American hotcakes? Can we used this term for Nintendo Wii and DS who’s selling like hotcakes! For United States alone, Nintendo sold overall 10.17 million Wii consoles in 2008 according to NPD Group. The interesting here is that no other game console before 2008 had ever been purchased by 10 million Americans in a single year. Even the Nintendo DS sold close to 10 million units with 9.95 million in 2008. The Wii captured 55% of all next generation home console sales in 2008, while Nintendo DS claimed 72% of all portable system sales in 2008.
Despite the economic downturn the overall video game industry revenue grew by 19% compared to 2007. 2009 might even be a tough year for Nintendo unless they bring something new. I cannot imagine Nintendo reaching again 10 million in Wii sales this year without a new impulse. Of course a lower price could also just do the trick. An in-stock $199 Wii and the rumored upcoming Nintendo DSi could activate yet another couple million buyers.