Nintendo Gets In Touch With The Gaming Generation With Over One Million Console Sales To Date
One million up, the Nintendo DS has truly taken Europe by storm
28 June 2005 - Consumers across Europe have picked the Nintendo DS as their console of choice with over one million consoles having flown off the shelves in just three months since launch.
Since the Nintendo DS launched in Europe on the 11th March 2005, it has achieved record-breaking sales - with 500,000 units sold in its first three weeks alone. From this point, Nintendo DS purchases have 'skyrocketed' to shatter the one million mark in under three months. Worldwide, over five million consumers have already got to grips with the Nintendo DS, embracing its innovative touch-screen technology as the most original games console of this generation.
In the UK, Nintendo DS is also performing extremely well with well over 250,000 units already in the hands of gamers up and down the country.
Jim Merrick, Senior Director, European Marketing, Nintendo of Europe said:
'The European launch of Nintendo DS has been a massive success with sales shattering all previous records in the opening weekend and remaining consistently strong. This product reflects Nintendo's dedication to innovation and the advancement of gaming, providing novel and exciting new ways to play games. European consumers have adopted Nintendo's sense of fun and innovation to give fantastic support to the Nintendo DS.'
The Nintendo DS looks set to go from strength to strength in 2005, with an incredibly strong line-up of software scheduled for release. nintendogs will let Nintendo DS owners care for and train their very own virtual puppy, teaching it tricks and voice commands, before showing off its abilities in dog trials. Racing fans will be able to hone their skills on a variety of tracks in the eagerly anticipated Mario Kart DS, whilst also challenging up to four friends to a wireless race over the internet and eight players on local wireless. Fans of fast paced puzzle games will love Meteos launching in September and the strategy based war simulator Advance Wars: Dual Strike (tentative title) completes Nintendo's first-party compliment. Nintendo DS owners will also be spoilt for choice with a huge selection of fantastic third party titles including Bomber Man DS (Ubisoft), Golden Eye: Rogue Agent (EA), Castlevania DS (Konami), The Sims 2 (EA), Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA) and Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision).
The Nintendo DS can be purchased from most retailers for around 150. Software is available from around 39 and 29 depending on the game.
Click ontowww.nintendo-europe-media.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.
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For further information please contact Simon Watts or Rebecca Strickland at the Nintendo Press Office on 020 7307 3103. For the latest screens and information please log onto the Nintendo Europe extranet at www.Nintendo-Europe-Media.com
About Nintendo
Nintendo Co., Ltd of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 2 billion video games worldwide and more than 336 million hardware units globally, creating such industry icons as Mario® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda® and Pokémon. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 170 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.