Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/08/japan_console_sales/
Has Nintendo's hugely popular DS Lite had its day? Maybe in Japan, at least, where last week sales of the handheld games console fell below those notched up by its nearest rivals, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PSP.
For the week to 2 February, DS sales totalled 67,472 units - a new low in the post-Christmas slump that's hit all the current consoles but the DS, Wii and PSP in particular. PSP sales have slipped through January too, but until last week, when Sony saw sales of 72,528 units, they've never surpassed the DS.
Japanese Console Sales
Source: Media Create/Register Hardware
The figures come from local market watcher Media Create, which also revealed that the Wii had reversed its downturn, thanks to the release of Mario Smash Bros in Japan.
How sale will fare after players began experienced problems with the game - issues Nintendo attributed to cigarette smoke (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/04/wii_super_smash_bros_brawl_clean/) - remains to be seen.
The release of Devil May Cry 4 lifted PS3 sales a bit too, to 41,796 units, the console's highest weekly sales since the first week of January.
The PS2 and the Xbox 360 continued to sell much as they have to date.
Japanese girls taught English by Nintendo DS (30 June 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/30/ds_used_in_jap_school/
Nintendo preparing DS Lite update, pundit claims (14 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/14/ds_liteer_extreme_replacement_claims_hirokazu_hamamura/
GTA IV coming to the DS Lite? (31 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/31/gta_iv_nintento_ds_lite/
Nintendo DS linked to LCD price-fixing scandal (28 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/28/nintendo_ds_lcd_price_fix/
Wi-Fi downloads coming to the PSP (21 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/21/gdc_slide_psp_store_downloads/
PS3 won't beat Wii until 2011, forecasts analyst (15 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/15/ps3_2011_domination_isuppli/
Sony sells 1m PS3s in UK (14 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/14/ps3_1m_uk_sales_figure/
Nerf takes aim at the Wii (13 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/13/nurf_electronic_arts_wii/
Add-on maker punts Wii-styled speaker set (7 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/07/4gamers_wii_speaker_system/
Wii predicted to win 2008 sales race (5 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/05/ea_2008_console_sales_forecast/
Cigarette ash proves a drag for Nintendo's Wii (4 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/04/wii_super_smash_bros_brawl_clean/
DS Lite dock debuts (4 February 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/04/hori_ds_lite_dock/
Nintendo takes Japan Xmas sales crown (30 December 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/30/japan_consoles_sales/
Handhelds dominate Japanese pre-Xmas console sales (21 December 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/21/japan_consoles_sales/