's certainly a concern and once or twice I got a low score because I wasn't standing centered enough -- I certainly have to look down more than feels natural as a result.

In terms of usability, I'm mid 30's and in good shape and find this to be a good way to go from reasonably good to somewhat better. I still do other physical things, but I'm having fun with it for what it is.

After 45 minutes of various routines I'm certainly breaking a sweat... I wouldn't be if I had sat and played Bioshock or a traditional game.

[Cole Mitguard @ Dec 16th 2008 5:35AM]

I wear a size US 16, perhaps I can buy two... use one per foot? hahaha, yet another thing I will never truly appreciate.

[LongshotX @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:25PM]

America gets fat purposely as an excuse to buy this expensive trash.

[Low Ranked @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:04PM]

Sorry buddy, but we have been 'fat' long before the Wii was conceived.

America and your mother make an excellent comparison, for example.

[LongshotX @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:26PM]

"I told her that's not all that's small on French men."


You know how gay that sounded?

[Jagster @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:03PM]

Wii.

[Freddy @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:05PM]

That's what she said... wait, no...

[nathan.wong @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:27PM]

Wii Fit is a fantastic device. My fiance who never plays video games (or any type of media for that matter) loves the Wii Fit. So saying it's a joke is a little harsh. I've used it numerous times since buying it the day it came out and it's fantastic.

[ketamine @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:30PM]

Well, if you get a decent currency, the rest of the world might start to take you seriously again.

[shauncorleone @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:54PM]

I've seen multiple copies of Wii Fit in countless Florida Targets and Gamestops in the past week, so I'm surmising the shortage is not widespread. Wii shortages seem to continue everywhere, however, which is annoying since I've wanted to buy one for my parents for months but haven't the time or desire to camp out on shipment days.
I do love all the anti-American sentiment on Engadget, though. We're all extremely fat here, getting our just desserts (pun fully intended) with a weak dollar. That's obviously a permanent thing, too, and not cyclical. I would hope for slightly more intelligent comments on a tech blog, but I guess ignorance exists in all corners of the earth.

[Jesse S @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:33PM]

Having the strongest currency is a bad thing, as is having the weakest.

[Ridgecity @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:35PM]

You guys haven't seen this NSFW Wii Fit youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31qxrXsxv0

[mark @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:36PM]

Size 12 feet will easily fit on the board.
wiifit is a good game, very addictive and fun. not to be used as replacement for the gym.

don't worry you can still play COD4 AND wiifit, you won't be ridiculed.

[Big Boy(30 incher) @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:45PM]

What's the weight limit on that?

[Crazyapple @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

The manual shows 330 as the upper limit, I think.

[riggs @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:46PM]

LAST!


and now the wait begins...

[Low Ranked @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:19PM]

...and the weight ends.

[Alex @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:50PM]

American kids do not like to get tired. they prefer to play from the couch eating snacks. It would surprise me if the demand in the US is more than 1/4 of the Europe's demand.
The Euro vs Dollar theory would stand only if they sell most of the units in both continents.

[Zak @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:17PM]

I think it's funny that some people think there are no fat people in other countries.

[BigD145 @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:45PM]

Zak: It's hard to be fat when you're starving. I know it's hard to get fat on rice and that's what half the world eats.

[Proud to be @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:27PM]

I love the American stereotyping going on....clearly all people in America are fat and lazy. Oh, and about the half of the world eating rice, America is well aware, we are the ones giving the most funding to feed these people, while the rest of the world yells and throws their hands in the air about the rich Americans not doing enough. Open your wallet and make a different. No wait...making stereotypical comments makes you sounds so smart...just to that.

[Zak @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:21PM]

BigD - Really? There are no starving people in America? Or is it just that the starving people here are all fat too?

[Krommenaas @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:08AM]

@Proud to be: the USA is actually by far the *least* generous of all rich countries in foreign aid, giving only around 0.16% of GNP. Western European countries typically give 0.4%, northern European countries over 0.8%. The fact that you *think* the USA is so generous fits another stereotype about Americans perfectly though: totally clueless about what's really going on in the world and about the role the USA plays in it.

[Ethan @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

You'll get random crap early again 2 years into obama's presidency, which I 'hope' is inevitable. But that could 'change.'

[Freddy @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:03PM]

Fat Americans, skinny dollar.

[Rainier @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:04PM]

Oh noes! Now I'll never get thin!

[bw @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:17PM]

What's the problem with being fat :)

[CaptainMalarkey @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:19PM]

Good theory.............................. but seeing as though the shop that I work in has been replened with 6 units since launch, I have no Idea where all these millions of units are going to.

[Dave A @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:24PM]

Strong Euro? nah! It's us Yurpeans prepared to pay a price that gives more profit to the Big N; all part of an evil plot to keep you bloated Yanks stuck on your couches for a few weeks more. Or maybe that weak currency of yours is to blame

Seriously. Some loaded phrases is this article, for example "deliberately redirecting" sounds bad but is the analyst asking for Nintendo to ship stock "randomly"? Does he know that this is not the original allocation in the launch plan, i.e. no "redirection" at all. Even if it is a change, is he suggesting that it is wrong for them to send stock to where they can earn the most profit? How awful? Would any American company stoop that low?

[Gizmo @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:52PM]

Yeah, big toy, lots of comments about how bad the dollar is doing, true. But why don't you loud mouth bigots get your country to pay back the poor, fat, and lazy Americans for what you STILL owe from saving your asses in WWI, let alone WWII. As for the game, get up off you butts and go outside. Just another reason to stay at home in side your little houses instead of getting out and meeting other people. I am sure I will get plenty of shit over this one, but get real while your at it.