28th November 2012, 9:38 AM
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/11/wi...x-360-ps3/
The Wii U is selling incredibly well as it turns out, at 400,000 in the first week. It's not selling at Wii's launch levels just yet (600,000), but it's close. It still beats the 360's sales during it's first week (326,000 during the first two weeks, no figures for just the first) and just dwarfs the PS3 launch sales (197,000 during the first two, no figures for first week only).
That said, while it beats the 360's launch week, what matters is THIS week, and the 360's current sales actually DID beat the Wii U, very close to double in fact. http://www.ibtimes.com/microsofts-xbox-3...ort-905892 Impressive. One big advantage MS had was that they have 360s already stocked and in plentiful supply pretty much everywhere.
It's good to see the 3DS is doing far better than it did when it first launched. The 3DS deserves it, with some amazing games and the fact it's a Gamecube in your hand. (The 3D is still a bit of a gimic, only rarely used for unique gameplay). The Vita on the other hand is floundering, destined to occupy that niche the PSP did (and yes, I have both).
It remains to be seen if Nintendo can keep up the steam, but it's looking good. I promised a family member I would search for a second Wii U and get one before Christmas. I underestimated how difficult that task would be. Every last store I called said they were out of stock. I was at a Target yesterday though and lucked out. I went into the electronics section, saw them JUST putting them back on the shelves, a shipment having arrived just that morning. I got one, and considered setting aside a second for a friend still looking for one, when a line started forming, the remaining two selling out right there. (I refer to the black ones, the white ones seem to be selling much more slowly as a "last resort". Coming with a $60 game seems to make the extra $50 cost more than pay for itself.) This is anecdotal mind you, but this does cover a large metropolitan area consisting of dozens of Walmarts, a handful of Best Buys, and uncountable Gamestops.
That said, it seems to me that supplies are lower than when the Wii itself launched. Most places are saying they had less this time around than when the Wii launched. If I were to speculate, I might say the system would be doing even better if supply were higher. Alternatively, Nintendo has the stock but is spacing out shipments to increase an image of scarcity and thus up demand.
Either way, I managed to find two, but that's because I'm a luck demon.
<img src="http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-bFQS2Cb/0/L/i-bFQS2Cb-X3.jpg">
I love words.
<img src="http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-x962CHb/0/L/i-x962CHb-X3.jpg">
The Wii U is selling incredibly well as it turns out, at 400,000 in the first week. It's not selling at Wii's launch levels just yet (600,000), but it's close. It still beats the 360's sales during it's first week (326,000 during the first two weeks, no figures for just the first) and just dwarfs the PS3 launch sales (197,000 during the first two, no figures for first week only).
That said, while it beats the 360's launch week, what matters is THIS week, and the 360's current sales actually DID beat the Wii U, very close to double in fact. http://www.ibtimes.com/microsofts-xbox-3...ort-905892 Impressive. One big advantage MS had was that they have 360s already stocked and in plentiful supply pretty much everywhere.
Quote:The Wii U sales contributed to over 1.2 million units of Nintendo hardware sold for the Thanksgiving week, including 300,000 Wii systems, 275,000 units of the original Nintendo DS line, and 250,000 3DS systems. The 3DS has now sold 6 million units worldwide, about 1 million more than the original DS had sold at the same point in its life cycle.
It's good to see the 3DS is doing far better than it did when it first launched. The 3DS deserves it, with some amazing games and the fact it's a Gamecube in your hand. (The 3D is still a bit of a gimic, only rarely used for unique gameplay). The Vita on the other hand is floundering, destined to occupy that niche the PSP did (and yes, I have both).
It remains to be seen if Nintendo can keep up the steam, but it's looking good. I promised a family member I would search for a second Wii U and get one before Christmas. I underestimated how difficult that task would be. Every last store I called said they were out of stock. I was at a Target yesterday though and lucked out. I went into the electronics section, saw them JUST putting them back on the shelves, a shipment having arrived just that morning. I got one, and considered setting aside a second for a friend still looking for one, when a line started forming, the remaining two selling out right there. (I refer to the black ones, the white ones seem to be selling much more slowly as a "last resort". Coming with a $60 game seems to make the extra $50 cost more than pay for itself.) This is anecdotal mind you, but this does cover a large metropolitan area consisting of dozens of Walmarts, a handful of Best Buys, and uncountable Gamestops.
That said, it seems to me that supplies are lower than when the Wii itself launched. Most places are saying they had less this time around than when the Wii launched. If I were to speculate, I might say the system would be doing even better if supply were higher. Alternatively, Nintendo has the stock but is spacing out shipments to increase an image of scarcity and thus up demand.
Either way, I managed to find two, but that's because I'm a luck demon.
<img src="http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-bFQS2Cb/0/L/i-bFQS2Cb-X3.jpg">
I love words.
<img src="http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-x962CHb/0/L/i-x962CHb-X3.jpg">
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)