# PS3/XBox or Wii?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [April 12, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841 "2009-04-12T14:21:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/41 "2009-04-14T20:39:16Z")
> [@Munch](#):
>
> But I tell ya - I wish I would have popped for the 60gb version that plays PS2 games.
Yeah. I wanted to get a PS3 with backwards emulation so last year when Gamestop had a couple of the Metal Gear Solid bundles selling with the 80 gig with backward emulation selling at the same price as the new 80 gigger who lacks that and a couple of other things I jumped at it.
I do have a pie in the sky idea that Sony is going to integrate software backwards emulation at some point in the future. Maybe not, though.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/42 "2009-04-14T20:41:03Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#):
>
> The Wii, despite the continued chord of puckering asses, is not for gamers. A few gems aside, its game selection consists of shitty ports, the aforementioned “shovelware,” and gimmicky accessories that I’m sure are fantastic fun but don’t really do it for me.
Jesus Christ, I ask again, is this fucking necessary?
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### Author:  [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/43 "2009-04-14T20:45:15Z")
I think everyone above me has made all the important points for and against the various consoles. I just want to say that I have had both a PS3 and a Wii since they were launched and most days the Wii sits there looking sad and lonely while the PS3 gets used almost daily.
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### Author:  [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/44 "2009-04-14T20:48:46Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> Jesus Christ, I ask again, is this fucking necessary?
When one is asking for opinions on the major consoles? Certainly.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/45 "2009-04-14T20:57:58Z")
Also, if you’re just looking for data points and scoring, I’ve got a 360 and play it pretty much daily and would happily pay double for Xbox Live. I also have a Wii, but it sees a lot, lot, lot less play.
Even my girlfriend, who’s pretty much been a Nintendo person her whole life rarely plays the Wii. We started playing it again recently for Rayman’s Raving Rabbids TV Party, though.
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### Author:  [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/46 "2009-04-14T21:07:49Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#):
>
> The Wii, despite the continued chord of puckering asses, is not for gamers. A few gems aside, its game selection consists of shitty ports, the aforementioned “shovelware,” and gimmicky accessories that I’m sure are fantastic fun but don’t really do it for me.
Cause you know if there’s one thing gamers just can’t stand, it’s having fantastic fun.
Just posting to say that in a couple months, Nintendo is releasing improved motion controls that allow direct 1:1 movement with the onscreen characters. It’s coming with a game called Wii Resort which features throwing frisbees for dogs to catch and Kendo-style swordfighting.
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### Author:  [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/47 "2009-04-14T21:15:41Z")
> [@HookerChemical](#):
>
> Following up on Munch, there are better incentives for the PS3 right now. I bought one at Gamestop, where I got a $50 gift card, which I used to purchase my first game. Best Buy was offering a free controller, which is about $50.
To me, this screams “We are desperate to get rid of these things”. And as for the price difference, I’ll grant that the wireless adaptor for the 360 is stupid, but $20 for a battery pack? Or I could use the same rechargable batteries I use for everything else in my house that cost $10 for 4 and not have to worry about cabling my controller up to charge it.
In terms of lineup, the only significant differentiators between the systems are that the 360 has more RPGs (baffling) and, well, XBLA seems to have many nicer offerings the Sony equivalent right now.
Bluray has zero value for me at this time, and is likely to have zero value for me going forward, so it wasn’t really a factor.
Anyway, yeah. The Wii. Several friends have them. They’re fun to play for short periods, but honestly, the majority of the games for it do nothing for me, so it wasn’t really a consideration.
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### Author:  [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/48 "2009-04-14T21:19:02Z")
> [@Merneith](#):
>
> Cause you know if there’s one thing gamers just can’t stand, it’s having fantastic fun.
>
> Just posting to say that in a couple months, Nintendo is releasing improved motion controls that allow direct 1:1 movement with the onscreen characters. It’s coming with a game called Wii Resort which features throwing frisbees for dogs to catch and Kendo-style swordfighting.
But…but…but…it doesn’t have blood and zombies and death squads and blood and car explosions and more blood and real-time networked virtual butt-spanking with my buddies! It’s not for REAL gamers! 😛
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### Author:  [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/49 "2009-04-14T22:03:10Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> But…but…but…it doesn’t have blood and zombies and death squads and blood and car explosions and more blood and real-time networked virtual butt-spanking with my buddies! It’s not for REAL gamers! 😛
Sounds about right, yup. Why does it piss you guys off so much?
That the Wii isn’t for ‘real gamers’ is precisely why it does so well.
ETA: That 1:1 relationship will be a profound improvement, the wishy-washy precision about the Wii drove me crazy.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/50 "2009-04-14T22:28:15Z")
> [@Merneith](#):
>
> Cause you know if there’s one thing gamers just can’t stand, it’s having fantastic fun.
>
> Just posting to say that in a couple months, Nintendo is releasing improved motion controls that allow direct 1:1 movement with the onscreen characters. It’s coming with a game called Wii Resort which features throwing frisbees for dogs to catch and Kendo-style swordfighting.
Fuck dogs and frisbees and Kendo swords. Give me Tiger Woods golf.
It had better have a lot of courses on it, though, or else I’m going to be a very disappointed panda.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/51 "2009-04-14T22:29:23Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#):
>
> Sounds about right, yup. Why does it piss you guys off so much?
>
> That the Wii isn’t for ‘real gamers’ is precisely why it does so well.
>
> ETA: That 1:1 relationship will be a profound improvement, the wishy-washy precision about the Wii drove me crazy.
I think it’s the “everyone plays it” angle.
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### Author:  [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/52 "2009-04-14T22:43:35Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#):
>
> Sounds about right, yup. Why does it piss you guys off so much?
Because it’s both factually incorrect (the wii does in fact have games with blood gore & guts and brains in the teeth. The Wii is also the home of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers) and absurdly self-crippling. It’s like arguing that people who don’t read Clive Barker aren’t real ‘readers’ and all the breadth of literary experience is just crap shovelware & stupid kiddie stuff - except for ‘real’ books about zombies.
If you tried to say that about books or movies or tv - people would laugh at you.
> [@](#):
>
> That the Wii isn’t for ‘real gamers’ is precisely why it does so well.
I almost agree with this but I’m not sure it makes the point you think it’s making.
What the Wii does is turn former non-gamers into gamers. This is a good thing for our industry.
It doesn’t mean that the new gamers aren’t real gamers or that longtime gamers won’t enjoy Smash Bros, Galaxy, Zelda, Pikmin, Resident Evil, No More Heroes, Okami, Fire Emblem, Mario Kart, Zack & Wiki, World of Goo, Metroid, House of the Dead, etc.
Real gamers play games. Period. We’re lucky to have such variety.
> [@](#):
>
> ETA: That 1:1 relationship will be a profound improvement, the wishy-washy precision about the Wii drove me crazy.
I agree - I was disappointed that they didn’t have 1:1 initially. I’m really looking forward to the change and the new games designed for it.
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### Author:  [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/53 "2009-04-15T00:18:25Z")
> [@RogueAOV](#):
>
> The two consoles will go head to head, and nintendo will quietly be more successful than either of them most likely. But i have wonder if the 360 will suffer in the future against the ps3 as the storage space on the disc becomes more of a factor. Ps3 games will be able to be 3 times larger than the 360, which might not mean much right now but developers might release certain games exclusive to the ps3 purely because it could not be done on the 360.
I think the “3 times larger” space issue is pretty over-rated, as really the only things that require more than a DVD’s worth of space are FMV scenes (textures and sound to a much lesser extent) Personally, when I’m playing a game, I’d rather actually _play_ it than watch a 30 minute prerendered cutscene. Besides there’s always disc-swapping, which isn’t really _that_ bad if you only have to do it once. Another thing to consider is that the 2x speed Blu-Ray drive in the PS3 actually has an _worse_ data transfer rate than the 12x DVD drive of the 360. Hence the need for the PS3’s game installation on the hard disc.
[QUOTE=RogueAOV]
the ps3 was designed to last 10 years, and i dont think the 360 was even designed to last that long.
[/QUOTE]
While I agree that Microsoft had some pretty severe design flaws with the RROD, the “10 year” thing is pure marketing B.S. The PS3 has it’s fair share of hardware issues as well. All consoles do.
[QUOTE=RogueAOV]
..and the exceptionally loud fan, still not keeping the cores cool enough, it does make you wonder if the more extreme games come out if the RROD will make buying a intercooler for your console a must have.
[/QUOTE]
The newer “Jasper” version of the 360 has 40% less power draw under load(170W-\>100W) versus the original X360. That means 40% less overall heat. The Jasper’s fans have gotten much quieter as well (~5dB reduction in noise). Still not as quiet as a PS3, but they’ve more than halved the original difference between the two (the difference used to be ~8dB, it’s now ~3dB)
[QUOTE=RogueAOV]
On to graphics, system-wise the ps3 is stronger slightly as its memory is dedicated on its GPU while the 360 shares with the CPU.
[/QUOTE]
Note that the PS3 only has 256MB of memory dedicated to the GPU, while the unified memory architecture of the 360 allows for 512MB to the GPU.
Your statement that the PS3’s GPU is “slightly stronger” is exactly the _opposite_ of the general consensus I’ve read.
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### Author:  [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/54 "2009-04-15T00:25:35Z")
Hey, Paul, tell us a little about the kind of gaming you’re interested in, would you?
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### Author:  [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/55 "2009-04-15T01:56:06Z")
Hard to know where to start with this post, but let me dissect it a bit
> [@RogueAOV](#):
>
> It is not a next generation console, but nintendo certainly knows how to crank out good games and plenty of them, if you sift thru the crap, and give them time to establish a user base.
I agree that in a lot of ways the Wii is not a next gen console, though it is significantly more powerful than the gamecube was, but Nintendo has never been known for cranking out “plenty” of good games. Their dev cycles tend to run 2 to 3 times as long as that of most other companies. Their games are usually quality, but they’re usually few and far between. Also you can’t make an arguement for giving them time to establish a user base as the Wii already has a HUGE user base, larger than that of either hte x360 or the ps3 by leaps and bounds
> [@](#):
>
> Now before i discuss the console i must rant about microsoft. Now as i said i am a gamer, it is all about the games to me, the brand means nothing to me but microsoft is a company in it for the money..no question. now i am not saying that nintendo, or sony are not. But microsoft got into the market because they saw how much money was being made by those two.
how is that different than Nintendo or Sony? Sony got into the market cause they wanted to partner with Nintendo to make the Super Nintendo Disc Drive, then Nintendo screwed them over and the SNES DD became the PSOne. They’re all in it for the money, period.
> [@](#):
>
> Now to the games, and another mini rant about microsoft (sorry) as i stated above microsoft is in it for the money and it sure knows how to spend money to make money. My problem with the console is this, microsoft is not good at making good games(couple of exceptions aside) but they are exteremely good at buying talent. The original halo, was originally designed for the mac, until MS bought it and made it exclusive for the xbox, and made that console what it became. Also they bought out Rare(perfect dark and goldeneye) with the hopes of milking that cash cow for all it was worth..and ended up ruining the independant game makers in the process so now it craps out the horrible perfect dark zero. Also the main processor it runs on was actually developed for the PS3 and MS came in and bought them for the 360. thing is though sony had 16 months longer to work on it before release
Sony can’t make a good game to save its life either. Both Sony and MS rely on (what often become 2nd party) developers to make exclusives for their system. Of the big 3 Nintendo is really the only competant in house developer. Sony’s 989 Studios, anyone? Also the the main processor for the 360 is completely different from that of the PS3
> [@](#):
>
> Also the 360 starting line up was poor with poor mans GTA crackdown and saints row, both good enough games but nothing to compete with GTA
GTA4 was years away from either system (launched at approx the same time for both ps3 and x360) so I’m not sure what this arguments is trying to say
> [@](#):
>
> Also to the xbox has more games, it has been out longer, so i dont think its a fair claim, but awesome games are out now for it, and sony triple a games arent here yet.
both systems have plenty of AAA games (ps3 having both Killzone 1 and 2, MGS, etc). X360 has more games for several reasons: first off it’s selling better (or was initially, ahven’t looked at the figures for awhile) so with a larger installed user base more devs made games for it. Second it’s much easier to dev games for cause it’s very similar in architecture to a PC, hence companies like Valve porting PC games to the 360 but refusing to have anything to do with the ps3 and it’s cell processor
> [@](#):
>
> But i have wonder if the 360 will suffer in the future against the ps3 as the storage space on the disc becomes more of a factor. Ps3 games will be able to be 3 times larger than the 360, which might not mean much right now but developers might release certain games exclusive to the ps3 purely because it could not be done on the 360. I have heard that metal gear 4 was released on the ps3 as it could not have been done on the 360, (interview with the creator IIRC) now that could be true or not, but we are still mostly in first generation of the next gen
the blu-ray disc is significantly bigger, but to say it can hold 3x the data of a dvd9 is a bit of a misnomer as, with the ps3s 2x disc drive, there needs to be a lot of redundant data to keep it from having ridiculously load times (also why many games instal onto the ps3s harddrive). MGS4 was a ps3 exclusive not for this reason (though they did fill the blu-ray with uncompressed audio and video simply cause they could, it would have fit onto a dvd9 had they compressed it like most devs do) but because it was developed AS a ps3 exclusive, a selling point for the system. Simply put, sony BOUGHT the license to the game.
And mostly in the first game generation for these systems?! are you nuts? Most of the AAA games already have sequels, the x360 has been out for a good 3.5 years, the ps3 maybe 2.5 (they launched november of 2005 and november 2006 respectively). If you go with the common “5 year” figure we’re more than half way through this system generation
> [@](#):
>
> because the next gen games are so freeking expensive!!!
try living in Japan. New games are often upwards of $80 USD :eek:
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### Author:  [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/56 "2009-04-15T02:50:50Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#):
>
> MGS4 was a ps3 exclusive not for this reason (though they did fill the blu-ray with uncompressed audio and video simply cause they could, it would have fit onto a dvd9 had they compressed it like most devs do) but because it was developed AS a ps3 exclusive, a selling point for the system.
No way in hell was there uncompressed video on that disc. The PS3 wouldn’t have the bandwidth in several key places to process that sort of throughput. Just thinking of the player alone - hell a single point hard drive will probably have issues streaming uncompressed high def video. You’d need an array. Maybe they did some sort of high bit rate, high def compression, but there must have been some sort of compression going on. Not only that but isn’t there some sort of ridiculous amount of video cut scenes in that game? Uncompressed high def video would eat up space like there’s not tomorrow. We’re talking 400-800 gigabytes per hour.
> [@](#):
>
> try living in Japan. New games are often upwards of $80 USD :eek:
:😏: Yet another reason to love PC gaming 🙂
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### Author:  [@RogueAOV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueAOV)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/57 "2009-04-15T05:43:06Z")
First off i want to say sorry for the rambling nightmare post, as i explained at the time etc etc but anyway…
To YamatoTwinkie, i do agree with what you say about the disc space in principle and it only depends on the how games advance over the years but it cant be denied that bigger doesnt hurt when it comes to storage, and installing on the hard drive isnt much of a issue really since the ps3 comes with one anyway.
I do not really agree with the “pure marketing BS” comment but i do understand your comment and sony is showing commitment to the older consoles it has made so i think my statement was fair. But i am unclear what hardware problems the ps3 had. Can you point me in the direction of more information about that, it is entirely possible i missed the problems as i came late to the next gen party.
Regardings the jasper version… dammit why didnt i find out about that before i bought that loud version!!! on the topic of the loudness of the ps3… i cant hear it at all, but good to know the numbers so thank you.
On the graphics point…you are totally correct and thats my bad, i was intending to point that out but it got lost in my head, so i concede that point to you. My head was working on two thoughts at once and i lost one of them.
And To PopeJewish i again agree with your comment on the Wii user base, i got the point of the sentence wrong, i was not intending to say they didnt have a huge user base, i was meant to say in the past tense they didnt(just after release) and now they do(as the games come out). It still sounds weird but i hope you understand what i was intending to say. Nintendo does like to take its time to perfect the key games before releasing them as you say, but nintendo does have long standing relationships with designers and companies to get good games out there, which again i mangled that statement by thinking more than typing, so sorry for the bad posting there.
I do have a problem with the statement sony got into it for the money as i would think it was more of a case to try not to waste the work they had put into the disc based console they had done before nintendo back away, as i said before, i am not suggesting anyone got into making games consoles for the fun of it, obviously they want to make money but microsoft made the choice purely for money in my mind.
[Regarding the chip](http://dlb-network.com/2009/01/chip-architect-speaks-about-xbox-360-and-ps3-creation/)
On to the “poor mans GTA” line, what i intended to say was that the 360 was weak at the start with games more seeing what can be done rather than great games, GOW outstanding. Mot stating PS3 did have but…i was tired and etc… i concede that point.
I thought it was easier to dev for the ps3 rather than the 360, at least thats [what i read somewhere](http://www.gamedaily.com/games/killzone-2/playstation-3/game-news/killzone-creators-talk-4-d-bullet-ad-ps3-development/4315/22789/),
And almost lastly, Has it been that long already? times flies… it just doesnt feel like its that stage in this console generation to me… or is it just me :s
And lastly… 80 dollars!!! thats it im staying in texas lol
ok now actually lastly sorry for this awful post but the multi quote thing hates me and is just not be friendly to me.
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### Author:  [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/58 "2009-04-15T14:10:30Z")
I heard yesterday on NPR that there have been more Wii Fit Controllers sold than all PS3 systems. That amazes me to no end. I would bet that the Wii Fit Controller has a higher profit margin too!
Personally, I own a PS3, and I love it.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/59 "2009-04-15T14:35:08Z")
> [@RogueAOV](#):
>
> I thought it was easier to dev for the ps3 rather than the 360, at least thats [what i read somewhere](http://www.gamedaily.com/games/killzone-2/playstation-3/game-news/killzone-creators-talk-4-d-bullet-ad-ps3-development/4315/22789/),
To develop a game solely for the PS3 as opposed to the X360, yes- but if you develop an XBox game, you have also developed a PC game. All you have to do to port it is remap the controls for keyboard/mouse, and mess with the video resolution.
In order to port a PS3 game you have to rewrite half the code so that the game will run under Windows; on the Xbox it already does.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-xbox-or-wii/492841/60 "2009-04-15T15:01:43Z")
> [@Enright3](#):
>
> I heard yesterday on NPR that there have been more Wii Fit Controllers sold than all PS3 systems. That amazes me to no end.
Not quite, but it’s getting there.
Worldwide, there are about 21 million PS3 systems out there versus 18 million copies of Wii Fit.
In just the US, it’s 8 million PS3 systems versus 7 million copies of Wii Fit.
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