Kotaku
March was a big month for Nintendo. Then again, every month is a big month for Nintendo. Not only did they once again take the #1 & 2 spot on the hardware charts, but they also had the top-selling game for the month in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As you'd expect, the constant winning has dulled their celebratory urges, with this month's victory speech sounding a little familiar.
Last month, Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, was all about "momentum". This month? She's all about "momentum", saying "Nintendo systems represented 58 percent of all video game hardware sold in March in the United States. We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fi".
NPD Reports Nintendo Finished March with Top Game, Top Hardware In March, Nintendo again defined industry momentum in both home and portable video games sales, according to the independent NPD Group, which monitors retail activity in the video game industry. More than 720,000 Wii™ systems sold in March, representing the highest monthly sales total outside of holiday months (November or December) to date, while Nintendo DS™ also sold through nearly 700,000 systems.Nintendo also finished with the top-selling U.S. game of March. Super Smash Bros.® Brawl, which launched March 9, came in at No. 1 with 2.7 million units sold.
"Nintendo systems represented 58 percent of all video game hardware sold in March in the United States," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit."
Other March U.S. statistics, according to NPD, include:
* Three Wii games finished in the top 10, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl at No. 1, Wii Play™ at No. 4, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock at No. 7.
* Nintendo DS has now sold more than 19 million units in the United States alone since it launched in November 2004.
Comments
Go Nintendo...I personally...have accounted for 3 Wii's myself...bought it for Zelda...sold it. Bought it for Prime...sold it...bought it for SMGalaxy and sold it...something tells me I should just keep the next one.
If we could fashion a perpetual motion machine based of Nintendo's hardware sales we could have enough energy to power the whole world!
*continues with his delusions of grandieur*
God i love the use of the images!
next time u guys should use a Joseph Stalin with a Mario hat d=
still i belive GTA4 will kick the N pretty hard
Why the hell is Guitar Hero for Wii outselling all other versions.... including outselling Rock Band. In both cases it is the weakest version (although we will have to wait and see how the Wii Rock Band sells). Is this due to the number of systems sold you think? I guess shipping it in Mono sound really didn't hurt them that bad.
I think just about every month since the Wii's launch has been 'stellar' to them.
I see this month as an ultimate triumph on their part. My parents bought a Wii this week. My parents, who never allowed me to have a console as a kid. My parents, who got hooked on Wii Sports and knew that they wanted one really, reeeeeeally badly.
Any month they get my parents to break their console embargo is stellar in my book.
I can see how Nintendo is pleased with these NPD numbers and how Sony will be pleased. However, how will MS spin this one? Thats the real tale of the tape for this month.
@GREY GECKO: The only thing is Wii Fit is going to sell so many units I just don't know. I heard the same thing said about Halo 3 and even if it did knock the Wii off the top spot for a month and sell 8 mill or so units, it wasn't enough. Then again this is coming out for two platforms so that might be there real difference.
Only Serpentor could be sinister enough to support such an evil device as the Wii.
Very good for Nintendo, although I can't wait till Wii Fit and Kart come out and end up dominating on the software sales chart.
@JRONJR: What else they going to play? People get sick of mario :P
Wii Play is still there as well...packing it with a controller was the smartest move EVER.
@Kyle81: So true, so true. Too bad Wii owners seem to have their heads in their rears about great games like Zack and Wiki and No More Heroes. Everyone I show NMH to can't believe it is on a Nintendo platform.
What is he from?! I recognize the snake man, but I have nothing to put him with.
"We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fi".
....What's "Wii Fi"? Snazzy new name for Nintendo WiFi? XD
...I know it was a typo, but by the time I usually read an article any typos were already pointed out and fixed.
@JRONJR: since GTAIV is coming out on both the PS3 and the 360, wouldn't they sorta split the sales like splitting votes for 2 politicians when they go against a 3rd one?
@Nickatiah
How would MS not be happy? They moved back into the second spot on consoles and have the 2nd and 3rd top selling games
where is my mario kart wii, come on nintendo.
@Makoto: I think it was supposed to say Wii Fit, no WiFi ;)
@Makoto:
Haven't you heard? Wii Fi is the new interactive experience of trying to get a lag free and playable match on SSBB over Brawl. It has been stated by Nintendo that it will have the highest difficulty of any game ever published by the company.
I love Nintendo's statements. None of that Year of Nintendo, greatest lineup ever crap or family revenue bs.
Quiet confidence.
@Lstormy10:
"match on SSBB over WiFi."
@Kyle81: no they don't !
THEY NEVER DO! D:
translation = liek we toaly pwned da n00bs who are in liek second and liek psp rotflol rofl
G.I. Joe totally jumped the shark with Serpentor.
Is it wrong to say GO NINTEDO? 2008 and even 2009, I can safely say, more than likely will be The Big N's year...regardless of how the PSP sales across the ocean..
I love the NPD articles on Kotaku just for the images and the head lines:
"[company] Responds To [month] NPD Sales, Seems Pleased"
Has there ever been a month where a company didn't seem pleased from NPD numbers? I'd assume not, since these press releases aren't meant for us, but for shareholders and whatnot, and they have to keep the confidence of their holders.
@Kyle81:
Been playing games for about 18 years now. I own most of Nintendo's systems (still missing a Virtual Boy), all of Sega's systems, most of Sony's (don't have a PS3), and will get a 360 soon. And I have yet to tire of Mario and his friends.
@JRONJR:
The Wii version of GH3 isn't the worst of all of them. It does at least have online multiplayer and leaderboards, unlike the PS2 version. And the issue with Dolby Pro Logic II had been fixed, remember?
The Wii version of Rock Band, though, is gonna suck.
@Nickatiah
Microsoft sold tons of software, Sony sold tons of hardware, and Nintendo sold tons of both this month. Sony can be proud PS2 has staying power, PSP has carved itself a healthy portion of the handheld market, the PS3 is matching the 360. Microsoft is glad their supply constraints seem to be lifting, and that they are (probably) drawing in a lot more revenue than Sony because of their software sales. Nintendo obviously is laughing because they earn on their hardware and software, and dominated in both respects.
Serpennntooorrrr!!!!
"Wii Fi"? Redefining our network connectivity?
@JRONJR: Are you dumb? Number one selling console, if the game releases for that console and all others, it's going to sell best ON THE CONSOLE THAT SELLING BEST AS WELL! Plus, have you ever got to catch a glimpse of GH: 3 for the Wii from December to February? I've seen a bit for 360, none for wii, and an overstock for that PoS 3, err I mean PS3
fix ur online Nintendo. then and ONLY then will i pick up a Wii.
Why didn't I see it before? After Cobra Commander's failure to rule the world with the N64 and Gamecube, it was only natural that Nintendo would create a new leader to guarantee domination of the seventh console generation.
"We will have Mario Kart Wii on stole shelves by April 27th! FOR AM I SERPENTOR! THIS, I COMMAND!"
*I AM SERPENTOR. damn, I messed up my emperor speech.
It will outsell the 360 and PS3 again..."THIS I COMMAND!"
Hm. Wii Play still selling at #4... I think it is time we ended this experiment called life. Clearly this is part of the downward slide that can only end in nuclear holocaust.
@2NinjasTapedTogether:
It's a $10 game bundled with a Wii Remote. What would you expect?
i wonder if nintendo gets tired of writing victory speeches every month.
Am I the only one who is seeing "NO U" being photoshopped on this?
"quality shines and Nintendo is quality through and through..Like a beacon in a sea of mediocrity, we will offer you a helping hand and guide you to Nirvana.... come!! come play some Mario rejoice at his red hat, see the little plumber, see him run like a gazelle in the night!! how you like me now Sony and Microsoft Bitches??"
should have been the Nintendo speech
The Victory speech should go something like this:
"quality always will out. and Nintendo is Quality through and through in a sea of Mediocrity we are you beacon of hope come with us to Nirvana, play some Mario and Rejoice, see his Red Hat, look at the little Italian plumber, running like a Gazelle in the night, how does he do it? why does he? he does it because he loves you!! LOVES YOU!!!"
or something like that
oh dammit double post awooooooo
I find it quite telling that this is the shortest of the press releases. Nintendo is used to winning so much anyway, they don't have to spin to look good as much as the other companies.
@ggodo: Cobra from GI Joe!!!
Cobra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Yeah, he was an awful character...
@ggodo:
Cobra lalalalalalala!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sweet pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Gen16Snes: Ah my obvious prediction game true, Hail Serpentor!
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?