How soon will sales of the Wii pass the 360? Within a few months by the sounds of it. Impressive stuff then, especially considering the supply issues that have dogged the console. And there's little doubt that the Wii has surpassed all expectations. Remember those Nintendo doing a Sega - i.e. going software only - rumours? Not a chance now.
But while Wii is currently the hottest ticket in game town I still think things will be different this time next year. The 360 will have had the benefit of having 2007's most exciting release schedule but perhaps more importantly the PS3 - complete with Singstar - will have woken up. And you can't discount the novelty factor. The Wii is very easy to "get". That instant hit is a high that has helped lead to the huge demand for the console. Unfortunately a sparse release schedule combined with a control system that can get frustrating once the novelty wears off could deter long term play. Those attach rate figures - games bought per console owner - will be very interesting. My feeling is Wii could suffer here. But does this matter? So what if Wii owners are only buying Play and Zelda? By appealing to the true mass market have Nintendo changed the metrics normally used to measure success in the games market? Has the Wii really changed everything?
