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[Mpl90]

One of the biggest problems with Nintendo's original Wii was its low attach rate. Nintendo may have expanded its audience far beyond a typical video game console owner with demographic barrier-destroying games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, but the problem was, a lot of those customers never bothered to buy more games.

It's too early to tell whether that situation is going to change with the Wii U, but at the very least, things are looking good prior to this Sunday's launch.

GameStop reports that it's currently sitting on 1.2 million preorders for Wii U games on top of the 500,000 consoles it was allocated (all of which were almost immediately reserved when they went up for preorder back in September).

That's an attach rate of 2.4 games for every console, which the company says is more than double what it saw leading up to the launch of the original Wii.

This is certainly attributable to a much stronger third-party lineup this time around. The company says preorders were led by (in no particular order, we imagine) Ubisoft's Zombie U and Assassin's Creed 3, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Warner Bros.' Scribblenauts Unlimited, and Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. U.

By comparison, the original Wii's strongest launch title (not including the packed-in Wii Sports) was The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Third-party support included titles like Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Red Steel.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...:+GamasutraNews+(Gamasutra+News)#.UKU31OToSSo

 

[Orayn]

Makes sense, Wii U's launch lineup is much better; More core titles and what looks to be pretty good Mario game from day one.

 

[Tagg9]

Makes sense, Wii U's launch lineup is much better; More core titles and what looks to be pretty good Mario game from day one.

Yep, Wii U's launch lineup is exponentially better than Wii's.

 

[DragonSworne]

I'm glad scribblenauts is getting preordered.

I personally think WiiU has the strongest launch lineup in history

 

[KillerTravis]

No surprise considering the launch lineup is much better and diversed.

 

[raven777]

But didn't Wii launch with Zelda?

 

[DragonSworne]

But didn't Wii launch with Zelda?

It was better on GC

Left handed link > widescreen

 

[brandonh83]

I'm definitely getting more games after reviews and GAF impressions. For now I only feel good about paying for Mario, it's the "safest" bet for me, but if things are favorable for stuff like Black Ops II and Assassin's III, I will be all over them.

 

[Macho Madness]

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

 

[Mpl90]

What's interesting is the number of units allocated ( and preordered). I mean, 500k just for Gamestop seems like a massive amount of consoles, no?

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I know I found lots more games I wanted for this launch. Nice to also have 3rd Party ports

 

[Little Green Yoda]

I personally think _____ has the strongest launch lineup in history

Somebody says this every time a new platform launches.

 

[iammeiam]

500K launch consoles just for GameStop? Seriously? Wasn't Wii 600-700k total for NA at launch? Holy fuck.

But, yeah, I'm in for two launch titles, up from just Zelda on the Wii.

 

[JDSN]

Makes sense, good to see Scribblenauts getting preordered.

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

Isnt Wii's attach rate like 8.5?

 

[Tenck]

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

Mmmm tears.

 

[The Mana Legend]

Somebody says this every time a new platform launches.

Except Sony systems.

 

[AmFreak]

The Wii had one game packed in, so that is really not surprising ...

 

[Bulzeeb]

It was better on GC

Left handed link > widescreen

if the next zelda uses the wiimote for sword play they need to give the option to use the left hand

 

[Captain Smoker]

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

Wii had very bad sales. Listen to this man.

 

[methodman]

500K launch consoles just for GameStop? Seriously? Wasn't Wii 600-700k total for NA at launch? Holy fuck.

But, yeah, I'm in for two launch titles, up from just Zelda on the Wii.

Ya I remember the Wii being 600k total for all of na on launch day or something. Holy shit at 500k just for gamestop.

 

[Little Green Yoda]

Except Sony systems.

I guess you weren't around for the Vita launch?

 

[Macho Madness]

Wii had very bad sales. Listen to this man.

Please tell me more about its great attach rate.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

500,000 consoles? I wonder if they have the largest share among retail stores

 

[Malvingt2]

BO2 has a good chance to be the most sell Third Party game for the Wii U but Zombi U is going to make it close. Imo

 

[The Mana Legend]

I guess you weren't around for the Vita launch?

I was, but most of those people backed off when none of the original games for it except Uncharted turned out to be good, and even that was a huge disappointment.

 

[Orayn]

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

Can't find any data for preorders of the original Wii, but its lifetime attach rate is around 8.6. Mull this over for a bit.

 

[DragonSworne]

Somebody says this every time a new platform launches.

That's because it's an opinion and not a fact

And launches get better and better each gen

 

[TunaLover]

Going from 0 to 1 probably isn't hard.

Deluxe bundle comes with Nintendo Land. I don´t know the alocation of Basics/Deluxes bundles though, I think that there are more Deluxes boxes out there.

 

[KojiKnight]

Remember too that Wii's initial push was very much "expanded audience" that was only interested in Wii Sports. Most people aren't getting the Wii U for Nintendo Land... I expect the premium version with it packaged will be more of a nice surprise than something people actively seek out.

 

[Macho Madness]

Oh. Looks like it actually went from 1 to 2. Fair enough.

 

[Matt]

Wait...what? Just GameStop is getting 500,000 units on launch day, ALL of which are pre-ordered? That would make the Wii U BY FAR the most successful system launch of all time.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Take into account the standard edition doesn't come with Nintendoland, a game, so it's fair to say nearly everyone who buys the std ed will buy a game with it. Every Wii came with Wii Sports.

 

[Baconsammy]

Mmmm tears.

It's not tears at all. I know more people that bought a Wii for Wii Sports and absolutely nothing else than I know people that bought games for it. People buying the Wii U most likely are into games more than the experience of the pack-in.

 

[JDSN]

Oh. Looks like it actually went from 1 to 2. Fair enough.

Oh, you're just being a troll then, fair enough.

 

[MG310]

Makes sense given that there's probably more basic models out there than deluxe so people will need to buy a game.

 

[Macho Madness]

It's not tears at all. I know more people that bought a Wii for Wii Sports and absolutely nothing else than I know people that bought games for it. People buying the Wii U most likely are into games more than the experience of the pack-in.

Apparently I'm not allowed to be real even though I'm getting a Wii U on Sunday.

 

[TunaLover]

Take into account the standard edition doesn't come with Nintendoland, a game, so it's fair to say nearly everyone who buys the std ed will buy a game with it. Every Wii came with Wii Sports.

I think there are more deluxe bundles than basic ones.

 

[DragonSworne]

Remember too that Wii's initial push was very much "expanded audience" that was only interested in Wii Sports. Most people aren't getting the Wii U for Nintendo Land... I expect the premium version with it packaged will be more of a nice surprise than something people actively seek out.

Let's wait for the sales results before we say most people aren't getting Nintendoland

I think Nintendoland will sell over 1million before the end of march in the US.

 

[flyinpiranha]

Decent 3rd party out of the gate (Blops2, AC3) would do that. I mean, if I bought a Wii U I would definitely have gotten AC3 for it along with the Mario game and something for the kid.

 

[Macho Madness]

Oh, you're just being a troll then, fair enough.

Read the quoted text in the OP.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

What's interesting is the number of units allocated ( and preordered). I mean, 500k just for Gamestop seems like a massive amount of consoles, no?

Makes sense to me. My friend just texted me the numbers of instock units for Wal Marts within a 30 mile radius of him in Covina, CA. 1,309 units "sold" (as in preordered consoles). One store had 62(!) alone. His store has 34 units in with 40 on order

 

[dsmoke1986]

I'm glad scribblenauts is getting preordered.

I personally think WiiU has the strongest launch lineup in history

Sega Dreamcast disagrees...

 

[Orayn]

Oh. Looks like it actually went from 1 to 2. Fair enough.

You're allowed to be real when you have data. So yeah, the 1 to 2 comment is a slight undersell, but reasonable.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

Aside from Wii Sports and Twilight princess there was not much else until RE4 Wii edition hit the shelves, so I find this hardly surprising.

 

[Mpl90]

Makes sense to me. My friend just texted me the numbers of instock units for Wal Marts within a 30 mile radius of him in Covina, CA. 1,309 units "sold" (as in preordered consoles). One store had 62(!) alone. His store has 34 units in with 40 on order

Mmmh...wow.

 

[DNF]

Please tell me more about its great attach rate.

was it donny or joshua who posted that at around 2010 the attach ratio was almost the same (in the US) for all three consoles ? or am i making things up now ?

 

[Macho Madness]

You're allowed to be real when you have data. Right now, you're just being negative because you only have anecdotes.

I guess we just don't read OP's anymore.

 

[KojiKnight]

Let's wait for the sales results before we say most people aren't getting Nintendoland

I think Nintendoland will sell over 1million before the end of march in the US.

I may be jumping the gun a bit, but would you count pack-ins amongst that million? I ask because we've had many many people saying that the premium is outselling the basic by a ton.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Aside from Wii Sports and Twilight princess there was not much else until RE4 Wii edition hit the shelves, so I find this hardly surprising.

ExciteTruck!

 

[Zips]

I too am curious about this 500,000 allocation to GameStop number. Wonder what the total number of consoles allocated to the different retailers is.