UK Retailers Report Disappointing N-Gage Sales 62
Thanks to GamesIndustry.biz for their article indicating that UK videogame retailers are showing extremely low sell-through of Nokia's new N-Gage game deck in its launch week. Although US sales figures are still pending, "fewer than 500 units [were] sold by the 6,000 [UK] game stores polled by Chart-Track." GI.Biz note that, though "these figures don't include sales from mobile phone stores, which might well be expected to shift a few units of the N-Gage, they still spell out something of a setback for Nokia's ambitions in the console space", since "Nintendo's Game Boy Advance hardware outsold the N-Gage by a ratio of almost 30:1."
they should try advertizing with taco bell (Score:1, Funny)
The little company that could (Score:4, Funny)
Her products sold very well until the market was saturated. But then, no matter how hard she tried; she could not satisfy her investors and debtors.
She pulled, and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed. She chopped lines and started up others. Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!
But no! The company would not return to easy profits.
At last she left her primary market and ventured out alone. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going for help.
"Surely I can find something to help me," she thought.
Over the markets and up to trade shows the little company rolled. Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!
Pretty soon she saw a fat networking business standing on a sidetrack. He looked very rich and strong. Running alongside, she looked up and said,
"Will you help me get over this dip quickly with my shareholders in tow? The slow road to profit is so long and so steep."
The big networking business looked down at the little handset company. Then he said, " Don't you see that I am through with my own work? I have been all buffeted and scarred and am waiting for my white knight. No, I cannot help you."
The handset company was sorry, but she went on. Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!
Soon she cam to a second large multinational MP3 player market standing on a sidetrack. He was puffing and puffing, as if he were tired.
"He may help me," thought the little company. She ran alongside and asked,
"Will you help me over this ditch with my shareholders and debtors? Single-digit profits just don't satisfy like they used to."
Then the second big market answered,
"I have just come in from a 4 year long sprint. Don't you see how saturated I am? Can't you get some other market to help you this time?"
"I'll try," said the little company, and off she went. Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!
After a little while she came to a consumer electronics market just like herself (she thought). She ran alongside and said,
"Will you help me through the downturn with my shareholders and debt? A company this hip should see easy growth even in a downturn."
"Yes, indeed!" said the market for handheld gaming systems. "I'll be glad to help anyone I can. Just make a great system and easy money will roll in."
So the little company started back to where the impatient shareholders had been standing all this time, poking at their PDA devices. The little company aligned itself with what it thought was the market, and headed out.
Puff, puff! Chug, Chug! Choo, Choo! Off they started!
Slowly the company began to move. Slowly they developed hardware and software. As they climbed, the little company began to sing,
"I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!
I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!
I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!
I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!..."
The little handset company brought in experts from all fields. The little handset company built prototypes, models, and licensing agreements. The little handset company kept hyping away at the market.
I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!
People came from all around. They pointed at the little company and said "You'll never make it." "Your hardware is inferior." "How do you even put the cartridge in?"
I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!
The little company ignored the naysayers, and pushed forth. They worked trade shows, padded their game linup, bought sure hits like Tony Hawk and Super Monkey Ball. And they never stopped believing in themselves.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I - think - I - can! I - think - I - can!"
The worst of the market was behind them. Their stock prices rose and rose! They were going to make it! Their agressive marketing policy and never-say-die attitude was paying
fewer than 500 units [were] sold by the 6,000 [UK] (Score:3, Funny)