Sales
Wii Fit sold over a quarter of a million copies in its first week, and despite not being released outside Japan, Wii Fit reached the one million unit sales milestone by January 6, 2008, after being released on December 1, 2007. As of January 4, 2009, it has sold 3,125,000 copies in Japan. It is also the third best-selling game of Japan in 2008, as well as the best-selling Wii game in Japan of that year, selling 2,149,131 in that year.
Prior to release, consumer reaction was also positive in the United Kingdom, with some retailers having to stop taking pre-orders due to its increasing popularity. Reports in the United Kingdom state that the Wii Fit launch had seen lines form nationwide. Retailer Woolworths claimed that the game was also selling at a rate of 90 copies per minute. Nintendo UK has stated it is working hard to ensure that enough stock is available. In its first week of release, Wii Fit was the best-selling video game in the week, topping the all-format chart. Despite the game being sold at a higher price than average (£70, compared to an average of £35–40) it became the UK's sixth fastest selling console title according to Chart-Track/ELSPA and garnered over £16 million in sales. During the week beginning the May 19, 2008, Wii Fit's sales in the UK fell from second in the all-formats chart to dropping out of the top 40 altogether, believed to be caused by Wii Fit being completely sold out. Subsequently, Nintendo UK promised to rectify the stock problems plaguing Wii Fit and vowed "We will end Wii Fit stock shortage".
In the United States, pre-launch sales of Wii Fit were reported to have sold out at retailers Amazon.com, GameStop and Wal-Mart. After the initial release, reports showed stores selling out of Wii Fit nationwide. Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, estimated that Nintendo shipped only 500,000 copies of the game in North America as opposed to as many as two million units to Europe. According to Pachter, the Wii Fit units were allocated by Nintendo to maximize profit, by prioritizing Europe over North America, taking advantage of the strong value of the euro compared to the US$. According to the NPD Group, Wii Fit sold 690,000 units in the US in May 2008, making it the country's third highest selling title for the month. Wii Fit debuted in the United States at a suggested retail price of $89.99 for the base system unbundled with other accessories. As with the Wii console itself, the demand for Wii Fit has far outstripped the supply. The perceived shortage has created a secondary market for private sellers to purchase Wii Fit at retail outlets and sell the product for inflated prices. In June 2008, Wii Fit was reported to be selling at an average of $175 per unit on Amazon.com and EBay.
According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 1.433 million copies in the United States, 624,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.547 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 3.604 million copies sold from January to July 2008. As of March 31, 2009, Nintendo has sold 18.22 million copies of Wii Fit worldwide. According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 1.283 million copies in the United States, 460,000 in the United Kingdom, and 346,000 in Japan, respectively, for a total of 2.089 million copies sold in the third quarter of 2008 (July–September). Wii Fit was the third best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States, selling in excess of 999,000 copies. It was also the third best-selling game of 2008 in the United States, selling in excess of 4.53 million.
Within 18 months by June 2009, the game helped health games generate revenues of $2 billion, most of which was grossed by Wii Fit's 18.22 million sales at the time. As of March 2012, the game has sold 22.67 million copies worldwide, and is 6th on the best-selling Wii games list.
Famous quotes containing the word sales:
“The elephant, not only the largest but the most intelligent of animals, provides us with an excellent example. It is faithful and tenderly loving to the female of its choice, mating only every third year and then for no more than five days, and so secretly as never to be seen, until, on the sixth day, it appears and goes at once to wash its whole body in the river, unwilling to return to the herd until thus purified. Such good and modest habits are an example to husband and wife.”
—St. Francis De Sales (1567–1622)
“There are no galley-slaves in the royal vessel of divine love—every man works his oar voluntarily!”
—St. Francis De Sales (1567–1622)
“Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you.... Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.”
—St. Francis De Sales (1567–1622)