Wii sales up, PS3 flat lining, XBOX 360 down
Amazon (yes, that Amazon) has released some sales data regarding the Wii, PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles. It doesn’t take an “Einstein” to figure out which one comes out on top, what’s interesting to note is how the other consoles are doing as consoles and as in total sales. I still cannot understand the appeal of the Wii except for the price point and it doesn’t play DVDs or next gen media or even have a hard drive. As more than a “casual” gamer, I may never understand it. Yet here we are with the Wii topping sales charts and now being pitched as a top father’s day gift.
According to Punch Jump, total product sales on Amazon had the Wii ranked at number 4, the XBOX 360 ranked at number 24, the PS3 was at number 27 and last, unchanged from the prior week, the XBOX 360 Elite clocked in at number 206. On a side note, Amazon lists the XBOX 360 Elite as having “limited availability.”
In terms of consoles, excluding the Xbox 360 elite, the Wii was ranked #1 followed by the Xbox 360 in 2nd and the PS3 trailing in at a distant 3rd. Of course, not counting the XBOX 360 Elite.
The top selling games and accessories for the Wii are Mario Party 8, Wii Play and the Wiimote. That sounds like some kind of sick joke but sadly, it is not. I see no first person shooter in that list; in fact, I see no noteworthy game in that list. Like I said, it’s a phenomenon I do not understand.
The top selling game for the PS3 was Resistance: Fall of Man; honestly, if that were ported to the Wii, I’d buy the game and the console. I’d rather it be ported to the XBOX 360 or PC, but I’ll take whatever I can get. For being a Sci-Fi and a WWII shooter, Resistance: Fall of Man is top notch and the only game I know of, other than Return to Castle Wolfenstein, that combines the two..
To date, the Wii has managed to sell 2.5 million units in the US alone. Why? What kind of madness is this, a fad madness? I hope that is the case. After all, the world is a much better place without the Wii, isn’t it? Okay, maybe not but I’m sticking by my XBOX 360 and PC, you know, to do some REAL gaming.
Related Posts:
31 Responses to “Wii sales up, PS3 flat lining, XBOX 360 down”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
June 12th, 2007
Boo hoo hoo, the Wii is selling, I can’t understand it… Waaaahhh..
STFU, whiner. And work on your damned grammar.
June 12th, 2007
I don’t understand this unjustified dislike for the wii. If you honestly believe there exists this dichotomy between wii/casual gamer and Xbox360/hardcore gamer, then I consider you lost. Personally i consider myself a “hardcore gamer” in the sense that I’ve played through ever major franchise i can get my hands on for the past 18 years. I also think the wii is the cats meow, its different, changes things up, and has an f-load of potential considering its current market explosion. I say jump on the wagon, its going to be one hell of a good ride. Maybe the problem is that we have different interpretations of “hardcore gamer”. You seem to give the impression that hardcore is incompatible with anything but having the best graphics, when really it should be about playing the best games, and friend let me tell you, having the largest console base means the best games will follow shortly. Your probably right though it could all just be a fad.
June 12th, 2007
Sub-par graphics, lack of HD-out… can’t play movies… lack of HD-out… can’t play HD-DVDs or Blu-ray, yeah, that’s a winner.
The best games… have the best graphics and by the grace of (insert deity of choice here) have good gameplay. One without the other does not a good game make. So says I.
June 12th, 2007
It looks like you’re a graphics whore. I agree with your statement on what makes games good. Genji come to mind?
June 12th, 2007
In the world according to Jonathan, only a shiny, pretty picture makes a game worthwhile. And here I thought they just had to be fun. Anyone remember Goldeneye? You know…Halo, before there was Halo? By our standards today those graphics were unforgivable, but we still had a blast annihilating each other over multiplayer. And the transition of Conkers Bad Fur Day to the XBox was a nice, healthy reminder that sometimes spiffy specs just ruin something that was once fun.
People should just get over the fact that just because a video game console doesnt force them to buy a new television it doesnt make it any less of a great system. Instead it should be praised for its technological achievement. Look how small it is, how little power it uses, and ultimately how engaging it can be. Through the virtual console it is the most backwards compatable unit ever made, and through the Wiimote, once again Nintendo has revolutionized and set the standard for video gaming.
The best games…are the most interactive, engaging, unique and by the grace of (insert deity of choice here) be just plain, fun. A game without the Fun is just a crappy movie. So says I.
All that being said, Microsoft and Sony have kind of seen the light after taking a look over to their underestimated opponent. Microsoft is trying to widen its established base by trying to appeal to a broader spectrum of players (like the Wii). And the PS3 is attempting a vamped up Wiimote, but I have less faith in them to pull it off. Their games already cost upwards to 30 million dollars to make, tossing in that dimension on a whim could prove crippling.
So why would the titans start imitating the little engine that could? Because they recognize its potential, its importance, and what it means to the world of gaming. I recommend everyone in the meantime to pick up one of those little machines so that they can see for themselves what they were missing all these years.
June 12th, 2007
Lack. Of. HD-Out. It doesn’t even do 720p, it’s limited to 480p… unforgivable.
June 12th, 2007
Who doesn’t have a TV capable of at least 1080i?
June 12th, 2007
Jonathan buddy, I see your just looking for a little of the old controversy. Shame.
June 12th, 2007
“Lack. Of. HD-Out. It doesn’t even do 720p, it’s limited to 480p… unforgivable.”
“Who doesn’t have a TV capable of at least 1080i?”
Are you drating mad, man? What is this crap? Get out of your basement and hook up with the real world. Maybe if you did that instead of writing crappy blogs all day, you’d realize that there’s a whole other world out there. And guess what, it’s a world that does not agree with you.
June 12th, 2007
I have to agree here…there are a lot more people without 1080i tvs than not…or 720p tvs. Just the way it is.
June 12th, 2007
The wii is a friggin pissload of fun, but we really need more deep, immersive games like Zelda. Also its really pissing off when the wii gets half-assed ports of PS2 games.
June 12th, 2007
REAL gaming?
Jackass.
June 13th, 2007
It`s not often the ” comments ” are more intelligent than the article, but in this case they are. No mention of “Gameplay” in the whole article …. arn`t games supposed to be fun ????
June 13th, 2007
I’ve played games since the XZ81, I like innovation.
i own all three last gen machines but apart from a few titles the PC has been my main gaming platform. Until the Wii came along. That thing is cool, you can just ‘feel’ the potential.
And those next gen consoles? well what happened to this multimedia hub business? I’m still using my modded xbox in that role.
I have no intention of buying a HD TV until my current one breaks, or HD TV broadcasts are freely available.
June 13th, 2007
Actually I liked his post, and don’t think the guy deserves to be insulted because he posted his opinion. He clearly explained his position unlike alot of other pure fanboy posts.
He admits he can’t understand the appeal of the Wii and he admits that from all appearances the Wii is kicking the ass of the 2 other consoles + PC where he prefers to play what has come to be classified as Hard Core games rather than casual games.
He clearly stated he HOPES its a fad, unlike other Playstation/Xbox fanboys which automatically go “I don’t like it so it must be a fad”, “it doesn’t have games i traditonaly like or play so will fail”.
So no I liked his post be cause he was honest about his position and that it is just his personal opinion, not a fact of the world.
I have a wii and a Pc, i do like my Wii but since the time of Doom,Duke nukem and Dune on the PC i’ve never been interested in pretty much any other kind of game or game machine. I do like my Wii, but I do prefer my PC.
The guy never claimed the Wii was shit (in the article) , or ever really insulted it, All he said was he personally couldn’t understand it because hes probably been used to a different kind of gaming for so long like me. he never mentioned anything about lack of features or high spec in the article.
The point of the article was simple, Wii is winning in sales and appearances heart, and he as a traditional gamer can’t understand why. He only once insulted the Wii and that insult was meant as a joke not a serious point.
bloody fanboy comments, probably just pissed him off to post controversial comments. Reading most of his other articles he always writes are fairly unbiased, just writes what has been reported. This is just an opinion piece thats it. Disagree with it but don’t insult the writer.
June 13th, 2007
so games like Twilight Princess aren’t for the hardcore gamer are they?! some people do make me laugh!
Nintendo has just done something different where as Sony have hardly bothered to change their controller over the last 10 years – me and my mates (all hardcore gamers!) love having a sesh on Wii Sports or playing one of the retro games on download like Mario Kart 64 – why do some people find the Wii’s success so hard to beleive?! That is a ‘phenomenon I do not understand’!!!
June 13th, 2007
I’ll explain why it’s so big: it’s simple, fun, and more importantly cheap. The feeling of money still in your pocket adds a whole new element of “fun” to the game. When you bust out near $700 you’re expecting BIG things from your system and if it doesn’t deliver to the utmost, you feel dissapointed. If you spend a bit over $200 you’re ready to take what you can and when it turns out great you feel incredible. And it’s just a fun system.
I have a Wii but personally I’d like some deeper games. Some feel a bit too simple and purely based around the fact that one can use the controller in different ways but no real game depth. I want a cool game, more like zelda.
June 13th, 2007
The “Wii is a fad” meme is just an expression of hardcore gamers realizing with horror that their 10-year domination of the market is over.
You may want to start finding something else to blog about if you can’t deal with the fact that Mario Party can outsell first-person shooters now…. or just take a vacation until Halo 3 comes out.
June 13th, 2007
—”It`s not often the ” comments ” are more intelligent than the article, but in this case they are. No mention of “Gameplay” in the whole article”—-
Spot on! LOL
So let me say that these fools that call themselves “hardcore gamers” seem to have missed playing games on consoles like the PS1/PS2, SNES or Game Boy. Game consoles with limited graphical capabilities and yet their fun factor was high. Suddenly according to them, it’s all about consoles that play games that cost 30 million to make? And most of that money invested on the graphics? Whadda about the gameplay?
Take Gears of War or Resistance: Fall of Man and you have formulaic games that could’ve been made last generation. Obviously with graphics of that said generation but the gameplay would be mostly the same.
In fact, the only selling point of the “big guys” this generation is merely eye candy and the fact that you can watch “Ultraviolet” starring Milla Jovovich on Blu-Ray (uggh!) or enjoy limited backward compability on those consoles. That’s about it.
In fact, I’m surprised the PS3 has sold as much as it has. Gotta thank those fanboys Sony!
June 13th, 2007
Wow Jonathan,
Sorry this post didn’t go as planned. I think you should maybe try the wii out, steer clear of the ports though. Even someone so deeply entrenched in the “hardcore” gamer philosophy can understand the potential in the wii if you half try. I’m not trying to be insulting or even condescending, but you need to let go of your upper echelon self image and have a blast on an awesome system. I don’t really blame you for your frustration, first it was a very select group that were into video games, the gamers. All last gen, you were able to call yourself a hardcore gamer, and feel even more special. Now nintendo has taken that all away, because, everyone likes wii. It’s not all grannys and five year olds that play wii, it’s everone. whether you like it or not, hardcore gamers like NAPALM are getting a wii too and enjoying themselves. Just look at the attach rate for Wii 360. Hating on the wii doesn’t make you special or hardcore, it makes you look stupid. And if you ever want to be a REAL journalist, you might want to make you opinion sepparate from the facts, try splitting it up into several sections or at least several paragraphs.
Take this as constructive criticism, all in all it’s a fairly well written post, except for the grammar issues, and the fact that it’s really condescending to someone who doesn’t agree with you. It’s like you’re saying that you’re standing on a level of gaming beyond what we can comprehend, and I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s not true. Now I’m sure some foulmouthed fanboy is about to come on the sight and blast me with profanity and cries of:
“Wii is for f—ing —holes and idiot retarded babies!!”
sporadically thrown into the comments. My question to you is, is that the camp you want to be aligned with? Why don’t you read over NAPALM’s comment again and see what non-fanboys are like as opposed to picking a side and hoping for the best. We’re not just idiot masses, easily swayed by games about cooking and ponies, so don’t write to us like we are.
One last note, why is it that whenever someone points out that Gears of War has way better graphics than Resistance: Fall of Man, there is always a reply that the PS3 is in its first year of development. But then the same people will turn around and rag on wii for the exact same reason, and please, when you make a graphical comparison, have the balls to bring up Zelda or even Excite Truck (and make sure you’re using component cables). Don’t set up a straw man argumentby talking about the ubi ports or cooking mama. That’s weak sauce, and everyone knows what you’re doing.
June 13th, 2007
It seems to me that Nintendo isn’t trying, the Wii has little better than GameCube graphics, granted they ARE better but it’s not like going from XBOX to XBOX 360 great. It’s just kind of, it’s better but eh, not by much.
As for the grammar, one, I did my best to fix the last batch of errors (which were not at all obvious except to the English major in our group) and two, we don’t have a copy editor so if you want the grammar fixed, point out an error and someone will fix it, otherwise, I’m going to be left in ignorance.
If the Wii could do something other than play games (like the XBOX 360…) or like the PS3 and could store my files on a hard drive, I’d be more forgiving of the other shortcomings.
I’d still like it to have at a minimum 720p output (as we’ve noticed, it looks horrid on any large HDTV with the 480p max).
Yes, it’s early in the game but Nintendo COULD have done better with game development and graphics, some hold the opinion that it simply made the choice not to.
Windows sucks but there are a lot of good games on that platform and I only use it for gaming… my “work” computer is a Mac.
June 13th, 2007
–”If the Wii could do something other than play games”—
And he considers himself a gamer? And yet he demands such a thing from a GAME console?
To me, this guy wants to find excuses to the fact that he dedicates a big chunk of his income to playing videogames like any other 12 year old kid. Maybe if he can watch porn on his PS3/360 that would change the fact he sits down and plays in front of the tv, pushing buttons.
The Wii doesn’t play DVD’s so he has to come to terms to the fact that the d@mn thing was ONLY designed to play video games. And he seems to hate that. Because just playing video games on any system will always make him look like a kid.
He has not matured enough to the point that he doesn’t give a flying fudge about what others think. Like the million of casuals of all ages that play on the Wii. And yet he looks down on them?
Heh! I can see it now… People visit his house and they better not find him playing videogames unless he has the expensive console hooked up to a gigantor HDTV set connected to a godhead audio system. Playing videogames is for kids but if he hooks the system up to expensive trash, then that makes him a man.
But who is he kiddin? They all think his just a dumb nerd playing tv games.
C’mon man. Drop that sh*t and enjoy your videogames like a good kid! LOL
June 14th, 2007
This article by Jonathan Schlaffer really made me laugh. I’m beginning to think that ‘hardcore’ gaming is something done only by young men in their own company. You say you don’t understand the Wii phenomena, but surely it’s simple… the Wii is fun. I’m not saying that hardcore gaming can’t be fun, it’s just not something you can do with your friends. Six months after buying my Wii when it was launched in the UK on December 8th I’m still bowling and golfing on Wii Sports with my friends. It’s hard for getting past a tricky level of Resistance or Gears to be a social event or spectator thing. The phenomena that you claim not to understand is probably (and finally after decades) SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF COMPUTER GAMES…. yes I shouted that bit. The Wii is the first console that is truly cool. It helps elevate the industry out of the basement of the geeks and makes it a truly interactive and socialable experience. Bowling and Golf on Wii Sports is something you and your friends do, rather than play. Its fun. Accept it.
June 14th, 2007
Consider this for a moment…
Each of the latest systems has something to offer FOR DIFFERENT MARKETS.
In terms of specs and technological masterpieces. Hands down, the XBox 360 and PS3 take the cake. Gamers can play to their hearts content on these powerful and masterful pieces of hardware. I would not want to take anything away from either one of these machines. Yet, the target demographic was for the gamer who would be willing to sit for a week outside their local store in order to snag up a system. In other words, those who can appreciate the time and specifications that goes into a system.
This article seems to hint that because the Wii is outselling both systems at the moment, that there must be something wrong with those who buy the Wii. I must say that is such a fallacy. Couple of issues that arise when people complain about the Wii:
GRAPHICS: Okay, when playing my Gameboy way back when I really didn’t care so much about graphics as whether or not the game was fun. Plain and simple. Personally, I’m not worried about framerates per second as opposed to whether I can have fun with the game I’m playing.
LACK OF MULTIFUNCTIONALITY: People have been griping, “Well, it doesn’t even play DVDs!” Umm, if I want a DVD player I’ll go out and buy one. I didn’t want a DVD player, I wanted a game system. Not a mini-computer. Nintendo is very good at creating gaming systems, not a hub of multi-functional hardware which may not even work properly at times.
The fact is, Nintendo recognized at this point…that less is more. Ever heard of something called Occam’s Razor? A philosophical term meaning cut loose all the complicated things in a situation to find the simplest solution.
POWER: Apparently the Wii isn’t as powerful as either system. Here, I don’t think Nintendo was aiming for the most powerful system, rather the most innovative. They did it.
The people who gripe about the Wii outselling I feel have this complex about themselves and “their” gaming world. The gaming community has always been there own little sect in society, and then the Wii came out Nintendo opened an entire market that did not previously exist. The casual gamer got into it, wasn’t intimidated by all the mechanics and after the swing of the Wii Remote during a game of tennis, thought “Hey this is fun!”. The not-so-casual gamer looks at that and says, “Hey, this is OUR turf. You don’t even care about that major stuff like I do.”
Classic example of this is my sister. She NEVER plays video games. She saw me playing Wii Sports the other day and wanted to try. Once she did, I couldn’t pry the Wii Remote out of her hands. Then she wanted to know how she could get one. When I told her how much the other two systems cost she exclaimed “Why in the world would anyone pay $700 for that?” referring to the PS3. Part of it has to do with practicality too, if it’s affordable AND fun. Chances are, it will succeed.
Prior to the Wii-Era, Playstation and Xbox enthusiasts exuded an err of over-confidence that Nintendo was all but done. Now that they see that Nintendo took a different direction and it actually worked for the company. People from the Playstation and XBox camps are sitting there with their tail between their legs, and scratching their heads thinking, “How in the world?”
Point is…the three systems cater to different markets. And because the Wii catered to a bigger market than ANYONE expected. People are puzzled. Here’s a rundown: It’s affordable, it’s innovative, it’s simple, and it’s FUN.
June 18th, 2007
Aside from being affordable, what sets Wii apart from its rivals is its innovative gameplay that is so different from the usual gaming machines that we used to know. You can’t help but be amused small children playing Wii Boxing in front of the screen. The physical aspect of it is perhaps what contributes to its popularity.
June 19th, 2007
The marketing demographic for the Wii is sheer genius. Now as a gamer it holds no appeal for me at all. The outdated graphics and mostly kiddie theme just don’t work. But as a mass market product it is quite effective – as sales indicate.
The real problem for hardcore gamers is what this business model means to the industry…a fundamental shift from cutting edge graphics and computing power to mass market marginal products with a heavy dose of marketing “spin” thrown in for good measure. What about creativity? Well, I am no fanboy, even though I will never buy this product…it is indeed very creative in its interactive scheme.
Videogame culture … welcome to mainstream America
June 24th, 2007
One thing more I’d like to mention about graphics vs. being fun and engaging. To use examples from the PS2, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty vs. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. MGS:2 boasted far superior graphics at twice the frame rate as MG:S3, but most people who have played it found it abominable to MG:S that appeared on the original Playstation, and complained that it was too convoluted and confusing, lacking some of the charm that drew people into the series to begin with (back in the NES days).
MGS:3 on the other hand was a little clunkier visually, as I’ve said, running only at 30 frames per second rather than its predecessor at 60, and it really showed during some cinematics. But, everyone loved the game. It was considered the apology for MG:S2 that redeemed Hideo Kojima, and actually built up they hype for MGS: 4 Guns of the Patriots to appear on the PS3 (and I’m going to buy a PS3 for that reason).
But the point is, graphics are far, far from everything. Look at Xenosaga 2 vs. the original. Or FFX-2 vs FFX. There’s nothing wrong with things being less visually stunning in comparison to others if the game is a bloody good experience to play.
All that being said, the Wii is doing fine for me. It’s actually compelling me to buy games that normally wouldn’t interest me, like The Godfather, but strangling people with the Wiimote brings a new dimension to the game that I find compelling, and makes me more interested in playing different games.
June 25th, 2007
I don’t know how many people have said this, but one of the things that makes the Wii fun is it’s games–not only are they fun, but they have MORE TO THEM. Want to know why the wii is successful? It appeals to children, women, and older people. You almost never find a “high-definition gamer” in anyone other than an adult male. Sure, there are hard-core gamers, but after all, not everyone likes violent games or sports games.
Think about it. Most of the games, if not all of the games, on the PS3 and the XBox 360, as high in graphics as they are, are sports or first-person shooters.
Sports? NEVER CHANGE.
First-person shooters? ALWAYS THE SAME STUPID PLOT–SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN KILL. Is there anything unique in these? I think not.
Pretty much all games on the Wii, on the other hand, have their own plots and provide a chance to get into the game–make you feel like you’re actually doing it. Maybe instead of defending their position, a HD game player should try something different for a change, right?
June 26th, 2007
PS3 Sympathizers will say whatever will make them feel better about their $650.00 PS2s (oh, I’m sorry, I meant the new one w/ a shite CPU and other benign, overpriced compatabilities and features). You want a straight answer as to why Wii has crushed its competition? Fulfilled promises. Not to mention better innovation.
June 29th, 2007
I have a PC and a wii. I spend most of my time playing PC games though because thats just what I generally prefer. However what the wii has is pure deep fat fried chocolate coated gold.
Some of the games are just so well designed (e.g Zelda) that they are worth buying the console for by themselves. There is also a hell of alot of s*** but honestly the other two consoles have their fair share too. I would also like to buy a xbox 360 cos then you have both arenas covered but the price makes me stick to my pc for now.
A big recommendation for those without a wii though is that its pretty easy now to connect your wiimote to a pc. Its an awesome controller for driving games, and infact any game that works better on a gamepad. I’d say its worth buying a wiimote even if you dont have a wii just to use for your pc games as pc designed controllers are always lacking. (or buy an xbox360 controller as thts gd with a pc too)
No dvd player, lets see i can pick one up for £17.79 ($35) if not less. Thats probably pretty similar to the price reduction to the wii when they cut out the dvd player.
Back with the ps2 the dvd player was a selling point but honestly nowadays everybody has one. (hell i have like 6) New dvd’s can actually cost more than the players themselves.
But after all this ranting i have to say i liked the article. It wasnt fanboyish, just a guy saying what he thought.
October 13th, 2007
Wii sucks.