If you’re still hesitant to call the Nintendo Wii a massive success, then recent reports of the company’s cost in producing the console may just change your mind.  In contrast to Microsoft and Sony’s growing pains, Nintendo is already in the black, reaching a profit of nearly $100 for every system sold.

Not long after Sony’s PlayStation 3 launched (just days before the Wii) we reported that the company was losing about $240 US on every console that leaped off of store shelves.  Most of that cost was from the internal Blu-ray player and the sheer power of the Nvidia graphics card, with both driving up the console’s worth.  It’s made the PS3 a real bargain – for those that can afford it. 

For those keeping track, Microsoft lost about $71 on every Xbox 360 it shipped during the winter of 2005.

Enter Nintendo, who are clearly showing their expertise at this whole home console business.  Not only is the Wii appealing to consumers for its low price, $249 US, but it’s also costing the company very little.  In fact, just $158, stemming mainly from the lack of common media features (HD games, HD movies, heck, standard DVD movies). 

However, keep in mind that the Wiimote and Nunchuk are not included in these numbers, as the study only considers the cost of the console itself.  Even then, however, it’s likely Nintendo would still show a tidy profit for every Wii sold.  Compared to the systems from Microsoft and Sony, that alone is fairly impressive.

Can Nintendo keep it up?  Microsoft now makes a profit off the Xbox 360, and Sony will likely do the same in about a year’s time (or less).  It’s up to Nintendo to keep the Wii from becoming a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am Christmas craze.

Wii Stuff at Gizmo Shop!