Since the launch of Nintendo’s Wii last November, the machine has been in a steady state of short supply. When shipments finally do appear at stores, eager customers scoop them up within days of their appearance. But according to Dan DeMatteo, the COO of the
GameStop retail stores, the shortages of Wiis may have been intentionally created by Nintendo. His comments were made during a conference call regarding GameStop’s quarterly financial results, as reported by Gamasutra.
DeMatteo was asked during the call if he believed the ongoing shortages of the Wii would continue. He replied that he believed that the condition would finally resolve itself but that the shortages experienced by the public may have been artificially created. "I don’t think it’s going to be an issue…and this [is] just my opinion, but I think [Nintendo] intentionally dried up supply because they made their numbers for the year. The New Year starts April 1, and I think we’re going to see supply flowing [again]."
While DeMatteo’s speculation isn’t unfathomable, it certainly is a theory that isn’t supported by hard facts. If anything, the shortages and demand for the Wii has even surprised Nintendo. Whether or not the accusation is true, one thing is certain — consumers continue to clamor for the hard-to-come-by console.
