Wii console is still the hottest player in town

By: Bill Waters
Staff Writer
Published: Nov 26, 2008

The Nintendo Wii video gaming console has now reached seven million units sold in Japan. The popular console is still the hottest player in town where hardware sales have been slow. The Sony PS3 sold over 2 million units while the Microsoft Xbox 360 sold 800,000.

While Nintendo of America is set to launch new DS bundles, the Wii gaming console still beats the competition. The Wii sold seven million units in Japan and is still the hottest player in town.

Nintendo Wii is also leading the Microsoft Corp Xbox 360 and Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc's PS3 in Japan and the United States. The installed base in the USA is almost double of that in Japan.

Hardware sales have been slowing in both the United States and Japan. According to data released by Kotaku, the Wii sold seven millions in Japan alone. The Sony PlayStation 3 sold 2.5 million while the Xbox 360 sold 800,000. Sony is also discounting the PS3 by $150 for those approved for its new PlayStation credit card.

With a new holiday promotion launched by Nintendo, it will be difficult for the competition to keep up. However, sales on the Xbox 360 are climbing. This is part due to a cut in price for the gaming console.

Wii captured five million users in January 2008. Several months later the sales jumped to six million in May.

Global sales for the Wii stand at 34.55 million. The Japanese Wii market in Japan represents 20 percent of the world total.

Moreover, the Wii installedbase in the United States is 13.4 million. This represents 39 percent of Nintento's Wii business.