Nintendo DS News | Massive Success for Handheld in UK

By James Temperton 29.11.2006 9

Chart Track, the people behind the UK games charts, have today revealed that Nintendo UK is now the 2006 market leader in video games hardware, surpassing all competition in both the home console and handheld console markets. Data from the company also confirms that the DS is in the sweaty mitts of over two million gamers across the UK.

Nintendo has also revealed that its software is doing rather well too. Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? Animal Crossing: Wild World and New Super Mario Bros. are currently being played by over one million people across the continent. The success of the DS Lite and the launch of various strong software titles means that the DS now outsells handheld rivals by a rate of over 2.5:1.

Commenting on the success of Nintendo DS this year, Lisa Morgan, CEO, GAME Group Plc said: "Nintendo DS has played an increasingly important part of our business in 2006. Not only is the DS performing really well, but Nintendo are following through on their promise of expanding the gaming audience, which is key to GAME too. This is evident in the broad range of people coming into our stores to purchase both DS hardware and software. Going into 2007, with a great range of software for release, we will continue to work with Nintendo to the best of our ability to broaden the market further"."

David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK added: "The ability of Nintendo DS to appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike through an exciting, fun and innovative portfolio of software has been instrumental in its success in the UK, with many more Touch! Generations games launching this year and into 2007, Nintendo DS will continue to be the main driving force behind the expansion of the video game market this year."

So, the DS is a storming success. No doubt Nintendo will be hoping that the Wii can do similar things on these shores when it is released on December 8th. We'll have a full review of the system this weekend, so stay tuned to C3 for the official verdict and more...

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OLU1701 is offline. OLU1701 29.11.2006#1

Depite the fact that I still think that in terms of raw horsepower with the exception of a few games (eg Metroid Prime Hunters New Super Mario Bros. Final Fantasy III etc) DS's true abilities have not yet been fully exploited, some of the games I've seen on Ninty's Dual screen wonder (and the ones yet to be released) are innovative and fantastic and most exploit the DS's functionality to the fullest.

DS is a true gaming revolution and now that i've become familiar with the hardware, I can't imagine how I can ever play a handheld game (particularly a 3D one)and enjoy it so much without using a stylus. It really does make even the analogue stick to feel archaic. Trust Nintendo's qwerky "gimmicks" to go from being written off to be widely accepted as an innovative standard even in the UK.

Long live the DS Long live the Wii
8days and counting.....

( Edited on 29.11.2006 10:26 by OLU1701 )

 
The Croft is offline. The Croft 29.11.2006#2

2.5 to 1 the PSP is getting whipped.

It is set to vecome bigger with a shit load of games scheduled for 2007, think of all the great games Japan has got which we are still to get.

This is before Christmas as well, 3m by March.


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."
 
jb is offline. jb 29.11.2006#3

Excellent, the DS has gone from strength to strength, and will no doubt get stronger here with some key releases like Ashcroft says..

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Zapp is offline. Zapp 29.11.2006#4

woohooo GO EUROPE Smilie Smilie you see more people on buses, tarin station, town with DS's on their hands!

I see all these people insulting the Nintendo corporation because of the lack of mature content. Yet there is something about Nintendo (at least their games) that strikes a certain unadulterated feeling of joy!!!  Pokemon Y - 1048-9263-5562
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The Croft is offline. The Croft 29.11.2006#5

jb said:
Excellent, the DS has gone from strength to strength, and will no doubt get stronger here with some key releases like Ashcroft says..

Just imagine what it will be like when Pokemon hits. Smilie

God help the PSP that week


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."
 
Marzeee is offline. Marzeee 29.11.2006#6

Diddy Kong Racing, Starfox Command, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl and a whole other great games to feast you fingers on! I thought 2006 was the year for DS but looking at the release schedule 2007 seems to be the year to get your money out. The only conserns I have is that more online games would be nice but as Wii is going into the online business it wont matter anyway. One other thing I would like to say is that I can see a pattern imerging with the Wii and PS3.

 
Chris10 is offline. Chris10 29.11.2006#7

And Wii ds connection...ahhhhh *drool*

Although im not so much of a pokemon guy...battle revolution? nah! not for me - anyone heard of any other games like this?

No there is no spoon
 
tiamat1990 is offline. tiamat1990 29.11.2006#8

Mr.Ashcroft said:
2.5 to 1 the PSP is getting whipped.It is set to vecome bigger with a shit load of games scheduled for 2007, think of all the great games Japan has got which we are still to get.This is before Christmas as well, 3m by March.

Notice how they don't mention PSP.Smilie

 
ollie999 is offline. ollie999 30.11.2006#9

Yeah I think things are only going to get better... at some point developers will really take full advantage of it's potential. Zelda and pokemon are pretty much guaranteed hits though.

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