During a presentation for its Third Quarter Financial Results, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata
spoke to the challenges the company faces in marketing its new console, the Wii U.
Nintendo has sold just over three million Wii Us worldwide so far, which is less than
the company expected.
Iwata says:
"It has now become clear that we have not yet fully communicated the value of our product,
we will try to do so before the software lineup is enhanced and at the same time work to enrich
the software lineup which could make consumers understand the appeal of Wii U."
Nintendo also plans to address some of the concerns that people who did buy a Wii U have
with the system.
Iwata continues:
"We are receiving many comments and requests from consumers about issues such as the time
to start up the system and switch between software, and the duration of the initial
system update.
I acknowledge that we will need to further increase the appeal of the platform through
the system updates we have planned for this spring as well as this summer."
So Nintendo's plan to sell more Wii Us is to improve its messaging to consumers -- but
not to lower the price.
Currently, the Wii U is available in $300 and $350 models, and that's where the prices
will stay for now.
Iwata says:
"With Wii U, we have taken a rather resolute stance in pricing it below its manufacturing
cost, so we are not planning to perform a markdown.
I would like to make this point absolutely clear."
Roger that, Iwata-san.
For more on all things Nintendo, stay tuned to IGN.