Nintendo’s Wii is on the top of the sales chart, ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s Play Station. Market research firm NPD Group reports that Nintendo sold 355,000 units during the month of February, with Microsoft selling 228,000 of its Xbox 360 units, and Sony coming in third place with just 127,000 of its PlayStation 3 consoles.

Mass-market appeal and affordable pricing boosted Nintendo sales success.

Darrel Ryce, director of technology and entertainment for the NPD Group, told the Canadian Press, Nintendo appears to have attracted a new audience with the Wii. “You’re getting non-traditional gamers who are more than willing to spend $300 to get a system and use it.”

Ryce think that affordable pricing is the key difference of the success. He said, “The PlayStation 3, with its price point, is really geared towards the traditional gamer who has no problem spending that kind of money to get into a system.”

Wii at $279.99 comes cheaper compare to it’s next generation rivals with $399 and $499 for the Xbox 360 and $549 and $659 for the PlayStation 3 depending on model.

Part of Nintendo’s success stem from it’s slightly less expensive technology and unique controller.

Paul Jackson, Forrester Research analyst, told Sci-Tech Today, “One of Nintendo’s advantages is that it’s slightly less expensive for development houses because the hardware is less powerful and a bit older,” he said. “Nintendo is not in the arms race for the most advanced, most innovative hardware that is going on between the Xbox and the PS3.”

Another reason that Nintendo has garnered attention, and subsequent consumer dollars, is the company’s unique controller, called the Wiimote, which gets players off the couch and moving to emulate game characters in titles like bowling, tennis, and boxing.

Overall, Ryce believes that all three consoles are exhibiting healthy numbers. “All three new console systems are doing well, holding their own and definitely selling product,” he said.

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Entry was posted on Friday, March 16th, 2007 at 4:12 pm under Uncategorized.

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