I was looking forward to the Wii. The innovative controller design and technology was appealing, knowing the company's history for innovation. However being a long stand Nintendo fan, I was aware of the companies complete disregard for Europe which has caused it's last to consoles to fizzle out like a couple of damp squibs.
This time I thought - maybe thinks will be different? Wii has launch with a bang in both the US and Japan, selling out and out selling the PS3 there. With the momentum of those two launches and with the PS3 not launching until after Christmas here, the Wii seemed unstoppable. What could go wrong?
But, oh wait, things don't seem to have changed that much, Nintendo still doesn't seem to care much about Europe. Two weeks before Christmas they ship less than they promised. Not only that, but they seem to have allocated less Wii's for those who have 'pre-ordered' to guarantee themselves or their kids' a Wii but they are still selling to those who sleep over, queue or just walk into a 24 supermarket. More concerned with 'selling out!' and headlines of people 'camping out' than customer relations. Oh and we have to pay £50 more than the Americans.
Could this be another 5 years or poor relations, bad advertising and PR, poor third-party support, shoddy PAL conversions and ever distant release dates. Something I'd rather not pay £180 for the privilege of going through, again.
Register
Nintendo: Screwing Europe for 20 years
I was looking forward to the Wii. The innovative controller design and technology was appealing, knowing the company's history for innovation. However being a long stand Nintendo fan, I was aware of the companies complete disregard for Europe which has caused it's last to consoles to fizzle out like a couple of damp squibs.
This time I thought - maybe thinks will be different? Wii has launch with a bang in both the US and Japan, selling out and out selling the PS3 there. With the momentum of those two launches and with the PS3 not launching until after Christmas here, the Wii seemed unstoppable. What could go wrong?
But, oh wait, things don't seem to have changed that much, Nintendo still doesn't seem to care much about Europe. Two weeks before Christmas they ship less than they promised. Not only that, but they seem to have allocated less Wii's for those who have 'pre-ordered' to guarantee themselves or their kids' a Wii but they are still selling to those who sleep over, queue or just walk into a 24 supermarket. More concerned with 'selling out!' and headlines of people 'camping out' than customer relations. Oh and we have to pay £50 more than the Americans.
Could this be another 5 years or poor relations, bad advertising and PR, poor third-party support, shoddy PAL conversions and ever distant release dates. Something I'd rather not pay £180 for the privilege of going through, again.
Wii are not amused.