Nintendo's Holiday Elves Work Overtime To Fill Empty Store Shelves

Business Wire, Oct 24, 1996

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1996--

Extra Nintendo 64 Allocation to Feed Demand

Nintendo of America today announced that with consumer and retailer demand for its new 64-bit video game system continuing at a record-setting pace, combined with widespread shortages, shipments to the U.S. will be increased.

Nintendo Co. Ltd., the Japan-based parent company, confirmed that with a reallocation of product, they can partially meet the U.S. demand by shipping a total of 1.2 million units through the end of the calendar year. This is up from the initial 500,000 that originally was slated to support the U.S. market.

Since its American debut on Sept. 29, Nintendo already has sold 460,000 systems of the 550,000 shipped to date, making it by far the fastest selling of all next generation video game systems.

"The demand keeps growing. It's clear from our retailers that they think they could sell between 1.5 and 2.0 million units this calendar year," says Peter Main, Nintendo of America executive vice president, sales and marketing. "This new figure will go a long way to meet demand, but shortages may continue in some areas of the country. We expect these additional units will be shipped in consistent allotments through year end."

According to third-party industry sales data, consumers since the U.S. launch continue to buy Nintendo 64's at more than four times the initial sales rates reported for last year's launch of the Sony Playstation, and approximately 10 times that of the Sega Saturn.

"The sales and demand for the N64 has been a big boost to the health of the video game industry," says Sean McGowan, senior industry analyst with Gerard Klauer Mattison, New York, "The N64 seems to be on the `must have' gift-giving shopping lists this year. If Nintendo can get the inventory into stores, there'll be lots of happy parents and kids this holiday."

The third game released for the world's only 64-bit video game system, Wave Race 64, will be available at retail Nov. 4, joining the current hits, Super Mario 64, and PilotWings 64. In total, eight Nintendo 64 games will be available by Christmas, including the eagerly anticipated, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. Nintendo 64 is available at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $199.95 (see NOTE).

Nintendo Co., Ltd., is the leader in the worldwide $15 billion retail video game industry. Nintendo and its international subsidiaries have sold more than one billion video games worldwide. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere, where more than 40 percent of homes own a Nintendo system.

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NOTE: Although Nintendo of America Inc. may suggest retail prices for products, the dealer is free to determine on its own the prices at which it will sell products.

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Alison Holt Brummelkamp, 818/286-2067

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