October NPD: Nintendo reigns the hardware sales

United States, November 17, 2008- In a recent survey, the leading market research company NPD found the sales statistics of Wii and PSP to be the highest for the month of October as per data collected.

In a way, high sales of handheld gaming systems reflect their wide popularity.

Wii and PSP occupied the first position in terms of sales and popularity. The sales of Wii and PSP left behind Nintendo DS on second position. In fact, Wii and PSP outsold PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.

Wii is Nintendo’s home video game console. It is a seventh generation gadget that gives a tough competition to Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. It has a wireless remote called Wii remote which has the capacity to detect movements in three dimensions. While on a standby, the gizmo can receive updates and messages from internet with the help of WiiConnect24.

PSP is Sony’s handheld game console with superior technology and computing system. It is the first ever play station to employ optical disc format. It has a large viewing screen, robust multi-media capabilities and connectivity with the PlayStation 3, other PSPs, and the Internet.

Nintendo DS is Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld game console that was launched in Canada, the United States and Japan in 2004. The second best-selling device Nintendo DS has a clamshell design (similar to the Game Boy Advance SP), two LCD screens inside (bottom one being a touchscreen), a built-in microphone and wireless Wi-Fi standards support which enables players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

According to NPD, Wii’s sales were approximately 800,000 while Microsoft Xbox 360’s sales were not even half theWii’s sales. In fact, Wii and Nintendo DS collectively sold nearly 1.29 million units during the month of October.

Wii sold 803 210 units followed by the DS with 491 176 units which automatically brought both the consoles topping the US charts. This accounts for a total hardware sales of Nintendo reaching 59.3% (of the industry’s total hardware unit sales).

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing said, “Nintendo provides consumers with the best value not only among video games, but also among most entertainment options…Nintendo also provides an incomparable range of experiences that everyone can enjoy, whether you’ve been playing for years or are just getting into video games.”