Nintendo enjoys brief spell above Sony in market value

So apparently Nintendo's skyrocketing stock price has done more than just make former chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi the third richest person in Japan, it's also, naturally, done wonders for the company's market value. Today in Japan Nintendo briefly broke into the top 10 most valuable companies in the country, bumping Sony down to number 11 for a few sweet (for Nintendo) moments. And we're not talking SCE here, we're talking about the whole consumer electronics juggernaut that is Sony, taking a mild beating from a games only manufacturer. By the end of the day, Sony had returned to its former spot on the chart, and analysts are starting to express caution in regards to Nintendo's stock, since they think much of the company's future growth has already been factored in. We'll have to wait and see if Nintendo can keep Wii sales as brisk going into this holiday season, there sure isn't any end in sight for the DS.

[Blake @ Jun 25th 2007 11:14AM]

Wicked sick.

[citizen.lambda @ Jun 26th 2007 7:11AM]

They took it from kotaku, they used to use it in older posts on the DS; when this was posted on kotaku, the editor (I think it was crecente) said he couldn't be bothered to go get the 'it prints money' graphic from the archives, but paul did. Also, the original graphic was an animated gif i believe

[Blake Kachman @ Jun 25th 2007 11:19AM]

Awesome Sauce! That picture is fantastic.

[Paul @ Jun 25th 2007 11:30AM]

Once again I am left wondering where the hell they get these pictures from.

[Chris @ Jun 25th 2007 11:59AM]

Seriously, this photo almost made me spit my water on my computer. Too good!

[Neebs @ Jun 25th 2007 1:22PM]

That picture never gets old.

[charles @ Jun 25th 2007 11:24AM]

I should short Nintendo... I'm a college student, and besides one huge Nintendo fanboy, I dont know a single person looking into getting a Wii. Many many more people have X360s, and I know a lot of people who either have or plan on having a PS3.

I guess that doesnt mean Nintendo won't be more successful though. They bank on every console sold.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 25th 2007 2:51PM]

Hmm, Charles. You don't know a single person who wants a Wii? I guess you don't know very many people then. It's probably pretty lonely being you.

[Dobor @ Jun 26th 2007 1:54AM]

Most of Nintendo's financial success has come from the massive popularity of the DS. As for Wii's popularity, keep in mind it was designed to target non-traditional-gamer segments so asking your Xbox-360-owning buddies may not be the best anecdotal evidence.

Also keep in mind, whatever side of the trade you're on, that you can't take advantage of the intraday fluctuations of the stock as the ADR only reflects the TSE closing price (occasionally there is a little speculative volatility on the pink sheets side, but it's rare).

[Nex @ Sep 14th 2007 4:13AM]

hmm sales dont seem to be what others are describing, around where I live. most people I know have bought a 360. not saying that the Wii isnt a decent console.. I think it is all part of demographics. there just isnt a large consumer base where I am (klamath falls oregon wOOt) there are several sitting on the shelves at our local Fred Meyers, i Dont really know about the Wal Mart as I refuse to shop there (being that in my opinion, its where the hell is located, about Aisle 3 in the parking lot) Point is, its all a matter of where you are. 360's and ps3's sell well here. although i think more game consumers spend there hard earned cash on pc games and components around here. meh just my opinion tho..

[vidGuy @ Jun 25th 2007 11:35AM]

That's funny, charles, because there are still lines forming every time a store gets Wiis in, while PS3s sit on shelves, abandoned. Maybe you just have friends that are more into the tech side of things.

The Wii is going to pass the 360 by the end of the year, especially with Nintendo's heavy hitters coming out from August through the end of the year. I doubt Sony is much of a contender this generation.

[John @ Jun 25th 2007 11:45AM]

Agreed. Everyone I know either has one or is waiting for their order. Nintendo scored a home run twofold on the DS and the Wii.

[Manfred @ Jun 25th 2007 1:02PM]

No kidding, same situation here in Hong Kong.
Walk into a store here, and you see lots of people buying Wii's.

Then there is Sony PS3 booth with three HD panels, with no one buying a PS3.

PS3 is almost dead here in Hong Kong.
From observation, I think the sale of PS3 to Wii ratio is 1 : 5

The race is over. Sony PS3 has lost.

Who really care if the PS3 cpu has eight cores?
A gamer can't use the cpu power.
I just chuck the game in.
It's really the programmer's concern.

What matters to me is value for my money, and the fun factor. Grahpics is only but one of decisive factors.

[Aaron @ Jun 25th 2007 2:51PM]

Yeah, Wiis are sold out where I am too. They have been for months. My girlfriend wants one, so we stop by GameStop every week or two to see. But on Sony not being a contender in this generation, I disagree. I don't know why, but I have a feeling they're going to make a big comeback. If money weren't a factor, I'd rather have a PS3 than a Wii, actually...

[w00fd06 @ Jun 25th 2007 5:13PM]

I love the Wii, I have one, so don't get me wrong but I'm gonna have to disagree with you, "vidGuy". Even though Metroid, Mario Galaxy/Galaxies(I can't figure out what it's called) and SSBB are supposed to be coming out this year, think about it, Halo 3 and Mass Effect are coming out for the 360. Obviously the PS3 has already lost, all the exclusives are moving to the 360. and the Sports games are funner on the Wii. However, I do Think that by the end of this console generation, the Wii will sell more than the 360, you can tell by looking at the sales charts.

[marcus v. @ Jun 25th 2007 11:48AM]

i wish my ds (phat)
could print money

[Randy @ Jun 25th 2007 11:52AM]

I love that Pic.. Kudos to whoever thought that up. :-)

[Loban @ Jun 25th 2007 11:54AM]

That's funny charles. My experience is just the opposite. I and all my friends have Wiis and I know many people still looking to get one, if they could just find one. However, I can think of only two people with 360s and one with a PS3 (and no games for it, I'm still not sure why he bought it). But then again, I've been out of college for a while now and it seems the Wii tends to attract an older crowd who doesn't need to shoot zombies and blow things up in all their games.

[vidGuy @ Jun 25th 2007 12:00PM]

"the Wii tends to attract an older crowd who doesn't need to shoot zombies and blow things up in all their games"

I don't know, I've found the Wii appeals to just about everyone not stuck up on their console's name or creator. My college roommate was convinced to buy one after less than a week on mine, and he was previously a Madden-and-Halo-only XBOX gamer. My parents bought one - for themselves!

Really, I've seen people as young as 12 and as old as 60 go out and buy one. New gamer or seasoned, the Wii is hitting home. No wonder it is selling so fast.

[Loban @ Jun 25th 2007 12:06PM]

Just to add to my previous post. I didn't mean to say the Xbox 360 is not good. I'm actually getting the 360 Elite in August. Now the PS3, that's a whole different story, that's just an overpriced paperweight with a shiny finish.

[Josh @ Jun 25th 2007 12:19PM]

Enjoy it while it lasts Nintendo. After people start catching on to your sad excuse for "Next Gen" hardware you'll go back to the backseat where you belong. Loban, the Wii may pass the 360 in consoles sold but it has no where near the 360's attach rate for games. Simply put, you can't win the console war by just selling consoles, your games have to be good too! All of my friends have an Xbox 360 except 1 that has a Wii. The friends that have an Xbox 360 have bought at least 5 games where the guy with the Wii still has Wii Sports and that's it. The good news is that he finally came to his senses and is buying an Xbox 360 sometime this week.

[sshah87 @ Jun 25th 2007 1:21PM]

"Simply put, you can't win the console war by just selling consoles, your games have to be good too!"

Actually, this is only true for Sony and Microsoft, since they lose a good deal of money on each console sold. Nintendo, on the other hand, MAKES money on each unit sold, so while Sony and MS need to sell 5-10 games for each console before they turn a profit, Nintendo would turn a profit even if they didn't sell a single game.

[vidGuy @ Jun 25th 2007 12:28PM]

Josh,

The 360 has been out a year long, what do you expect? I'll give you that not there are few titles worth buying up for the Wii right now (TP, Madden, Tiger Woods, Super Paper Mario, and SSX Blur stand out in my mind as worthy buys). But there's a ton of worthy games coming, including Nintendo's biggest franchises (MP3:Corruption, SSBB, Super Mario Galaxy).

Attach rate is important, but not as crucial for Nintendo since they make $ on the hardware itself.

[aron @ Jun 25th 2007 12:28PM]

I got a Wii a few months back, and while the initial impression was great, it gets old pretty quick. Even with tons of mini games like Wario Smooth Moves, the experience just doesn't seem as deep as traditional gaming. Controls often seem over-simplified, or the developers try too hard to use the motion-sensing. Or maybe I'm just a nerd because my non-gaming gf and the rest of my family loves it.

[SKI @ Jun 25th 2007 12:39PM]

"the Wii tends to attract an older crowd who doesn't need to shoot zombies"

DAMN, I bought it for RE:Wii Edition.

[SKI @ Jun 25th 2007 12:44PM]

"Loban, the Wii may pass the 360 in consoles sold but it has no where near the 360's attach rate for games"

Actually, right now the attach rates are practically the same.


"I got a Wii a few months back, and while the initial impression was great, it gets old pretty quick."

Dude, all you have to do is buy some games. RE, Godfather, Zelda, and SPM all have great game play and these are just the ones I have played.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 25th 2007 1:51PM]

"Dude, all you have to do is buy some games. RE, Godfather, Zelda, and SPM all have great game play and these are just the ones I have played."

Yeah, but... I played the Wii on my HDTV and couldn't stand it. It's like retro gaming, but worse. So, I sit back, wait for the PS3 games because I sure as hell don't want a 360 that will break in 2 weeks.

[Das @ Jun 25th 2007 12:55PM]

I have a 360 and I would get a Wii but at the moment there's nothing on it that I *need* to own, the 360 however has The Darkness and Bioshock coming out soon, nuff said. However, it's a pretty good bet that the second SSBB comes out I will be at my local EB games, slavering for a Wii.

[Mark @ Jun 25th 2007 1:55PM]

It's funny how people say the wii has no games, considering the games it currently has that are awesome are: Twilight Princess (duh), Paper Mario (duh again), Godfather, Wii Sports, Resident Evil, Wario Ware, Madden, where as 360 has what? GoW and GRAW? PS3 I won't even go into since that has absolutely nothing.

P.S. I'm not a 360 hater, have the Wii60 and loving it.

[Das @ Jun 25th 2007 2:11PM]

The difference is you listed the best games for the 360 and all the games for the Wii.

[Loban @ Jun 25th 2007 2:13PM]

Josh, Actually, the two guys who own the 360 have relatively no games. One guy owns Madden and that's it. The other owns Forza and GOW (both great games). However, everyone I know who has the Wii has no less than 5 games. I personally have 8 games for the Wii, all great.

I if you'd read my last post, I'm getting a 360 in August. I'm blind or stupid enough to claim that the Wii is the end all be all gaming solution. All consoles have their strengths.

And just when you think Nintendo is done and the Wii excitement has dried up, Nintendo will announce the Wii2 with full HD and even more interaction via new intuitive controls and the price will still be under $300, and that's going to look awfully cheap compared to the $1100 PS4.

[Loban @ Jun 25th 2007 2:52PM]

SKI, you're okay as RE4:Wii doesn't have any zombies in it. ;)

[Loban @ Jun 25th 2007 2:54PM]

Haha, I can't type apparently. I mean to say "I'm NOT blind or stupid enough to claim that the Wii is the end all be all gaming solution. All consoles have their strengths."

Haha, I just made myself look like a moron.

[Naris @ Jun 26th 2007 4:52AM]

In the world that is the internet it is the mark of a truly great person who actually admits that they can be wrong or a moron. I know I certainly am both all the time.

In all respect... when someone can afford to shell out the exorbitant amount of money for a 360/PS3 and a decent quality HDTV (so you can, you know... take advantage of their graphical superiority) you could certainly afford a Wii on the side for a good light game or to involve your family or perhaps convert a technophobe partner into video games (always a good thing).

And I do love that picture...whoever photoshopped that is a god amongst mortals.

[Aaron @ Jun 25th 2007 3:06PM]

@Andir3.0

"Yeah, but... I played the Wii on my HDTV and couldn't stand it. It's like retro gaming, but worse. So, I sit back, wait for the PS3 games because I sure as hell don't want a 360 that will break in 2 weeks."

I still have a few PS2 and GC games I have to finish, and yeah, it sucks playing them on my HDTV. They look terrible. Still though, it's hard to fault Nintendo. The demographic they're aiming for won't even notice or care about that.

Also... go get a 360. It won't break in 2 weeks, that's insane. If it DOES break they'll repair it for free. If you don't want to wait a few weeks for that, you can always have the store take care of things... Buy a second 360, put the old one in the new box, return it saying it's broken, and get a refund. New 360, free of charge. (Yeah, my first one did eventually break, but after about 8 months.)

[WL @ Jun 25th 2007 3:25PM]

I think Nintendo will be around for along time to come, every time people start to count them out the produce something thats innovative and relatively cheap.

[Godsmurf @ Jun 25th 2007 3:33PM]

I bought Nintendo stock at 203 euro a few months ago, now they're at 273 euro. Ka-ching :)

[David john @ Jun 25th 2007 6:01PM]

Hahaha that picture made me laugh so hard lol. Go Nintendo!

[JBDragon @ Jun 26th 2007 12:57AM]

My Original 360 I got on Dec 26th 2005 still works perfectly! Buy a 360 or Wii and play games and more, or get a PS3 to watch Blu-Ray Movies if you have a HDTV.