Unless you've been living in a cave for the past year or so, chances are you've heard about this thing called the Nintendo Wii.
It's the video game console making headlines around the world because retailers can't keep it in stock this holiday season. It is being used as a physical therapy tool at retirement homes, has become a Sunday night family pastime and has converted thousands of non-gamers into video game buyers.
But the Wii is also the centrepiece of one of the biggest corporate comebacks in history. Just five years ago, analysts were writing off Nintendo Co. Ltd. The company, which made video games a staple of living rooms everywhere, faced increasing console competition from tech heavyweights Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. Suddenly, Nintendo had to reinvent video gaming to save itself.
So Nintendo cast its gaze inward in an effort to bring back its glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It wasn't long before the Japan-based company had the solution. Twelve months later, the Wii has sold more than 5.5 million units in North America, and Nintendo is back on top.
