Weak US Dollar Means Nintendo Favors Europe For Now

timeOday writes "The LA Times is reporting that the new Nintendo Wii Fit is hard to find on US shelves, due not only to strong demand but also the United States' declining status in the world economy: '"[Nintendo] is also is shrewdly maximizing its profit by sending four times as many units to Europe, reaping the benefits of the strong euro," says Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities. "The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar. We're seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere."'"

Oh the humanity

[Anonymous Coward]

I feel like a Canadian

how long until US quarters get stuck/rejected by Canadian vending machines and laundermat washing machines

But... Wii Ain't Fit over HERE!

[joocemann]

Europeans are already fit! Wii need it here so we can earn our dubba-chee!

With the US dollar this weak...

[RealGrouchy]

I'd have expected the headline to say "Nintento Favours Europe"

- RG>

Re:Repeat after me...

[Gregb05]

b-b-but... they took er JERBS!

Re:Bah Humbug

[Tweenk]

Slashdot is no better at European discrimination. I wanted to post a whiny comment about expensive Lego bricks in Europe, but some dork at /. decided to stay with ISO-8859-1 and this prevents me from using the Euro sign.

Re:Oh the humanity

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't think of anything better than that.

Re:Bah Humbug

[Anonymous Coward]

Watch out, you're making government laws controlling reproduction seem necessary.

Nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous Coward]

This isn't at all a symptom of the relative weakness of the dollar to the Euro, it's actually a perfect example of the complex self-regulation mechanisms of the global market.

More Wiis in Europe -> More gaming options for Europeans -> More gaming hours for Europeans -> Less working hours for Europeans -> Less, and lower quality, European goods -> Less demand for European goods on the US market -> Stronger dollar relative to the Euro.

So what's the problem?

Re:Cost of localisation

[shermo]

Thanks for that Gavrilov link.

It brings back memories of watching porn in Poland dubbed by one male with a thick russian accent. We couldn't understand a word they said, but it was the funniest thing we'd seen in a while.

Re:Oh the humanity

[HalAtWork]

Oh, you laughed at us when you were on top, but I bet you wished you accepted our quarters now!

Re:Bah Humbug

[neokushan]

Raise the VAT Tax? The Value Added Tax Tax?
So THAT'S why we're getting ripped off so much, we're actually getting taxed twice as much!

Re:Oh the humanity

[DAldredge]

USian isn't a word.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Oh the humanity

[aliquis]

It really boils down to the need for nationalized healthcare.

So make it happen? Can't be that hard?

Re:Oh the humanity

[RiotingPacifist]

It's going to be a long ass-swim from China before you need to worry about Chinese military aggression in this part of the world.

There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about China, but neither of those are one of them.

hyphenation FTW

Subject

[Legion303]

Well hey, look on the bright side: if the US dollar value keeps plummeting, corporations will start outsourcing their computer work there.

Re:Oh the humanity

[Boetsj]

Yep - the "low-dollar-weeks" at our Dutch Chrysler dealerships have been extended!
... let's just say I'd rather not drive a Daewoo ;)

Re:Oh the humanity

[CompSci101]

OK. I know I'm an American and all, but I could swear that Canada is, in fact, on top of the US.

Don't try to further confuse my already small grasp of geography with your Canadian lies!

C

quote of the day in TFA :-)

[slashbart]

>> "They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now" when Nintendo will have more units available, he said.

OK, let the flames begin!