Nintendo, the maker of the Wii video game machine, does not have just one hit product on its hands. Rather, it has two.
While shoppers are still lining up before stores open to buy Nintendo’s Wii, its older portable sibling, the Nintendo DS, is the best-selling game machine in the United States – a huge market for the Japanese company. The hand-held DS outsold the Wii in November by 1.53 million units to 981,000, according to sales figures compiled by NPD Group.
The DS, a three-year-old $130 unit, has been handily outselling its chief rival, Sony’s $170 PSP hand-held game device, as well as the newer and more expensive consoles, like Microsoft’s Xbox 360, selling for $350, and Sony’s PlayStation 3, which starts at $400.
Nintendo expected to finish last year having sold more than six million DS consoles, with a total of 15.2 million sold since they were introduced in November 2004. The best-selling game console last year, the Wii, sold more than five million units in 2007, David Riley of NPD said.
If you haven’t noticed, I’m not a gamer. But, as a longtime geek – and way too many years in foreign and domestic commerce – I’m impressed with Nintendo’s ability to come up with marketable designs and follow up with sales campaigns that are equally successful.
I just bought a PS2 for my kid this Christmas (because it’s inexpensive and because there’s buckloads of games available…) but I’m getting sorry not not have got him the Wii (which is openly available here, although at 250 euros…).
He’s already got the DS and he ditches the PS2 for the DS frequently…
Can anyone suggest a learn to read and write game for the DS? It seems like the perfect platform for that type of software. Any suggestions?
I get the feeling that Nintendo games are more kid-friendly. Would you rather have your child helping Mario save a princes or steeling a car in GTA. Not to say you can’t get violent games on Wii or DS… it’s just better marketing and encompasses a larger audience.
Nintendo I compare to Apple. Great products that have a “wow” factor, and earn their respect thru meeting the consumers demands. Refreshing!!
#4,
You also forgot over hyping substandard products. I have a wii and an xbox. My xbox live has been down for the better part of the last week. Thats ok, I managed to grab a copy of Rock Band (I have guitar hero 3 for the wii, and compared to Rock Band on xbox it is extra lame). The wii is still not seeing a whole lot of use. But maybe that is because I am a gamer with an age greater than 12 and less than 60.
Also over christmas I procured a new dance mat and DDRU2. I can’t wait until XBL works again so I can have a dance off against someone online.
Also, from the hacking experiments I have seen of the wii controler online, I can’t help but think that nintendo blew it with the wii controller. THEY BLEW IT. And microsoft is going to take advantage of that misstep by nintendo by the end of 2008, and no one will ever talk about the wii again after that.
On the other hand, I love my sons DS. Why is the Hanna Montana music maker so addictive??? I don’t get it?
My grandson has both the guitar hero for the Wii and the PS2. He says the Wii is better. The big XBox game, Halo 3 is a dud according to him as he beat the entire game the same day he opened the package. Know what after playing it a bit myself, I discovered it’s just a rehash of Tourok with prettier pictures behind the gun barrel. He has been playing Mario Galaxy for a while now. Beat it but keeps going back. Best video game of all times is still Ocarina of Time. Maybe killing people with cars and finding sneaky porn might appeal to some, but to most adult people Nintendo makes games both adults and kids can play, just don’t expect to find porn in them.
#6,
I have SMG as well. And you are outright DELUSIONAL if you think the adult references in some xbox games are worse that the weird hentai porn and drug references in SMG.
DELUSIONAL.
I like my Sony PSP because I use it for free at Starbucks/Airports to surf the WWW via T-Mobile.
This offer ends at the end of March (??) though.
The games are ok, but the screen is a little small for my old eyes, and the joystick has a strange acceleration profile.
As a multimedia device, it seems a good value.
GregA;
Why is it that you so-called “gamers” always talk about the PS3/XBox as if they are extensions of your penis and deride anyone who likes the Wii as being a child under age 12 or an old fart over 60?
Unless you are ready to make the claim that any product (cars, computers, mp3 players, TVs, etc.) “sucks” unless it is the absolute highest-end in technological features, please provide some rational reasons as to why you don’t like the Wii.
Guess who’s buying and using the vast majority of those Wiis…
That’s right: people between 12 and 60.
It’s time for these self-proclaimed “gamers” to realise that they are a rather small minority of the market — what Nintendo is doing is tapping into the majority instead.
Whats interesting, is that the OLD games(before about 1993) were Challenges of the mind and wonderful games.
Ranging from astoroids to Dig dug, and tron.
then someone came up with DOOM, and we havnt gone BACK to the old games that had intensity, but not the Violence.
Games that could challenge the mind, insted of learning that a SHOT GUN, is a great weapon, and Flame throwers are NICE close range, and the BFG kills ALL IF you can hit it.
Current games are like, One handed Wonders, and all you need is a Joysick, and AWAY you go.
We bought the wii mainly so we could have a console that our nieces and nephews could play when everyone visited. Funny thing is, the kids wait in line to play because the parents jump right in and wont let go of the controllers!
Overall, a much more family friendly console with family friendly games.
another random statement:
I HOPE you all know, that in Asia and Europe, there are 10 times MORE games released then IN’ the USA.
WE are Pigeon HOLED’ into SLAM, BAM, KILLING games, and VERY few thinking games.
AS well as, i WOULD LIKE better controllers… Carpel tunnel REALLY SUCKS
#14, ECA;
I would argue that the success of the entire “Sim” franchise (including Sim City, etc.) would argue against your points…
15,
and that was developed WHERE?? and is based on WHAT series of games, that started development WHEN??
My main statement was on 1993-
So make your own guess at my answer.
Wiki:
SimCity is a simulation and city-building personal computer game, first released in 1989 and designed by Will Wright. SimCity was Maxis’ first product, which has since been ported into various personal computers and game consoles, and enhanced into several different versions including SimCity 2000 in 1993, SimCity 3000 in 1999, SimCity 4 in 2003, and SimCity DS & SimCity Societies in 2007. The original SimCity was later renamed SimCity Classic. Until the release of The Sims in 2000, the SimCity series was the best-selling line of computer games made by Maxis.
#16, ECA;
Actually, your point was:
The success of Sims in the modern day shows this is not the case. It doesn’t matter when the game was “invented.” By that logic, all games are derivatives of Pac-Man.
Our eight yr old got a DS last Christmas. It is her favorite game toy. She also has a PS2 which she is quite good at. We couldn’t find a Wii, but maybe for her birthday.
Her cousin got an XBOX for Christmas, but when she came over she brought her DS so the two could play together. The cousin apparently prefers the DS to her XBOX. Though the two girls did really enjoy Guitar Hero III on the PS2.
Nate,
go back to #11.
But yes you are 1/2 right.
Yes there are a few other STYLES of games, available. But look at whats been marketed in the USA.
Halo, Mass effect, HL2, Killzone, Crysis, GTA, Star craft, Hellgate, assasins creed, sim city, WOW..
Highest percentage are Killers. Physical 1st/3rd person shooters.
Very few are Stratigy, or even THOUGHT/thinking programs.
And I dont see ANY that TEACh something useful.
(if we could get BUSH to play sim city a few time, thin he would get A’ hint??
Ps.
Take a kid out and have him KILL his first rabbit or DEER, and see how he acts AFTER.
To see a deers eyes after a kill can RIP your heart out the first few times, esp after watching Bambi.
YOU KILLED BAMBi’s mother…OW that hurts.
#20, ECA;
List of top selling computer games (from Wikipedia):
#21, ECA;
My parents never had to have me kill something to teach me violence was wrong. If you’re a good parent, you don’t need to. Nevermind the fact there is no evidence that indicates video games cause violence. No more hyperbole, please.
And look at your numbers.
Sim 2..13 million
Declined to
Sim pets 5.6
declined to
Sim Seasons 1 million
FROM YOUR LOCATION on Wiki..
Top PC sellers by genre
* Adventure – Myst (6 million)[129]
* Computer role-playing game – Diablo II (4 million)[132]
* First-person shooter – Half-Life (8 million)[128]
* Massively multiplayer online role-playing game – World of Warcraft (9.3 million subscribers)[126]
* Real-time strategy – StarCraft (9.5 million)[125]
* Simulation – The Sims (16 million shipped)[122]
#23;
Now you’re just not making sense. What was your point?
1. you are doing TOTAL numbers over years. As you can see, each generation of Sims, was LESS and LESS.
2. The games that GET to the USA are 1/10 those released in other nations, Japan and europe have over 10 games to 1 released in the USA.
3. The major corps are making consoles FOR GAMES so they can have control. If they get control, game WONT be on PC’s.
4. we introduce our kids to WHAT THEY WANT, and if all they see, in stores and adverts, is KILLING games(because thats most of what IS)???
Re: #25, ECA;
Point #1) Moot. By definition, each successive generation of game has been out for a less amount of time than its predecessor. You can’t draw your conclusions on that.
Point #2) Uh, what does Japan have to do with this?
Point #3) Again, relevance? You can see the sales for consoles at the same link.
Point #4) Parenting, parenting, parenting. Don’t blame companies for your failures.