Nintendo sells 600K Wiis at launch, 454K Zeldas

by Justin Murray { Nov 27th 2006 at 8:30PM }

Nintendo's numbers are finally in and business is looking good. Nintendo has reported they sold 600,000 units at launch and are on track to hit the full million goal in the US by the end of the year.

The Wii wasn't flying off the shelves alone. Twilight Princess accompanied 454,000 of them. That number is actually quite surprising given how large a franchise it is; we'd have expected every Wii to be paired up with its very own Zelda game, a 1:1 attach rate. In any case, Twilight Princess is looking to be the first million seller on the Wii if Nintendo can (presumably) reach those 2 million in the US by the end of January.

Nintendo's positive news is nice for those who still want a Wii but can't yet find it; you may have a relatively easy time finding one before the next big holiday hits. This is, of course, a far cry better than the other guy. Can Nintendo capitalize on their production capabilities and storm the market?

Tags: Legend of Zelda, LegendOfZelda, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii, NintendoWii, Twilight Princess, TwilightPrincess, Wii, Zelda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Matt @ Nov 27th 2006 8:35PM

frist psot!

Andrew @ Nov 27th 2006 9:15PM

To possibly explain the Zelda shortage, my Target had 60 Wiis at launch, but only 30 or so Zeldas.

Nushio @ Nov 27th 2006 9:43PM

I bought Zelda TP on Launch, yet I haven't been able to score a Wii.

I also bought several Wiimotes and nunchucks.

Oh Wii, where are thou?

Imadogg @ Nov 27th 2006 8:35PM

I knew Zelda would be flying off the shelves, and the fact that there is not one Zelda for every one Wii isn't that surprising at all, since there are many "non-gamers" buying the Wii who would be content with Wii Sports for now I would guess.

Justice @ Nov 28th 2006 4:46PM

Good Job Nintendo! Congrats!

livefromphiladelphia @ Nov 27th 2006 8:53PM

Maybe those 145k are people who are waiting to play the Cube version and don't want to use the Wiimote for Zelda.

Ignatius @ Nov 27th 2006 8:40PM

Or people just buying it to sell on eBay...

Brightertoast @ Nov 27th 2006 9:49PM

sadly, i'm not one of those 600K that have the wii but i am one of those 454K that have zelda. i bought it from a friend who got the costco budle but doesn't like zelda games. i just wanted to make sure i got a copy of TP

Optimus Prime @ Nov 27th 2006 9:26PM

The high attach rate for Zelda is a mixed blessing. Good for Nintendo, bad, for third party devs. who have to compete against it. Yea, people will buy more than one game, but, if one of them is more or less a lock, then the effect is the same.. heres only so many gaming dollars to go around.

Now, people will wait around for MP3, Mario Galaxy, Nintendogs, SSBB, Animal Crossing, Brain Age, Icarus, StarFox, Mario [sport], DK, Mario Kart, etc. etc.

Nintendo is too good, and they can take a lot of time to put their games out. Third party devs. have no freakin' chance.

Josh @ Nov 27th 2006 9:52PM

I want a Wii (would have had one by now, but alas...), and I will not be buying Zelda for it. Instead, I'm getting the GameCube version so I don't have to deal with that Wii version mirror mode garbage.

epobirs @ Nov 28th 2006 3:54AM

Don't kid yourself. There are always going to be a portion of buyers with zero interest in the leading title at launch. Love of Zelda is not universal, even among the hardcore who stood in line on launch day. It's interesting to consider that this is the first time Zelda has been a launch title.

1:1 sales generally only happen when the game is bundled or the range of titles is so limited it might as well be. Super Mario 64 is the best example of that. There was simply no reason to buy the N64 on the first few days if you didn't want that game to go with it.

Borat @ Nov 27th 2006 9:39PM

Now if only Nintendo could provide me with one. This is the first launch ever where I've wanted a system on day one (More appropriately, a week after launch). I just sold my Cube and I can't find a Wii anywhere!

Kestrel @ Nov 27th 2006 10:36PM

1:1 Zelda to Wii ratio? Come on, lots of people don't care about the game. Lots of folks are just buying a Wii for crappy EA sports games.

human-cannonball @ Nov 28th 2006 5:44PM

What are you guys talking about? Zelda sold huge for the number of consoles. You also forget that the Wii already came with a game.

Rare Hare @ Nov 27th 2006 9:24PM

"we'd have expected every Wii to be paired up with its very own Zelda game, a 1:1 attach rate."

I think that's a fairly ridiculous statement, considering that it require basically every Wii purchaser to be a fan of the Zelda franchise. That's simply impossible. I consider the 3:2.25 ratio pretty damn impressive, actually.

reguy @ Nov 27th 2006 10:06PM

wow 454k huh, amazing what can happen when you dont release a game when ready and hold it for your next system.

BoB @ Nov 27th 2006 11:46PM

I want one as well, but here in my part of my state there are none to be found unless I want to sell my gorgeous body to pay for one.

automatic @ Nov 27th 2006 10:03PM

11:

Same situation here. I just hope the game isn't too downgraded from the Wii version. But Zelda, in my mind, needs a gamepad.

Proprius @ Nov 30th 2006 6:28PM

"That number is actually quite surprising given how large a franchise it is; we'd have expected every Wii to be paired up with its very own Zelda game, a 1:1 attach rate."

Wait, so you're saying that an attach rate of over 3:2 is LOW? It seems pretty high to me. 1:1 or even close to that is almost impossible to get. I know Zelda is a huge franchise, but that doesn't mean that every single Wii buyer is a fan.

Werbal @ Nov 27th 2006 10:29PM

Numbers are probably rounded up a little bit. Most other numbers I'd see for the console were closer to a little more than half-a-million.

And that attach rate for Zelda is pretty damned high. 1:1 would be impossible. Not everyone is Zelda fan, you know.

Capt. Castellanos @ Nov 28th 2006 12:51AM

to the people wanting the gamecube zelda:

i have the wii one, and i have to say,
its pretty awesome.
but i understand you guys waiting for the gamecube one.
playing with the wii remote is alright.
i don't think it changes the experience much.
i'm sure the gamecube one will be just as awesome.

JAC @ Nov 27th 2006 10:20PM

Sadlt #7 makes a very valid point there, I've always bought my Nintendo consoles based on the fact that the first party games alone are worth it (which has always been the case)and if a third party developer comes up with one or two good games, it's like a bonus. I bought my GC only to play Mario Sunshine and Zelda, I also got Mario Kart and the only third party game I have for it which is RE4 (which IMO is the best game for the system, closely followed by Mario). I hope that third party developers see Nintendo's wonderful games as an incentive to strive to make better games instead of seeing it as a hurdle or an obstacle that will make them think twice about developing games for the Wii, I want the Wii to have a huge third party support but I'm not willing to buy mediocre games just to support the console.

Ill buy my Wii as soon as I can find one online (I don't live in the US) and the only game that I'm 100% sure I'm getting is Zelda:TP, Rayman looks like fun so I'm also considering that one, I was really hoping that Red Steel would be a good game but I sort of always knew it would suck, too bad, but I hope that doesn't keep Ubisoft from trying again.

puddlejumper @ Nov 27th 2006 10:40PM

This is low. For now!!!

Gears sold what a million with 6 million filthy Americans as an installed base?

Wait till the entire filthy world gets the Wii. Zelda will sell like 3 million very soon and Nintendo will take over the world!

VanGuardian1 @ Nov 27th 2006 10:46PM

The "Wii" setup doesn't completely start to shine in Twilight Princess until about the second dungeon, afterwards it just starts taking off (when you're utilizing the more advanced weapons and sword techniques that are available in the game).

I'm in the 7th Dungeon, about 59 hours in, and I would be having a *much* harder time with the game if I were still using a conventional controller.

Essentially I'll say this. The Wii's control scheme allows a more accurate, effective, and comfortable game play experience overall than using a game pad would. And I am loving the hell out of it. :) (This coming from a person who did not like Oncarina of Time)

Btw, control-wise I'm comparing to Zelda : Windwaker's Gamecube control scheme, which I believe the gamecube version of TP will duplicate or be based heavily off of.

Ezin @ Nov 27th 2006 10:44PM

Well it's hardly surprising the numbers aren't 1:1. They sold out of Zelda halfway through the line of 75 at the place I got my system. I had to call up 3 separate places before finding a store that had it (which ended up being the store that had the fewest systems available had 8 extra). It also seems to be sold out everywhere online. I'd be quite surprised if you could find it anywhere online.

Patrick @ Nov 27th 2006 11:02PM

Well, I still can't find a system, so I for one hope they do get some new shipments out soon and I can manage to snag one. In the meantime I'll keep checking wiisearcher and the like daily.

Ryoga Vee @ Nov 27th 2006 11:22PM

I got TP yesterday at EB. Most likely the LAST ONE in all of the Bay Area. Later I went to Best Buy to get something and just happen to mention to the store clerk that i picked it up, he almost cried.
And to top it off, I got my Wii for free.

burninhell @ Nov 28th 2006 12:45AM

"we'd have expected every Wii to be paired up with its very own Zelda game, a 1:1 attach rate."

Um, Justin, thats never gonna happen unless said Zelda game is in the box with the console. Zelda is huge, but its appeal is far from universal. Link ain't Mario, and the Wii launched with a fair stack of games, unlike N64 which had a 1:1 attach rate for Mario because it was the only game available. And it was Mario. At launch.

Revo @ Nov 28th 2006 12:46AM

"11. I want a Wii (would have had one by now, but alas...), and I will not be buying Zelda for it. Instead, I'm getting the GameCube version so I don't have to deal with that Wii version mirror mode garbage."

Are you kidding me? The so-called "mirror mode" doesn't affect the quality of the game in any way, shape, or form. The Wii controls are generally accepted as superior, but you're letting a complete non-issue keep you from getting that version.

Capt. Castellanos @ Nov 28th 2006 12:56AM

also:
for some reason southern california doesn't care much for zelda.
or at least, southern california target shoppers.

i went there a while ago and there are a whole row of twilight princess still there.
i was wondering if i should pick it up as a gift for someone.
but everyone (who has the wii) i know already has it.

burninhell @ Nov 28th 2006 12:58AM

@ #25: I'll agree with you that "mirror mode" is a non-issue, but I personally want the GC TP because
Nintendo talked it up for two years and because the
Wii version has no major graphical upgrade...its a
GC game as far as I'm concerned so I want to play it with
a GC controller. Grafted-on Wiimote controls and
the Wiimote speaker don't change the fact that this
was supposed to be the GC's last great title, and it
was hijacked over to Wii to beef up the launch hype.
Period.