Just wanted to point out that you're giving conflicting information.  The 9M number is 60 weeks from launch.  The 18.6M number is 60 weeks from PS2 being available worldwide I assume.

You're right Link, but this shows that it sold 18,6M in 60 weeks,

VGChartz Hardware data for the period 19th Nov 2000 to 13th Jan 2002:

Console PS2
Total 18,647,757


While this http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php?cons1=Wii&reg1=All&cons2=PS2&reg2=All&cons3=Wii&reg3=All&weeks=60 clearly states 9M.... Something is wrong here....

The Weekly states it sold 19M in that time.... http://vgchartz.com/weekly.php?date=37255&console=&maker=&boxartz=1

How many times do I need to say it!!

Wii won't beat PS1 / PS2 cuz intendo make consoles that last and Sony always intergrate a 'break down just out of warranty so they have to buy another console' chip!!

:P

This is our family history Sony Vs Nintendo

Nes x 1: sold at car boot sale about 3 years ago

Snes x 1 : still working

Ps1 x 3 : all thrown away

GBA / GB COLOR / GB ADVANCE / GBA SP x1 all still working

N64 x 1 : still working

PS2 : 5 or 6 lost count: 4/5 thrown away / 1 traded in

gamecube x 2: still working

Wii x 3: still working

Ds x 2: still working

We also still have an original Xbox that is OK but have had to return an Xbox 360 once.


Apart from a repair to the hinge of a DS we have had no problems with any Nintendo consoles which is the complete opposite to Sony ones.

That's for the first 60 weeks available worldwide, since that starts in Nov, though the PS2 was launched in Japan in March, then was released in the US in Oct, then in Others in Nov. So it had already been out in the market in Japan for awhile, giving it a slight boost (that all consoles get after being out for a while). Yes, it did sell 18.6 million in 60 weeks, but since the Japan sales should be higher, it is only that more amazing that the Wii outsold it in 60 weeks. These are better graphs to compare with:

This shows the Wii total sales in each region after 58 weeks:
Wii Sales

Compare that to this, which shows PS2 sales in each region after 58 weeks:
PS2 Sales

When you add up the totals from each region you get:
PS2: roughly 16.8 million
Wii: roughly 19.4 million

Which is a difference of 2.6 million, which still isn't much. Interestingly enough, 16.8 x 7 = 117.6 million, which is close to what the PS2 is. Using the same means, 19.4 x 7 = 135.8 million. And that's only if the Wii doesn't see any increase year over year (which even the PS2, but then later saw year over year drops, like all consoles do/will).

NOTE: The launches are not aligned. That's why when you compare PS2 WW sales to Wii WW sales first 60 weeks, you only get this:
PS2 vs. Wii

Which is much different than the above 2 graphs. And that's because between March (the start of the graph) and Oct (roughtly 28 weeks?), only Japan had PS2s, whereas the Wii had very close launches.

Please be careful when making these comparisons. There's enough confusion sounding launches and first year sales already.

OT: Good stuff anyway. Though I use wikipedia, I do try to make sure the sources are reliable, and then do a few google searches to see if anyone else has similar data.

Edited to make links open in new window. 

Stever, thanks for clearing that up :) Well done. What we could also look at, is this (let's hope I'm not wrong again)

Wii vs PS2 in Japan first 58 weeks.
4.8 Wii vs 4.2 Ps2 + 600k Wii

Wii vs Ps2 in America first 58 weeks.
8.4 Wii vs 6.2 Ps2 + 2.2M Wii

Wii vs ps2 in Total Others first 58 weeks.

6.3 Wii vs 6.4 Ps2. + 100k Ps2.

Wii did in its first 58 weeks, seperated in parts, beat the same places by 2,7M (it fits with Steve's)

no not all though when you click at the game at the chart when the line start to go way high then you knwo from there it became a pack in

The line started going way high 5 months after launch (22 weeks) that is in November 07... Is it that late?

The Wii doesn't have the longetivity that the PS2 had , Nitnendo pretty much threw all the best first title games in the Wii's first two years Zelda , Galaxy , Wii Fit , Sport , SSBB ,Metroid Prime etc etc , not to say that these titles are bad but in order to the Wii to maintain the momentum it's had , 1st party titles have been released left right and centre.

Unless Nitnendo can manage to sell Super Mario Desert and Super Mario Bathroom adventure for the next 6 years it couldn't possibly outsell the PS2.

Million, if it is going to last Ps2 time (6-8years) Nintendo will have time to release all the big titles again