Home Gaming Nintendo to make its second ever annual loss

Nintendo to make its second ever annual loss

2 min read
22

Well

Nintendo is a company that makes money, not one that haemorrhages cash. That’s a statement that been true since the company’s inception way back in 1889. Last year though, the company reported its first ever operating loss – and it looks like it’ll be doing the same this year.

According to business and financial market news.outlet Bloomberg, Nintendo’s will be announcing a 18.7 billion yen loss for the 2012 fiscal year, which ended on March 31. That’s the equivalent of R 1,760,922,900 – which is about 7 Nkandlas, or roughly 76561865 Big Macs. That’s how much Nintendo’s lost in a year.

That’s quite a staggering amount for a company that just three years ago, was swimming in heaps of cash large enough to make Scrooge McDuck contemplate a new career path. Much of the fault, say analysts, lie with Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, who’s quite likely to be ousted from the company soon. The poor situation its new console, the Wii U finds itself in isn’t likely to help.

It’s really unfortunate, because the Wii U is a wonderful machine – but there are just too many problems with its marketing and release.

Firstly, it has a terrible, confusing name – and many consumers don’t actually know that it’s a new console. Too many people believe it to be an add-on to the Wii and whoever greenlighted the name needs to be shot.

Secondly, it was released exactly one year too late. Had it been released earlier, people might have been more intrigued – but as it is now, most gamers are waiting to see what Sony and Microsoft have up their sleeves.

Lastly, Nintendo failed to learn from its 3DS mistakes. Instead of launching with a wealth of titles, the Wii U launched with a mere handful of great games – with close to nothing of real worth coming for the system in the months that followed.

And while the 3Ds has had a significant turnaround, that’s yet to happen with the Wii U – and until it does, Nintendo’s going to stay in trouble. Marketing like this isn’t going to win anybody over though.

Still, never count Nintendo out.

Last Updated: April 23, 2013

22 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Erwin

    April 23, 2013 at 13:44

    1889?

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      April 23, 2013 at 13:48

      Yep. Nintendo’s older than your mom.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Erwin

        April 23, 2013 at 13:50

        Still younger than your’s.

        Reply

        • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

          April 23, 2013 at 14:12

          BOOM!

          Reply

        • HvR

          April 23, 2013 at 14:16

          At least his mom makes a profit every quarter.

          Reply

  2. Anon A Mouse

    April 23, 2013 at 14:09

    I thought the Wii U was a handheld device. Up until this minute I did not know it’s the new console from Nintendo and the successor to the Wii. #Ignoranceisbliss

    Reply

  3. Ultimo_Cleric_N7

    April 23, 2013 at 14:14

    This is genuinely disturbing. It seems the entire gaming industry is taking a nosedive. While its fun to lay into the businesses like a bunch of trills now and then, if this continues there might not be any games to talk about in 5 years……

    Reply

    • HvR

      April 23, 2013 at 14:36

      Where there is a market (us) there will be games. Sometimes a good dip in the market is a good thing, I think it is ludicrous that a AAA game’s total dev/marketing costs are reaching $100mil and then you only get maybe one memorable game a year. with the same game being released every year + 3 DLC.

      This is late 80’s early 90’s all over again; at that stage EVERYBODY was in gaming bringing out essentially the same type of jerky/screen load plat-formers for every movie or cartoon coming out every month. Then the crash leaving space for guys in there garages and back rooms to form companies like ID, Westwood and Blizzard to create new genres (FPS, RTS and D&D style RPGs) overnight.

      So let the dead wood rot and deteriorate.

      Reply

      • Sir Oldfart

        April 23, 2013 at 14:43

        What he said 🙂

        Reply

  4. HvR

    April 23, 2013 at 14:37

    Ninitendo introduces big ass bulky tablet and old style video game system BUT WAIT there is no more NO GAMES. Nintendo we do things completely different.

    Reply

  5. HvR

    April 23, 2013 at 14:39

    Ok boys and girls the books are open, place your bets, place your bets.

    Who is going to go first Nintendo or Apple.

    Reply

  6. Sir Oldfart

    April 23, 2013 at 14:40

    So its a new console that is on par with the PS360. But you do not have to use your TV. You can play on the bog while the Mayor watches Isidingo. But you have to be in range.

    Sighhh why cant it just be a fcking Tablet like the iPad with control sticks?? Only Nintendo have to chuck a Fisher Price stamp of approval on what should be a tablet.

    If the Tablet was on its own and did not need the console then Nontendo have joined the future. Even the Vita is a huge mistake.

    iPad please.

    Reply

    • Sir Oldfart

      April 23, 2013 at 14:41

      Give it 5 years and the power of todays PC will be crunched down into an iPad.
      SKYRIM ON THE COMPANY LOOOOO ALLLLLLL DAYYYYYYY 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Reply

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