For three consecutive Christmas seasons, the Nintendo Wii was the holiday gift for many families. Chronic shortages only heightened interest in the Wii and boosted word of mouth about the game console with the innovative motion-sensing controller. From toddlers to grannies, the Wii had many enthusiastic fans swinging golf clubs or moving Mario across the screen. Nintendo's profits soared as the Wii worked its magic.NHS has, in fact, endorsed the Wii Fit, allowing the product's adverts to bear the logo of the Change4Life healthy-living programme.
Now sales of Nintendo's game consoles have slowed, due in part to poor economic conditions and to competitive pressure from Microsoft and Sony. The firm also notes that game sales are down, despite the built-in market of so many Wii consoles in households worldwide. Nintendo just reduced its sales forecast and cut the Wii's base price to stimulate purchasing during the all-important yearend holiday season.
Another factor in console sales is that game enthusiasts have numerous mobile options these days--not just Nintendo's own ds but also games downloaded for the iPhone and other smart phones. Can the Wii recapture its popularity and boost Nintendo's profits during the upcoming holiday season?
