Nintendo's Wii Outshines Microsoft's Xbox 360 in the United States

Continuing its winning-streak, Nintendo Co. Ltd.’s Wii gaming console once again has emerged as the clear winner among the trio of next generation gaming consoles in sales. The Japanese company’s Wii surpassed the Xbox 360 as the most sold current game console in the U.S.

According to numbers released by retail market research firm NPD, US gamers bought more than 666,000 Wii consoles in June, making it the best-selling next-generation video game console in the country. U.S. retailers sold 405,500 PlayStation 3s and 219,800 Xbox 360s last month.

Consumers have purchased 11,008,200 units since Wii was introduced in November 2006, passing the total rung up by Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360. The Redmond giant so far has sold 10,465,900 Xbox 360 units, and Sony’s PlayStation 3 still trails its rivals with cumulative sales of 4,851,100 units, the Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm reveals.

Besides Nintendo Wii's U.S. price, which is just half the cost of the least-expensive version of PS3, its motion-sensitive controller that has been popular with mainstream gamers as well as new audiences like senior citizens and very young children has helped build buzz for the machine, and made it more appealing to some consumers.

It took Nintendo less than two years to catch up with Microsoft and turn down the Xbox 360s 12-month lead, thanks to Wii which is designed for easy-to-play games and equipped with a motion-sensitive controller that can be swung like a racquet or sword.

Cammie Dunaway, head of marketing for Nintendo's U.S. unit, in an interview, said, “Wii is bringing people of all ages into the video-game experience.”

The soaring sales of Nintendo Co.'s Wii console propelled U.S. sales of video-game consoles. As per the data from NPD, total industry sales rose 53% to $1.69 billion in June from $1.1 billion a year earlier, as well as hardware (consoles and portables) sales jumped 54% to $615.1 million from $399.2 million, and the sales of video games jumped 61% to $872.6 million from $542.2 million.

Nintendo’s innovative gaming unit also boasts of six of the top 10 best selling game titles in June. The top-selling single game title of the month was Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (774,600 copies), made by Konami Corp. for Sony's PlayStation 3.

Guitar Hero On Tour made for Nintendo DS was on the second number with 422,300 copies sold, followed by Ninja Gaiden II for Xbox 360, with 372,200 copies. Nintendo’s Wii Fit with Balance Board had a successful start with 372,200 units. This exercise game which is sold with a balance board for use in workouts and games ranked fourth followed by the Wii Play with Remote, with 359,100 units.