Nintendo Posts First Annual Lost In 30 Years; IS THE COLOSSAL.

The Nintendo Destructo-Machine is beginning to grind to a halt. After years of bludgeoning their enemies, they’re about to post a serious loss. Even crazier, the first loss in 30 years.

Kotaku:

Nintendo is facing a bigger than expected annual loss, facing competition from smartphones and battling a strong yen as well as rivals Microsoft and Sony.

According to  Reuters  Nintendo is expecting an annual operating loss of ¥45 billion ($575 million). Analysts originally forecasted a lost of ¥4.2 billion yen.

Hardware sales are not meeting expectations–though, things could be worse. Back in Oct. 27, 2011, Nintendo forecasted hardware sales at 6 million DS units shipped for 2012, but as of Jan. 26, 2012, changed that number to 5.5 million DS units. For DS software, the forecast changed from 62 million to 59 million units.

On Oct. 27, 2011, Nintendo forecasted 12 million Wii units sold in the 2012 financial year. That number was revised to 10 million units. Wii software was originally forecasted at 100 million. That number was unchanged.

The 3DS is both on the comeback trail, but still underperforming. On Oct. 27, 2011, Nintendo forecasted 16 million 3DS units shipped. That number has been changed to 14 million. For 3DS software, Nintendo forecasted 50 million units shipped. On Jan. 26, 2012, that number was changed to 38 million units ship–a huge drop.

Earlier this year, Iwata  said  he was taking the blame for the 3DS by taking a 50 percent paycut.

Fund manager Mitsushige Akino told  Reuters, “Their time of growth (from consoles) is over, and, while I don’t think the company will cease to exist, if they don’t move into new categories, they will no doubt lose the great scale they’ve amassed.”

Ooph! Take that one on the chin, boyos.