These sales are unprecedented for the industry. To sell 660,000 consoles in one week that is most definitely not the normal sales trends for consoles. The conclusion we should reach is that the Wii isn't selling so much as a console as it is selling as a toy. Which does seem in line with Nintendo's advertising. They depict the console as being a focus for families. A tool for personal fitness, or a safe harbor from violent gaming.

These sales are reflecting what Nintendo has said all along. The Nintendo Wii is being marketed to more then gamers. The Wii is a low end console with a high end external market penetration outside of the core market. Before you go crazy I am not attacking Nintendo's strategy. Sony and Microsoft have also tried to market outside of core gaming. Sony did a decent job by incorporating movie playing into their platforms. Microsoft has tried to capture the online gaming from the PC.

We should just be aware we are no longer comparing apples to apples. Many in the United States are getting their income tax checks, and their economic stimulus checks. So the sales of the Wii should increase, because it is basically marketed to everyone except for hardcore gamers. You have a family pick up what amounts to the overpriced board game for family night. Want something to do with your six year old pick up a Wii. Want to get in shape and have fun. The Wii is a physical fitness tool.

The sales should tell you that the Wii has completely moved outside of the traditional market, and the sales of the PS3/360 should tell you that the traditional market is still strong.

How much sales does GTA4 need to break even? I've read somewhere that just the dev budget was at $100M. No, I'm not implying that they won't get their money back...

I feel dumber after reading this thread.

Nintendo wanted to squash any articles about HD gaming scoring a big "victory" over Wii. They are going to have the 3-5 spots in the NPDs (Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Wii Play).

The post-NPD articles are going to be titled "Gaming continues record sales year driven by Grand Theft Auto and Mario Kart" or even "Games market soars with record Wii and Grand Theft Auto sales."

That's why they wanted a million-selling launch and record hardware sales. They aren't going to kill GTA's press, but if they still win the press battle during HD gaming's biggest moment, that's a victory.

Seriously threads like these should be closed asap.

They offer no insight.

The OP sounds like a child in his post.

It's is pretty surprising MK did well in the first week, because this type of game doesn't usually have huge first week sales. It will continue to chug along for a long time, probably pick up for the holidays, then continue chugging along. It's the kind of title that can float in and out of the top 20 chart for years.

 Good Point. And in the end (Considering how expensive it was to develop GTA and market the game), Mario Kart Wii will more than likely be more profitable than GTA (Not revenue, but PROFIT which is always more important than revenue).

Let's not forget that MKWii has had higher launch sales than any MK before it so its legs will be incredible.

 You know, just last week I was complementing saying you were actually the voice of reason in some thread (forget which one) and people had said you had changed for the better.  Funny thing was I looked through your post history and actually believed them!  Guess that's all out the window.

Anyways!  A game selling more than a million copies on opening day isn't being whipped; that's a success no matter how you look at it.  Sure, the currently highest rate and one of the most hyped games of all time (since we can count news coverage) beat it that doesn't change the fact it did amazing against that.  The fact it actually did so well against such a big hitter is nothing short of amazing. 

As for GTAIV hype, I don't see how that is a loss.  When has any Wii game had a huge hype?  Even SSBB and Super Mario Galaxy didn't have huge hype.  I don't remember the last time I saw ads for a Nintendo game plastered everywhere with TV spots every commercial brake.  Nintendo han't been really big on the hype machine for a very long time.

I fail to see why Take 2 should be concerned about WiiFit sales...2 very different products that I can´t see canibalizing each other´s sales...and if they do,I imagine it´d be by a small margin.

Also, Nintendo is already making so much money, they don´t 'need' GTA...they have the luxury of making money on every system sold and since their 1st party titles seem to be doing better than the ones on the GC..yeah,it´d be a nice addition for them to have a GTA on their system,but it´d be just a bonus.

@Jgarret: It will affect Take 2 by stealing it's press... what else is there to say?