gaming Are stores not stocking wii U games?

[DiscordAnarchy 770]

During the release of Batman: Origins and Assassin's Creed Black Flag, I noticed a surprising lack of WiiU comments and reviews for both the games. Apparently I was not the only one as it would seem other WiiU owners began noticing the lack of reviews as well.

 

After reading some of these discussions in the forums, I decided to do some digging. The first discussion I found was this one over at IGN where WiiU owners are discussing the lack of reviews for the WiiU versions along with the lack of stocking the games in stores.

 

Feel free to read the Discussion Here

 

As for the lack of reviews:

 

Now I would like to point out that as of these games' releases, the Playstation 4 was not released yet. Even though, that did not stop reviewers from giving the PS4 version a review (at least 17 documented Metacritic reviewers - not User reviews). Meaning that people bothered reviewing a game for a system that was not even out yet versus one that has been out for just about a year.

Once seeing this, I decided to do some homework. There are 2 Gamestops in my city and 2 in neighboring cities (Upland, Montclair, Ontario, and Rancho Cucamonga). Whenever I drop by one of these stores, I make it a point to check the WiiU section. Since the release of these two games I have noticed the following:

• Games such as Need For Speed and Deus Ex are not stocked in these GameStops.
• Assassin's Creed 4 was available in only ONE Gamestop but it was not being advertised or displayed for the WiiU. I had to ask the guy at the counter if they had any. There was no display box in the WiiU section or behind the counter whatsoever.
• Batman Origins only appeared on shelves 2 weeks after it's launch for the WiiU while the others were out on display on launch day.

This was not strictly a GameStop issue. The two Targets near my home (Montclair and Rancho Cucamonga) do not stock Assassin's Creed IV nor Dues Ex. Walmart is also missing these two games.

The one that surprised me the most was when I went into Gamestop today to pick up Mario 3D World. I had to go to 3 Gamestops. The first two ONLY had enough for pre-orders, the third had about 5 extra. This surprises me as the first-party WiiU games always seem to be given a lot more stock outside of just pre-orders. This could just be due to being recently released but I would imagine that a high-profile game like Mario would be in stock past the Pre-Orders.

 

Now I am not saying this is some huge Anti-Nintendo conspiracy. What I am saying that it is unusual to see so many stores not carrying specific games. One could make the following arguement:

Why waste money and space stocking WiiU games if they won't sell?

 

Which I reply with the following: How can anyone anywhere expect games to sell to begin with if they aren't put in the stores?

 

It's that typical Catch 22 that we've seen with the WiiU - People don't want to put games on the WiiU because the system supposedly didn't sell enough but it doesn't sell enough because people won't put games on the system.

 

You cannot build an audience if you won't give them (Ungimped) games.

 

I am not sure the reason for these games lacking in stores. Is it the Store's choice? Is it the studio's? Is it the Publisher? I don't know.

 

Have you noticed stores lacking in some of these WiiU titles or do you think these are just isolated coincidences?

[Zygen 6,066]

I haven't really noticed this, but then again i don't have a Wii U yet and haven't done the digging.

 

I mean i've seen most other games for Wii U around in stores and stuff. I can't say i know if specifically those games are stocked though.

 

I don't really have any kind of explaination, maybe its just they where all bought or something? Maybe the demand is just lower and most play it on other consoles, so they don't stock as many? 

 

I don't know if its there not stocking them at all, but if they know people will mostly be buying them on other consoles, i don't think they're going to buy tons of copies.

[Mutemutt 773]

I guessing they don't stock as much because they don't believe it will sell that much.

 

Now I am not saying this is some huge Anti-Nintendo conspiracy. What I am saying that it is unusual to see so many stores not carrying specific games. One could make the following arguement:

Why waste money and space stocking WiiU games if they won't sell?

 

Which I reply with the following: How can anyone anywhere expect games to sell to begin with if they aren't put in the stores?

 

If more people went asking for those games or more preorders were made for the game the store would stock more of the game. Ideally you want to stock just enough of the game depending on how fast they sell; games sitting on shelves cost funds. If there's any demand for a game, the stores will find out one way or another.

 

It's that typical Catch 22 that we've seen with the WiiU - People don't want to put games on the WiiU because the system supposedly didn't sell enough but it doesn't sell enough because people won't put games on the system.

 

Yep, in this case it's all up to Nintendo and their first party developers to sell the WiiU. That isn't exactly surprising, though.

Edited November 25, 2013 by Mutemutt

[Harmonic Revelations 8,837]

If they don't believe that there is a wide Wii-U demographic in that area they won't sell it there. I believe that it might have something with how well (Or poorly, rather) the Wii-U might have sold in that area.