Nintendo’s Wii leads the console war

I'd buy a Wii if I could ever find one. They're ALWAYS sold out at every store around here...by contrast there's always 5-10 PS3's and XBOX360's just laying around :p

Well, not surprising, everyone and their grandma (literally) is buying the thing.

Amazing how a console with so few notable games has sold so well.

It's selling so well because it's fun and relatively cheap compared to the 360 and PS3 and appeals to those who don't normally play computer games so it has a bigger market than the other two. I use to be a PS fan but after sonys palaver with the PS3 and it's stupidly high price i'm glad nintendo is kicking sonys ass.

I'm enjoying my Wii, I haven't had much of a chance to play it though. So far I've managed to complete Rayman Raving Rabids and I've almost finished Zelda. I was planning to play through Metroid Prime 1 & 2 as well as Eternal Darkness before the end of the Uni hols, but I don't think I have time now.

It is a good system, and yes my Gran has had a go. :D

Thing is, the Wii isn't a hardcore gaming system. Yes, it's a gaming console but it's certainly not up with the likes of the PS3 or X360. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. But it's what people have already said, it's a fun, family or party game machine with a few decent games.

I have one and it's great fun when you have a group of people round enjoying the novelty of the Wii remotes, etc.

But as far as true gaming fun goes, I don't rate it that high as I never use the Wii on my own -- it's either the PS3 or the X360 (or the PC!).

So I can see why it's sold very well: entirely new UI which makes its fun and easy for non-gaming/hardcore people to use, socially-centric games like Wii Sports & Wario and is also significantly cheaper than the other two. But I couldn't see it being based on it being the "best" console out there. Not even for a second. It simply has mass market appeal.

Now the only thing left is for developers to stop putting their 3rd string devs on the system and put some actual effort into the games. Sucks that it has to get light versions/hand-me-down titles like Umbrella Chronicles and Manhunt while PS3/Xbox 360 get RE5, and GTA.

this was kind of predictable that could happen....

The Wii is just like the Pokemon craze. It will slow down once the kids realize there V-Tech oh i mean Wii has no good games. The 360 is really cheap now by the way.

I think the news image should be replaced with this

EDIT: Woops that was a bit big

Direct link

Wow, what a surprise! A console that costs almost twice as less is leading in sales...also don't get me wrong (and I've experienced the Wii myself) the Wii is a great console with innovation in mind, but with little to no good games out (btw they are $50 new which is insane considering the elementary graphics) I can't understand how it is selling so well even with the smaller price tag. Honestly, I think that because people can't experience the Wii in stores anymore (atleast where I live) due to the liability of someone hurting themselves, people want to experience it more, so with all the hype surrounding it along with the affordable price tag people expect it to be amazing out of the box when in reality it isn't. Being a multiplayer-based console you will have to spend a pretty good penny for more accessories which I think is a disadvantage to the low pricetag along with games starting at $50 new (should be $40 imo) which is another downfall...but once you get past it the Wii is an innovative, fun console that is only lacking in the game arena, but I believe once Xmas hits Nintendo should have some exciting titles debuting which will help justify the reason to buy one...or so I would hope...

I think that this is to be expected, as it is the most user friendly and family compatible of all the consoles, but at the same time I think that it is unfortunate, as I think that the Xbox 360 is a much better consoles, and at the moment has much better games, and is much more powerful. But, good on Nintendo for making such a good product.

The Wii sells well because it's a sensibly priced, FUN, different console with a good image and some nice innovation. Alright it doesn't have masses of brilliant games yet, but Wii sports with a few mates is a fantastic way to spend a couple of evenings a week.

Power and hardcore ability are nothing without the ability to have some fun with a console. This is what the Wii has in spades. I'd buy one without hesitation if we didn't have one at our uni house already. It's a great little console tbh.

heh...old news here

I guess it was pretty obvious... Nintendo was smart going for the a people's console instead of a hardcore console. M$ and s0ny baaaka!

I agree with Proxess, Nintendo was smart to market this to the mainstream as a game console and as a seemingly more "fun" console. As for me I won't buy a party system unless there are games for it that I would play by myself. I want MP3, but 1 game isn't enough to sell the system for me. Party games are fun with friends, but I already have a DS that works for that, as well as many other activities we could do.

Personally I found the Wii very samey, gcames are the same as games on the gamecube and well every previous nintendo console and well funnily enough the graphics look ever so slightly better than the gamecubes, only with a new control method so instead of doing the same controller movements I do the same monotonous movements with a retangular shaped controller.

someday some company will make a game for the wii thats graphics will blow your socks off.

@devdevil85
dont forget that 50$ for a game is cheap compared to other consoles....

Originally Posted by DXR_13KE
someday some company will make a game for the wii thats graphics will blow your socks off.

It's not really possible though, not with the hardware, and it doesn't matter anyway, I think Wii level of graphics are perfectly adequate, although I'm not complaining how Mass Effect is shaping up in the graphics department.

Originally Posted by D3s3rt_F0x
Personally I found the Wii very samey, gcames are the same as games on the gamecube and well every previous nintendo console and well funnily enough the graphics look ever so slightly better than the gamecubes, only with a new control method so instead of doing the same controller movements I do the same monotonous movements with a retangular shaped controller.

qft...I thought the same thing....using the same muscle over and over got old quick along with the motion sensor not working right half the time....and $50 is ridiculous for a Wii game even if it's Nintendo's newest console because, well....sure it's got the gameplay, but the graphics are still horrid and it doesn't feel next-gen to me.....on the other hand, I see the PS3's games that use the motion sensor where the gameplay is nowhere near what the Wii can do, but atleast they're output in 720p & 1080i/p, so I see both worlds......anyways that's my opinion on it....

Originally Posted by Veles
It's not really possible though, not with the hardware,

look at Resident Evil 4 for the game cube

9 million wii's sold but not many games. Granted people are getting it to play the tech demo, wii sports. But after that there is nothing available at this moment in time thats worth buying.

But everyone has their Wii and Wii sports, and they will be, if not already be getting board of that demo and are looking for games.

Im enjoying my 360 alot and I own 15 games in the 9 months of ownership and there are still loads of games I want that are out and alot more coming out this year. I cant keep up and its a shame the Wii aint like that at the moment.

Im sure it will have a huge libary after a couple of years but its slow getting there.

The wii is a fun console and its priced quite well too, hence why it leads the sales charts. The 360 and ps3 are much more expensive and when you throw in accessories and memory cards - it can become really pricey.

The Wiis only letdown is the lack of games on the system at the moment but i sit patiently as i look forward to a hardcore tennis game to other sports and adventure games to play.

The problem with it is at the moment the games are too far between and thin. Theres only Zelda which is the only "great" game on the console. Im waiting for super smash brawl but even that can have limited appeal. Where are the adventure games or other great games to look forward to? I want metal gear solid and final fantasy and hell even Gears of War on my wii but that wont happen anytime soon unfortunately.

I read an interesting article somewhere where one person called on the big 3 (nintendo, sony and microsoft) to make one console together so developers can market to a wider audience instead of a niche. Its an interesting idea since if there was ONE universal console - all the games could be on there and thus the prices could be cheaper too, the sales would be higher and everyone pretty much wins.

I just want better games on the Wii now, if that doesnt happen or looks to happen i will be looking at other consoles - il give it another year or two though since im patient.

its selling because its cheap. also its fun as hell to play when your high/drunk. that is why it is selling

Originally Posted by mikeuk2004
9 million wii's sold but not many games. Granted people are getting it to play the tech demo, wii sports. But after that there is nothing available at this moment in time thats worth buying.

But everyone has their Wii and Wii sports, and they will be, if not already be getting board of that demo and are looking for games.

Im enjoying my 360 alot and I own 15 games in the 9 months of ownership and there are still loads of games I want that are out and alot more coming out this year. I cant keep up and its a shame the Wii aint like that at the moment.

Im sure it will have a huge libary after a couple of years but its slow getting there.

9 months of ownership yes but it's been out almost 2 years now so it's no suprise it has lots of good games.
DS took ages to get going but look at it now, many great games, Zelda out next month etc.

Wii has Resident evil 4, super paper mario, mario football, metroid prime 3 (usa anyway), Zelda twilight princess big brain academy, cooking mama, trauma center, rayman raving rabbids, sonic and the secret rings.

Sure they're not all big epic games, but I've heard good things about all of them, and even if they're not games you'd buy personally, they are games that gamers are buying and playing, to say the Wii doesn't have any games worth buying after playing Wii sports is just completely untrue. I realise some are ports but gamers are buying them, hell I bought RE4 despite owning it on Cube, it's such a great game and the wii controls are brilliant.


Wii games Coming out this year: Mario galaxy, Smash bros brawl (not sure about Europe), Resident evil umbrella chronicles, zack and wiki, beautiful katamari (think its out 07, could be wrong), my sims, Table tennis.


The games could be a fair bit better yes, but hell it's not even a year old yet so I'm giving it the chance it deserves, just like the DS I'm very sure a great flow of quality games will come, and with Paper Mario being out today, I believe it's already started!

Also several games worthy of purchase on the Virtual console!

If you look at a lot of third party publishers, they were kinda caught with their pants down with the wii. They really didn't expect it to do so well so give it some more time and they will have caught up with their more focused attentions on the Wii.

Also the Wii is a dream for all those animation movie spin off games as the graphics arn't demanding and the markets are much more suited to the console and movies than with the other contenders.

To be honest I still think the price is too high and many feel that way but it is the 'cheaper' of the consoles so demanding kids get that from their parents and older audiences get it for the social 'fun' aspects

The thing is with nintendo, they dont care what we think about the graphics or how "hardcore" it is. We represent only a fraction of the market compared to who is buying the system. Personally I love owning one, I have spent alot of time playing just the few games that I have (mostly Zelda, NFS Carbon, Wii Sports, and Wii Play). Sure its graphics aren't the greatest but the gameplay is a blast. I don't know about the rest of you but I am sick of being fed games that only look pretty (a lot of the junk by EA comes to mind). But when they get it right it can be a blast playing the same games that look many time better on the other consoles. Wether by luck or not the controler schemes for NFS Carbon on the wii are genius.

The wii also is the perfect party console, it is easy to switch off with other people and is a snap to learn. None of these crazy button combos involving 3 mini joysticks and 18 buttons. It's nice having a console that non-gamers can learn to play in just a few minutes.

If I want amazing visuals then I go to my PC, as it is they blow all of the consoles out of the water. If I want to kill some time with out getting too involved or play a game with some friends then its all about the wii (though I am thinking about picking up an xbox 360.)

I really wish they'd put out some more worthwhile games... I haven't played mine in months. Zelda was good fun and all, but Wii Sports and the other collections of minigames out there (pretty much everything else, right?) are pretty worthless unless you're with people all the time. Maybe it's just because I'm a cheapass, but it seems like most of the somewhat worthwhile games out there are still only worth $30 or so (and still selling for $50).

I'm sure there's some other good stuff out there, but it just doesn't greatly appeal to me. Largely because I'm just not doing much gaming anymore.

Actually, if someone is still looking for one, make an offer. I've got the console with four remotes, two nunchucks, classic controller, several virtual console titles, and a component out cable (along with Zelda, Wii Play+Sports, and COD3).

I have my PC for "serious" games, I bought a Wii because it is different and fun without breaking the bank.

I'm certainly in the bracket of not having bought many games, since I've only gotten twilight princess!

Basically I'm doing a bit here and there on the first one when the mood strikes me, and will buy more when I finish it, unlike the PC where I have honestly stacks of games I've not played/much/completed (When you get them for 2/3 for £10 or relatively recent for £9.99 the impetus to finish isn't quite what it was when you have to spend £30 I've found)

Edit add (half the post I forgot to make in the first try ;p)

My to-buy list going on my favourite types and reviews is now :

RE4
Trauma center: second opinion
Super paper mario
Metroid prime : corruption
Super mario galaxy

Half of them not out in the UK yet, sadly, though Its hard to find more than the occasional oddball of a bad review for any of them. (Like with RE4 the last time I looked at metacritic there were 29 reviews in the 92% - 100% category and a single guy who gave it 70%, who made clear in the text of the review that he absolutely hated the wii outright and had to try pretty hard to slate RE4 ;p)

I love my Wii! That actually sounds really dirty, but I digress. True it doesnt have the overall power that the other 2 consoles have, but it has something more..fun. It doenst take itself to seriously. It doesnt throw in exotic hardware just so that it can say its the best.

I consider myself a gamer, and the fried graphics cards and cpus left in my wake attest to my desire for good graphics, but we all know that good graphics dont make a game good. The opposite is also true. Some of the funnest games I have ever played are considered " bad graphics ", GTA 2 springs immediately to mind. Near the end of a long lan party, my buds and I popped this in, we had more fun trying to run eachother over then we did playing all manner of " nice graphics " games.

To all those who say that there are no good games for the Wii, all I can say is that there are exponentially more right now than on the " superior console ". Yes I have played it, and no I wasnt amazed.

Originally Posted by proxess
I guess it was pretty obvious... Nintendo was smart going for the a people's console instead of a hardcore console. M$ and s0ny baaaka!

So basically it's like the Volkswagen (people's car) lol

I haven't as yet bought any of the the top 3 consoles.
I have young kids, so I will probably buy a Wii, as there seems more kids games for it.
For other games, I have 2 PCs in the house, which I use for RPGs, shooters etc for myself.

My son currently has a Gamecube, (he's only 7) and he enjoys playing on that and the games are dirt cheap.

After saying that, I will probably buy a Wiii towards the end of the year or early next year.

Originally Posted by ou7blaze
So basically it's like the Volkswagen (people's car) lol

yup, Volkskonsole (peoples console..) leave the geek market to the others, target the mass market... it seems to work out

Originally Posted by Firehed
I really wish they'd put out some more worthwhile games... I haven't played mine in months. Zelda was good fun and all, but Wii Sports and the other collections of minigames out there (pretty much everything else, right?) are pretty worthless unless you're with people all the time. Maybe it's just because I'm a cheapass, but it seems like most of the somewhat worthwhile games out there are still only worth $30 or so (and still selling for $50).

I'm sure there's some other good stuff out there, but it just doesn't greatly appeal to me. Largely because I'm just not doing much gaming anymore.

Actually, if someone is still looking for one, make an offer. I've got the console with four remotes, two nunchucks, classic controller, several virtual console titles, and a component out cable (along with Zelda, Wii Play+Sports, and COD3).

you ask for worthwhile games then say they don't appeal to you and that your not doing much gaming anymore? :?

Theres a few games out worth owning:
Super Paper mario
Resident evil 4
Metroid prime 3: corruption
trauma center
mario strikers charged

and several decent Virtual console games

Originally Posted by naokaji
yup, Volkskonsole (peoples console..) leave the geek market to the others, target the mass market... it seems to work out

Volkskonsole probably would have been a better name. :) But the idea does work. Personally, I can't justify paying $4-600 for systems that just do the same thing as last gen, only purtier, but coming up with $250 for a new gaming experience is more fesable. It appears that I am not the only one who thinks this way, creating a good sized base market for the wii. To top it off, as sales continue, more third party developers will be looking at the Wii, making the possibility of bringing more "hardcore" games to the console more likely. The whole concept is a rarity in the business world called forward thinking.

I find the Wii to be a barrel of fun, okay I mainly use Wii sports but the thing is if its up and running in front of you I think you'd have to be pretty strong willed not to want to have a shot.
The bowling is great fun (I can even get my wife to play it for multiple games and she sneers at my PC gaming) plus the two player boxing is hilarious. Set this up if your having a party or a few folk over, crack open a couple of beers and what a giggle you have. Just make sure that anything breakable is well out of the way and get the silicone skins for the remotes, it helps keep the sticky stains off the white plastic and with any accidental spilages.