May NPD: Nintendo still on top, industry sales up 49%

I'm with Luigi193 on this also.
Its AWESOME to see Nintendo doing so well console wise from such a bad yesteryear of 10, but no one likes cocky people. >:(

Did you guys like it when the Sonydrones did it before? I figured not, amirite. I get that you're all getting a few things off your chest from the past years, but like many have said above, this 'race/war' isn't over yet. Lets be happy for now and 'celebrate' later on when all the dust clears, ok? :) Way to go Nintendo~

how do i go about buying stock in nintendo?

lmao, looks like Justins pretty sour over the news. Its ok, you'll accept it soon. *pats his shoulder* lol. Vent a smuch as you need to because you know the Wii isn't as much for kids as you'd want/like to think it is.

I'm 20, male, have 2 jobs, have a girlfriend, living with her, LOVE Pokemon.... hmm... I dont see anything wrong with me. :o I'm off pretty well

Let me fix that for you

"[The Wii] is winning because it appeals to little kids, middle-school kids, teenagers, 20-somethings, 30-somethings, middle-aged people, parents, grandparents, college-kids, new gamers, casual gamers, hardcore gamers, old gamers, nostalgia gamers..."

The military uses it. Nursing homes use it. Non-gaming households use it; gamer households use it.

I'm 21. I own: NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Playstation, Gamecube, XBOX, PS2, XBOX360, and Wii. My house owns two Wiis because I take mine to college. I play by myself, against my siblings, against my girlfriend, against my college friends, against my parents.

So, yes
"Nintendo has captured the 10 and under demographic "
but they've also made a significant stance in every other demographic.

Sony PS3 is losing ground on all fronts. On a global scale even Xbox 360 outsells PS3 with a ratio of 2:1.

I'm just wanting to make sure that every one here realizes that this "debate" as just as useful as one about the best flavor of ice cream. Vanilla is the most popular. Does that mean that it is every ones favorite? Baskin Robins pulled the best ice cream I had ever tasted after about a week because no one else bought it. Does that mean it was terrible. As long as every one gets to play a game (remember G-A-M-E) the who cares.

Stop ridding your bike around town trying to get every one to join the Wii cult.

Stop screaming that the PS3 is the piece of hardware that will revolutionize all revolution form here forward.

It's all subjective.

Weather or not you like the PS3 the discussion that we should be having here is how many fun games are we gonna miss out on if Sony doesn't get its act together.

Response to the allegation of bitterness: Why would I be bitter? Because Nintendo is making a lot of money? Really I have no idea why I would be bitter, they are game console sales numbers, what effect does that have on me. I don't take some strange satisfaction in the success of one game over the other. I am just pointing out the reason I think that the Wii is killing in sales, and that is the brand loyalty they have developed, with young kids and their parents, and the lack of ANY competition in that demographic. Simple I thought.

Response to classic quotes:

vidGuy says: I own: NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Playstation, Gamecube, XBOX, PS2, XBOX360, and Wii.

It really looks like you are a casual gamer there. Of course you bought a Wii. You are a game fanboy. Defend your nerdom all that you want, but don't act like middle aged females and the elderly are actually out there buying hundred of thousands of Wii's to play themselves, despite the commercials. 99.99% don't even know what a Wii is.

and then:

AwesomeStuff says: I'm 20, male, have 2 jobs, have a girlfriend, living with her, LOVE Pokemon

1) congrats on having a girlfriend and having to work two jobs. Sounds like the American dream. But seriously 21 playing Pokemon? Thats just nerdy. Here is a simple test to establish your nerdyness: next even mildly attractive ( attractive to you, not me, I doubt we have the same scale of attractiveness considering your above statement) 21 year old girl you run into, ask her this: "Would you be attracted to a 20 year old guy who has to work two jobs and LOVES to play Pokemon?" See what she says, then report back. Chances are once you thought about you are too embarrassed to do it. Shame is a classic sign that what you are doing is nerdy.

"99.99% don't even know what a Wii is"

100% of people arguing on the internet pull statistics out of their ass

Ikitsumatatsu did you actually think I was implying that was an actual verified statistic? Sad if so. By the way I have a bridge to sell you in the Everglades.

Seriously, what do you want a double blind peer reviewed study of the Wii name recognition by 34-47 year old females and all Americans over 60?

Justin, if you play video games AT ALL, you're a nerd.

If you visit Joystiq (frequently, or casually), you're a nerd.

If you POST on Joystiq, you're a nerd.


Stop trying to justify your hatred of the Pokemans by saying it's "for kids and nerds who have problems."

Those of us who are older gamers that play Pokémon don't feel the need to play "mature" games where blood sprays all over the place to make ourselves feel "cool."

Yes, Pokémon is overly marketed, but none of that rubbish really matters. Just the core RPG games, which are solid games.

No, I was just trying to eke another frenzied response out of you, and it worked :D

BIG Reub "how many fun games are we gonna miss out on if Sony doesn't get its act together."

None. Once developers realize the PS3 is sinking they will jump ship, porting existing games to the 360 and developing future games for 360 and Wii.

Justin "It really looks like you are a casual gamer there."

That's exactly my point, I'm not. Reading the comments here, it seems like the consensus is that the Wii is only played by people that don't know videogames. I contend that we do.

"but don't act like middle aged females and the elderly are actually out there buying hundred of thousands of Wii's to play themselves"

Well, maybe not hundreds of thousands (who knows?), but I know several females and several couples in their 40s and 50s that own one (and don't have kids). I've heard business men at my work talk about it over lunch. Only one has kids, and four or five of them bought it for bowling or whatnot. These are straight-laced men in suits, and several of them have Ivy League backgrounds. Nintendo is advertising in a way that will cut down on that little amount of recognition - they've advertised in Better Homes and Gardens, for God's sake.

"No, I was just trying to eke another frenzied response out of you, and it worked :D"

Oh, I see. Good one. Wow you really have me in a tizzy over here. I mean frenzy, man you really got me.

vidGuy:

I think we have a basic misunderstanding and we are in fact agreeing.

1) I acknowledge that there are many non-kids with the Wii. My guess would be 1-200k of those Wii sales would be to mainstream gamers like you and me and those guys at you office, even the 40 year old guys that buy one with their wife.

2) However, the reason that the Wii is absolutely killing the rest of the home systems is that beyond the mainstream that is going to buy a game console (or multiple consoles) regardless, they are the ONLY console (besides arguably the PS2 with its price and selection of youth games) that is targeting really young kids (younger than 10). No competition plus a high quality product equals BIG success.

So sure there are a few elderly people and middle aged women buying the system for themselves. But I believe that the vast majority of the discrepancy comes from the fact that (along with the name rec parents have of Nintendo) Nintendo included little kids in its target, and no else is serving this market in the home.

I think the Wii is cool, and would buy one, if I could find one, but I like it because it's simple foundation takes me back and looks like the fun I had when I was a little kid.

In re: Justin, if you play video games AT ALL, you're a nerd.

If you visit Joystiq (frequently, or casually), you're a nerd.

If you POST on Joystiq, you're a nerd.


Stop trying to justify your hatred of the Pokemans by saying it's "for kids and nerds who have problems.""


1) I never said pokemon is "for kids and nerds who have problems" - I said "if you are over 12 and play pokemon you have problems." Main problem would be that you are a nerd, maybe a bit immature, but as long as its not taken to excess then thats not too much of a problem. If you are in a Pokemon club and you are...say 21, well to each there own but I would not tell a pretty girl that, and I think that is the test. Shame = bad.

2) I also take issue with the fact that playing any games or reading this blog makes you a nerd. Thats way too far. That would make a huge portion of the population nerds, not that theres a problem with that, but it kinda kills the meaning of the word 'nerd'. If that was true, then we would have to come up with a new word for people who are for instance...20 years old and in Pokemon clubs. This could lead to confusion so I propose the following. People who read this blog or who just play video games on a regular but healthy basis - NOT NERDS. People who are 20 and in Pokemon clubs - NERDS. Can you keep that straight? Which one are you by the way?

Oh my ghad, there's hyperbole all over the place

Justin,

Okay, I'll agree with you that the 360 and PS3 aren't targeting the younger age group, and that hurts their sales. But I also think that they aren't targeting other demographics that Nintendo is starting to take ahold of: parents, college kids not into Halo or Madden, etc.

For example, my college roommate gave me nothing but crap about the Wii before it launched, as was to be expected since he was a Madden-and-Halo XBOX gamer (though he did have a Genesis when he was a kid). So I get the Wii on launch day, and it wasn't a week before he changed his mind and started searching for one. Now, he owns one, his 30ish sister owns one, and his parents (who now have no kids around the house) now own one. It's small anecdotal evidence, sure, but this is why I believe in the Wii's strategy, because I've seen it work. I may have been the force behind his getting a Wii, but it spread beyond my influence. The Wii is catchy.

"My guess would be 1-200k of those Wii sales would be to mainstream gamers like you and me"

My guess would be 5 million Of the reported 8 million worldwide, because so soon after launch, the majority of owners are going to be people that owned the GC, so we classify them as mainstream gamers. The other 3 million are a combination of new kid owners, new adult owners, and everything in between.

I don't think the Wii will be the next iPod simply because of the difference in appeal MUSIC and VIDEOGAMES have, but the Wii will be comparable on many levels. I think the Wii will be Nintendo's most commercially successful console yet and it will be an example of marketing and advertising at its best.

Pretty cool to see it from last generation's loser.

Told you you generally agree.

As for being Nintendo's most commercially successful console yet, I think it would be impressive if they can pass the 60 million NES units they shipped, but they have got a shot if they can keep up the steam.

Why is it when anyone says anything about lack of AAA titles on the Wii, the NDF cranks up the volume on thier mantra of "Graphics aren't everything." I could care less if the graphics are photorealistic, although it is nice, but I do care if the game controls well. I want it to have spot on controls, fun gameplay, and online play. I tell you there is not 1 game currently available that has all 3. The reason why I like to play online is because it's difficult as an adult to have all of your buddies over to play games, what with kids and significant others and all. I've played the Wii, not overly worked up about it. There is nothing about it that makes me go WOW! I do think that overall the system will hurt game development due to the lowest common denominator theory. Bash me all you want, I don't care.

I guess a lot of Nintendo fans have been getting a lot of flak for years. A lot of hurt feelings here. I guess I can't blame them partying and be a little smug about it (just don't over do it). I do hope Nintendo systems get as much success as the previous reigning kings. A lot of excuses have been thrown around when it comes to supporting Nintendo hardware with quality and popular software. So far I'm not seeing a lot of interesting third-party software (I'm interested in RE4, REUC, Soul Calibur Legends, Rygar, FF:CB, etc.) so hopefully that'll change soon (and "soon" can't come soon enough).

Sorry I got back to you so late Justin. She plays the games too. Also unlike most I'm pretty open with what I like/like to play so theres never really any shame with most of what I do. =/

I don't hate Nintendo I just choose to play games that don't involve large headed 12 year old girls in mini skirts swinging a tennis racket and giggling while their skirt blows up ever so slightly. Call me old fashioned, hardcore, old school but you can't call me a pedophile. Swords and magic spells ain't my cup-o-tea so as long as Nintendo keeps this onslaught of games aimed towards pasty, soft and lonely kids (9-36 year olds) they can keep their Wii. I do applaud them for knowing just how to drain the wallets of Anime dorks everywhere. Thanks to the Big N these people remain in their parents basement where they belong and we can wander the streets knowing we will not be approached by one in a Zelda costume or dressed as a stormtrooper. Thank you Nintendo...Thank you.