Nintendo estimates it lost $975m worldwide in 2007 due to piracy

We're always a little skeptical of piracy impact numbers, especially when companies try to factor in things like "lost sales," which can't be adequately measured, but it's still interesting to hear how large the hit is estimated to be -- like Nintendo's recent filing with the US Trade Representative that piracy cost it and its partners some $975m worldwide in 2007. Saying that the popularity of the Wii and DS makes Nintendo an "attractive target" for counterfeiters, the big N broke the problem down by region, highlighting its efforts to stem the tide and proposed solutions and regulations. We'd say that with profits soaring and plenty of people clamoring for hard-to-find systems, Nintendo could probably get back a little of that cash by finally getting some boxes on shelves instead of pushing for new laws, but hey -- even Mario's lawyers probably get sick of being paid in mushrooms.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/n...due-to-piracy/

I guess the Vii really took off in China.

The companies always talk like: everyone which has a illegal copy of a game, would buy the original game if there wouldnt be any piracy. But thats wrong.

If I downloaded a CD I had no intentions of buying, didn't like it and then didn't buy it, would this constitute lost sales too? Figures like this are always just numbers picked out of the air.
Nintendo should get some consoles on the shelves and be happy that they're selling like they are when other console manufacturers are struggling.

souLLY... I must agree with you... These figures are just utterly stupid! One cannot consider a loss every single copy ever made. Many people would never buy the game if it wasn't pirated. And we are not just talking about crappy games, but all games. Don´t forget that games cost 50 to 70 euros, and not everybody can spend that on every game.

they are gonna lose even more cash now sum hackers are making the most of the ZELDA exploit... look whats happened to the PSP, no matter what sony have tried to do to close the possible exploits, so far they've failed... thanks in no small part to DARK_ALEX and crew.... lower the original game prices, and more people will buy them... it ain't too difficult to work that one out...