Nintendo sold 1.7 million Wiis last week?

According to some not-quite-official but probably-relatively-accurate numbers from VG Chartz, Nintendo moved 1.7 million Wii units last week. That's a staggering number in its own right, and compared to the now-cheaper Xbox 360 (535,806) and the "hey guys, I'm still here, and I play Blu-ray discs" PlayStation 3 (239,576) it's a pretty commanding lead for Nintendo. The fact that most people in most areas can finally track down a Wii at a retail store for a non-inflated price probably isn't hurting things -- not to mention that really cool bowling game they've heard so much about. We're curious what console you might've picked up for a friend, loved one, family member, or that good looking person in the mirror this holiday season, so hit up the poll below. Then, after you've taken a particularly long sip of egg nog, hit up the video after the break and weep for humanity.

What console did you buy for the holidays?

PlayStation 3WiiXbox 360DSPSPOther / multipleNoneVote

Read - 1.7 million Wii units sold
Read - Wii resales no longer fetching above retail price
Read - 50 kids happy to get a Wii for Christmas

[David Russell @ Dec 24th 2008 10:40AM]

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.... err "weee"

[Flashpoint @ Dec 24th 2008 10:52AM]

first of all, its a FACT that Japan lessened shipments of wii to North America because of the weak dollar.
Two years ago, the Yen was 113 to $1.. Now its around 89 to $1 - which was a pain in the ass for me because I was in Tokyo and could feel my $1 losing value.

The Wii sales hype is mostly due to the artificialy created shortage of them driving up consumer demand.

The only thing i could possibly buy a Wii for, is as a convergence device for Turbo Graphyx 16, SNES, NES and Genesis games. Wii games in general SUCK. Witht he exception of No More Heros, everything else Wii has that might be considered good has "Metroid, Mario, Zelda or bros' in the title". The wii fanboys can downrank me but so what. We all know the REAL content is on 360 and PS3.

That's why you can't own just one system. You gotta catch em all. Pokemon Wii crap

[sinjinn @ Dec 24th 2008 10:55AM]

wii? ... more like shit..

[Will @ Dec 24th 2008 11:16AM]

Flashy,

I can believe you missed that opportunity to talk about your S550. You could have said something like "I could feel my dollar losing value, unlike my S550" or "I was in Japan and the trains were sure crowded, unlike my S550."

[HunterXI @ Dec 24th 2008 12:14PM]

Why are people buying this thing again? To play games? Oh, wait, it hasn't had any major releases this entire year. To play DVDs? Oh, wait, it doesn't do that, either.

I seriously don't get it. Are people so blind that they'll buy something just because "everyone else is doing it"?

It's a real shame for our industry.

[Quix @ Dec 24th 2008 12:29PM]

Note to haters: fun, accessible gaming > poly count. Nintendo *owns* this generation, despite the naysayers and the boatloads of cash thrown into this war by Microsoft and Sony. I, for one, am glad to see creativity win out over tech specs. Try playing Shaun White Snowboarding on the Wii Fit board vs. mashing a bunch of buttons. Then maybe you'll "get it." Or don't, and just blame the Wii phenomenon on "ignorant consumers." Whatever soothes your angst.

I know this is hard for some of you to take. Go comfort yourselves by the warm glow of your RROD...

[nohone @ Dec 24th 2008 1:32PM]

No doubt the Wii did amazing numbers and I am not trying to take away from that, but the article is **very** misleading. Wii did 1.7 mil in the US and "others" (which, by VGChartz is termed as all areas - Japan - US with Japan not being posted yet). In the Engadget article, the numbers for the PS3 and 360 are US only, and do not include others. The number for 360 in the US and others is 918,919, while the PS3 for US and others is 485,937.

Engadget, please fix your numbers.

[000000 @ Dec 24th 2008 1:43PM]

The Wii is OK for people who are entering gaming for the first time. Or "non-gamers". How could one play Gears of War 2 or Call of duty 4 effectively/accurately with the Wiimote and the Wii's lack of horsepower? It's ok for certain games but for more precise control the Wiimote flailing doesn't cut it. So I wouldn't be worried that the Wii is taking over gaming it's just including a whole new market.

But I also can't understand why there really haven't been many good titles released for it recently.

What also is amazing to me is how the biggest boom in gaming isn't coming from advancement in technology. It's coming from basically control methods. let's face it Guitar Hero could have been released on the Nintendo 64. Heck even a Super Nintendo. It doesn't require much power. Why didn't this come out sooner? Same thing goes for the Wii. It's basically a Gamecube with a fancy wireless remote. These "technologies" could have been around for years.

IMHO the next boom if you will for gaming will be "streaming games". No more games size being confined to a "disc". All data will stream from the net. Imagine GTA Earth...

[Inane_Asylum @ Dec 24th 2008 1:52PM]

Just for fun I YouTubed "wii plasma"

You should too...

[Ridgecity @ Dec 24th 2008 3:56PM]

IF the shortage was fake how to you explain surpassing the leading console months ago? I would understand a shortage if I saw the numbers PS· has but a console that sell to a million each month and during holidays sells 2 million. I don't see how you can still say that explanation.

NEWS FLASH: the Wii has been the hot ticket for 2 years. Both in-stores and online. Don't you think Microsoft's new ads saying how the xbox360 is also for the whole family explains what's happening?

[Dilbert_computer_guy @ Dec 27th 2008 2:23AM]

Hey there, I build PC's also, started in '98 and am now a SysAdmin (built my last gamer over 4 years ago) and just want something freaking off the hook fun to do with my seven year old daughter while she still talks to me and before she's talking on the phone with boys. Anyways, some may think it's lame but playing pong with my dad, back in the day, was a blast. later is was Intellivision, Atari, NES and PS1 but we never had anything so interactive as pong, indy 500 etc.
I would dig a Wii 2 or a PS3 with *motion controllers similar to the Wii* but I dont see it happening soon and am bummed.
Cant have it all but I dont care about blu-ray, hddvd(betamax) etc, just wanna play.
I see that you can dload old NES and SNES games but the site isnt too friendly and I couldnt find a price list or how do create a profile to then dload the games to a Wii.

~Dil

[Matt Dearman @ Dec 24th 2008 10:41AM]

Console's are over rated.

[kjb434 @ Dec 24th 2008 10:49AM]

Agreed!

Just get an nice computer.

[El Taco @ Dec 24th 2008 10:55AM]

Agreed

[freakdiablo @ Dec 24th 2008 12:08PM]

+1

And before the "But....But....The price" people start chiming in, listen to this. Yes, the start up cost for consoles is lower, but you end up buying a whole new system every few years for $300-$400 at best. You could keep the same hdd/ssd, psu, case etc. for long periods of time, and then every few years alternate between a new cpu/mobo and graphics card at about the same rate as you would buy a new console. So it's ~$150 in computer upgrades or ~$350 for a new console.

[BobFromVegas @ Dec 24th 2008 12:09PM]

Umm, yea, because everyone that shops at Wal-mart knows what video card to buy and has a lot of money to spend in this great economic prosperity!

[freakdiablo @ Dec 24th 2008 12:18PM]

BobFromVegas,

Uhh, what kind of person reads Engadget? Oh yeah, the kind of person that actually has a clue about technology (I'm hoping at least that most of the readers are the kind that aren't scammed into buying a 5 year old graphics card for $300). And the poll is about "What kind of console did you buy for the holidays?" so if you don't know how to work a cellphone and are shopping at goodwill, you won't exactly be reading this would you?

[BobFromVegas @ Dec 24th 2008 12:20PM]

@freakdiablo:

"Yes, the start up cost for consoles is lower, but you end up buying a whole new system every few years for $300-$400 at best."

It's far lower. The Xbox 360 started at 300 dollars, and now is 200. You need to get real bud. I can buy a console for ~$300 and have it working in my home on my TV in a very short time. PCs? Even people (like myself) who build their own PCs have problems with them. The console is just easier for people who don't want to waste the time finding a good PC or building their own.

"You could keep the same hdd/ssd, psu, case etc. for long periods of time, and then every few years alternate between a new cpu/mobo and graphics card at about the same rate as you would buy a new console."

The hard drive? Sure, but the power supply unit won't last long if you don't buy a futureproof one, which can cos quite a bit. Video cards these days are HUGE, so the same case may not be viable. And a CPU, Mobo, and graphics card that are atleast mid to upper range will cost well more than 150 dollars.

I should also note that I am a PC gamer, and I do like PCs better-but that's my opinion for my reasons. Consoles are great for a lot of people.

[BobFromVegas @ Dec 24th 2008 12:25PM]

@freakdiablo

There are computer savvy people on here, but this is also a site for cell phones, navigation devices, displays, and consoles as well as PCs.

And just by your argument, you show that you sir, are not a computer savvy person, and instead you are a fanboy.

[Xenoterranos @ Dec 24th 2008 1:14PM]

'Cause you can play LittleBigPlanet, Mario Galaxy/Brawl/Cart, etc.. on the PC.

They have their place, just like SLI rigs and Itanium processors have theirs.

[Keith @ Dec 24th 2008 2:09PM]

@bobfromvegas

Um you said the xbox started at 300 and went to 200 thats not true at all. It started at $400 then went up when the newer model came out then lowered.

[Mike @ Dec 24th 2008 2:14PM]

...so are misused apostrophes.

[h0mi @ Dec 24th 2008 2:57PM]

@freakdiablo

"And before the "But....But....The price" people start chiming in, listen to this. Yes, the start up cost for consoles is lower, but you end up buying a whole new system every few years for $300-$400 at best."

This generation of consoles started and stayed at the $300+ price tag for 3+ years. Previous generations were $200 or less fairly quickly.

For PC components, MB, CPU and Ram alone usually hits $300 for lower end stuff, and that still doesn't address power supply, video card, or hard drive stuff.

"You could keep the same hdd/ssd, psu, case etc. for long periods of time"

If you only have 1 PC this is a terrible idea. You're dismantling your existing, functional PC and essentially putting in a new one using some of the same components. The HDD is the worst idea because every year, prices drop on HDDs, the warranties aren't all that great as it is, and you're saving a whopping $60-100 on a hard drive here. You will have to do a fresh install of XP/Vista/Win7. What is the upside?

Power supply? If your power supply can handle current hardware demands, sure. But again, if something goes wrong and you _HAD_ just 1 working PC, you will quickly have none, and then what? Ditto with the case.

", and then every few years alternate between a new cpu/mobo and graphics card at about the same rate as you would buy a new console. So it's ~$150 in computer upgrades or ~$350 for a new"

In 5 years you're not going to just upgrade the mb/cpu OR video card. After 5 years you'd have upgraded everything, maybe even twice, and you will almost certainly have bought a new HDD. You're spending a lot more than $350 in PC upgrades.

[maveric101 @ Dec 24th 2008 10:35PM]

i dunno about you pc geeks, but i have friends. and when these friends come over to hang out and we want to play some video games, we need a console, because you can't get more than one person on a pc. even if you could, how practical would it be to set up four tables with four sets of keyboards and mice? not very practical.

[theCardinal @ Dec 24th 2008 10:40AM]

I already own a PS3, Wii, Gaming capable PC and a DS. I don't think I need any more. PSP is kind of tempting I suppose.

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 24th 2008 11:35PM]

Yep, you have got everything you need their mate when you include the PSP.

1.7 million Wii's, what the crap? how? lol.

[TheWakeUpCall @ Dec 25th 2008 7:11AM]

How? It's all down to their nonstop viral advertising in prime-time TV. Everyone and their dog wants one after those 'fun' adverts.

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 25th 2008 7:38AM]

When i see one of those Wii-Fit or Wii-Tennis ads (i do not have Wii) I am just like holy shit, there gonna sell one hundred thousand Wii's TOMORROW to like 30+ year olds but personally i will not spend upwards of AU$300 on it.
Both Nintendo and Apple are really kicking ass as a result of advertising i remember the Playstation 2 third place commercials were quite popular back in the day and must have been some testament to its monstrous success.

... lets hope they advertise Street Fighter 4 like crazy (sorry its my 2 cents)

[Dagreenman18 @ Dec 24th 2008 10:45AM]

already own a Wii and i have no use for a PS3. So, i bought a 360 this year

[g00fba11 @ Dec 24th 2008 11:35AM]

most gamers I know have both 360 and wii. They are different in their own ways, I don't think the 2 can be considered competitors. 360 and ps3 are the 2 competitors, and 360 is definitely the leader there in terms of sale.

[nerdtalker @ Dec 24th 2008 11:53AM]

I was just the other way around. I have an Xbox 360 and a PS3, so I got a Wii.

I somehow got amazingly lucky and got a Wii Fit too, by sheer coincidence. I know it will make me hate myself and feel fat, but having one makes me feel better or something.

[Adam @ Dec 24th 2008 12:44PM]

I've had my 360 for a couple of years, my PS3 for a year and a half, and I finally got my hands on a Wii Monday. I had to camp out at a Gamestop and wait for their shipment to arrive, but it was worth it so far. The Wii and the 360 compete for game playing time while my PS3 serves as a low cost HTPC alternative. Now I've gotta build my software library b/c I can stomach paying for the hardware, but $60+tax on next-gen titles hasn't become worthwile for me to own more than 3 titles for each system.

[arcticpenguins @ Dec 24th 2008 10:45AM]

I havent used my Wii in literally 8 months. Its setting next to my TV tipped over collecting dust. I'm planning on selling it. It feels like all the games that came out for it were like minigames, and then there were the 2 or 3 big games from nintento which everyone loves. Worst buy ever. FOR ME. Not everyone.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 24th 2008 10:57AM]

The reason I like Chinese copyright piracy is because - here in Chinatown NYC - you can buy 4GB memory cards loaded with SNES, NES, Turbographyx16, NeoGeo and Genesis/Master System roms for your PSP or for your PC.

Because Nintendo holds copyrights to SNES and NES games, you can't get them for your 360 or for PS3. Only by breaking the law can you actually have a convergence device (PSP) that plays EVERYTHING. I have one of those m. cards. cost me $50.
I play Contra Alien Wars, Mario 3 and Revenge of Shinobi the most.

I woulda wanted a Wii for that ability, since Wii games SUCK...but, thanks to illegal bootlegging, I got what I wanted and don't have to give Nintendo a fkin dime! HAHAHAH

[fred @ Dec 24th 2008 11:06AM]

"I havent used my Wii in literally 8 months. Its setting next to my TV tipped over collecting dust. I'm planning on selling it."

That's what I'm counting on this summer when these things start to flood yard sales and pawn shops, where I can snap one up for pennies on the dollar.

[tom @ Dec 24th 2008 11:21AM]

Wii is fun! The only game i have ever owned is Wii Sport. It is the greatest game I have ever owned. I haven't played it for six months.

I actually hate companies publishing statistics of the console sales. It does not represent the picture of the whole industry. They should list the horrible video game attachment rate per console. If you include that, you'll see how suck the Wii's attachment rate is (disregarding Wii Sport). Xbox owns Nintendo hands down.

Look at DS, I bet half the people will have owned a R4 & clone as well.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Dec 24th 2008 11:41AM]

I'm with you. The last game I played actively was Kart. My son plays it frequently but he just plays Sonic games and stuff like that. He uses the Game Cube controller for most of the games. I guess we're over the whole motion-control thing.

I've had a Wii since launch day in 2006 and it's been over a year since Galaxy (played with Game Cube controller) and 9 months since Brawl (also played with GC controller).

Wake me up when some real games come out. The Conduit is promising...

[Mr. Ford @ Dec 24th 2008 4:34PM]

Flashpoint, you are an idiot and a jackass. How can you be proud of the statement that you just made. You admit to liking some of the games made by Nintendo, but in the same breath laugh about how you "got what [you] wanted and don't have to give Nintendo a fkin dime!" I guess you showed them.

You are probably the same type of person that will bitch and moan, and then say shit like, "man, there hasn't been a good video game since Nintendo went out of business."

Good luck with that monkey brain!

[Rob @ Dec 24th 2008 10:46AM]

Wife got me a 60gig PS3. Best gift ever. I already put Ubuntu on it, have Assasin's Creed beaten, and watched several Blu Rays. Next up is to get some SNES emulation rocking on linux. I'm a bit surprised how quiet it is, too. Worth every cent!

[mcatrage @ Dec 24th 2008 11:27AM]

How early do you exchange gifts?

Or is your next post going to be about how your wife returned the PS3 since you were ignoring her.

[Rob @ Dec 24th 2008 12:08PM]

Actually, what if I told you she participates, navigator style. She's like the Goose to my Maverick...except with a D-Cup and no mustache.

[Curtis Joslin @ Dec 24th 2008 12:09PM]

i had the worst experience with my ps3.. no IR.. (sucks if you have a harmony) only a couple exclusive games. dvds sometimes played better in my 360 however the ps3 seems to play BD just fine.. the network movie playback was a joke.. poor dlna implementation. it was louder then my 360 when it was on for a while.. (and people said the 360 was loud.. yeah right...) also i drive modded my 360 for backups.. and even if the ps3 COULD do that it would be 50 gig BD disks to back up..

luckily i was able to sell it for only 50 dollars less then what i paid for the crappy machine...

[Rob @ Dec 24th 2008 12:33PM]

Oh, Curtis Curtis Curtis.
Don't step on my joy with your fanboy ways, tis the season for giving and receiving and I received exactly what I wanted. I'm sorry you had a rough time with your PS3 but that seems to be more of the exception than the rule which is exactly the opposite, in fact, of what Xbox 360 owners can say. I also have had no problems with DLNA or streaming in general, though I admittedly do most of it through Linux and my NAS anyways. I can say for certain that the PS3 is vastly quieter than the Xbox 360 having had my friend's Xbox live at my place until he got a new TV. But the main point is this: Curtis, I wanted only one extra box sitting under the TV and the PS3 made the most sense in that regard. Most AAA titles are cross platform and many of the Xbox exclusives have come out for the PC as well. Gears of War and Mass Effect come to mind right away. I'm also a big movie watcher and love watching it all on High Def. I stream netflix to it from my PC, too. So, Curtis, super-pal, I hope you enjoy your modded Xbox, and I sincerely hope that you didn't void it's warranty, for longevity's sake, but, please with a cherry on top, stop having a fanboygasm and back the fuck off my PS3. =)

[Inane_Asylum @ Dec 24th 2008 1:51PM]

/salute Rob

[kal326 @ Dec 24th 2008 2:15PM]

@Rob
I'll bypass the obvious question of where did you find a chick in a D-cup that likes to play games to marry and jump to the more important question. Where the hell did your wife find a 60GB PS3 recently or was this a prior years gift?

The latter question isn't so difficult, I work with a girl that plays WOW and a few other MMORPG's with her husband and is packing at least the same or greater displacement.

[Rob @ Dec 24th 2008 2:42PM]

@kal326

Ebay, and it was a gift for this year. I casually showed her one that was up and later she bought it without my knowledge. 315 dollars of backwards compatible goodness. Yum.

[Ad-man @ Dec 24th 2008 3:31PM]

I see your D-Cup and raise you a 32E who's better than me at Guitar Hero... And people say you can't have it all :-)

[Mr. Ford @ Dec 24th 2008 4:50PM]

@Rob @kal326

I would be a lot more impressed if that answer was to kal's more obvious, bypassed question.

[Othello @ Dec 24th 2008 5:07PM]

Sorry Rob, but Goose is not Goose without the mustache. I can mail you one if you like, and maybe some aviators.

[Rob @ Dec 24th 2008 5:23PM]

@Mr. Ford
Got the wife on Ebay, too, of course.