Wii Leaps Over N64 To Become Fifth Best Selling Console Of All Time

[otaku]

I'm not sure it can beat the PS2 but it may get 2 or more likely 3rd? Crazy that the N64 was in the top five.

[Fuyukaze]

Dont know, dont care if it'll outsell the PS1 or the PS2 but the Wii is tearing the 360 and PS3 each a new one so far It doesnt have to be the best selling of all time to win this generation's war.

N64 was a system I did not love by any means. It had potential but I always felt it was weak even compared to previous sytems released by Nintendo. Coming off the SNES, I wanted RPGs, Strategy games, and shooters. May as well have gotten a Genesis. It had a horrid RPG/Strat liabrary and while there were games from those genres as well as shooters, some of the best games from all three were left in Japan. The controler always felt retarded with some of the control options not even being used, or when used, done so in such a poor maner as to be useless. I wanted to like the system originaly but I'm glad I waited to get one till the system was long dead. I still feel I missed nothing.

[Lothars]

I'm not sure it can beat the PS2 but it may get 2 or more likely 3rd? Crazy that the N64 was in the top five.

I don't see the Wii passing the Playstation 1 or 2, Heck I don't want it to beat the Snes in sales especially since the wii doesn't hold a candle to the snes or the nes.

[Mayhem]

The Wii won't beat either Playstation for one particular reason: it isn't breaking down often enough that people are just buying new ones to replace them...

[Tempest]

I think the N64 was a great console at the time (I was into PC's by that point so I never owned one), but it hasn't aged well. I finally got my hands on a N64 a few years ago, played the three or four games I wanted to play (Conker, Castlevania, Zelda, etc.) and then promptly traded it for a bunch of CoCo stuff (crap for crap I guess).

I doubt the Wii will ever pass the PS2. The PS2 just has so much longevity, they're STILL making amazing games for it!

Tempest

[chrisbid]

if the wii is ever going to pass the psx and ps2, nintendo will have to cut quality control and allow more wiis to break just after the warranty expires

[SegaAges]

The n64 didn't suck, but it is no DC.

The Wii, unless they plan on keeping it out for, what, around 9 or 10 years like the ps2, then there is no way.

BTW, I personally am asking because I want to know that answer (hence the question):
How long was the n64 out for in its "prime"?

I just want a comparison for myself so I can see which 1 has been out with a bigger good streak longer and stuff.

[rbudrick]

I don't see the Wii passing the Playstation 1 or 2, Heck I don't want it to beat the Snes in sales especially since the wii doesn't hold a candle to the snes or the nes.

Hmmm, you mean besides it being able to play those games too?

-Rob

[scooterb23]

The N64 did not suck!!

Only the controller, the fact you had to buy an extra expansion cart, $60-70 carts, and most of the games did!!!!

Hmmm...I may have to rethink my original statement up there...

I'm just shocked that the N64 was actually the 5th best selling console...seriously? The mind boggles.

[Quintracker]

if the wii is ever going to pass the psx and ps2, nintendo will have to cut quality control and allow more wiis to break just after the warranty expires

Agreed.

[Rob2600]

The Wii won't beat either Playstation for one particular reason: it isn't breaking down often enough that people are just buying new ones to replace them...

if the wii is ever going to pass the psx and ps2, nintendo will have to cut quality control and allow more wiis to break just after the warranty expires

Good point.

I think the Wii might outsell the NES though. It's already more than halfway there and it's only been 23 months.

How long was the n64 out for in its "prime"?

Four-and-a-half years...late 1996 (Super Mario 64) to early 2001 (Conker's Bad Fur Day).

The last N64 game was released in August 2002 (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3), but almost everyone had moved on to either the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube by then.

[Trebuken]

I'm not crazy about the N64, though I consider Mario 64 to be about the best game of all time, and recognize many other good titles. I believe the Wii's game library has not surpassed the N64's yet, which is surprising considering the bloatware.

Ultimately N64 > Wii...so far.

[Richter Belmount]

Well I would say that the Nintendo 64 wasn't exactly the console that won alot of gamers hearts back during its console era. People used to compare the Nintendo 64 to the PlayStation all the time , causing some people to be indifferent to Nintendo 64. Looking back in retrospect on the console , I can agree that the console does have a quality library and its actually a great system to go back and collect for.

Anyways enough on the Nintendo 64 from me. Its good to see Nintendo doing so well with the Wii. However I don't think that it will match the number of units that the Playstation 2 has sold over its lifetime (mind you it still continues). People will still be buying Playstation 2 for its large library of games and some of its new releases.

[Nesmaster]

I grew up on the NES and SNES, but the N64 came out around what I believe was the "prime" of my childhood at 8 years old. Being old enough to see and appreciate the jump from 2D to 3D gaming blew my mind... and being a Nintendo kid I was going to have that machine the first christmas available...

But before I get into a large, long-winded post of nostalgia, I'll just sum it up by saying that even though I grew up on the NES and SNES, I went through the better part of my later child years playing the N64, which in turn means it's probably still my #1 most played console. In some eyes this might be the "weakest" existing Nintendo console (VB notwithstanding), but it has its share of must play games, and some of my favorite games of all time are on the system... Goldeneye, Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, Zelda OoT, Mario Kart 64 to name a few. I grew up on MK64... none of this Super Mario Kart in this household!

For me, I'd probably personally put the N64 as my #2 console behind the NES, SNES being #3.

Who knows, when the PS3 and 360 become "classic" I may have a new #3, but it'll be damn hard for anything to replace my top two!

[SegaAges]

Good point.

I think the Wii might outsell the NES though. It's already more than halfway there and it's only been 23 months.



Four-and-a-half years...late 1996 (Super Mario 64) to early 2001 (Conker's Bad Fur Day).

The last N64 game was released in August 2002 (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3), but almost everyone had moved on to either the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube by then.

Wow, four and a half years, and the Wii is, what, about 2 or 3 years. That is pretty cool, and means that the Wii will only move up in the ladder.

[josekortez]

The Wii won't beat either Playstation for one particular reason: it isn't breaking down often enough that people are just buying new ones to replace them...

?

(josekortez looks at a shoulder bag in the corner of his bedroom containing a dead Wii console that succumbed to the infamous Smash Bros. Brawl glitch)

[Emuaust]

Never liked the N64, got a big collection of games for it, but Blurry64 and sucky ass controller make it without a doubt the weakest console of its generation, PSX and Saturn, to me where vastly superior.


Regarding the Wii though I really hope for gamings sake it doesnt pass the PS2, I mean come on,
honestly can you tell me you want the Wii and its shitastic software libary to surpase some
of gamings greatest moments? same goes for the SNES.

[The 1 2 P]

Wow, four and a half years, and the Wii is, what, about 2 or 3 years. That is pretty cool, and means that the Wii will only move up in the ladder.

The Wii will hit it's 2 year anniversary later this month. So it surpassed the N64(a console that had been out for over 4 years) in less than 2 years time. It will absolutely pass the Snes and Nes as well(and I'll be the one writing those stories too). As for The PS2 and PS1, thats a completely different story.

[Hep038]

It has to have the lowest games per console ratio than any of the systems it has surpassed. I also wonder how many people had to re-buy NES machines because of the blinking problem, I bought 3 until I got a top loader and never bought another one.