I would like to point out a few things...

First - faster selling consoles have a harder time keeping their attach rates up, because people usually buy one game with the machine that they play for a while. Casuals are worse, because they play fewer games, or take longer to finish a game, and thus take longer to buy another game. The Wii probably makes this even worse because it comes bundled with a game, and then adds another game (WiiPlay) for cheap (and I was talking with some people today at work, and one of them loves the cow racing on WiiPlay... lol). Thus, the fact that the Wii can still maintain an decent attach rate shows that it can sell software... which moves to the second point...

People buy the Wii for games... because the Wii doesn't do anything but games. Yes, you can check the weather, get some emails, vote on some unimportant questions... but no one would pay $250 to do any of those, since most have a computer that does it 100x better anyway.

The PS3 and 360 are both marketed as more than just a gaming device. We all know Sony wanted the blu-ray to win, and Microsoft has wanted to invade the living room for years. Their consoles were for that - gaming was just a means to an end. The Wii is not only simply about games, that's all it really is meant for, with a few added additions (none of which are marketed), while Nintendo really is the only company that cares about the gaming industry, since they rely on it for >90% of their sales.

Sony and Microsoft would drop the market if they didn't see any reason for it. Hint - the living market (streaming videos, digital distribution, etc) and blu-ray penetration are worth way more to Microsoft and Sony than the gaming division (you can tell by their willingness to lose money, no company would do that from the goodness of their hearts.

Think about that the next time you (or anyone) say that "Nintendo is destroying the industry."

Also, I'm not sure if the week after Christmas will show increased sales for the consoles, can't check last years because my internet is too darn slow. I think the PS3 will be close, but won't reach 20 million until the first full week of 2009.

Back on topic - Will the DS ever stop selling?

gol i hate any argument or talking of attach rates. It is so dumb.

Heck the gamecube probaly had amazing attach rates going for some of its games becuase guess what "there weren't that many systems out there"

If the PS2 has some 120 or whatever systems and sells 10 million in one game, the attach rate is 1:12. Wow that is shitty eh. and now take xbox and a 10 million game and attach rate is 1:3. Guess the xbox is the best huh, all developers rush to that system.

Also the faster a system sells the worse an attach rate. Look at even yourself. how many games did you have for your system when you first bought it, and now 1-2 years later. How many games do you have. I had like 3 at the start, and now have like 12. Give it time. Now ever new Wii owner is buying 12 games right away.

I bet you can recite these talking points in your sleep.

I wouldn't say nintendo is destroying hardcore gaming.  I would say hardcore gamers and reviewers are destroying hardcore games.

The reviewers because of their high ass standareds for games and being picky on things and then their score.  Does their score hurt the so called casual games, hell no.  Because those poeple don't look at the reviews but buy a game on a "fun looking commercial" or "fun looking game cover and back"  While the hardcore players take reviews seriously and if bad at best will just RENT the game.  And the hardcore gamers keep demanding more and more out of each game in visuals, ai, physics ect that all continue to rack up the developement costs.  And then the company doesn't make its money back through sales and end of that company.

If it weren't for the companies casual titles selling and making them profit they would be gonners long time ago.  Heck it was the same with the PS2 even.  There were a shit ton of casual games making companies tons of money.  The hardcore game just didn't cost as much back then on the PS2 to make so you saw more and quicker, plus if bombed it didn't hurt the company as bad.

So Don't Blame Nintendo, BLAME YOURSELF

Dude, this is SO going to boomerang and bite you in the butt.

A friend of mine (Sony fanboy) has always been talking **** about Nintendo (and PC games). It all started back in 1996. He actually trashed his big brother's N64! lol A few years later he laughed at the GameCube. He said that Nintendo would eventually go out of business. Edit: Wait a sec.. Could he be trolling me (?!)
Nevertheless This Christmas I'll be printing out the Wii and PS3 salesnumbers (wrapping paper)

Merry Christmas :D

Awesome, well-thought out post. I totally agree. Talked to a couple Wii owners and they said the same exact thing. Most play WiiSports, WiiPlay and WiiFit. That's it. They aren't interested in buying more games ATM. That is why the argument '3rd parties should make the Wii the lead platform' is insane. I have been saying this - and just want a simple answer. What's the demographic breakdown on Wii owners? It's gotten much more press than the rest of the consoles, offers a new - for most folks - way to control a game - and isn't hard to learn. It's a cool device that plays games in a unique way.

Shoot, I was showing off the Wii on Sunday to my son's friend's mom and dad. They were like 'We've heard about it and think it's awesome.'

It's an argument for another day, I guess.

my sister loves chocalate ice cream and I think it tastes like crap. However, there are a lot of other people like chocalate ice cream. I don't go around and tell people they have bad taste cause they like chocalate ice cream and I don't. They can have their preferences and I would have mine.

In the long run I think the Wii's success will be good for "hardcore gaming" (whatever that is). The Wii is bringing lots of new gamers to the industry, some of which will turn "hardcore". Those gamers will help support the types of games "the hardcore" love.

Kids, go play outside in the traffic