This.

NSMBWii is not a spin off.. and it will outsell Mario Galaxy. Things like Mario Strikers and Mario Sluggers are spin offs and they will sell far less than NSMBWii.

This is the first 2D console Mario platformer in 18 years.

It will grab even more lapsed gamers and new gamers and young gamers (some of whom may have played the DS version of this game).

It -- along with the price drop, holiday season, and other games coming out -- will help the Wii boost its sales for the next 6-12 months.

What is amazing is that the Wii sold at roughly the same level as the PS2 for almost three years (a) without a price drop, (b) with stronger competition, with less third-party support, (d) with lukewarm critical reception, and (e) during the worst global economic times since WW II.

I doubt the Wii will ever get back to those halcyon days where it sold as soon as it was unloaded. But it could easily recapture a 50% market share on a weekly basis once all of the price drops and software work their way through the system.

Mike from Morgantown

Unlike WiiFit, which is still selling hardware, there is enough similarly good software for the Wii to be selling. If this would have came out 2 years ago it would significantly help sell hardware. Most of those that are interested in this game, and would buy a Wii because of it, already have a Wii.

The fact that it is launching in November will have more of an impact on hardware sales then the game.

@OP:
Don't almost all die hard Mario fan own a Wii yet?
Being a big and long waited game, it could help attracting some new users still undecided, but I expect more from price cut.
I can be wrong, anyway, despite liking the first Mario games in the 80's, I never managed to understand the complex, twisted Mario fans' psyche.

A lot of people have to understand that every multi-million seller has a good shot to sell hardware. In the worst case NSMBW will sell just 10m: out of those how many will be Wii owners? even if they are 95% still there'll be 500k more Wii pushed by this game. Probably this is the worst case it could end being.

Wow. NSMBW went from being a port to being a spin-off in this thread - that's crazy talk. I guess it makes sense when you notice what fanboy faction they belong to though.

Anyways, NSMBW will be a system seller and will sell 10million relatively quickly. Don't know why this is even up for discussion.

A 2D Mario game hasn't sold well on a home console since the SNES. Multiplayer isn't going to help.

What? You're telling me they haven't had one since then? Maybe there's a reason for that... maybe.

New Super Mario Bros Wii should easily outsold Super Mario Galaxy in less than a year. As much as I like SMG, it is a gamer's game. Movement in complex 3D environment is not easy, especially with an unusual gravity field. Most casual gamers will be confused by the deep SMG gameplay and will not take the one hour needed to adapt to it. However, gameplay in NSMBW is easy enough to be immediately picked up and casuals will enjoy playing it.

I don't know if many people will buy the system for this game. I think buying a system for a specific game is a hardcore gamer thing. Still, it will improve the Wii's portfolio and help keep the sales' momentum.

This is a stupid question

of course it will sell consoles