Why the Wii is winning
According to sales data, the Wii outsold both of its competitors in recent months. In February, the Wii sold 335,000 units to the Xbox 360’s 228,000 and the PS3’s 127,000. Since they were released, the Wii has sold 1.86 million units while the PS3 has sold 1.1 million.
At first this may seem surprising, since the Wii appears to be underpowered when you compare the specs with the PS3 or XBox 360. However, Nintendo proved that the emphasizing unique game play can outweigh better graphics and a more powerful CPU. The Wii’s unique motion-sensitive controller draws you into the game by making you get up and move instead of sitting in front of the TV. Games such as Wii Sports also appeal to many people who wouldn’t play other video games.
The price is also a factor, since the $250 Wii costs less than the XBox 360, which sells for $400 or the PS3 which sells for a whopping $600. However, when you compare the price of the PS3 with stand-alone Blu-Ray players, it isn’t really that expensive.
XBox 360 owners buy the most games, an average of 5.4, while PS3 owners buy 2.1 and Wii owners buy 2.8. This can be attributed to the limited selection of games for the newer machines and higher cost of the games. Almost all Wii games sell for $50 and few take full advantage of the unique controller. This will most likely change as more games are released.
I’ll admit I was skeptical of the Wii at first, since it appeared to be merely an enhanced GameCube, but Wii Sports (and especially Wii Fitness) won me over. I go to the gym a few times a week to stay in shape, but when I can’t get to the gym I feel like I’m getting a good workout from Wii Sports.
