DSi storms past the half a million mark - PSP 3000 left to eat its dust
The Nintendo DSi is storming along in Japan as Nintendo executives sit back in their comfy leather recliners and watch as sales boom past the half a million mark in only its first month on the shelves. Not bad for a console that is getting it in the neck for being too similar to it’s older brother, the DS. It’s pretty clear that people want them, economic crisis or not.
The console sold exactly 535,379 units on the 30th November, exactly a month from its launch date on the 1st of the same month. Even at launch the DSi sold a whopping 170,000 units, showing that each following week saw a further 100,000 units being bought by the eager Japanese public.
Critics have been warning of a serious slow down in sales in the run up to the Christmas holidays due to the economic downturn, but Nintendo are clearly holding on strongly. Nintendo are clearly looking the crisis in the face and laughing.
Michael Gartenberg, vice president of consumer strategy at Jupitermedia, says, “The Wii seems somewhat unaffected by the economic situation and is not only selling well but still scarce to find. As consumers are going to be very careful where they put their dollars this year, the idea of a device that has long-term entertainment value and appeal to all members of the family is going to be very attractive.”
The figures, published by Enterbrain, are based on information taken from 3 and a half thousand computer game stores.
The news sees the mighty Nintendo DS, including all of its little breakaways like the DS lite and the DSi, reach a gigantic 24.2 million sales worldwide, quite a distance away from Nintendo’s handheld gaming rival, the PSP, who’s most recent console has sold a meagre 200,000 in comparison in Japan. Don’t forget that the PSP 3000 had more time to woo the public…it’s clearly failed compared the DSi.
The question is, how will it sell when it finds its way over to this side of the world? As it’s only on sale in Japan until next year, it’ll be interesting to see how the console will be welcomed in Britain. As a country we’re not really known for throwing out one thing to pay good money for pretty much the same thing, but maybe the DSi will change our way of thinking.
Nintendo are reeling in the news clearly which comes not long after they have found out that sales of their Nintendo Wii consoles has passed the 7 million mark in Japan. The Wii is now miles ahead of its competitors, the PS3 and the 360, who have sold 2.37 million and 750,000 respectively, in Japan.
Whoever replaced the guy that came up with the Dreamcast should be given the keys to the Nintendo castle. They have seriously thrust Nintendo in our faces and our homes, and the world clearly welcomes their consoles with open arms. Nintendo need to keep awake though, we don’t want a hare and tortoise scenario, do we?
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