According to market research firm IDC, the Wii could outsell its rivals in the 2007-08 period.

Another day, another analyst's view on how this generation's home console war will pan out.

This time, it's market research firm IDC that has made predictions about what the future holds for the big three. According to IDC, despite the start Microsoft's Xbox360 has over its rivals, it will be the Wii which will perform the strongest over the next two years.

"IDC believes hardware shipments of Nintendo's Wii will capture a little more than a third of the worldwide market by 2008, rising slightly above Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360," reported the firm.

"Nintendo is the only one of the three manufacturers working to grow its accessible market for its hardware and software by broadening its audience beyond the traditional market," observed the company.

Billy Pidgeon, program manager at IDC added: "With the Wii, Nintendo is abdicating the specification war, leaving Sony and Microsoft to slug it out between themselves for the hardcore market."

So, it looks like Nintendo may well have been wise to distance themselves from their rivals. Have your say below.