The Video Game Critic

Citing stats from Famitsu, Bloomberg reports that:

"Nintendo sold 251,794 of its newest game machines in May, outselling Sony's PlayStation 3 consoles five to one"

You might say "Oh, it's because the Wii is cheaper."  Even so, let's look at the dollars.  Warning: Math Ahead!

The Japanese Wii is 25,000 yen (around $204).  The Japanese PS3 low-end model is 49,980 yen (around $409).  So in May, Nintendo grossed 6,294,850,000 yen ($51.6 million), and selling 1/5 of the units Nintendo did (around 50,000 units), Sony grossed 2,516,932,824 yen ($20.64 million).  By the way -- I realize they didn't really gross this as the prices I used are retail prices, not wholesale.

Taking those yen figures, let's say Nintendo's console cost the same as the PS3.  Take their profits (6.2 billion yen) divided by the price of the PS3 (49,980 yen) and you get 125,947.  That's still 2.5 times as many units as the PS3 sold in May.

On a quick side note, the Wii is outselling the Xbox360 by almost 22 to 1.

Oh, I forgot like the most important part:

• Nintendo makes around $50-$100 on every Wii.
• Sony loses around $250-$300 on every PS3

Can you imagine when they start releasing post-launch quality games on a regular basis?

I can.

Funk

Yeah, I bet it has. Can the irrational Sony fans please recognize, at long last, that Sony blundered with the PS3? It's now June. No sales slowdown in sight, despite the total lack of any "big gun" releases for the Wii. The sales, if they do flag a bit, will be instantly boosted as folks who didn't get on board the first time around will in order to play Smash Bros, Mario Galaxy, Metroid, Umbrella Chronicles etc.

This is not to say that the PS3 won't get good games or be an enjoyable system to own. But it seems clear who is dominating this round of the console wars.

-Rob

Yea, I don't think Sony has much of a chance (or Microsoft for that matter) for the first couple of years.  I really don't see those companies passing Nintendo within the first couple of years...

I realize Microsoft has a lead right now, but that will gone before years end.  Personally I think Nintendo's undoing will be the graphics in a few years...as more and more people get HD TV's Nintendos achilles heel will be exposed.  That seems like the only time Sony and Microsoft will be able to make a huge dent.  It might be too late by then.  Who knows...

I don't think Sony is still losing $250-$300 per console.  It was that much around launch, but they have streamlined production to cutback on their losses.  They are still losing money, but not as much.

Anywho, it really doesn't matter because each system rocks.  I'm glad Nintendo is retaking the throne again.  Like most people my age (23) I have a soft spot for them since the NES ruled my childhood.  The Wii is making up for every blunder and folly Nintendo made with the N64 and Gamecube.  Niiiiice!

......and the DSLite throws the Wii around like a ragdoll in Japan.

Obviously Nintendo wil rule the homland for at least a handful of years, one wonders what it would take for MS to make a dent in Japan.

I don't see lack of HD hurting Nintendo anytime soon, it is a big deal with videogame media and the elite (and I just mean that descriptively, not taking a shot! ), but it is a small issue with the general public, especially given the price to incorporate! I truly think the VG market is fragmenting, and Nintendo is sitting on the biggest chunk by not trying to force high tech before people are ready for it. There well may be a market for non-HD games for years to come, especially if smaller studies just abandon the 'Next Gen' market to big budget studios. I still say game budgets now play a bigger factor in games than hardware.