Nintendo Wii game console outsells Sony PS3

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Nintendo Wii game console outsells Sony PS3

 

Competition in the video game console market is heating up ahead of Christmas. Nintendo’s new Wii console sold out at many major Japanese electronics retailers on its launch day on December first. The player is seen as a viable competitor to Sony Corporation’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. Nintendo is the last of the makers to launch its new product. Sony had a much-troubled launch in November. After months of delays due to technical difficulties, the electronics giant could not produce anywhere near enough PS3 units to satisfy demand. This frustrated and angered many fans, especially in Japan, where sales of the product were made by lottery. Even worse for European fans, who have to wait until March 2007 for the console to reach store shelves.

Like the PS3, the new and oddly-named Wii sold like hotcakes. Japan’s largest electronics store, Yodobashi Camera, opened its doors at 7 a.m. – two-and-a-half hours early - to cope with the demand. However, at 8 a.m. it had sold out of Wii units. One satisfied enthusiast, Tomokazu Nakajima, said: “I'd waited outside the store since 6:30 p.m.” He added: “The Wii is amazing fun, while the PS3 is too expensive.'' His sentiments sum up Nintendo’s game plan in capturing a significant part of the games console market. Rather than opt for expensive graphics, Nintendo has gone for easy-to-learn games with a wireless, palm-sized motion sensor that is brandished like a sword or tennis racket. Nintendo expects to sell four million units worldwide by Dec. 31, compared with Sony's target of two million PlayStation 3’s.

 

Vocabulary

 

1. heat up - make more intense

2. video game console - video game console is an interactive entertainment computer

3. retailer - a person, shop or business that sells goods to the public

4. viable - able to work as intended or able to succeed

5. cope - to deal successfully with a difficult situation

6. enthusiast - a person who is very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity

7. opt - to make a choice, especially for one thing or possibility in preference to any others

8. brandish- to wave something in the air in a threatening or excited way

 

Questions: 

1. What was the first computer game you played?
2. What computer games do you and your friends play?
3. What do you think about game consoles? Have you ever played with the Playstation or Xbox? If yes, what do you think about them?
4. How do video game consoles compare with online games?
5. Would you be interested in trying out Nintendo's Wii? Why or why not?
6. Why do you think Sony launched their PlayStation 3 console in stages rather than a worldwide launch on the same day?
7. Do you think that computer graphics are getting better?
8. If you could create a video game what would it be about?
9. How do you see computer games developing in the future? 

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