Mario Galaxy 2 is not a system seller

Outspoken games analyst Michael Pachter has stated that upcoming releases such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Other M are not potential system sellers for Wii hardware, and that Nintendo must cut the price of its console if it is to stop further sales declines.

I still think that the Wii as a hardware SKU lacks catalysts,” he told Industry Gamers. I can’t imagine Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Metroid Other M as system-sellers, any more than I would expect Halo Reach or SOCOM to be.

The hardcore Wii audience already has a Wii console, so these game launches aren’t likely to be catalysts.

This far into the cycle, the only thing that really gets consoles moving is price cuts, and Nintendo was reluctant to cut price last year. In fact, the company waited until late September to cut price, even though year-over-year US sales from April on were down 47 per cent.

We saw declines in sales of Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board and Wii Play, suggesting that demand for the Wii and its products is on the decline. So as far as I can see, unless Nintendo decides to cut price, there is not much of a catalyst coming. I don’t see the Wii Vitality Sensor driving sales, but I suppose I could be wrong. I often am.”