Nintendo Wii and DS break US sales record for 2008

Despite the slumping economy, Nintendo sold a record setting number of Wii consoles and portable DS systems in the US during 2008. According to NPD Group’s  statistics the Wii dominated the market, selling 10.17 million Wii consoles which accounted for 55% of new console purchases in 2008. Additionally, the four best selling game titles for 2008 were for the Wii console with Wii Play, Mario Kart, Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros beating out the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Gears of War 2 and even Grand Theft Auto IV. Sales of the Nintendo DS were equally brisk with US consumers purchasing 9.95 million units in 2008, an increase of 1.43 million units from 2007. The DS dominated the portable market accounting for 72% of all portable system sales in 2008 and set an industry record by selling 3.04 million units in December alone. With the Wii still flying off the shelves, the DS being the portable system to beat and the DSi expected to hit the US in the spring, Nintendo will continue to be the gaming platform to beat in 2009.

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