Wii Would Like to Play Kick the PS3

The Nintendo Wii, a shockingly amusing game console even for an Xbox 360 and PC geek like me, outsold the Sony Playstation 3 three-times over in both Japan and the U.S. last year. It's not hard to believe. I don't own one, but I've played it plenty.

For example, for Thanksgiving this year I didn't have time to fly home and be with my family. Instead, a friend from school out here invited me to dinner at her parents' house, which turned out to be a Chinese-Japanese themed feast attended by thirty people. After we finished off the rice stuffing and fried wontons, I was confused when they started pushing back the furniture. Then, out came the Wii and the four little wireless controllers. From the children to the grandparents, everyone played the sports game.

That wasn't my first time with the Wii. I was equally surprised last year when at a party of young lawyers and MBAs, the Wii karaoke game made an appearance. Even my parents have asked what I think about buying one. Which is why this statement from Sony's U.S. chief, bless his heart, is so sad:

"The PlayStation brand ended the year in a very strong position and clearly indicates more positive momentum going into 2008," Jack Tretton, head of Sony Computer Entertainment in the US, said in a statement.

When you're in last place, the only direction you can go is up. Tretton should take heart, however. I suspect that PS3 will benefit from WB's recent decision to switch exclusively to the Bluray format.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 01:33 PM

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