Wii breaks Aussie sales records

More than 30,000 Wiis scooped up in first four days since launch; becomes fastest-selling console in Australian history.

As the Wii's list of impressive global launch numbers continue to trickle in, figures just in from the Australian launch are equally impressive. According to data trackers GfK Australia, Nintendo's new console has become the fastest-selling piece of game hardware in the nation's history.

GfK stats show that Nintendo sold 32,901 Wiis in the first four days since its launch on December 7--a new record for both console and portable game units. The Wii takes the title of fastest-seller from the Xbox 360, which sold 30,421 units sold in its first four days of availability. Before the 360, Sony's PlayStation Portable was king with 27,055 units sold in the first four days. Such was the Wii's dominance in its launch week that it accounted for 43 percent of all game hardware sales in Australia.

GfK senior account manager Daniel Morse said the Wii had an attach rate of 1.5--attach rates describe the average number of games purchased per console. "New consoles generally get an attach rate of 1.5 to 2, but you have to take into account that the Wii was bundled with a game," Morse says. The Wii's bundled game--Wii Sports--was not included in the attach rate figures.

The Australian figures follow similarly impressive Wii debuts in other countries. In the US, gamers bought 600,000 Wiis in the first eight days after launch, while Japanese gamers scooped up 372,000 units in just two days. In Britain, 50,000 Wiis were sold in the console's first 12 hours of sale.

103 Comments

  • CreepyNerd90

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 6:52 am PT

    Craftsman25 is dumb, aindovin, and his friends are as well. I love the controller, it's not a gimmick, but that's not the entire reason I bought it. Twilight Princess is a great game, with great gameplay. I can't beging to figure out what "The 360 seems more serious." means. Zelda's seems to be a very good example to show that it's a serious console....it's a great game to match anything I've ever played and it has so nice and tough challenges in it and any serious gamer would like it. And whoever said something about low sales numbers considering it's the Christmas season, you have to consider what's actually available. You can't sell more units if you don't have the available to the area. Duh?

  • faridmon

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:03 pm PT

    nice, more record sales from the Wii, whata rellieve, that would shut some mouth about the Wii Will be the last chants.

  • aindovin

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:43 am PT

    Craftsman25 says:
    "Trust me, I got a feeling the Wi hype is a passing phase. Everyone I know who has one, just seems to be excited about the controller. Yet they close their curtins before they start playing. The Wi is cool, but its more of a gimic. The 360 seems more serious. Thats the impression I get anyways."

    Craftsman25, WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU?

  • SMASHgaming

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:41 am PT

    Hello mk_2, I live in the USA but if you go to http://www.nintendo.com.au and look at the top right under "Latest News" their is a link about the Virtual Console. There are 28 Virtual Console titles available in 2006. Nintendo Australia are going to update Virtual Console games every Friday - for Australia it will be at 10:00am and for New Zeleand it will be 12:00pm. Games for the Virtual Console will be downloaded using Wii Points which can be purchased online or in retail stores for around $30 for 2000 Wii Points. Virtual Console games range in price from 500 Wii Points for NES games to 800 Wii Points for Super Nintendo games and 1000 Wii Points for Nintendo 64 games. SEGA MEGA DRIVE games will be available for 800 Wii. Wii points required for titles available in 2007 may vary. Virtual Console games available now:

    Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
    F-Zero, Donkey Kong Country (Super Nintendo)
    Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong and Wario's Woods (NES)
    Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast , Golden Axe and Ecco the Dolphin (SEGA MEGADRIVE)

    Virtual Console games available from 15th December 2006:

    Urban Champion, Solomon's Keyand Pinball (NES)
    Columns, Gunstar Heroes, Ristar, Dr. Robotonik's Mean Bean Machine (SEGA MEGA DRIVE)

    Virtual Console games available from 22nd December 2006:

    Donkey Kong Jr., Soccer and Tennis (NES)
    Space Harrier II and Toe Jam & Earl (SEGA MEGA DRIVE)

    Virtual Console games available from 29th December 2006:

    SimCity, Super Probotector and Super Castlevania IV (Super Nintendo)
    Baseball and Ice Hockey (NES)

    Goodluck and have fun.

  • Chainblast

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 10:36 pm PT

    Excellent news.

    For a variety of reasons (mostly concerned with system allocation numbers) the PS3 will not surpass the Wii's launch sales numbers. Over the long haul I still believe the Wii will remain the number one console system in sales. The reason is I see a large number of future PS3 owners as owning a Wii also, while many current and future X360 owners will likely do the same. I think moving forward we will begin to see the Wii take-off in sales and popularity much like the DS has. That's not to say either the X360 or PS3 aren't, or won't continue to be, excellent systems, the Wii will simple attracted just about everyone for a variety of reasons. I don't think the X360 or PS3 have, or will have, the same breadth of appeal as the Wii does.

  • mk_2

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:41 pm PT

    For anybody who already bought Wii, may I ask if downloadable games for virtual console already available in Australia? and, if yes, how much in Aussie $ do you have to pay for those Wii points?

  • aashkii

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 12:59 pm PT

    Wii will conquer the world.....

  • aarow82

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 10:58 am PT

    No way will the ps3 break that record or even the previous record held by the 360.

  • Theman3788

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:57 am PT

    Paul_TheGreat
    The PS3 will break that record.

    There wont be enough systems! Its not possible...

  • styphin

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:56 am PT

    Paul_TheGreat wrote:
    The PS3 will break that record.

    What? If it was going to break that record it would have already.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:22 am PT

    The PS3 will break that record.

  • Muzykmann

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 8:07 am PT

    "Though, this Wii begs one question - why the hell is it so technically inferior to the Xbox 360 when Microsoft is now making profits on their newer Xbox units sold?!? Yes, think about it... "

    I tried to wrap my head around what you were trying to get at for a good 30 seconds, and still have no idea what you're saying. I'm not even gonna delve into "technical superiority", but regardless, what does profit have to do with graphics? Seriously, profit is based on production costs and sales price, it has nothing to DO with graphics in ANY sense.

    And, just as a sidenote, Ninty was the only one to put out a console that INITIALLY turned a profit, S&M (can I coin that term here? you guys gonna follow me?) both lost money in the early days.

    There's something to be said for Value. That is, the amount of enjoyment you get for every dollar you invest into a system. Nobody is arguing that any of the systems aren't fun. But for my $$, Wii wii wii all the way home.

  • ganondorf_002

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:55 am PT

    WTF.................Wii FTW!!!! YEAH!!!

  • imbacon

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:20 am PT

    "Wait for the ps3 in australia and you'll see a new world record.HEHEHEHE"
    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    Poor deluded fanboy!

  • Konfusion

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:03 am PT

    It's looking too good to just be a "well, it's because the PlayStation 3 can't be found" situation. Nintendo's got it on, all that's left now is for 3rd parties to stop shakin' in their boots and make games.

  • spacemonkey

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:01 am PT

    Wii is probably now the fastest selling console world wide ever. 1.5 million units in 3 weeks. That is tremendous no matter how you look at it.

  • spacemonkey

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:00 am PT

    ObiKKa: What they are comparing is launch numbers. If either the 360 or the Wii had more units available during launch they would have sold more. The numbers have NOTHING to do with Christmas. "Such was the Wii's dominance in its launch week that it accounted for 43 percent of all game hardware sales in Australia." The Wii outsold every other system out there by a long shot. Launches will sell out unless the companies do something incredibly wrong. Its just the way it is. The Wii had more units available at launch in the AU than any other system before it.

  • asammw345

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:54 am PT

    30,000 is a big number when you bear in mind that australia's population is only just over 20,000,000 where as the UK has a population of 58,000,000

  • her0carn

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:44 am PT

    360 isnt that much interesting in aus their still is no Australian sporting games on it yet that are worth buying to enlighten my older generation parents / brothers & friends. SO we got a wii

  • snake158

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:32 am PT

    And where is the PS3?


    umm... how about it isnt out in australia yet?

    we get the euro launch date...

  • snake158

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:29 am PT

    And where is the PS3?


    umm... how about it isnt out in australia yet?

    we get the euro launch date...

  • chiefmegadeth

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:41 am PT

    As much as i love ya Nintendo,Without next gen graphics and games im sticking with my 360.
    Might pick one up later next year,see what happens

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:18 am PT

    And where is the PS3?

    Go, Wii60!!

  • truelove79

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:12 am PT

    With the DS and the Wii, i'd say The Big N is back in the game. Not only are they back in the game, they've got a good chance of winning it.

  • Pastehunter

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:59 am PT

    Good for Nintendo No , dont get me wrong , Im still a PS fan , just that Nintendo needed this to stay on the market

  • Frankazami

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:53 am PT

    Fastest doesn't mean crap though, what matters is how much marketshare/mindshare does it capture compared to the other consoles.

  • Twinathon

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:47 am PT

    My shop sold out in like three hours. Propably wat u get for livin Down Under.

  • redfield_137

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:35 am PT

    Wiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • Willy105

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:34 am PT

    It's officialy 360 vs. Wii, not the 360 vs. PS3 people thought last year.

  • iMuffins

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:51 am PT

    Cool.

  • faizali86

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:15 am PT

    too bad aussie gamers didnt have any event for australias fastest selling console

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:12 am PT

    Good for Nintendo. Unlike 99% of you, this, in my eyes, has made the Xbox 360 more powerfully impressive!

    Why?

    Because, this is the Christmas holiday where sales usually picks up maybe 4X more than any other times of a given year. Yet, Nintendo was only able to sell ~2500 more Wii units than the units of the Xbox 360, which initially retailed in Australia in March, & the fact that the Xbox 360 costs approx. AUS$200 more than the Wii!

    Of course, sure, I'll buy the Wii one day, but the Xbox 360 is too great to ignore & it & its game lineup appeals to the frequent gamers much more than the Wii does.

    Though, this Wii begs one question - why the hell is it so technically inferior to the Xbox 360 when Microsoft is now making profits on their newer Xbox units sold?!? Yes, think about it...

  • Exode_216

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:10 am PT

    I wonder then if the ps3 will become the least selling console in Australian history.

  • jofy

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:34 am PT

    Wait for the ps3 in australia and you'll see a new world record.HEHEHEHE

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:17 am PT

    Good for Nintendo!

  • azizrulez

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:16 am PT

    i sure am impressed with these numbers

  • SpareJesus

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:49 am PT

    Wow, and here everyone thought the 360 was the biggest news in Australia..

    And agreed, for those nay-sayers commenting all that "We'll see after all the hype" and "that's everyone who wanted it" rubbish..

    Isn't that what they also said about the PSP? But, we know what's happening there, don't we?

    Kholdstare_fire: Even if that is true (which I severely doubt), Wii software is still selling better than PS3 software, which, if you'll remember, sold at less than 1:1 per console. At least most Nintendo fans chose between TP, RS and WP at launch.

  • TheWhippet

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:24 am PT

    Yay us! Heh heh...

  • vivi_orniter52

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:15 am PT

    We're a continent full of casual gamers (we're all too laidback to be hardcore gamers) and the marketing campaign for consoles is abysmal here. I have only seen one ad for the Wii on TV, and even that was only a couple of seconds.
    i guess sales of consoles will pick up in the next few weeks (pre/post xmas sales)

  • Death2009

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 12:36 am PT

    Too bad Australia is a small market. No offence meant, but it is. judge__judy you are 110% right, we will have a better idea next year around christmas.

  • Dolacide

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 12:33 am PT

    Wow, if Wii sales keep going strong, they could be in a really comfortable position.

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 12:24 am PT

    As soon as it cools down...haha, sure. Right about when the DS cools down, maybe? Or maybe when the PSP becomes the hot ticket item of the game world?

  • galerian86

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 11:50 pm PT

    kenesu96, the news just said it breaks the sales record lol

  • judge__judy

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 11:41 pm PT

    As soon as it cools down, we can see whos really winning.

  • kenesu96

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 11:34 pm PT

    so is 30,000 a little or alot in australia?

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 11:28 pm PT

    No suprises there. Nintendo is gradually conquering the gaming world once more.

  • Black_Knight77

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 11:12 pm PT

    It's going great for Nintendo's Wii. Good for them.

  • Doolum

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 10:58 pm PT

    good news

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 10:43 pm PT

    Looks like the gamer market there is growing.

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