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Rumor: Nintendo of Australia to solve New Zealand's distribution problems
We recently fretted over neglected Nintendo fans in New Zealand, as the country's Nintendo distributor had to file for receivorship (effectively taking them out of them distribution picture). Now, though, it seems that there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the Kiwis, and the loss of Softprint Interactive might not be all doom and gloom. When we last mentioned the issue, we hoped that Nintendo would step up and take care of things themselves, but we never thought they actually would. Yet, current rumors are putting our doubts to rest. While an Australian company called All Interactive Distribution seems to be taking up things on the distributing end, Nintendo of Australia will supposedly support them and promote Nintendo products.While this is certainly good news for Kiwis, we think it's also good news for Nintendo, as the company has had trouble gaining a foothold in New Zealand. [Via GoNintendo]
The Wii trails behind competitors in New Zealand
Apparently, Korea isn't the only place on the globe where the Wii is selling poorly. Yet even in Korea, the Wii isn't the bottom-feeder of this generation -- not so in New Zealand. Nintendo's great white hope is the country's last-place current-gen console, selling only 16,000 units compared to the PS3's 34,000 and the 360's 45,000. Perhaps the Kiwis wouldn't be so adverse to the Wii if Nintendo actually showed some love to the neglected country. In the current climate, though, New Zealanders are distributor-less. Phoenix Distribution is picking up the slack for Activision's games in the region, but according to the company's founder, "Nintendo is a lemon." To top it all off, Nintendo doesn't even bother advertising the console to its beloved casual crowd, making the Wii a system for the Nintendo hardcore only. Obviously, the distribution problem needs to be fixed, but will it be?If any of you Kiwis want to shed some light on the situation, feel free to do so in the comments.[Via NeoGAF]
New Zealand: Nintendo's new red-headed stepchild
Those of you in the UK or Australia can complain all you want about how Nintendo doesn't love you, but New Zealand is probably the most deprived English-speaking region out there -- or at least, it will be.Softprint Interactive, the company that distributes Nintendo and other companies' games in the land of the kiwis, has recently filed for receivership (aka bankruptcy). Hopefully, someone will step up (perhaps Nintendo themselves) to fix this distribution disaster, otherwise New Zealand might be in trouble. Activision will also have to find a new distributor in the country, as Softprint was responsible for their games as well. Yikes-- we hope none of you kiwis were looking forward to Guitar Hero: On Tour.[Via Go|Nintendo]
