1. Actual console shipments were about 103 million for PS1, currently probably just about 115-120 million for PS2 (though 125 and 135 will be hit easily), and about 61 million for NES. 2. While PS1/2 did expand the market in NA and Japan, the primary reason for their growth over NES/SNES/Genesis was the tapping of the European market. 3. Nintendo systems haven't lasted after their successors showed up... Not true. No lesser-selling system has maintained huge sales into the next-gen, while every higher-selling system has. The one sort-of exception to this is the SNES--the most mismanaged "winning" system of all time. 4. The NES was considered outdated in 1983, compared to the 16-bit computers of the time... And continued to sell well into 1992, even as the market became cluttered with much more powerful systems. The 32-bit PS1 was "outdated" when the N64 launched, but sold well over 90% of its lifetime total after that point, continuing good sales into 2003. In fact, the PS1 sold more during PS2's lifetime than GC or XB did. The power of a system doesn't matter compared to its ability to continue to sell to new markets. Considering Wii is basically an "up-to-date" system for 2003 or 2004, there's no precedent for it not being able to reach at least 2012 with good or great sales. 5. People suggesting that 25 or 35% of PS1/PS2 sales came from replacement systems are nuts. You can tell its not ridiculously high just by looking at attach rates: Do you really think PS attach rates are 13:1, 14:1, 15:1?? That much higher then every other system in history? Nah. Edit: 6. Nintendo will be continually upping Wii production for as long as they need to to meet demand. It won't halt at 1.2m/month.
"[Our former customers] are unable to find software which they WANT to play."
"The way to solve this problem lies in how to communicate what kind of games [they CAN play]."
Satoru Iwata, Nintendo President. Only slightly paraphrased.
