January 5, 2007 - http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=22027 is reporting that Nintendo's newest console, the Wii, has surpassed previous sales estimates by analyst group Lazard Capital. The console has likely sold over 1.2 million units in the US in its first six weeks on store shelves.

"Our checks indicate that Nintendo's Wii console continues to sell well, while Sony's PS3 supplies improved somewhat towards the end of the holiday period," said Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital.

Competitors Sony and Microsoft saw similarly successful holidays in 2006. Sony's new PlayStation 3 is assumed to have sold around 700,000 units, while Lazard Capital predicts that Microsoft's Xbox 360 will have just reached 4.5 million consoles in North America by December 30.

The same firm also predicted that US software sales will have increased by five percent in December, compared to 2005, "driven by incremental sales for next-generation software and ongoing solid PS2 and DS game sales."

The analyst group went on to divulge Gamestop's top-five selling games for the holiday season: Guitar Hero 2, WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2007, Gears of War, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Sebastian also predicted the performance of America's three biggest game publishers. The analyst group expects THQ to see an increase in sales of 20 percent from 2005, EA to endure a decline of 10 percent, and Activision to remain equal.


Thanks to http://ps3.ign.com/articles/753/753294p1.html for sharing the news with us!