Pachter: Shortages coming to an end later this year
by David Hinkle 
{ Mar 31st 2008 at 5:00PM }
Michael Pachter is at it again. This time, of all people, he spoke with a writer for the Dallas Morning News. Now, we're not experts in this institution that reports real world news, but we do know that video game news tends to usually fall below their radar. But they care about the Wii because, well, everyone and their grandmother bought one.Regardless, Pachter did, and he is saying that those of us in the U.S. need to blame it on
His belief is that the console will be more readily available in the U.S. later on this year, when the dollar is expected to bounce back some. Based on the fact that the console released over a year ago, though, we're not going to hold our breath.
[Thanks, Matt!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David W. @ Mar 31st 2008 5:13PM
Hey guys, it's actually just the Dallas Morning News :) FYI!
David Hinkle @ Mar 31st 2008 5:22PM
Thanks David, I updated the post.
Neal Eaton @ Mar 31st 2008 5:18PM
Just to let you know...Victor Gondinez is the game reporter for The Dallas Morning News. He is featured weekly in the paper at least...and sometimes more often.
Not trying to be a buzz-kill, I'm just sayin'.
David Hinkle @ Mar 31st 2008 5:22PM
Yeah, I wasn't trying to dis on the guy or anything, just I had never heard of him. :)
Sorry if it came off otherwise!
vidGuy @ Mar 31st 2008 5:35PM
Wiis in stock? Were you supposed to hold this post until tomorrow? ;)
Neal Eaton @ Mar 31st 2008 5:45PM
Mr. Hinkle...YOU of ALL people should know EVERYONE who writes about games...RIGHT?!?!
It did not come off as snarky in the least. I just wanted to let you know that this guy is real. Not that I agree with everything I have read of his...
Joshua @ Mar 31st 2008 9:38PM
The best part of that news is that he expects the dollar to bounce back a bit. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous...Imports from Japan are so expensive now...
Joshua @ Mar 31st 2008 9:40PM
Wait, you lied! The article mentioned nothing about that!
I guess that's what I get for commenting before I read the article...
Patius @ Mar 31st 2008 11:34PM
Actually, its not so much as the dollar bouncing as the rest of the world taking a plunge with the rest of us United Statesians or whatever you call us.
MC=Mii @ Apr 1st 2008 8:13AM
The US $ Euro rate is also at a record high, but I still don't see much Wii's here in the stores (none to be precise) so his logic is a bit weird I think. Besides, didn't the USA get a boatload of Wii's for the Brawl release?
About the dollar bouncing back...nah don't see that happen. The US has a great economic power, but Europe and Asia have grown so much since say WW2 that this free fall of the dollar was bound to happen some time (just like the GBP also lost it's dominance when it was replaced by the Dollar).
vidGuy @ Apr 1st 2008 12:31PM
I pity the fool who thinks the dollar won't bounce back; it's simple economics that it will. In theory, exchange rates are markets for currencies, so they are subject to the same laws of supply and demand as every other market. Right now, the dollar is low, so US exports are significantly cheaper to other countries. As we export more, foreigners send our economy more of our currency, therefore dropping the supply of USD outside the US. All else equal, lower supply creates a higher price and the dollar regains its value worldwide.
Granted, the money markets are subject to many more forces, especially oil which is sold in USD. But I give it 18 months before the USD is in decent standing again.
MC=Mii @ Apr 1st 2008 1:30PM
And I am that fool (it's been a long time since I had any form of macro economics). But your argument rest on one assumption, that people will sometime in near future start importing more US goods than they do know. We're already at the lowest point of the dollareuro rate (or highest depending on the way you look). The dollar has been loosing value ever since the introduction of the Euro. Yes, cd's and iPod's are cheaper to import now, but I doubt it has had much effect on US exports (but again, who am I to say that). Besides, it is also cancelled out by the negative effects of imports. Just look at how much money US companies have to spend on basic resources such as steel and oil, needed ofcourse to create exportable goods.
And with the current rise of Asian economies (China ofcourse, but also India) and some parts of the Middle East as well as the EU getting stronger of every front I still don't see the dollar bounce back that much. But it's still not really that low yet is it?
Maybe it's time for a Brain Training: Economy 101 game? ;)
vidGuy @ Apr 1st 2008 1:51PM
You are right about the imports. Luckily, with the dollar becoming weaker, imports are more expensive for US consumers and therefore we buy less. Generally speaking, money markets are self-regulating and follow the natural cycle of peaks and troughs like the economy as a whole. The various factors that affect the markets determine how long and how high or deep the points are though.
So it's not a matter of if the dollar will bounce back but when. The US housing market is already bouncing back thanks to a massive influx of supply and therefore lower prices and financing rates. It makes me laugh when even the Wall Street Journal says this is "surprising"; it's freaking Econ 101 people!
No harm no foul though, and I hope you didn't take offense. I'm five weeks away from obtaining my BA in Economics so I kind of like to help people understand some things around here, though I try to keep it limited since this is NWF and all ;)
MC=Mii @ Apr 1st 2008 1:56PM
Guess we'll have to wait and see...
no offensive taken :)
Rory Miles @ Apr 1st 2008 3:52PM
What is this prsons problem. The UK received a fewer quantity of wiis to start with and many places are still out of stock. We have a much smaller population than the US so the shortage cannot be blamed on us. I had to wait until last august to get mine. We also have to pay much more for everything and wait much longer so tell this person to shut his mouth he doesn't know what he's talking about.