Marc,
Here's a press release from Sony dated today that shows the impact that their systems are having in the Canadian marketplace. Thought this might be of interest to the thread.
Also, visited our Walmart store again and they have just received another few copies of 'Revenge' - after being sold out of it for almost two weeks. This is their 5th or 6th shipment and it sells out in no time. I asked why they don't order more but was told that they are just sent so many and can't get any more. Next to 'Zelda', he said, it's the hottest game they have. Apparently 'Stone cold Austin' of the WCW is not selling anywhere near as many copies.
Anyhow, here's the release:
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Nintendo Leads Techno-Toys Trend
Holiday Sales Reflect Overall Business Increase for Nintendo of Canada
TORONTO, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - The 1998 holiday season is all about technology,
and Nintendo is leading the techno-trend with a range of innovative
best-selling products that have contributed to a 58 percent increase in their
overall business. From the best-selling N64 title The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina
of Time to the new Game Boy Colour to the multi-faceted entertainment
phenomenon, Pokémon, Nintendo software and hardware continue to set new
standards and dominate the gift giving scene with exceptional quality and
unprecedented sales.
''Nintendo has experienced record-breaking hardware sales this year
largely due to our innovative software titles. With a library of over 100
exceptional games for the Nintendo 64 and more than 450 titles for the Game
Boy system, Nintendo's overall business has grown by 58 percent in the last
year, and the overall industry is up over 34 percent, helping us maintain 60
percent of Canadian market share,'' says Peter MacDougall, general manager,
Nintendo of Canada.
N64 Software Sets Standards
Topping the Nintendo 64 line-up are platinum titles GoldenEye 007 and The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, two of the best selling video games in
history. GoldenEye 007, Nintendo's smash hit first-person action adventure
game, has sold 475,000 units since its launch in August 1997, making it the
most popular video game released to date.
''GoldenEye 007 is one of the most successful titles we carry. Since its
launch more than a year ago, it has consistently been a top seller, appealing
to consumers of all ages and interests,'' says Martin Hindy, Electronics
Buyer, Zellers. ''Going into Christmas 1998, GoldenEye 007 continues to be a
favourite gift item.''
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is set to surpass this record early
in 1999. Nintendo has already sold 250,000 units in the first five weeks
leading up to Christmas. ''If we had been able to make another 100,000 Zelda
games, we certainly could have sold them this holiday season,'' says
MacDougall. ''In just five weeks Zelda generated $21 million in retail
sales.''
After four years in development, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
took the Canadian market by storm November 23rd. Since that launch date, N64
hardware sales are up 54 percent over last year's record-breaking sales. This
epic role-playing adventure game features 256 megabits, the most memory of any
console video game to date, which allows for immersive 3-D graphics, in-depth
game play and realism unlike any other N64 title to date.
Nintendo continues to boost sales of the N64 system with the launch this
month of two more titles expected to top the charts for Christmas. Star Wars:
Rogue Squadron, the flight-simulation sequel to the popular Star Wars series,
launched December 7th and is expected to reach 75,000 units in sales in its
first three weeks on the market. Dinosaur-hunting action title, Turok 2: Seeds
of Evil, hits the market December 18th and is projected to sell 60,000 units
by Christmas.
''Nintendo 64 titles are proven best-sellers and we're also diversifying
our Game Boy line-up. This year we've seen exceptional sales numbers for Game
Boy, particularly for the more innovative products like Game Boy Colour and
Pokémon,'' says MacDougall.
Game Boy Goes Big
Game Boy, the world's best selling hand-held video game system, branched
out this year with the introduction November 23rd of Game Boy Colour, the
first portable gaming unit with a colour screen. Compatible with existing Game
Boy titles, and with over 20 new colour titles to choose from, Game Boy Colour
is expected to sell 125,000 units in Canada in its first four weeks.
Also dominating the gaming scene since its release in September is
Pokémon, the Game Boy game based on collecting monsters that has infiltrated
television, music and a huge assortment of consumer products. With eight
million units sold and counting, Pokémon, the Game Boy game, has already
achieved unprecedented popularity in Japan. Here in Canada, Nintendo expects
to sell 130,000 units of the Pokémon game before December 25th.
Holiday Retail Sales Set Records
''This Christmas season sees our retail sales increase dramatically with
releases like Zelda, Game Boy Colour, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Turok 2 and
Pokémon. These five key Nintendo products combined will sell over 600,000
units in Canada over the holidays. In total, all Nintendo products will
generate $200 million in retail sales this holiday season in Canada,'' says
MacDougall.
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the leader in the worldwide $15
billion retail video game industry. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware
and software for its best-selling home video game systems, including the
hand-held Game Boy, the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the
64-bit Nintendo 64, the fastest-selling video game system in history. As a
wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Canada Ltd. leads the $500 million video
game industry in Canada. From its headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Nintendo distributes and markets the Nintendo 64 system, Super Nintendo
Entertainment System and the portable Game Boy system. Currently, more than
one in three Canadian households own a Nintendo system. For more information
about Nintendo 64, Game Boy or any other Nintendo product, visit Nintendo's
web site on the Internet, at www.nintendo.com.
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