New Global Lifetime Sales For The Nintendo Wii And The Nintendo DS

@Intellectualdiot: Shut up, you are not allowed to make so much sense, this is place for the opinions idiots, we'll have none of this well reasoned sort-of arguement here...

Cranker

@phisheep: Don't you know that better graphics is the pinnacle of gaming innovation?

Seriously, when phrases like "more of the same crap" are uttered, my mind immediately turns to Xbox 360 and PS3, possibly two of the least innovative consoles ever sold.

Oh look, another sequel or another FPS or another Halo or another MGS - wow, never saw that coming!

Cranker

50 Million? Ah roo?

@Intellectualdiot: Trouble is, daring software doesn't sell - or at least doesn't sell spectacularly enough to avoid being labelled a failure.

Look at what happened to Wii Music. Seriously difficult, huge learning curve, completely new concept - and completely trolled out of the limelight.

phisheep

@MyMomNamedMeJon: This would be the 'same old crap' as in ...

... most innovative controls since the year dot ...
... biggest demographic outreach ever ...

Oh yeah, that same old crap.

phisheep

@TokeYo: oops, "both the PS2 and DS" I meant to say.

TokeYo

@syl1985: I think what's most impressive here is that the Wii is selling even faster than both the PS2 and Did.
[vgchartz.com]
It may not be everyones' cup of tea but those are figures that have to be respected and can only be good for the industry as a whole.

TokeYo

@phinehas: I know, right?

@Mezodon: Yip that sounds like me.

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Funny, I'd say that's exactly what Sony and Microsoft are doing this gen: Same shit, new coat of paint.

@Soyerzzz: That's right. Laughing and enjoying themselves like the idiots they must be.

@brendanhayworth: oh, no! families enjoying themselves! my sympathies to you. I see exactly how them enjoying the wii impacts the games that you enjoy.

@brendanhayworth:Oh look, it's a Facebooker making a stupid, illformed statement. Nope, we don't have enough of those around here, no sir.

What happened was your little hobby has grown. But here's a news flash, it's not been your or anyone's 'little hobby' from the 1980's on. It's been a multimillion, now multibillion dollar industry. Get over it and then get over yourself. It just makes me sick. What happened to our little hobby? Are we that full of neckbearded xenophobic manchildren?

@JTF: i guess i misread that statement. mea culpa.

I still think it's ballsy as hell.

@MyMomNamedMeJon:Sigh. When will Kotaku code in a autoban system to nail you various QQing trolls before you can come and crap in Wii threads.

Your tears are annoying, even though they are like candy.

@MyMomNamedMeJon: When people stop buying it. This is a free market country. When there is a demand, someone will pay for it. If people are enjoying the same f'ing games they've played 20 times, and they're willing to pay for it, what the heck does it matter to you?

WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH?!!

Paul_Is_Drunk

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Maybe when they start doing that?

Nintendo hasn't done that, moron. Nobody had the Wiimote, Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Balance Board, etc. last generation.

Get over yourself.

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Same old 'crap'? Nintendo has been producing engaging entertainment content for YEARS and is known for that very thing. If it's reproducing the same stuff now and selling it back to gamers--a point that is neither here nor there--then it is reboxing the same old fantastic stuff and selling it back to a new generation of gamers. That right there explains the continued success of Wii and DS.

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Does it offend you that others have a different opinion of what makes an ideal console?

Raziel

Every time I go into my Super Walmart, I see a whole family huddled around the Wii display playing Mario Kart, or Ooing and Awwing over the Wii Sports commercial, talking about how cool it is to use the nunchuck and the wiimote to swing punches.

It just makes me sick. What happened to our little hobby? Are we simply running out of ideas? Should we go back to basics, rebuild?

brendanhayworth

@Mezodon:
Such is the scale of the hatred for the Wii that the average gamer holds.

jeembomb

The DSi brought swift DS sales in Japan when it WENT on sale last fall.

Phazon

@The Cap'n: The current Wii install base is 50 Million, not 26 Million. Nintendo is merely predicting that the Wii will sell as good this year as last year, which might be a tad optimistic, but nowhere near "balls of steel".

JTF

@Soyerzzz:
What the hell was I thinking, enjoying the hell outta Madworld?

gamelab2021

@Adramelech: At the rate it's selling now, it'll take another 200+ years before everyone on this planet owns a Wii.

JTF

@MrStorm: No, it won't shut them up, because the Wii is a fad. A FAD! And it's dying. A painful death. Because. Can't you see?

JTF

@Soyerzzz: I look at the avatar, and no other reaction seems to have been expected.

It's better just to let it sit and tear itself apart.

Cavefish

Hmm, I guess my news I sent in about a new PS3 JRPG and a new Yakuza game isn't good enough for Kotaku. Blast!

outlawauron

@Soyerzzz: The idiots are the people who bought it and were too busy whining about how there are no games to realize there are actually lots of good games.

Ha, I don't know why people are so angry about the Wii. I find the system lacking, but it doesn't physically pain me to see it succeed as it seems to do for certain others. If the Wii is truly a fad, then its decline will be both precipitous and sudden. If not, then prepare for a next-generation, three-way waggle fest.

Actually, it might be best to go ahead and prepare for that right now.

Either way, 50 million units in some 2 years is extraordinary. I do wish that Nintendo would use some of those profits to fund more daring software though. But I suppose I'm thinking like a gamer rather than a businessman.

@Hey_Blinkon:

Trolls can be in denial

Yes , yes, the Nintendo prints money...

But what I want to know is why oh why didn't you guys tell me that Mega Man 9 was totally underscanned on the PS3? Am I the only one with this problem or is everyone on CRTs!?

Sorry for off topic but I am just so mad right now. I should have followed my gut and got the demo first.

And we all know that Nintendo has money out the wazoo, what else is new?

@MyMomNamedMeJon: And when will people like you quit taking every Wii related article on Kotaku hostage?

@Adramelech: Time for Wii 2.

Cavefish

@MyMomNamedMeJon:

Sigh. WHEN WILL THE WORLD COME TO ITS SENSES AND REALIZE CONSOLES ARE REBOXING THE SAME OLD PC CRAP AND SELLING IT BACK TO YOU!!!

Im gonna go cry in the corner now until this generation is past.

Leanid

@NeoAkira: Fads can be big.

Hey_Blinkon

@Adramelech: The are programming Wii viruses (viri) as we speak.

Hey_Blinkon

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Sigh.
Just like any other game this gen with a few extra polygons to make you think it's new.

Cavefish

I cant belive 50 million people can be such idiots.... Well I will take 10 million off for people who brought it for hopes of fun games.

Pffft, what a fad.

@MyMomNamedMeJon:

Get your water wings, gonna be a lot of tears with an attitude like that.

Paradox me

@MyMomNamedMeJon: probably when we figure out that taco bell menu consists of all the same things in different variations

Rey Rodrigues

@MyMomNamedMeJon:
Here's the sad part.

We already realise, but keep buying that stuff anyhow.

It's not like Mario Kart and Zelda are bad games . . .

TrjnRabbit

So who thinks that the DS will be the best selling console by this time next year?

Wow, they're predicting that they will double their install base for the wii in a down year. Balls of steel.

Only this year, it looks like it's because of a bit of decent product and not just inertia.

Yeah, but what is Nintendo going to do once everyone on Earth has their own personal Wii? Their sales projections must take into account the 6.7 billion installed unit ceiling.

I hope they are already building the spacecraft that will bring the Wii to far flung civilizations.

Adramelech

@hazelnutman: im the one who gave it to your grandma... cause i wasnt playing it anymore

Rey Rodrigues

I think this means DS will surpass PS2 sales. PS2 sold 150 mil, I think. So DS should beat it out at the current rate of sales.

Also, this should shut up the people who say the Wii fad is dying for at least a little while.

@MyMomNamedMeJon: Hurry up then...

Shoot. They doubled their install base this year on Wii.

Reneg

Sigh. WHEN WILL THE WORLD COME TO ITS SENSES AND REALIZE NINTENDO IS REBOXING THE SAME OLD CRAP AND SELLING IT BACK TO YOU!!!

Im gonna go cry in the corner now until this generation is past.

@hazelnutman: More like grandmothers and their everyone.

Scipio77

HOLY FUCK... 26M Wii's this year?! 50M already?

Everyone and their grandmothers...

@brendanhayworth: The unwashed masses are infiltrating our elite society! BURN THEM!

@brendanhayworth: running out of ideas? are you serious they wii is the only console that realy brought a brand new idea to our "little hobby"

@Reneg: Because they had the Wii in stock finally.

Skinney is now KamikazeSim

@Cranker: Don't you hate on MGS.

Skinney is now KamikazeSim

Mmmmm, delicious hardcore tears. Yesss, keep those bottles filled with your elitist gamer tears.

engagequadlaser

Wii Sports Resort should ensure healthy sales for the rest of the year for sure.

UsernameOfTheDead

@MrStorm: I'll tell you what's a fad, all the Wii hate. It's just a petty backlash against something popular by people who aren't. It's like how the goth kid hates the homecoming queen just because everyone else likes her. He doesn't know REALLY her, but he hates the IDEA of her. The Wii is the same. In these immature gamers eyes, the Wii "sold out". It "went casual". When in reality it's nothing more or less than any gaming console has ever been. It's a piece of hardware designed to play games. What people make for it and what people buy take on a life of their own based on a lot of various factors. It's natural and I personally like the variety across all 3 consoles. I would miss out on a lot of great on any console I didn't own, in any generation.

@Soyerzzz: The bigger idiots are the ones who pay $400 for a toy that doesn't offer much more than the PS2 did other than prettier pictures.

Jimbotron

@NeoAkira: And stupid.

Jimbotron

@JTF: Fads don't last 3 years. Trends, however, do.

Jimbotron

@MyMomNamedMeJon: When will you realize that every first person shooter you buy and sequel you buy is reboxed and sold to you?

Jimbotron

@NoHoldsBarred: Awww, you were the only person to realize what I meant as I was sleeping.

@jasongw: Tell me Fallout 3 or Gears 2 or MG4, as just 3 examples, are capable on the Wii or a last gen console (with no dumbing down or less functionality) and I'll buy that.

Graphical upgrades have been one major driver of next gen, I'll admit, but let's not forget what else the 360/PS3 have to offer:

-Group voice chat (360)
-Streaming video
-Integrated Windows Live Messenger and Windows Media Center support(360)
-Custom soundtracks
-The ability to switch games on the fly from, say, a Gears match to a Left 4 Dead match within a minute. (360)
-Home (PS3)
-Reusable accessories with things besides your console
-A community games center (360)
-Netflix and 1v100 (360)

I can't even list all of them, especially since some aren't available in Canada, but that should get you started on how the next gen experience applies just beyond games.

@Huckleberry: And motion sensitivity is not a new idea...ever hear of the Powerglove? Or the EyeToy?

NoHoldsBarred

@FunKrusher: I wasn't aware you needed a Ph.D to have an opinion. Silly me.

NoHoldsBarred

@NoHoldsBarred:

So where'd you get your "my opinion of the system, IS EXACTLY what it is" Ph. D at?

@Foxstar is in love with Kotaku's two Brians.:

God you're the best. Keep giving the em the business!

@engagequadlaser: I don't cry for myself, I cry for the idiots buying Wiis.

As a side note, only Sony is losing out money big time this generation. And I'm enjoying superior quality games. I have nothing to be sad over =)

NoHoldsBarred

The Wii is the NES mark 2. They released all the same peripherals, they basically run the show while 3rd party publishers languish and make nothing, and they market it as a toy for the family instead of a video game console. The only difference is 1) The NES was good, and 2) the self help stuff and low difficulty curve attracts a non-gaming audience.

NoHoldsBarred

@MrStorm: The PS2 is nowhere near 150 million.

Kenology18

@NoHoldsBarred:

When you pass your opinion off as gospel (like by stating "the only difference is...:), I naturally assume that you dedicated yourself to hard study at Ivy League school for that sort of thing.

@Jimbotron: I wasn't trying to troll. I'm just saying that just because something is a smash hit for a while doesn't mean it isn't a fad. Like the backstreet boys, for example. Big hit for a while, won't last forever. Compared to the Beatles.

Anyhow, I see the Wii "phenomenon" as a fad that won't last past this generation. Whenever the Wii2 or whatever comes out, I don't see it having the same success as the Wii. The fad will have run its course, and people will have moved on. If this is not the case, of course, I'll admit I'm wrong and commit Hari Kari. :P

Hey_Blinkon

@Intellectualdiot: I know, I really dislike the way Nintendo goes for the casual audience, and I even think that hopefully when their next console is released they could try something more interesting for the hardcore and that this generation was only to gather more people into the console. But even if this gen is for that, well I dont get angry about nintendo having lots of sales.

@NoHoldsBarred: The wii also has streaming video, shitty but well, home wouldnt be an advantage.
When you say "And motion sensitivity is not a new idea"
Thats true, motion sensitivity itself isnt, but the way it is used is.

@Jimbotron: Ironic, Because here the Wii costs $400.

@Adramelech: Nah, you only THINK that's the ceiling. You don't think the PS2 sold to 120 million SEPARATE gamers do you? I personally know SEVERAL people on their 2nd PS2 and a handful on their 3rd. Part of the high install base on the PS2 was people replacing the one that died on them. The original design was not all that robust. I'd guess that functioning PS2s in people's houses is closer to 100 million.

On the plus side, I got my PS2 for free from a friend because it wasn't working. I had a 2nd friend who ALSO had a broken PS2, and a few hours later, after swapping out a few parts, I now have a fully functioning and FREE game system. It hasn't given me a problem since. Most people are too lazy to try to figure out how to fix something that breaks, so they just toss it and get a new one. If you're cheap like me, that's just not an option.

Nintendo just needs to tune back quality control on the Wii so it dies more regularly (ala launch era 360s) and they'll be able to sell them back to all those people who have already bought them! :)

mindl4pse

@NoHoldsBarred: Man I WISH they released the same peripherals. A R.O.B. for the Wii would ROCK! :D

Oh, and I think Nintendo has ALWAYS marketed their consoles as toys. Just look at the shape and color schemes they use. In fact, the NES and the Wii are the ONLY consoles they tried to NOT make look like toys. They drastically altered the looks of the Famicom to when they redesigned it as the NES so it would look less like a toy, and the Wii just looks like another piece of electronics hardware to put in your entertainment center. The other day I was looking at one and was reminded how much it looked like an external Zip drive. Only not purple. Which in itself is rather amazing when you look at how much Nintendo seems to like purple....

As for the low difficulty of their games, I can only see that as a plus. In order to expand you need to get more people doing something. If something is too hard to do, most people won't do it. I've tried to get several people interested in Dance Dance Revolution, but even though they like the idea, many of them can't play it because, even on the easiest setting, it is still too difficult for them to pass a song. The important thing is to make sure that, while the game may start out easy enough for anyone to begin playing, their also needs to be enough challenge built in so that people won't master the game and get board and stop playing it. Dance Dance Revolution gets that part right, as it becomes RIDICULOUSLY hard to pass later songs. And even if you pass them you can still shoot for better scores or add options to make the song harder.

I DO feel that Nintendo needs to work a bit more on putting challenge into their games. But not to the point where a beginner wouldn't be able to play them. Choosing difficulty settings is a good way to start. I still think that an average player should be able to see the ending, though. Just put enough end game content in that there is something left to do after the credits have rolled.

mindl4pse

@subnet6: I think it's funny that people would whine about Nintendo "selling out" when they didn't even buy a Game Cube. These peeps are the Sony generation. The one's that never owned a Nintendo product and never will.

Rather than goth kid and home coming queen, I'd like to think of it as the jocks in high school who hate that the nerds are the one's getting all the good jobs and driving the fancy cars. I mean, yeah, in high school the jocks were at the top, but unless they miraculously score a draft pick into professional sports, all that effort they put into being jocks kind of gets wasted.

I'm happy that Nintendo is doing well again. Video games are their business. If they do poorly they're toast. Microsoft and Sony, however, will still be around even IF no one buys their consoles.

mindl4pse