Shrygue
April 22nd, 2008, 21:16
via Computer and Video Games (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187403)
Retailers are having trouble selling new games on Wii because publishers are relying on traditional advertising methods for videogames, an analyst has said.
Retailers have expressed concerns in a recent New York Times article, which investigated how many games were being sold for Nintendo's console.
Speaking about Super Smash Bros. Brawl, GameStop employee Xavier Pervez said, "We sold a couple thousand copies in the first week, [but] it's dropped off significantly now. Maybe 100 in each of the last couple of weeks."
Super Smash Bros. Brawl sold more than 1.4 million copies during its first week of release, but according to the NY Times, sales dropped more than 90 percent in the preceding month.
In response, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated that games publishers were failing to embrace unconventional advertising methods that would reach a broader audience.
"Advertising on GameInformer and 1up.com just isn't reaching this audience," he said. "When you make a game like Zack & Wiki or Boogie, which turns the hardcore off and doesn't reach the masses, then you're in trouble."
To clarify where publishers might aim their marketing dollars, Pachter highlighted where Nintendo's marketing budget for Wii Fit was going.
"Wii Fit is just not aimed at hardcore gamers," Pachter said. "It's definitely aimed at the Oprah crowd. I bet they sell a million units a week for every pound that Oprah says she lost on it."
Retailers are having trouble selling new games on Wii because publishers are relying on traditional advertising methods for videogames, an analyst has said.
Retailers have expressed concerns in a recent New York Times article, which investigated how many games were being sold for Nintendo's console.
Speaking about Super Smash Bros. Brawl, GameStop employee Xavier Pervez said, "We sold a couple thousand copies in the first week, [but] it's dropped off significantly now. Maybe 100 in each of the last couple of weeks."
Super Smash Bros. Brawl sold more than 1.4 million copies during its first week of release, but according to the NY Times, sales dropped more than 90 percent in the preceding month.
In response, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated that games publishers were failing to embrace unconventional advertising methods that would reach a broader audience.
"Advertising on GameInformer and 1up.com just isn't reaching this audience," he said. "When you make a game like Zack & Wiki or Boogie, which turns the hardcore off and doesn't reach the masses, then you're in trouble."
To clarify where publishers might aim their marketing dollars, Pachter highlighted where Nintendo's marketing budget for Wii Fit was going.
"Wii Fit is just not aimed at hardcore gamers," Pachter said. "It's definitely aimed at the Oprah crowd. I bet they sell a million units a week for every pound that Oprah says she lost on it."