Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Forbes publishes Wii lifetime sales



Financial publication Forbes has published the lifetime sales of all three current-gen consoles. The current tally is as follows:

Wii: 35 million units
Xbox360: 23 million units
PS3: 13 million units

The article goes on to quote David Gibson, an analyst with Macquarie Securities about profits and losses made per hardware unit sold.

Sony loses money on each Playstation sold. Microsoft (...) might just break even. But every Wii brings in $6 of operating profit for Nintendo.

However, this bit of information appears to contradict earlier research data. Back in November 2006, a market research company estimated that only the PS3 was a lossmaker. Of course, there is a difference between pure revenue and operating profit, which might explain the contradiction. But despite its reputation, the Forbes article is already wrong on at least one count, noting that Nintendo "brought out the Wii gaming console three years ago".

At any rate, despite those phenomenal sales figures, some media outlets suggest that the Wii demand is cooling off in Japan.

During its first year on store shelves, the console sold an average of 386,000 units a month. In its second year since release, that figure is down 24% to 292,000 a month. With the holiday season upon us, the Wii would have to sell 2 million total units over the season to bring its average back up to where it used to be.

Of course, the curse of such phenomenal sales figures as the Wii experienced so far is that they are difficult to sustain. A boom, in economic terms, is a volatile situation and everything but stable.

The Forbes article details, however, that the Wii is expected to sell more units in 2008 than the best-selling console to date, the PS2, sold in its strongest year, 2003.

And in the portable space, Nintendo clearly reigns supreme. With the new iteration of the Nintendo DS the handheld sold half a million units in one month in Japan.

All in all it would appear as if 2008 is wrapping up as another winner for Nintendo, on both console fronts. Let's see what 2009 has in store for us and the big three.

Sources: Forbes, Nintendo Wii Fanboy
Thanks to: Joystiq, Nintendo Wii Fanboy, Chart Get!

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

The winner of 2008, with all those shitty titles? Ha!

Wii fails!!

- Kony

Anonymous said...

@ Kony

Hey dude have you ever gotten laid?

If you have, you must be the one taking a huge dick up the ass because of the way you bitch and moan, same thing over and over...

LOL

TuPapi

M. Ferreira said...

This was definitely a great year for the Wii - while the holiday season leaves a bit to be desired, people should be hard-pressed to admit that there have been a few absolute dynamite titles released. Smash, Opoona, Samba de Amigo, No More Heroes, Okami, CoD... there has been something for absolutely everybody... except Mr. Bip, who seems to prefer generic tripe like Legendary. :)

WiiFit and Mario Kart have been smash hits with both the casual and core, and next year's release list continues to get better and better.

Wii has absolutely earned all 35 million (plus? I know magazines have lead times) sales, and I hope that the good fortunes continue through next year. :)

Anonymous said...

"But despite its reputation, the Forbes article is already wrong on at least one count, noting that the Wii is in its third year."

What are you talking about? The Wii is in its third year. First year Nov 06 to Nov 07. Second year Nov 07 to Nov 08. Third year Nov 08 to Nov 09.

Anonymous said...

The Wii will fail in 2009. With no real titles to back it up next year, gamers aren't going to stand for it any longer and I've seen more of them jump ship for Sony and Microsoft recently. Time to smell the roses and face reality.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

Falafelkid said...

Hi Anonymous.

What are you talking about? The Wii is in its third year. First year Nov 06 to Nov 07. Second year Nov 07 to Nov 08. Third year Nov 08 to Nov 09.

I guess I should have rephrased my criticism. The article stated that Nintendo "brought out the Wii gaming console three years ago", which is utter nonsense.

Anonymous said...

It will fail three years in a row.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

Falafelkid said...

Hi M. Ferreira.

As always, good to have you here.

This was definitely a great year for the Wii - while the holiday season leaves a bit to be desired, people should be hard-pressed to admit that there have been a few absolute dynamite titles released. Smash, Opoona, Samba de Amigo, No More Heroes, Okami, CoD... there has been something for absolutely everybody...

I agree. I think there was a healthy mixture there. And as far as the lack of some key licenses is concerned (´Grand Theft Auto´, ´Bioshock´ or ´Metal Gear Solid´ spring to mind), I hope that 2009 will see more examples of the approach taken with ´Star Wars: Force unleashed´: Wii getting a graphically inferior version but with enhanced controls and special modes.

Anonymous said...

@ Kony

You don't answer questions because its too personal? LOL

or you couldn't find the answer online little girl looking bitch!!

LMAO why don't you stick your 360 or PS3 up your ass, It has beautiful graphics!! should be worth it for you...

_______________________________

anyhow, sorry Fal...

Well it is amazing when the underdog takes the big guys.

It's the American dream.

TuPapi

Anonymous said...

That's what your guys' arguments are? Questioning whether or not I have a girlfriend? Thanks making this discussion more irrelevant than it was. Once again, all of you have failed to disprove the failure of the Wii.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

Sales figures and Nintendo's share price rise since its release disproves it.

Bang! There you go.

Anonymous said...

This "success" won't last long when gamers are abandoning the system. Like I said from time and time again, the Wii has no quality titles to back it up next year. If this keeps happening, then you should eat your words.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

Umm where is your proof of gamers abandoning the system?

If you are talking about what you hear on the forums or internet than you really need to wake up to yourself. Those gamers are only a small piece of the whole pie, not even a piece.

Nintendo made their sales and market for attracting new customers so you have no idea whatsoever on their strategy and where their sales are coming from so I suggest you stop with your BS cause you are only making yourself look like a raving disgruntled fool unfortunately.

And good points you have Tupapi

Anonymous said...

"New customers?"

They aren't real gamers who play real games. People who play Solitare on Windows doesn't make them gamers. The core gaming market may seem small compared to them, but they are the most dedicated. Casual gamers don't last very long.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

Sorry but no one can call anyone a real gamer. If it was me I'd call these pratts that grew up playing PS2 and Xbox non-gamers since I been playing games since 1982, but I dont cause anyone who plays games is a gamer. Just wake up to yourself, you spit out that much dribble that makes no sense that its not funny.

Could name plenty of people that bought a Wii and still play games from time to time. As well as DS. Some even got back into gaming due to them.

But saying that, you do not hold all the demographic stats, nor do I and most other people. The way you think is nowhere near a business prospective. Nintendo wouldnt be making as much money as they would be going your route.

The core gamer market is such a small fraction of the market that it makes no sense to cater largely to it. And if you want core type of games as an entirety, then like the guy above said go and buy a Xbox or PS3.

There is also no doubt in my mind Nintendo has created these large user numbers to create huge profit and to attract more developers to it. It only takes the right specs next gen to attract the core games and Epic + others will all flock to it. But someone as yourself doesnt understand business stepping stones. I just dont know why you dont understand how much Nintendo lost in market share from the last two gens and what steps they need to take to get it back. So far they are on the right path.

You are obviously here for attention so I dont think I will bother anymore. Total waste of time on someone who is stubborn and uneducated in the gaming world.

Anyway your next response will be predictable im sure.

Anonymous said...

You think Nintendo's business strategy makes sense because they make money off of it?

A homeless person makes money off of begging random people on the street, which is what Nintendo's is doing. Just because you get money off of it, doesn't make it a job or a career, or in this case, a market, so shut up.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

Hahaha OMG that is quote of 2008 guys. That is the prize there.

Anonymous said...

In don't usually comment here, usually just lurk now and again, but couldn't help myself but come out of hiding just to agree with grandmaster B. Koni your last comment here was genius, I thought you were a genuine fanboy earlier on, but can now see you're just taking the piss for comedy effect. Keep it up mate, its mildly amusing.

Anonymous said...

nintendo made big buissines success, there is no doubt of that

the problem is that nintendo lost its magic

i own every nindento system. the only reason- i liked nintendo's games

there was alwas something charming about nintendo's games, and i dont know what. i believe you all understand what i am trying to say, especially "older" gamers

but wii just lost it. i stared just fine, but then it started to print money and all became just typical corporate buisinnes

98% of wii games just feel undone, or old games repacked

the only truly bright thing about wii is super mario galaxy, (and brawl, but it's just an upgrade on melee) which would work just fine without wiimote

mp3 has great controls, but game itself is just... don't now.. bah. can't be compared with metroid prime 1

and that's what i'm talking about. metroid prime is great example. i remember when it was released on gamecube... that game had a soul, it was amazing, THAT was something old and NEW. prime 3 is just... fancy controls

btw, i liked very much primes gc controls

the only new things that came out with wii are wii sports and other wii ##### crap and more crap (more crap means minigames)

and nintendo... lazy as hell. animal crossing wii.. my God, i still can't believe that

i dont even want to mention other developers

wii looked great but lost nintendo's magic.. it's just generic wii sports playing piece of hardware

and that's why wii fails

Anonymous said...

"98% of wii games just feel undone, or old games repacked"

except for galaxy and Okami I somewhat agree...but okami was originally a ps 2 game.....so what we are left with is Galaxy ...and thats it

Galaxy is the only trueley great new killer app on Wii, which is simply laughable to say the least

theres not one single killer AAA title othger than Galaxy.

But I guess that doesn't matter as long as you have dozenz of low rez mini game waggle collections aimed at an gigantic casual kiddi toy market who soak it all up with maximum joy

Anonymous said...

The big picture:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=kN_Js8Vp1BE&feature=PlayList&p=296DC06913A4

0D4F&index=0


stop the new world order!!!turn your tvs off!! start doing research and you'll eventually find what your looking for!

because if you dont give a fuck that's exactly what they want you to do...they want to keep you entertained....they want you you to take everythig for granted....

you need to understand that this aint some made up teenager crap!!

this is what got kennedy murdered back then..remember his speech?...he was perceived as a security thread....itsquite simply a monstrous conspiray involving the military industrial complex, banksters, politicians, scientists and elites working together tightly knit and with utmost efficiency....and they are up to know good....

they have created this imaginery enemy they reffer to as al quaida in the war on terror .........it's a fraud.....its bull crap....do your reearch 9/11 was an inside job......there is so much evidence that cant be denied.......


dont be stupid...open your eyes....stop being a mindless careless consumer sheep....because thats what they want you to be......a sheep that doesnt care and that doesnt ask questions....

do your research and make up your mind about the world we live in!!!we re running out of time

Anonymous said...

wtf i meant to say they up to no good.........im too fucking tired to type correctly...........

Anonymous said...

Good to have you back, pero_detlic. For a moment there, I thought I was going to be the only voice of reason in this place.

As Grandmaster B has shown me, he was unable to refute my last argument, only mocking because he has no other defense than parrot the same talking points.

I never doubted the Wii has been making big bucks for Nintendo, but it won't get them anywhere if this keeps going.

Sony and Microsoft are winning the hearts and minds of gamers with amazing titles like Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and there are plenty more exciting titles, all of which are lightyears ahead of the Wii in gameplay and polish, in 2009. The Wii has nothing in 09, but ports, games based off of dead genres, and graphically anemic FPS's like The Conduit, all lazy efforts, as pero_detlic has pointed out. The Wii is just what alot of developers have pointed out because of its limitations in hardware that is preventing developers to experiment and push forward: a piece of shit!

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

When the crap that comes out of your keyboard/mouth is worth refuting, then I will spend the time to do so.

Nor have you even provided any proof that Nintendo should be worried. The only crap that comes out of you is based on people on the internet and people talking than actual numbers and figures.

What you said was the most stupid comment I have heard this year, if not the most laughable and most stupid ever.

Your drivel is just ruining this blog and growing very old.

At least IALS makes sense somewhat, well he does these days anyway. Sorry but you do not.

Falafelkid said...

Hey Grandmaster.

Hahaha OMG that is quote of 2008 guys. That is the prize there.

Quite right. That was a true Kutaragi quote.

And I just love the guy. I guess he was saying about the last generation that the PS2 failed horribly. Or that VHS and DVD never mattered (because ´real´ video fans use Betamax or Laserdisc to this day).

RGB said...

Or that VHS and DVD never mattered (because ´real´ video fans use Betamax or Laserdisc to this day).

Perfect example :)

And to point it out to someone who cant/wont understand that, we are comparing the same scenario with video enthusiasts to gamers.

Kony Fails!!

Anonymous said...

Unable to bring up any good points? Guess so.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

So you finally agree you arent bringing up and valid arguments? Glad you have woken up

Anonymous said...

yeah Phoney you are right the Wii doesn't have enough high production value polished AAA killer 1st and 3rd party stuff except for Galaxy but in 2009 and beyond that will change with titles like Red Steel 2, Monster Hunter 3, Fatal Frame 4, Demon Blade, Tenchu 4 and Conduit all of which are exclusive to Wii.

With that being said the Wii is still the most successful console on the market right now even without all these core gamer titles.

So there you have it: we are a minority nowadays. A gigantic casual mass market does exist and it was the key to success for Nintendo this gen.

It simply wouldn't have payed off if they had taken the same route as Micro and Sony because the competition depends heavily on 3rd party support and that was the first thing to get right from the get go. 3rd parties are of utmost importance to them- they pay them to get the support. So in that sense they have an advantage over Nintendo which means that if Nintendo went for Gamecube 2 instead of Wii they'd be in a tricky position with less support there would be nothing to set Ninty apart from them.....they were at the edge of a clip in the home console sector after the Cube so they changed their direction...that was their only choice.....

Kony are you a virgin btw?
;-))

IALS

Anonymous said...

VHS and DVD won their respective format wars, which rendered the Betamax and Laserdisc useless. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 haven't died, and those systems are still selling and getting awesome games while Wii is getting shitty shovelware and will disappear in the future once the entire core gaming community get sick of its shit and leave the system in the dust. Sorry, you lose.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

Anonymous said...

IALS

You have pointed out poor examples, proving my point again and again.

Red Steel 2

The first one sucked! Why bother?

Monster Hunter 3

This game isn't even coming to America, and it looks like a PlayStation 2 game.

Fatal Frame 4

A fourth installment of a survival horror series that nobody wants play.

Demon Blade

How many times must you plug this game? It is a side-scrolling hack-n-slash game that looks like it was ported from a flash site, meaning it's a hunk of shit.

Tenchu 4

Another shitty game you plugged. Keep on comin'!

The Conduit

Oh please. A game that can't even get console FPS right. It looked slow and ugly the last time I saw it, and the graphical engine looks like it's about to fall apart.

Nice try, but all these games are inevitably shit!

Wii fails!!

- Kony

Anonymous said...

some more facts (which will probably be ignored here as well)

metacritics average scores-their range from 100-75 is described as "good" or "worth playing", "green", call it whatewer you like

the scores are:

xbox360 has 212 good games
ps3 has 125
wii has 67

as we can see (or want to), xbox has 3x and ps3 2x more good games compared to wii

your vhs/betamax compare is not that good. it would be comparable if all the great movies were on betamax and few of them are on vhs, just like scores i mentioned above

wheh (if) great games start coming on wii, i won't have problem with it

Anonymous said...

imagine vhs wininng format war with no movies... just because vhs players have nice remote with soft buttons

and i agree with kony about games listed above. none of them attracts me

there is absolutely nothing to look forward on wii... i realy wish for a change of that, but i wish it for 2 years now

Anonymous said...

IALS: "but in 2009 and beyond that will change with titles like Red Steel 2, Monster Hunter 3, Fatal Frame 4, Demon Blade, Tenchu 4 and Conduit all of which are exclusive to Wii."

the conduit? IALS, where is this change of mood comig from? got amnesia in last few months? got new brain?

Anonymous said...

I don't trust metacritic anymore because they usually apply inflated, biased, and unfair score allocations on certain titles.

I saw those Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 score ranges, and both of them have Xbox 360 Live Arcade and PlayStation Network games listed on the "green" ranges, which inflates the amount of "green" titles you counted, pero_detlic. I don't think you hold Castle Crashers in the same light as Gears of Wars 2, and neither do I because I hate retreads and ports. I don't mind them, but they shouldn't be included on the same category as they are not tangible titles that are stored on a DVD or Blu-Ray.

Thanks for ruining my mojo.

Wii fails!!

- Kony

M. Ferreira said...

Holy zen, people. :) I disappear for a few days, and come back to some absolutely brilliant comedy from Mr. Bip! This is the beginning of a great weekend!

Mr. Bip seems to be doing a LOT of backpedaling and self-correcting all of a sudden. :) I wonder why...? Maybe he's aware that his arguments don't work after all?

Still, as I read this, all I can say is "This kid needs a video games console." :) Seriously, if Mr. Bip is so upset that we're enjoying our Wiis, then maybe he's a tad jealous. :) I think Mr. Bip is old enough to handle a Leapster or, better yet, one of those TV plug and play games like the Pac-Man or Sega joysticks. ;)

Cheers, Falafelkid and Grandmaster B, for keeping some sanity here. :)

Anonymous said...

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I'm not going to even guess...

I'm still sticking by my arguments and all of you will never intelligently refute them!!!!!

Wii truly fucking fails!!

- Kony

RGB said...

With that being said the Wii is still the most successful console on the market right now even without all these core gamer titles.

So there you have it: we are a minority nowadays. A gigantic casual mass market does exist and it was the key to success for Nintendo this gen.

It simply wouldn't have payed off if they had taken the same route as Micro and Sony because the competition depends heavily on 3rd party support and that was the first thing to get right from the get go. 3rd parties are of utmost importance to them- they pay them to get the support. So in that sense they have an advantage over Nintendo which means that if Nintendo went for Gamecube 2 instead of Wii they'd be in a tricky position with less support there would be nothing to set Ninty apart from them.....they were at the edge of a clip in the home console sector after the Cube so they changed their direction...that was their only choice.....


The best thing I have ever seen come out of your keyboard :)

Monster Hunter 3

This game isn't even coming to America, and it looks like a PlayStation 2 game.


Wtf? I doubt that you have even seen the videos. It will prob be the best looking game on the system and was surprised it was Wii graphics.

I also find it funny how you criticize games that have not come out yet, have not even been shown at all and base off the previous game ie Red Steel. It was also well know the game was rushed.

VHS and DVD won their respective format wars, which rendered the Betamax and Laserdisc useless. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 haven't died, and those systems are still selling and getting awesome games while Wii is getting shitty shovelware and will disappear in the future once the entire core gaming community get sick of its shit and leave the system in the dust. Sorry, you lose.

Wii fails!!


You just failed!! I said you wouldnt even understand what Fal said and you still dont even understand the point he made.

Good one retardicon!

Anonymous said...

I saw the videos to Monster Hunter 3, and they looked horrible. Bad framerate, bland water effects, and blocky character models... you're right it doesn't look like a PS2 game, it looks like an N64 game.

Wii fails!!

- Kony X

Anonymous said...

wtf the og post is a goner ...where did it go falafel man????

IALS

Anonymous said...

What I'd love to see is an anouncemnet like BLACK 2 coming out exclusively for Wii


That's the sort of stuff Nintendo needs to please (hard)core gamers..

Imagine Black 2, Day Of The Tentacle 2, Shadow Man 3, Half Life 3, etc.

that would be great.


As far as Conduit is concerned the reason I haven't written it off just yet that the devs stressed numerous times that they are going to listen to the feedback they get and try to incorporate it in the game as good as possible.....and since they haven't shown us new material since early oktober where I voiced my concerns about some of the design aspects of the game I'm positive that they might address that. They have kept a low profile since early october and for good reason I assume...Conduit needs better art first and foremost... the tech powering it is okay

Concerning Monster Hunter 3:

LOL. Phoney. It most definitly doesn't look like a PS2 game to begin with. The engine is quite powerful actually. The engie boasts detailed high poly dragons with solid quality texures and generally very good texture design IMO

Monster Hunter 3 in its TGS 08 form would never be possible on Playstation2. It only shows how narrow minded you are. Monster Hunter 3 is WAAY beyond what a playstation 2 game could handle.

The vast scope of the environments coupled with the monsters and characters on screen at once you must be kidding me konyphoney.

The effects also happen to look quite god even in its unfinished form...laughable Klowny....just laughable....

Monster Hunter is quite impressive for a Wii game

klowny fails

IALS

Anonymous said...

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Louis is a better musician and basically created Jazz music.
Everything since then is a copy/tribute to his innovation.

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