The post-holiday sales figures are out for the computer game console manufacturers, and the results might be somewhat surprising for both industry watchers and consumers alike.
In the four-month period from November 2006 through February 2007, the Nintendo Wii was the leader of the pack, selling 1.86 million units. The Sony PlayStation 3 was second at 1.1 million units, and Microsoft  's Xbox 360 was a close third at one million units. The figures were compiled by the market research firm NPD Group, which provides market research information for various industries.
"The Wii is doing well for several reasons," said David Riley, senior manager at NPD Group. "A lot of it has to do with price, the availability of consoles, and Nintendo's marketing. The PR buzz for the product has been phenomenal."
Revolutionary Game-Play
Riley suggested that much of the buzz surrounding the Wii has to do with the fact that it is a fundamentally new way of looking at and interacting with video games. He said he saw first-hand the compelling nature of Wii's game-play when friends played tennis on his console one night until 2:00 in the morning.
"The Wii's advantage," Riley said, "is that it is truly interactive. The sports title that comes with the Wii is phenomenal. If you're a sports fan, this is your product."
Because of the Wii's new user interface and friendly technology, it is attracting many consumers who might not otherwise have purchased a gaming console. It also doesn't hurt that the Wii retails for less than half the cost of a Sony PlayStation 3.
"The Wii is not the kind of product that threatens the non-gamer -- the consumer who is not a regular gamer but has been sitting on the fence," he said. "It fits well into their lifestyle."
No Multiplayer, No Issue
When asked about recent reports that the Wii's lack of online multiplayer game titles might end up hurting Nintendeo, Riley said that he had seen the complaints posted on some gaming blogs, but didn't think that the issue was a problem for Nintendo right now.
"Look, it would be foolish for any publisher or manufacturer not to address the online game issue," Riley said. "It's a way to extend the life of an established game franchise, and it's a relatively easy new revenue stream for these companies. But is online gaming the driving force behind console sales? Hardly."
Riley predicted that Nintendo's first planned Wii online game title, "Pokemon Battle Revolution," which is scheduled for release in late June, would be a huge hit. "That's one of the most successful toy franchises in history," Riley said. "It should be a smash hit. I think Nintendo's on the right track."
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