Punch-Out!! exclusive to one retailer in Australia, Excitebots excluded entirely

by JC Fletcher { Jul 14th 2009 at 2:10PM }

Demand for upcoming first-party Wii games doesn't seem to be high in Australia -- and if it is, it just means a lot of people are about to be disappointed. Nintendo Australia managing director Rose Lappin told Kotaku AU that Aussie gamers can expect Punch-Out!! in stores late August, but only if those stores are JB Hi-Fi locations.

"To be honest we didn't have a lot of requests for the game," Lappin said. "There's a few people ... there's a lot of noise but not a lot of sales, that sort of thing." JB Hi-Fi, Lappin suggested, was the only retailer that showed significant interest.

But at least Punch-Out!! is getting some kind of release. Not so for Excitebots, which won't come out in Australia at all. Lappin told Kotaku AU that there just wasn't enough demand for the game from retailers or consumers.

Tags: australia, excitebots, monster-games, next-level-games, punch-out

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Aaron @ Jul 14th 2009 2:23PM

Too bad. Both are excellent games.

JayVe @ Jul 14th 2009 2:34PM

Agreed. Both games are quality.

It looks like Nintendo is passing on games that aren't huge hits. I suppose the 0.5 million they sold in the states shows them that it isn't worth their time and effort to sell it in other countries... the same way N America didn't get Disaster: Day of Crisis.

TrueNRPeace @ Jul 14th 2009 2:47PM

Trust me, Australia, you're not missing out. Excitebots is the dumbest racing game I've ever played. After playing Excitebots, I was glad I never picked up Excite Truck.

Just one gamer's opinion.

bm @ Jul 15th 2009 6:36AM

LOL. Yeah, that sure is a hardcore gamer's opinion. I forgot you guys hate fun.

Insanus @ Jul 14th 2009 2:51PM

"that there just wasn't enough demand for the game from retailers or consumers"

Can the consumer actually be a factor? What I mean is, if the store is not going to get the game, will a few people asking for a certain game make them change their opinion?

I never even thought of asking for a game, I just hope my stupid store gets it...lol

KEENMACHlNE @ Jul 14th 2009 3:47PM

Shame about Excitebots. It's a great game, better than excite truck in every way with the exclusion of custom soundtracks this time around. Don't know WHAT Nintendo was thinking when they stealth announced it 2 months before release and didn't market it AT ALL.