Is Wii winning the console race?

"Even with that quantity of systems moving through the retail system, both the Wii and the DS remain hard to find in stores nationwide, while the other two consoles are lining the shelves."

See why Yahoo Games contributing editor Mike Smith thinks the Wii is so successful.

[Cutnell]

The Wii is pretty lame. It may be fun, but it's not next-gen, so why compare it to the PS3 and 360?

[PS360WII]

Gen is only when it came out. Seeing the Wii was released when PS3 and 360 came out it is in this Gen. It has nothing to do with specs. Why must everyone be so dense about it?

[VirtualGamer]

Well its certainly winning based on current monthly sales. The big question is can it sustain it? Its not in the same ball park when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3. However it appeals to owners of the PS3 and Xbox 360 as a secondary system as well as a primary system for many non tradtional gamers. Over all thats a huge market. While I think some hardcore gamers will buy both a Xbox 360 and a PS3 its a very small segment of the population (at least until a much later stage when the price comes way down), so in reality the 2 systems are fighting for the same market where the Wii is the only one offering a unique system at a much cheaper price point. You could say the Wii is in a completely different market and could take home the prize. ( If your looking at total hardware sales) If it does I would not be suprised to see both MS and Sony come out with something to rival the Wii in this new market.

[TheMART]

Sales will decrease soon.

Where is the content Nintendo?

Everyone seems to buy a Wii, only for Wii sports... After that, what is there to purchase and feel good about it?

Zelda probably if you like that kind of game. Mario same. But then? Not much is there?

The wearout effect will arrive soon. Just look at the GameGube, also a few titles that you would want for it and then... well... it's going to collect dust. The WiiMote can't keep it interesting forever

If the 360 lowers it's price this year, the choice between a Wii for 250 Euro, or a 360 premium for 299 Euro maybe won't be that hard anymore.

Include almost no online functionality with the Wii and we'll see a dropout in sales earlier then expected.

The DS is a whole other story. It's a freakin' handheld. There it's mostly not about the great graphics, but just short gameplay fun if you are in a car, plane or train. When you're in your house, you want a real gaming device with a large amount of games to choose from. Bowling or tennis is fun for a 15 minute exercise, but what after that?

[ER1X]

Most of your posts say to go buy a Wii and a 360 for a super terrific fun time???

[PS360WII]

Sure it doesn't have a hugh release dates of games piling up but it's new. 360 took just as long to build it's library. I'll just point out Feb sales for US only.. MS and Nintendo shared the #1 spot of software sold, so it may not have 100+ games for it yet but they are still selling

[Tut]

In my opinion and all of my friends who own a Wii as well, theMART is mostly correct on this one. The Wii has nothing to offer. Zelda was cool, beat it twice, but it still doesn't have as much replay value as Ocarina of Time for most people. SSX Blur was pretty sweet and one of the only games I like on the Wii now, but still not worth hanging onto the system for. Mario Galaxies better be awesome because of the reputation Mario64 has, and the rest of the notable games are repeats in an insanely long series or is on another system that has way better graphics than the Wii. The game I have invested the most time in on the Wii is Zelda: Twilight Princess, followed by Donkey Kong: Jungle Beats from the Gamecube. Gamecube FIFA ranks high on the list as well.

Plus, Nintendo pissed me off when they released the WiiPlay with the controller without announcing crap to prevent people (like me) from buying all the necessary additional controllers to "have fun" with. Just sell the game seperately for $10 you d!cks!

I am selling mine, so that says something in my community of gamers at least. =)

Maybe it will be worth picking up in a year or so, but for me it isn't doing the job I thought it would do. I bought it to keep me entertained until I get a PS3, but it is just making me disappointed and anxious. Now I just have to wait until my games are released so I can buy my PS3.

[WTF]

For now, yes(maybe)but we have to wait and see what happens in the future,if they dont keep up with games the WII will become the Gamecube.

[Tut]

Anyone want to buy mine? =/

Not kidding.

[ER1X]

.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

Trade you my 20 GB PS3 for it. :~)

[Dusk]

....those who wouldn't realize that its a 5 year old console with a 10 year old control system added to it and retails for the price of a 'new' console. Once the 'newness' of the Wii-mote wears off, sales will drop as the Wii really doesn't offer anything else besides nostalgic games and the largest contingent of kiddie games. Nintendo will retain its niche market, but at $250 the Wii is a rip-off, IMO. If it were $129, I'd be all for it, as old tech with a twist is worth that (but then it isn't in the same category as the 360/PS3). Actually, what should have happened is that Nintendo should have just built the Wii-mote as a $100 accesory for the Gamecube, since really that's all the Wii is. From a business standpoint, Nintendo is really smart and kudos to them for being successful in the face of giants like MS and Sony. From a gamer standpoint, the Wii is a rip-off and once the non-casual consumers realize what they're really getting, sales will drop, unless the price drops significantly of course.

[PureGamer]

its a fuking console race lol not your life.

to the below i dont care you idiot. You obviously care tho because you were so offended by my statement.

[The Snake]

Apparently you care, or else you wouldn't be in here acting like a douchebag.

[Odiah]

Nothing.

The wii is winning, get over it.

[ChickeyCantor]

why are people talking about `content`
the wii is only out for 4 months, the 360 didnt had much in the beginning and the same thing happend with the PS3.

you cant really talk about content when a console is new, later in its life-cycle you will see more stuff.

@PS360WII
i agree with your first post.

@Dusk
there is something you are missing, i dont see mario coming to the PS3 or 360......so tell me what console should i get when i want to play the nintendo franchise?.........thats right a nintendo.
without it i cant play the exclusives.
even if its 5 year old hardware( what you are claiming) without it i cant play those games nintendo make.
kiddie? well more child-friendly i would say, they make games for all ages.

@themart
"The WiiMote can't keep it interesting forever"
stop talking in the hardcore minded way and realize that there are others........."casual/no ngamer" who will love it.
and the world isnt filled with coregamers.

nintendo is taking a different way with the Wii, the DS was a succes so i bet the Wii will too.
( and DS sold great thnx to the people who loved braintraining and games like that, so why wouldnt the wii sell the same because of them?)

[The Snake]

I like my Wii. That is, I would like my Wii if there were more content. Aside from Zelda, all I play on my Wii is Gamecube games. That's cool because I never had a Gamecube, but if I wanted a console where the main thing I did on it was play GC games I would have bought a GC. I figure the good games will eventually come, but most likely will be few and far between. Luckily I'll have my 360 and PS3 to keep me occupied in the meantime.

[kingboy]

That account needs to be ban.Wii is winning for now no doubt but the question is for how long?

[Rasputin2011]

The Wii is HOT right now and at the end of the day does anybody seriously think the Nintendo,Microsoft, & Sony care more about the opinions of gamers avid/casual or Sales....I think it's a 70-30 ratio....70$ sales....30% consumer feedback. On the real if the Wii keep up the momentum and leads in sales are Microsoft & Sony fanboys going to able to accept those facts?

[jacen1000]

Let the sales STATS speak u lot who still diss the WII for being underpowered what does this say about the other consoles then if something as powerless as the wii can outsell the lot of them, 1 important point INNOVATION the wii is an attractive tool which people cant help but buy because of the lovley price tag.

[Rasputin2011]

Like think about it...the Xbox 360 bulked up on sales because it was the inaugural next-gen console and now the Wii is picking up momentum based on price which is also the very thing making things difficult for the gaming "juggernaut" the PS3(659.99+ tax for a console with a weak lineup of game titles....doesn't it have more movies than games?...anywho)

I.M.H.O. the winner of the next-gen console war will be either the 360 due to a ridiculously strong line up of games OR the Wii because of its Innovation(some help in the form of games wouldn't hurt)

[Lacarious]

yes... it's not next gen graphically but it is next gen with how they are doing everything new. Nintendo has never been about the best graphics. Nintendo is all about gameplay. Something EA should take a long hard look at.

I look forward to the Wii selling like crazy while I game like crazy on my 360 hoping that when the next nintendo comes out... it will be tru next gen so I can buy it up with ease.

[Covenant]

Seriously, I love my 360, but my wife and kids aren't all that interested in it. But the Wii...that seems to be one thing we all agree on.

And that's why the Wii is winning (so far): The gaming market has absolutely exploded in the past few years and has reached beyond the hardcore gamers to the casual gamers. Enter the Wii. With its user-friendly controls and clever marketing, the Wii has found that niche that has eluded so many so far: Families. Depending on who you ask, it may or may not be "next-gen," but it's been successful.

Don't begrudge Nintendo for finding a need and meeting it.

Its biggest challenge lies in going beyond a "gimmick" and finding long-term success. One of my friends proposed something interesting: Up until recently, Nintendo actively supported 2 handheld systems...could they do the same with the Wii AND a "next-gen" system? Is a new HD system around the corner--maybe 2 years away, or less? Imagine this: The Wii for the casual fans, and the HD system for more hardcore gamers? Grab market share (and greater profitability) with the Wii, and then try for the hardcore crowd?

Just a thought from one of my friends.

[Rasputin2011]

if that were to happen then Nintendo will have the gaming world by the "family jewels"

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

DP! :~(

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

have been declining since the launch of the N64 and the birth of the Playstation brand!

[Maddens Raiders]

even after the super smack down it put on all of the other consoles since launch it still can't seem to garner any respect. The only reason it has such a virile selling potency is because of all the kids and 'soccer mom' types that HAD to HAVE it, ya know. Now look, I'm not that dumb to believe that true loyal harcore gamers and Nintendo fans did not go purchase the system. I'm just saying that besides this eclectic mix of buying this console at launch it seems to have picked up that not - so - fresh gamecube smell lately -- if you know what I mean. =]

They are semi-scrambling to adjust to the poor lineup of games right now, the likes of Home and the revamped 360 - just got to Nintendojo for that. All I'm saying is that maybe the low-ball, lo-tech approach to the everyman's gamer of the world is not working as well as first theorized. Hell if the ship is beginning to list dump water and head for port...don't continue further out to sea wiiiiiiiii (sorry) :P