1 Million Wiis To Be Sold in U.S. By December

Gamasutra reports on comments by Nintendo's Reggie-Fils Aime, who is claiming the company will have sold 1 Million Wii consoles by December 1st. From the article: "Nintendo's previously stated plans called for the company to ship approximately 4 million consoles globally before the end of 2006. It is not clear whether the new figures stated by Fils-Aime are still in line with these numbers, since no estimate for Japanese or European sales were given. Sony's plans call for 1 million consoles sales in the U.S. by the end of March, 2007. When interviewed by Reuters, Fils-Aime also commented on the potential lifespan of the Wii, suggesting that a four, five or even six year lifespan was 'just about right.'"

Comments

Yes but the PS3 is to looking like a disaster

[Anonymous Coward]

I doubt the PS3 would accomplish this (1 million in sales by December) if the units were available. There has been a lot of news out lately in regards to what a disaster the PS3 is turning out to be for Sony. Here is a listing of a few of the problems reported already:

- Poor backward compatilibity with PS1 and PS2 games (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15712585/)

- Numerous high def upscaling issues including PS3 BluRay movies not appearing in high definition properly (http://loot-ninja.com/2006/11/19/ps3-hd-scaling-i ssues-other-annoyances/)

- A very poor online system, as compared to the Xbox Live System (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/20/arts/20game.htm l)

- No high definition cables ship with the system, you are stuck with a composite cable unless you pay extra (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/20/arts/20game.htm l)

- Poor graphics on side to side game comparison tests: http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/sports/tonyhawksprojec t8/review.html?sid=6161341

- Poor framerates and "tearing" reported on multiple game titles, including Tony Hawk and Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire (http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/sim/gundamworld/revie w.html)

- Poor buggy development tools which make development very hard as compared to other current gen systems (http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=19611&he d=Atari+Founder+Likes+Xbox360%2C+Disses+PS3&sector =Industries&subsector=EntertainmentAndMedia)

- Multiple launch titles cancelled or delayed due to development issues (http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7200)

With the Xbox 360 already having 7 million units sold worldwide, the Wii approximately 500,000 units, and the PS3 only having sold 200,000 units in North America and 80,000 units in Japan and none in Europe it is hard to see Sony succeeding with the PS3. The PS3 may be the largest disaster yet for Sony this year, with each PS3 losing $306 for Sony (http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2006/11/16/ps3-l oses-up-to-306-per-unit-xbox-360-profits-76-per-sa le.htm) and the PS3 having the lowest attach rate (0.98) in the industry.

Re:Yes but the PS3 is to looking like a disaster

[ThosLives]

with each PS3 losing $306 for Sony

You know, I doubt Sony counts this as a "loss" - they probably book it as an "investment".

Think of it like this: if I spend $1000 on stock, I didn't "lose" $1000 - I invested it, with the hopes of getting more than $1000 back at some point in the future, but my returns are not guaranteed, just as Sony's returns are not. If Sony thinks that by spending (cost - revenue) per unit now will get them (cost + returns) later through game licensing, they don't consider it a loss, but a risky investment. It's only a "loss" at the end of the product cycle if (total sales - total cost) is negative when they stop selling.

I would think that any business-savvy folks would recognize this, but apparently the media is portraying this in a very one-sided manner and getting quite a few people to bite on the misinformation (units costing more than sale price is probably a fact - but it isn't a useful fact in and of itself).

That said, I don't know if the PS3 will end up being an investment for a gain or for a loss - and neither does anyone else.

Re:Yes but the PS3 is to looking like a disaster

[Hassman]

You do realize that the article linked is a Reuters article. Reuters has nothing to do with MSNBC...kinda like the AP. It just happens to be on MSNBC, which by the way is more NBC than MS.

Say it with me... Think, then post. THINK, then post. I know you can do it.

Re:Yes but the PS3 is to looking like a disaster

[norminator]

"- Numerous high def upscaling issues including PS3 BluRay movies not appearing in high definition properly"

I believe this only effects certain older TVs and that there are work arounds in those cases.

Actually, you're thinking of the problem where the games scale down to 480p instead of 1080i. This one is about Blu-Ray movies... The PS3 won't scale Blu-Ray movies down to 720p, and apparently (according to the linked article) the 1080i looks bad, so if you don't have a 1080p display, the movies scale back to 1080i or 480p... 1080p is much less common than 720p, so this affects everyone almost anyone who bought their displays over a year ago, and most people who have bought a display within the last year. The link I posted is to a page that was on Digg... I don't know how accurate it is, but it is a rumored problem, and if it is true, it's serious, and affects most of the HDTV owners out there.

Re:Yes but the PS3 is to looking like a disaster

[DrXym]

Point taken with the upscaling, and I will double check the 360's abilities, but my understanding was that it couldn't upscale to 1080p. As for old TVs, while I think the PS3 should support them, they really are non-standard to support 1080i only. In Europe TVs tagged as HD Ready have to cope with 720p and 1080i and scale between either mode for themselves.

As for networking, I think it's a bit disingenuous to compare the PS3's networking to the PS2. The PS3 offers live chat (text, audio & video) for nothing, a web browser for nothing, downloadable content such as demos for nothing, buddy lists for nothing, matchmaking for nothing, multiplayer games hosting for nothing (e.g. Resistance). Sure it's a little rough around the edges (e.g. some games are using their own buddy lists, store downloads occur in the foreground and so on) but I really see nothing that can't be incrementally improved. And since its free it really isn't that bad.

On the other points, the main reason for my rebuttal was simply because some AC decided to link to a bunch of negative opinion pieces even though in most cases the stories were simply wrong, fud or applied equally to other consoles.

Re:Bowling doesn't use the sensor bar

[Anonymous Coward]

Bowling takes a bit to get used to (hint - line up with the sensor bar)

That's a terrible hint. For the record I regularly bowl over 200 in Wii Sports' Bowling so I do know what I'm talking about.

None of the Wii Sports games use the sensor bar. It is only used when you are selecting things from menus; even then you can still use the control pad as an alternate. Don't believe me? Try covering up the sensor bar or bowling from another room. It still works the same.

A better (read: useful) tip is to watch your timing on releasing the B button when bowling. You want to release just as your Mii is bringing the ball back up.

And defective by the droves...

[MrPerfekt]

Apparently, the firmware update is rendering the online portion of the system busted for many people. Mine is one of the affected units.

See http://forums.nintendo.com/nintendo/board/message? board.id=internet&message.id=2729 for more.

I waited 12 hours in line for the system so I'm disappointed by this and the fact that there are no component cables to be found (gotta order them online, joy). But the control scheme doesn't suck which can't be changed and is why I bought the system. Overall, another new tech snafu but I'm not really surprised.

Re:And defective by the droves...

[NotthatFrankie]

The component cables will be found in stores soon (EB games employee says they'll be recieving some tuesday). And I expect the firmware thing to be resolved soon. I'm not the one suffering, though.

What I did find slightly annoying was the fact that they didn't have all the features ready by launch. No browser (it being free was one the reason I got a Wii early), no news and no weather. Bummer. But I'm sure it won't matter down the road.

Re:The still-unanswered question, where r they?

[WillAffleckUW]

This, unfortunately, doesn't answer my most pressing question - when can we expect a restock?

I talked to a lot of different stores, and most of them seemed to indicate monday afternoon is the earliest a restock could happen.

Costco won't even be selling their bundle (Wii, controller, Wii Sports, Excite Truck, Zelda) until Tuesday.

Fred Meyer should restock by Tuesday morning.

I think the EBX guys said something similar.

Sears said something like Tuesday.

So, if you missed out on getting one at midnight Saturday (we were 6th out of the store with ours, plus Zelda, Rayman's Raving Rabbids (cool!)), just check by on Tuesday. We have a controller to pick up ourselves (already got Excite Truck and the 2nd nunchuk).

Re:So Much For The Bogus Launch Numbers

[HappySqurriel]

Nintendo has already shipped more units than the PS3 (though we don't know how many), and has now cut their estimates to 2 million by the end of the year

The only numbers Nintendo has ever claimed was 4 Million units sold worldwide by the end of 2006; North America is less than half the market yet Nintendo expects North America to sell half of their anticipated Worldwide numbers, which means either Nintendo is on track or Nintendo is being optimistic.

Re: Are they defective or just console war smack?

[WillAffleckUW]

Uh, better watch the smack talk, there are more Wii's on eBay than PS3s...

Yeah, but that's cause there were five times as many Wii consoles sold on release day.

Unlike the PS3 lines, where National Public Radio couldn't find more than 5 percent of people who had pre-ordered consoles that hadn't sold them or put them up for auction, most of the people in line to get the Wii consoles intended to play them.

And spent until today doing just that.

It was on the radio yesterday morning.

Re:Mod Parrent UP

[Pluvius]

Excellent deduction, except for the fact that that's not what Nintendo said.

"Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that he expects the company will have sold 1 million units in the Americas by early December and 2 million by the second week in January."
[Emphasis added.]

Zonk just screwed up the /. headline is all.

Rob

Re:6 year lifespan

[MeanderingMind]

I have an HDTV, an Xbox 360 and a Wii. I don't have a component cable for the Wii (yet) but honestly the difference isn't "weak". It is a noticable difference to be sure, but the Wii's graphics are excellent even though they are not as good as the 360 or the PS3.

It reminds me of the difference between the PS2 and the Xbox/GC's graphics. There was a noticable difference, but it didn't stop the PS2 from having a greater market share.

I'd assume that the difference is even less noticable if you had an SDTV.

Re: Are they defective or just console war smack?

[WillAffleckUW]

Yes, a fact that he "heard on the radio" with no citation or supporting evidence given whatsoever. A fact that also disingenuously refers to "the PS3 lines" even though the statistic given is based on pre-orders.

I heard it on KUOW, the local NPR station. I can't remember what "show" it was, I was waking up at 9 after having been up until 3 playing the Wii. It was a national NPR news feed. The reference to lines was also from coverage on CNN. I also watched G4 on cable for game-day and release coverage, from The Show, from that review thing with Adam whoever and whatshername, and some other thing they do. I also checked Comcast's On Demand G4 game reviews and cheats they posted Saturday.

So I don't like wasting my time posting links. Sue me. If the truth hurts, deal with it. But don't blame me. I'm not the media.

Re:6 year lifespan

[DarkJC]

I'm going to have to say that I think you're making them a bit better than they are. I had a PS3 and Wii hooked up to the same TV here, and Zelda, while still good in its own right as a Zelda title, couldn't compare to anything the PS3 pumped out of it. The leap is much bigger than PS2 -> GC/Xbox, and I think in a few years the gap is going to widen even more.