As the home console market leader sits below the pack in Japan, Nintendo has admitted that the Wii has fallen into an “unhealthy” condition.

Edge’s weekly Japan sales reports show the Wii has sold below 20,000 for six consecutive weeks, on occasion dipping close to the 15,000 mark. And while games such as Wii Music and Animal Crossing City Folk have likely turned a profit for the Kyoto firm, neither has shown the sales stamina of Wii Fit or Mario Kart.

On Monday Nintendo stated that the Wii’s sales decline wasn’t of particular concern. Today, Iwata made a wholesale change of tune at a press conference, declaring that “the Wii is in the most unhealthy condition since it hit the Japanese market.”

While admitting that the Wii’s position is not one that Nintendo is happy with, Iwata refused to be drawn into the idea of selling the console at a lower price. “A price cut in a difficult economy cannot really excite the market and drive up sales. As of now I really don't think that a price cut is a good option for us,” he said.

It was clear that Nintendo has pinned much of its hopes on the upcoming Wii Sports Resort, as well as the Wii Motion Plus controller add-on. The original Wii Sports was a tremendous success in Japan, and June will be the month that its successor will arrive.

Europe and North America will see Sports Resort, and Wii MotionPlus, arrive in July.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/102/...troubles-japan