Nintendo Wii sets US sales record

by David Hinkle

According to the latest NPD figures, the Wii has done more than introduce gaming to your grandma, as the console has managed to reach the 20 million mark in just 31 months on the market, MCV reports. That makes it the fastest-selling console in US history.

Following Nintendo's announcements for New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Fit Plus, we wonder if the console will ever run out of steam. Considering how well it continues to sell in this region, despite the poor economy, we doubt it will any time soon.

Go Wii! Go!

How long did it take PS2 to get 20mil?

Only problem for the Wii in surpassing the PS2 eventually is that the PS2 is STILL selling quite well, for such an old system. I love the Wii to death, but I don't see how it'll continue selling well in years 7,8, and 9.

Yes Go Go Goooo!! Wiiiiii

I Believe the Wii will beat the PS2 in  2012 fall if there will be  a cut price for the wii in the 2011 fall and of course it depends on what software will drive the two years 2011 & 2012 this is my own opinion but about the Wii lifetime sales in the US fore sure it will beat the PS2 thid id inevitable no doubt I'm sure of it I bet anything for that LOL.

hope you're right Aidman, but I seriously have my doubts about the Wii selling in it's twilight years. It also depends whether Nintendo tweaks their hardware like Sony did with the PS2. They released numerous versions of the PS2, and to my knowledge Nintendo hasn't changed their SKU yet. If we get a "WiiPlus" system in say 2010 or 2011, then yes they pass PS2 with flying colors.

Quite a feat. And with the lineup for the rest of year, it should continue to do well even with gaming having some issues.

That doesn't seem very logical. If the Wii has managed to sell faster than the PS2 without yet redesigning the console, why is that a reason for pessimism? If anything, it makes the feat (slightly) more impressive.

I was trying to take into account that the PS2 was much more caparable to its competition in hardware power than the Wii is compared to its current competition.  When I played my gamecube regularly, it was always apparent that the system was an afterthought for many developers, but at least the GC was a fairly powerful system, especially given it's price.  I love my Wii to death, but it's been apparent from the get-go that it's an underpowered system, and hence my theory is that it needs a bigger SKU overhaul on an earlier timeline than the PS2 received.