Nintendo explains Wii Fit shortages using familiar language

Well, it looks like all that experience Nintendo has half-explaining Wii supply issues isn't going to waste -- the company just issued a statement regarding shortages of Wii Fit that sounds awfully familiar. Seriously, follow along with us here:

• Wii shortages, Nov. 14, 2007: "The demand for Wii hardware globally has been unprecedented and higher than Nintendo could ever have anticipated."
• Wii Fit shortages, Aug. 28, 2008: "Nintendo had a substantial supply nationwide for launch, though some stores saw spot shortages due to unprecedented demand for this unique product."

Here's a thought, guys: if there's "unprecedented" demand for the console, the demand for arguably the biggest accessory for that console since launch probably isn't unprecedented as well -- and your PR people shouldn't be so well-versed in making excuses like this.

[Via Slashgear]

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 7:30PM]

so how's that Wii Fit challenge coming, Ryan? oh that's right you're not here.

[deyanimay @ Aug 28th 2008 7:45PM]

I wonder if he made a bet and lost so he was forced to resign. =)

[Macro @ Aug 28th 2008 8:24PM]

demands high so it could have been worse, they could have just made it a ridiculous price.

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 8:25PM]

"thanks" for the reply Macro. the quotations make something ironic, by the way.

[Macro @ Aug 28th 2008 9:19PM]

Wow people on this site are sad people try to make real comments and they get replies like that.. at least you help reinforce my hatred of fan boys! "thanks" to you idiot

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 9:21PM]

temper temper, Macro. maybe if you weren't so insecure that no one would read your shitty comment, you wouldn't have to irrelevantly reply to the first post?

[Macro @ Aug 28th 2008 9:25PM]

wow my bad i should have replied to one right below, didn't realize i would get such a rude reply

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 9:27PM]

or, you know, reply when it's actually a reply? "thanks" for the name calling though

[Macro @ Aug 28th 2008 9:32PM]

i was just stating the obvious

[monkfishbandana @ Aug 28th 2008 10:01PM]

@ phanbouy

" "thanks" for the reply Macro. the quotations make something ironic, by the way."

A. Quotation marks do not denote irony, they denote quotation - see above.

B. If statement A were untrue, statement C is still true.

C. You don't understand irony.

[Grant @ Aug 28th 2008 10:35PM]

Kids, don't make me pull this car over!

[Grant @ Aug 28th 2008 10:35PM]

Kids, don't make me pull this car over!

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 11:57PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Irony

monkfish, what's ironic is that by demonstrating your erudition, you've exposed your ignorance

[Dallas @ Aug 29th 2008 1:23AM]

phanbouy, you flamed Macro for posting a reply to a thread you started, and you say he's insecure! You even went so far as to point out to monkfishbandana via a wiki link that you were right.

All you've done is sullied engadget with your egotism in an attempt to further your delusions of self-righteousness.

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 1:31AM]

Dallas, he didn't "reply to my thread"; he hijacked it. This is called "top-posting" everywhere else on the internet, but only at engadget, apparently, would anyone would defend such idiocy. yeah, it's a peeve of mine, deal with it; i've called others out on it even when it's NOT "my" thread.

and as for monkfish; ok Dallas, from now on, when someone insults me and is dead wrong, I'll simply say:

"gee thanks mister! even though you're dead wrong, i am your bitch and will love you long time!"

where do you guys come from, honestly?

[stefan @ Aug 29th 2008 4:08AM]

Hey, that's three ironic elements in your last post, right there.

I'm Swiss by the way. Now someone please hand me my coat and I'll be on my merry way... jodeling....

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Aug 29th 2008 8:32AM]

Nintendo's not to blame. They made as many Wii's and Wii Fit's as they did Gamecubes, and they didn't have trouble keeping those things on shelves. OH :)

Back to the flame war.

[Nicholas @ Aug 28th 2008 7:31PM]

I just wish Nintendo would get their act together and start getting production to a rate that can meet demand. I loves me my Wii, but seriously Nintendo, everyone wants one.

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 28th 2008 7:59PM]

While waiting for the Wii Fit, get the WiiWare software called "Helix" - not bad exercise for upper body and only 1000 "Wii Points' ($10 in US).

http://gigaom.com/2008/08/27/wiiware-finally-gets-some-rhythm/

[john @ Aug 28th 2008 7:34PM]

wait, you're complaining that Nintendo is not making money quick enough?

[aaron @ Aug 28th 2008 7:34PM]

Time for a new "marketing" angle Nintendo....this one is OLD and boring now.

[giantenemycrab @ Aug 28th 2008 7:35PM]

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=269 says it all. I hate you nintendo.

[drumdbeat @ Aug 28th 2008 7:42PM]

Gripping Story.

[JimReaper @ Aug 28th 2008 7:35PM]

Shut up and make more damn wii fit boards Nintendo! I don't really care whether or not you want to pretend you're not in control of stock levels, just ship more.

[lukas88 @ Aug 28th 2008 7:36PM]

I'm still hoping they come out with some update that will let you queue games to play back to back so you don't have to go through all the steps every time. Do you think that is just wishful thinking?

[thrillchuckles @ Aug 28th 2008 7:39PM]

translation - the fats actually thought this was excercise.
i bet there are alot of PAL versions if this thing floating around.

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 7:45PM]

I'm not your PAL, guy

[thrillchuckles @ Aug 28th 2008 7:50PM]

im not your guy, PAL

[Elevator @ Aug 28th 2008 10:04PM]

I'm not you PAL, buddy.

[aaron @ Aug 29th 2008 12:50AM]

PAL, I'm not your guy.

[Colin Potter @ Aug 29th 2008 2:48AM]

NTSC for the win?

[ybd @ Aug 28th 2008 7:42PM]

Who would have guessed that in 3 years Nintendo will turn into this? What a terrible company.

[)law( @ Aug 28th 2008 7:48PM]

Less bullshits and more systems nintendo, your not the bush admin. with katrina money. Stop making excuses and use that time to make more systems or write more rain checks that you can honner.

[Pingmeister @ Aug 28th 2008 7:50PM]

Anyone who has seen the bulldozing of Atari cartridges understands Nintendo's position.

Just because we KNOW it's a hit now doesn't mean it was a sure-thing to begin with.

Shortages are MUCH easier to explain to stockholders than explaining warehouses full of unsold stock.

[Jerry Mazda @ Aug 28th 2008 7:51PM]

Wow this changed my world!

[Kenny @ Aug 28th 2008 7:58PM]

Right, they regret to sell it too cheap. If they have sold it for $200, there wouldn't be unprecedented demand.

[PCIV @ Aug 28th 2008 7:59PM]

And i've just got my wii fit today...

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 8:00PM]

let us know how it goes, fat ass

i keed i keed

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 29th 2008 6:54AM]

Let us know how it goes, slimmer ass.

I need, I need.

[Rick @ Aug 28th 2008 8:01PM]

Nintendo must have been in charge of the MSI Wind and Lenovo S10 production forcasts as well. Lenovo stopped taking on-line orders for the S10 yesterday. Nintendo will probably cut production of the Wii Fits just in time for the upcoming Holiday season.

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 8:06PM]

another love note to weblogs, inc: i know it takes time for new comments to post, but i've seen comments up to an HOUR old that still hide on alternate refreshes.

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 28th 2008 8:21PM]

*refresh*
5 comments
*refresh*
0 comments
*refresh*
3 comments
...
WTF?

[)law( @ Aug 28th 2008 8:06PM]

Santa is not coming this year with a wii?!?

[)law( @ Aug 28th 2008 8:07PM]

Santa is not comming this year with a wii?!?!

[Carl M @ Aug 28th 2008 8:16PM]

Many people seem to think that (a) Nintendo ought to know how much stuff to make, and that (b) making more just involves turning a dial somewhere.

Both of these are not such easy things when you're talking about huge numbers.

Predicting how much stuff people will buy is an art that's based a lot upon past sales. Nintendo has two problems here: (1) the GameCube sales sucked, and (2) the Wii sales are so far out of the ballpark, Nintendo doesn't even know where/when the peak is.

Making more stuff involves (1) getting more of all the basic parts, and (2) buying, building, or renting more factory space to put it all together. Nintendo might be limited by what their supplies can produce, and whether it's them or Nintendo, eventually, it comes down to building more factories, which is something that doesn't just happen overnight.

Given that building more factories takes time, how much new capacity do you build? If it takes a year to make a new factory, and in a year demand drops such that the factory output is no longer required, then congratulations! You've just wasted many many millions of dollars!

In short, Pingmeister knows what he's talking about.

[Greg @ Aug 28th 2008 8:19PM]

Well Nintendo is either:
a) Too cheap to ramp up production
b) Too cautious/conservative to ramp up production
c) Too stupid to ramp up production
d) All or some of the above

[lukas88 @ Aug 28th 2008 8:32PM]

Maybe nintendo just realizes that the best way to advertise your product is to have people line up to buy it.

Yeah, they are stupid. Stupid like a fox.

[totoro @ Aug 28th 2008 9:38PM]

e) The only console maker who consistently makes a profit on both their hardware and software sales.
f) Laughing all the way to the bank

[Greg @ Aug 29th 2008 2:42AM]

g) Laughing all the way to the bank with your money and not of lost sales.

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 29th 2008 6:57AM]

> Maybe nintendo just realizes that the best way to advertise your
> product is to have people line up to buy it...

Is an iPhone comment appropriate here?