Analysts say going up against industry behemoth Sony is a gutsy move. But days after the chaotic launch of PlayStation 3, Nintendo has released its new Wii video game system, drawing crowds of its own. And so far, Wii's debut has gone smoothly.
About 1,000 people gathered at Nintendo's Time Square store waiting for the Wii's midnight release. More than 500 waited outside a video game store in Los Angeles.
PlayStation's advanced technology makes it an industry force, but Nintendo took a different direction with Wii.
To make it affordable, Nintendo left out high-definition graphics and DVD capabilities. Instead, the Wii's highlight is an innovative motion-sensitive controller that's aimed at changing the way people play games.
Wii's $250 price tag is less than half that of the PlayStation 3.