Fils-Aime: Shortages making 2008 complicated

Dec 20, 2007

Reggie Fils-Aime says that current stock shortages of its market leading Wii and DS systems are complicating other areas of its business.

Nintendo has been accused more than once this year of holding back Wii hardware shipments, and even of over-playing its inability to meet demand, but the seriousness of its stock problems is becoming more apparent as the year draws to a close, with some analysts suggesting Nintendo's Wii drought is set to cost the company more than $1 billion this holiday season.

The company's US president, Fils-Aime, has now told Reuters that Nintendo's focus on satisfying demand for its gaming hardware means it is struggling to form business plans for 2008.

"The level of demand we are facing complicates all of our future business planning," he said. "All of that becomes a much tougher exercise until we have supply and demand curves that intersect.

"We at Nintendo America are focused on getting to the point when any consumer can walk into any of our retailers and find a Wii. Then we can plan, on an ongoing basis, the rest of the business," Fils-Aime said.

Courtesy of Next Generation