Wii go nuts in Japan.

Mike Bantick
Saturday, 02 December 2006 10:02

Your IT - Entertainment

As predicted, Nintendos little box that can, the Wii, has sold out on launch day in Japan.  Pretty much a easy win on home soil, but the numbers are still impressive.  One Million Wiis in homes.

Nintendo has launched the revolutionary Wii on a chilly morning in Japan, with many hardy souls who waited in line, now able to warm up by jumping around their living rooms waving the Wii-mote.

400,000 units shipped, 400,000 units now in the homes of happy Japanese citizens, or at least until they get sold again on eBay.  Some retailers reporting their stock sold after only an hours trading.

This compares with around 100,000 that Sony were able to bring to launch for the PS3 - Still both Sony and Microsoft (who produce the Xbox 360) acknowledge the attraction of the Wii, stating that it would make a fine "second" console in the home next to their own respective units.

Along with the 600,000 units sold in the U.S, this puts the Wii over the Million sold mark in just on two weeks. 

With a very strong line up of launch games, featuring quality and variety, an intriguing control system and a simple online interface, Nintendo is playing the substance over style and power card in this console war.

Launch titles that will be heating up the Northern winter include, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Already in the US seemingly Zelda has gone home with each Wii purchaser.  There is also the hardcore experience of Call of Duty 3, Red Steel and Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Whacky inclusions like Rayman Raving Rabbids and SpongeBob will be competing for Wii time with the "in the box" Wii Sports.

Here in Australia we must wait another five days until December 7th to get ownership of the exhilarating gaming platform. Please Japan, leave some for us.