When given the chance many “hardcore gamers” like to lament about how Nintendo’s Wii is only the top selling console in recent years due to the fact that it exploits a broader casual audience, and that it is not really a true gamer’s console (whatever that means).
While the basic sentiment is probably true in some respects, it is not an argument that should be used to discredit Nintendo, and we can’t think of any company that deserves more respect in the video game industry than the masters who brought us Mario over 20 years ago.
This decade will not be the first that Nintendo has dominated in the video games industry. The company was also responsible for the top nine selling console games between 1990 and 1999.
Top ten selling console games worldwide between 1990-1999
1. Tetris (Nintendo) Game Boy – Released Jun-89 – Sold 26.50m
2. Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (Nintendo) Game Boy – Released Feb-96 – Sold 23.50m
3. Super Mario World (Nintendo) SNES – Released Nov-90 – Sold 20.61m
4. Super Mario Brothers 3 (Nintendo) NES – Released Oct-88 –Sold 15.00m
5. Super Mario Land (Nintendo) Game Boy – Released Apr-89 – Sold 14.00m
6. Super Mario Land 2 (Nintendo) Game Boy – Released Oct-92 – Sold 11.18m
7. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo) N64 – Released Jun-96 – Sold 10.70m
8. Super Mario All Stars (Nintendo) SNES – Released Jul-93 – Sold 10.55m
9. Donkey Kong Country(Nintendo) SNES – Released Nov-94 – Sold 9.30m
10. Final Fantasy VI Square (Sony) PS1 – Released Jan-97 – Sold – 9.25m
In fairness to Sony, the PS1 only entered the race in the second half of the decade, giving Nintendo a considerable advantage over the entire decade.
Sega managed just 2 spots in the top 50, but did not even come close to the top ten despite releasing Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. Microsoft had yet to come to the console gaming party at this stage.
To view the full top 50 selling console games of the 90s visit VGChartz
Nintedo is looking to do it again this decade:
Top selling console games of this decade so far
1. Wii Sports
2. Wii Play
3. Nintendogs (DS)
4. New Super Mario Brothers
5. Wii Fit
6. GTA: San Andreas (PS2)
7. Brain Training (DS)
8. Pokemon Gold/Silver (Game Boy)
9. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (DS)
10. Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire (Game Boy Advance)
Read full top 50 at VG Chartz
While it is easy to sit back and say that Sony and Microsoft target a more niche market than Nintendo, the fact remains that sales are what drives the industry at the end of the day.
Both Sony and Microsoft have already introduced their answer to the Wii’s novel motion sensing technology in the form of Microsoft’s Natal and Sony’s motion sensor. This may be indicative of where the two manufacturers are looking to go, and we would not be surprised if their next generation consoles are aimed at Nintendo’s broader audience.
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