Nintendo DS Rocks Europe With Over 500,000 Units Sold
31 March 2005 - Following the launch of Nintendo DS in Europe on 11th March 2005, the new hand-held console is proving to be a phenomenal success with European gamers having snapped up over 500,000 units by Easter Saturday - that's 77% of the consoles that were in stores across Europe for launch. Many stores have reported they are out of stock however more deliveries are being made to replenish stocks.
Games sales have also been outstanding with Super Mario 64 DS alone having sold over 250,000 units and sales of WarioWare Touched! are also extremely strong. There is a wide variety of titles now in stores and this initial success will be followed by the release of more great games including Yoshi Touch & Go from Nintendo on 6th May, Need for Speed Underground 2 from EA on 27h May and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith from Ubisoft also in May, along with many more to follow throughout 2005.
Jim Merrick, Senior Director European Marketing, commented:
'The launch of Nintendo DS in Europe has been a huge success. European gamers have embraced the Nintendo DS and have left no doubt that it is the new must have console! Nintendo set out to create a new way of hand-held gaming, offering an innovative and enjoyable experience and with the new Nintendo DS, we have certainly accomplished this. With many more great games launching soon, sales of Nintendo DS will just keep growing.'
The Nintendo DS is the new touch screen, dual-screened handheld video game system which redefines how people play videogames. In addition to the touch screen, the system includes both voice input and multiplayer wireless communication.
The Nintendo DS launched in Europe on 11th March supported by a large range of games including Super Mario 64 DS, WarioWare Touched!, Polarium, Pokémon Dash, Project Rub, The URBZ: Sims in the City, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, Rayman DS, Spider-Man 2 and Zoo Keeper among many others.
[In recognition of its technological achievements, the Nintendo DS has received the Edge magazine 'Hardware of the Year Award', in the UK as well as rave reviews across Europe, showing that the Nintendo DS has already delivered on its ambitious promise to bring a new gaming experience to gamers.]
The Nintendo DS is available across Europe at the estimated retail price of around 149.99. Games are available at the estimated retail price of for around 39.99 and 29.99 depending on the title.
Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact the Nintendo press office on 020 7307 3103.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games worldwide, created 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 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