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Nintendo continues
The Money Times ^ | 5/19/2007

Posted on 05/21/2007 9:22:25 AM PDT by HamiltonJay

Wii on winning spree, scores fourth consecutive win over rivals by Shubha Krishnappa - May 19, 2007 - 2 comments

Among the trio of next generation gaming consoles, Nintendo has emerged as the numero uno in April for the fourth consecutive month after selling 360,000 of the popular video game devices in the United States, repeatedly outshining both its rivals Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 in the US video game consoles market.

After attaining the top position in the first three months of the year, Nintendo has once again performed exceptionally well by selling nearly four times as many Wiis as Sony sold PlayStation 3s and more than twice as many as Microsoft did Xbox 360s, a market research firm, NPD Group Inc. said.

According to fresh sales results provided by NPD, US gamers bought 360,000 units of the wii console last month, making it the best-selling video game console in the country.

The more-powerful systems, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 lagged behind in the fierce battle for dominance in the booming gaming consoles market by moving 82,000 and 174,000 units, respectively.

Nintendo sold 436,000 Wii video game consoles in January, while Xbox 360 sold 294,000 and Sony's PlayStation 3 sold 244,000 units.

In February, US gamers bought 335,000 Wii consoles and 228,000 of Microsoft's Xbox 360, while Sony's PlayStation 3 consoles managed 127,000 units.

In March, Nintendo shipped 259,000 Wii video game consoles, while Microsoft and Sony managed 199,000 and 130,000 units, respectively.

In the hand-held category, Nintendo DS remained the most popular game system of any kind in April, with impressive sales of 471,000 units, ahead of PlayStation Portable, or PSP, with 183,000 units. Nintendo DS is a portable game player that is still selling briskly more than two years after its introduction.

Although, Sony's last-generation PlayStation 2 has outshined Xbox 360 in April by selling 194,000 units, but compared to its last three months’ sales data PS2 did not do well this month.

Sony's 7-year-old gaming console moved 299,000 machines in January 295,000 in February and 280,000 units in March.

After reigning as the champ of hardware sales in United States, Nintendo ruled the software game charts too, with the top four best-selling games belonging to the company.

Games for Nintendo DS, took the top two spots, followed by two games for the Wii.

The four Nintendo titles are: ‘Pokemon Diamond’ and ‘Pokemon Pearl’ for the DS that sold 1.04 million and 712,000 units respectively. ‘Super Paper Mario’ for the Wii came in third with 352,000 games sold in April, while ‘Wii Play With Remote’ recorded 249,000 sales during the month.

"Nothing is more valuable in the entertainment world than an evergreen franchise," says Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO, Nintendo of America. "These new Pokémon titles have cemented their place alongside the most enduring intellectual properties of the book, music and movie industries. And that appeal will expand even further with the introduction of Pokémon Battle Revolution to our Wii home console next month."

The overall market of video game hardware and software came up with booming results.

Total U.S. sales of video games and hardware reached $838.6 million, a 20% increase from April 2006 ($699 million), according to figures sent Friday from the NPD Group.

However, the sales were down from $1.1 billion in March.

After observing the fresh NPD sales data, it seems that consumers still reacting well to lower cost consoles. Launched in November last year, Nintendo’s Wii console retails for $US250, while PS2 costs only $129.

Xbox 360 and the PS3 start at $299 and $599, respectively, while their high-end versions are priced at $US400 and $US600, respectively.

Besides Nintendo console's U.S. price, which is just half the cost of the least-expensive version of PS3, its motion-sensitive controller that has been popular with mainstream gamers as well as new audiences like senior citizens and very young children has helped build buzz for the machine, and made it more appealing to some consumers.

The three companies are locked in a fierce battle for dominance in the $13 billion U.S. video game market.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: microsoft; nintendo; sony; wii
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To: Diplomat

What the Euros do doesn’t mean crap to you, but it will determine which format will be the dominant one that content will be released in. At this point, and with the decision by Sony to incorporate blu ray into the PS3 it does appear that Sony is going to win this one.

With over 3 Million PS3’s sold in EU,US and Jap, plus however many other Blu Ray players, it does seem that Blu Ray is getting the upper hand.... which is a good thing.

I’ll stick with my standard DVD player for now, and when I do upgrade to 1080p hopefully the war will be over. I’m not a fan of spending $600 for a player.. but if I need a HD player, and I can buy one for $200 that doesn’t do my max format, or one for $300-$400 that also is a game system, I’m probably going to pay the extra for the PS3.

One thing is certain the PS3 will get cheaper, and its current price point is TOO high as a game system. As a BD player though, its the cheapest by far out there. As costs come down, from manufacturing efficiencies, etc, PS3 should be selling at or below the 360 price point, which thanks to the new “ELITE” just moved UP, closer to the PS3... meaning even less of a fall in price is needed to make them the same.

$200 isn’t a heck of a lot of money, but for the lower end person, its certainly enough to make them think twice about buying... especially if they aren’t sure what format is going to win the war.....

US consumer is by and large is waiting to see which format is going to dominate, and I don’t see Wal Mart or any other retailer, really changing that.


61 posted on 05/21/2007 12:30:56 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Spiff

Do your kids know what Pokemon is? Diamand and Pearl?

Kids in my sons class are buying these like hotcakes for their DS....

And the WII Pokemon coming out soon will allow them to upload their DS Pokemon to their WII’s and play head to head against anyone around the world....

I personally have been enjoying Zelda when I get free time to play... Son enjoys playing various Wii games we have, and old GameCube classics he’s never played, and I admit to buying an occasional VC game here and there as well.

He hasn’t been playing as much lately, but that’s because the weather is now nice and he finishes his homework and goes out to play with his friends, which I don’t mind at all.


62 posted on 05/21/2007 12:35:33 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

Two of my kids are saving their $$$ to buy Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.


63 posted on 05/21/2007 12:38:06 PM PDT by Spiff (Rudy Giuliani Quote (NY Post, 1996) "Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine.")
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To: Spiff

Well then I would guess, they’ll be booting up that Wii quite a bit shortly.


64 posted on 05/21/2007 12:39:07 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay
I have a feeling though I’ll not be getting much time on the thing once Pokemon comes out and my kid can play head to head against anyone online 24/7

LOL, I hear you.

The FPS aren't really my favorite types either. One of my favorite (and IMHO underappreciated) titles for the GameCube was Paper Mario: the Thousand Year Door. I think there may be a sequel for that already out for the Wii as well.

65 posted on 05/21/2007 12:46:50 PM PDT by jpl
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To: HamiltonJay

I live on southern California. When the last big quake hit and tossed all my electronics across the room and onto the ground, the only device which stopped working was the Sony. Gheesh, my expensive TV dies, the cheapo’s still work. For goodness sakes, the Panasonic’s survived the falls! That junk should have been toast.

The earthquake was strike 1. The stealth install of Sony DRM crap into the XP rootkit was strike 2. They’ve got one last chance to wow me.

Interestingly enough, my son (13 now) wanted the Xbox360 in the last go around of console purchases because of the supposed superior games. I think it was more games for adolescent boys which his friends had. He was Playstation up until last Christmas. My daughter still uses the GameCube, but also plays on the Ninento DS. We played the Mario Party games, and one other game, over and over on the GC. Really worth the money because of the family gaming.

Neither one wanted the Wii last year, but I suspect that may change this year. If not, I may get my daughter the Wii for Christmas this year so I we can get some new party games in the mix.


66 posted on 05/21/2007 12:47:44 PM PDT by Diplomat
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To: jpl

Yep, just came out, called Super Paper Mario, its gotten rave reviews.. I haven’t played it yet, but will likely pick up a copy soon.


67 posted on 05/21/2007 12:59:30 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Diplomat

If you like GC, I’d definately recommend upgrading to the Wii when you can... plays all your favorite GC games ( a vastly underrated system IMHO) and really does focus on party games, whole family... even kids with motor problems who could never mash a sequence of buttons effectively can play games on the Wii.

I am not going to guess about your issues with sony not handling a shock or not, only equipment I will classify as total crap was EMERSON (don’t even know if they are still around as a brand), everything I ever owned that they made died within a year.

Wii is definately an interactive gaming experience, group etc. My wife will come running to challenge people to a game of Tennis! And she’s never cared for any video games at all.

And you haven’t laughed, until you seen a bunch of adults trying to play WarioWare Smooth Moves.. break this one out after a few drinks have been had, and you’ll be dying of laughter.


68 posted on 05/21/2007 1:04:59 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: figgers3036
If I did pick up a console for this generation, though, it would be a Wii just because it’s a lot of fun with a group. It’s hard finding a good group game for the Playstation or XBox, but the Wii has dozens of them.

Ya got that right. Nothing's more fun than a super competitive cutthroat game of Mario Kart. Wii's are great for that simple social get together kind of thing. It's kind of the same thing as a board game like monopoly.
69 posted on 05/21/2007 1:06:03 PM PDT by JamesP81 (Isaiah 10:1 - "Woe to those who enact evil statutes")
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To: HamiltonJay

Power and complexity are important to gaming, but in the end, it has to be FUN. Sony seemed to be counting on the geek factor of it’s amazing processor. Nintendo counted on the wow factor of it’s controls, and how fun it is actually doing something rather than just sitting in awe of a processor.

Even the commercials were completely different. Nintendo’s were whimsical and fun to watch.


70 posted on 05/21/2007 1:35:37 PM PDT by kenth (I got tired of my last tagline...)
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To: kenth

Sony and MS both..... Thinking raw horsepower is what will sell....

I’ll be the first to admit watching a PS3 on an HDTV is a visually pleasing experience... however Motostorm isn’t nearly as fun to play as say Pikmin to me, or even Load Runner or Jumpman back in the old 8 bit computer days.

Big N has sat back and let MS and SONY fight the hardware wars, they have focused on intuitivness of play and general fun... and generally changing the way users interact with the hardware.. its paid off in spades with the DS, and is paying off in spades as well with the WII.

I also have fun playing Wii Sports with my kids, and graphically that is about as basic as you can get.


71 posted on 05/21/2007 1:58:33 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

I’m thinking 2007 is going to be a great Christmas for my family.

Thanks for all the info.


72 posted on 05/21/2007 2:15:50 PM PDT by Diplomat
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To: HamiltonJay
The four Nintendo titles are: ‘Pokemon Diamond’ and ‘Pokemon Pearl’ for the DS that sold 1.04 million and 712,000 units respectively. ‘Super Paper Mario’ for the Wii came in third with 352,000 games sold in April, while ‘Wii Play With Remote’ recorded 249,000 sales during the month.

WoooHoo!! Pokemon games!

Wow, Nintendo execs are such GENIUSES! Package a Gamecube in a shinier box with a funky controller and release a bunch of Pokemon games.

Seriously, I'm glad Sony and Microsoft have more respect for themselves than to push garbage like Pokemon games. The Wii is great if you're 5 years old, but little kids are only half the market. There's plenty of money to be made from people who don't play Mario and Japanimation games.

73 posted on 05/21/2007 2:22:39 PM PDT by GunRunner (Rudy 2008, because conservatives can't win.)
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To: Paradox
Enter Nintendo, with its "wimpy" game, but with GAME PLAY the primary consideration, lesser hardware, sold at 1/2 the price of the other two. Bang! Big winner!

The gameplay is great if you're a crumb cruncher maneuvering a cartoon through playland.

But read the reviews of any serious action game for the Wii like Red Steel or Medal of Honor: Vanguard. You get less than mediocre games with substandard graphics and a control scheme that simply doesn't work. The XBox and PS3 controllers work fine; don't fix something that's not broken.

74 posted on 05/21/2007 2:31:00 PM PDT by GunRunner (Rudy 2008, because conservatives can't win.)
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To: HamiltonJay

This is interesting for 2 reasons, first there are no Wiis anywhere, but there are plenty of Xbox360 and PS3s. Second, there aren’t really that many first-rate titles out for the Wii, most are just product demonstration-type titles. We’re still waiting for Mario Party 8 for the kids, been ‘Coming Soon’ since dirt was new...


75 posted on 05/21/2007 2:31:24 PM PDT by Citizen of the Savage Nation
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To: HamiltonJay
I still can’t figure out why some publisher hasn’t released like the entire 2600 catalog on a disk for the modern consoles.

I thought that was to be part of the new XBOX Live. For a couple bucks you could download a lot of the old titles and play them online.
76 posted on 05/21/2007 2:39:56 PM PDT by Daus
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To: HamiltonJay
Big N is the clear winner this gen, and I don’t see anything changing that.

If Nintendo wants to build a console around Pokemon, Mario, My Little Pony, or whatever lame kid's fad is making the toy companies rich, that's great.

But people who want a multimedia gaming system with solid online capability and games that aren't geared towards 2 year olds won't be doling out cash for a Wii. When Blu-Ray and HD-DVD start gaining momentum, along with the release of Halo 3, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone, more mature gamers will start spending big bucks.

77 posted on 05/21/2007 2:46:28 PM PDT by GunRunner (Rudy 2008, because conservatives can't win.)
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To: GunRunner

I’m guessing that GunRunner is not yet a daddy to a child over 3. You’ll rethink the Ninento position at such time.

Both the Wii and the PS3/XBox360 have very valid places in the current market. Plus, it appears that the Wii is creating a new market for folks who were never (or barely) gamers before the Wii.

I have no evidence, however, Nineto may be waiting to see where HDTV and HD-DVD end up before creating their next generation game console.


78 posted on 05/21/2007 2:49:43 PM PDT by Diplomat
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To: akorahil

Wal-Mart is not exclusively HD-DVD. Your source is wrong and the numerous talkbacks below his article prove it. HD-DVD is a great format, but it is very clearly in 2nd place right now with no exclusive support except for Universal Pictures.


79 posted on 05/21/2007 3:06:51 PM PDT by GunRunner (Rudy 2008, because conservatives can't win.)
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To: HamiltonJay
Check ou that $200 HD-DVD... it can’t do 1080p.

If you are referring to the HD-DVD add on for the XBox360, it can do 1080p, but you have to have the VGA cables or one of the new black consoles with an HDMI out.

80 posted on 05/21/2007 3:08:45 PM PDT by GunRunner (Rudy 2008, because conservatives can't win.)
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