Wii closing in on the 360's U.S. lead

by Candace Savino { May 16th 2008 at 7:00PM }

After Microsoft's brag-fest on Wednesday, during which Don Mattrick essentially declared the Xbox 360 as this generation's console winner, Nintendo made sure to strike back with a press release of their own.

Mattrick's exact words were, "History has shown us that the first company to reach ten million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry."

Nintendo's response: "Oh no he didn't," followed by some snapping and a "talk to the hand" gesture.

In all seriousness, Nintendo replied to the comment in a more subtle manner. The company just released a press release to gloat over its success in April's NPD, casually stating in the process that over 9.5 million Wiis have sold in the U.S. In case you haven't noticed, 9.5 and 10 million aren't all that far apart, so Nintendo is trying to stop Microsoft from marking its proverbial territory just yet. Since the Wii outsold Microsoft's system 4:1 last month, many analysts are even predicting that the little white console will overtake the 360 some time soon.

So, which PR tactic do you enjoy more? The in-your-face, Mattrick approach, or the subtle "by the way, we're right behind you" statement from Nintendo?

[Via press release]

Tags: 360, don-mattrick, microsoft, npd, xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Makalu @ May 16th 2008 7:13PM

Nintendo's.

Goity @ May 16th 2008 7:28PM

Nintendo's, because it actually makes sense in someone other than the writer's mind. However, it's pretty obvious why the Wii sold so well last month, and that was just because it held back stock for Mario Kart/to try to steal steam away from GTA4.

Drahken @ May 16th 2008 7:41PM

I don't know how Microsoft can be so cocky. They've sold approximately 10 million units in approximately 30 months. While Nintendo has sold approximately 9.5 units in approximately 18 months. Nintendo clearly has the better sales-to-time ratio.

Drahken @ May 16th 2008 7:42PM

Approximately.

....approximately.

.........approx- *clubbing sound*

David W. @ May 16th 2008 8:02PM

It also costs half as much :) lolol...I'm sure that plays a pretty decent part.

FantomRedux @ May 16th 2008 7:49PM

Nintendo.

I've also noticed Sony don't seem to have anything to cheer about lately. How many they sold now? 5 mil in the US, 12 mil worldwide?

Wii - 11m US, 25mil worldwide

360 - 11.8m US, 18.9m worldwide

hmmmmmm...

Why are the US sales the only one ever mentioned about in blogs?

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 17th 2008 1:03AM

Because this is a US-based blog? Therefore, most of the readership is American? That might have something to do with it.

Candace Savino @ May 17th 2008 1:18AM

Japanese sales: http://nintendo.joystiq.com/tag/another-week-in-japan

European sales: http://nintendo.joystiq.com/tag/another-week-in-europe

:)

Patrick @ May 16th 2008 8:14PM

I like Nintendo's just because Microsoft had the attitude like "HAHA WE WON!" then Nintendo's is sitting there just going "Uh, no, no you didn't" and then Microsoft does this :(

Tom @ May 16th 2008 8:19PM

A more important question is "Why should we care?" the Wii's hardware is outselling the 360's, while the 360's software is outselling Wii's because the 360 isn't only supported by Microsoft. So all the fanboys going "YAY!! We're winning!" please stop. I BEG THEE!!!!! It doesn't reflect well on you.

(P.S. Wii60 FTW!!!)

shawn @ May 16th 2008 9:06PM

i just bought a 360 and i also have a wii so it doesnt matter to me who wins,its us the gamers that win

shawn11150 @ May 16th 2008 9:15PM

U guys are nubs. 360 is $300-400. Wii is $250. You may have sold alot, but for each one MS sells, we make a higher profit.

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 16th 2008 10:02PM

I don't recall the part where M$ pays me to buy a 360...

AltCtrlPwn @ May 16th 2008 10:04PM

Haha . . . "we make a higher profit," hahaha. Wow.

Of course "you" make a higher profit, because we all know that selling a system that costs more automatically means you make more. Yeah, just like Sony did with their PS3, not selling at a loss. Nope, not at all.

Damn 10 year olds.

GatorSax2010 @ May 17th 2008 2:04AM

Wow, I can understand identifying with sports teams so much as to refer to them in the first person ("We crushed them last week!"), but video game console manufacturers?

angelbabe531 @ May 17th 2008 3:38AM

Lol "we". I also think you've chosen the wrong word in profit. Microsoft makes more in sales per console. However Nintendo actually makes the bigger profit since it costs them so much less to make the console compared to the retail price. And it has been that way since launch, having never sold at a loss. So Nintendo is the winner there.

Max Headroom @ May 17th 2008 3:43AM

That's funny. But just to be clear, even though it is cheaper, Wii has always made a higher profit per console than the XBox 360. That's because an XBox is a lot more expensive to make as well.

Haohmaru @ May 17th 2008 7:27AM

"We?" How much MS stock do you own? Seriously, shut up.

SoshiKitai @ May 17th 2008 11:28AM

Blargh blargh blargh! I'm posting here, too!
Blargh blargh blargh yaarrrr we hate thee Microcosm of the Softness!!! GWARRR!!! Blargh blargh blargh!

Anywho: I agree with Mr. Headroom up there.

And what the hell is a nub? ...is that the tip of a nipple?
Why are we the tip of a nipples? .......because we're the sexiest part of a nipple.

Nathan @ May 19th 2008 12:31AM

Just because one system costs more does not mean that company makes more. Have you stopped to consider that the 360 probably costs more to produce than a tiny little Wii?

You're the nub.

stitch @ Jul 17th 2008 10:34PM

Actually you are wrong there. Microsoft is not making a profit on the 360, they are actually losing money.

Microsoft has to sell the 360 at a certain price, but even so it is costing them more to produce the 360 than they are selling it for. Microsoft gets their profit from the games. Think about it, one game on a little cd costs (here in Australia 100 dollars) so around 50 or so in America. It doesnt cost that much to put a game on CD/Dvd so that is where they get their profit on.

Nintendo is making a profit on their console because it doesnt cost much to make. Here in Australia the wii costs around 400, so say if its around 200 to buy in America then Nintendo could be making them for around 100-150 dollars per console. Nintendo is making their money through the console prices AND the games.

So next time you should think about what you said and look into how much those companies are spending on making a console, Microsoft is losing out on their consoles, it's the games that they get their profit on. It has always been like that, the Wii is the first ever console to actualy make a profit on through the console itself AND the games. All other consoles in the past and present (incl 360 and ps3) have been at a loss to the companies in cost production.