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DS boosts Nintendo projections

The Mario factory raises its full-year profit forecast 20.5 percent, thanks to a weak yen, the white-hot DS, and bullish Wii-launch predictions.

Nintendo announced today that the company has revised its annual profit forecast upward. The Mario factory now predicts its net profit for its entire business year, which ends on March 31, 2007, will be 100 billion yen (about $850 million), up from 83 billion yen (about $705 million). The 20.5 percent increase was credited to a weak yen and the much-anticipated launch of the Wii console, which goes on sale in November in the US and Japan.

However, as anyone who has been following Nintendo in the news knows, the main reason for the upward revision is gangbusters sales of the DS. Even with production running at more than 2.2 million units per month, shortages of the dual-screen handheld continue to be common in Japan.

For its full fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2007, Nintendo raised DS sales projections 18 percent, from 17 million units to 20 million units. During the same period, DS software sales are expected to top 82 million games, an increase of 9 percent from prior estimates.

Yuta Sakurai, a senior analyst at Nomura Securities, told the Reuters news service that "it was surprising to see how much [Nintendo] raised its full-year forecast, especially the sales outlook. ... Nintendo had expected DS sales to slow once its Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3 consoles hit the market, but we see no sign of that...and it looks like the company shifted its view and now expects DS sales to remain strong through the year-end."

Sakurai also chimed in on the looming Wii launch, which he thinks will be a runaway success. "There will be so many people who want the console that it will be almost impossible to actually get them at the beginning," he said.

219 Comments

  • Platyphyllum

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 5:38 pm GMT

    Flint247

    Actually, we can predict what will happen, but we will never know FOR SURE what will happen, there's a difference between the two........wow, I sound like an english professor. Sorry, I just can't help but correct people when they make a mistake T_T.

    Well anyways, I hope the Wii will win so that those people who say "History will repeat itself" will keep quiet.

  • Flint247

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 11:07 am GMT

    Why are people bashing all the other consoles and supporting the wii only like it's gooing to win!? We can't predict what will happen guys!

  • Marusamei

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 3:20 am GMT

    I have a Ds,Ds Lite, and PSP. I play my Ds lite Way more than my psp for some reason. I hope all you sony boys know that resistance fall of man is in 720P not 1080P because the ps3 cant show all the effects(sony loves bloom and not hdr for some reason) and would have to take away from char models. The 360 has done bigger than any other system, inluding the ps2, and is continuing to be sold world wide. the ps3 and Wii have both sold out(as did the 360 for about half a year) so all systems are going in there own* Direction(excluding sonys clear rippoffs) Other than that all systems will do well. G4's Adem Sesseler(sp)
    said the order the system wars. 1. 360 2.Wii 3. PS3, in sales, that is how itll turn out, the ps3 will have a max of 2 million by years end, and the 360 already has well over 4 million, and over 6 million ppl connected to live(mult accounts)

    Bottem line, all will do well, the Wii is Neutral in this subject(WiiS3)(Wii360) and sony keeps hurting themselves and are wayy to cocky for me to have any interest i them(cocky=quick failurs) Also notice us 360 fanboys dont exactly hate sony, whilst you sony fanboys curse up a storm and throw the words Blu-ray and Cell in the mix and you prob dont even know how it all works, 1080i/720P bigger numbers dont meen better, 1080I is deemed as 540P. Above all i dont suggest buying a sony product(or any) unless you've read everything and figured out all the costs. Good luck and Happy Xmas.

  • danski83

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 11:37 pm GMT

    i work at eb games in australia and its really clear that the wii will be hugely successful at least for the first few months. the ps3 should do well too but its a shame the 360 hasnt taken off more.

  • vdarkfall999

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 7:27 pm GMT

    I don't see why it's not perfectly reasonable for all three of the next-gen consoles to do well. Stop arguing. Odds are that Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will make off like bandits. Well, maybe not Microsoft, but definitely Nintendo and probably Sony.

  • intotheshadowz

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 7:12 pm GMT

    The 360 has absolutely nothing special. Nothing at all. The PS3 has blu-ray, and the wii has a buttload of stuff.

    I am getting a Wii for sure, my dad is getting a PS3 for the blu-ray (maybe), and I am going to pee on a 360 and laugh at it.

  • kindredmachine

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 12:20 am GMT

    sony_boy_18 --- umm.... wow... do you know anything about basic math? If you go by pre-orders alone the Wii has already outsold the PS3 at least 2 to 1 on launch day (The Wii sold out as well you know). Man, you gotta wonder about how some people derive conclusions regardless of simple logic.

  • XGxAxMxExRX

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 10:50 pm GMT

    i want the wii and the ps3

  • el_polloloco

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 7:33 pm GMT

    man this time i think this is a good comeback from the gamecube XD)))

  • overlordbill

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:00 pm GMT

    um sony boy...it could be because of the large amount of PS3s that sony has failed to produce that the PS3 preorders went so fast seeing there were only 8 alloted per gamestop and eb where as each store got an average of 16 wiis, one store in my are got 36 wiis for pre order so...thanks for playing i mean seriously...its sheer numbers and hard facts

  • OldWiseBob

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 11:09 am GMT

    Man, I can't preorder a Wii.

    I am so bummed.

  • markbridges

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:12 am GMT

    Wii rock.
    Period.

  • swsirstevealot

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:52 pm GMT

    It looks like they did a "Wii" bit better this year.

  • EXPLiCiTx

    Posted Oct 15, 2006 10:22 am GMT

    its nice to see nintendo doing well, its also nice to see sony fanatics trying anyway they can to insult nintendo either directly or indirectly. 30mins? you actually wasted 30mins of your life watching people go in and out of the store? censusing their purchases or did you "hear it from a guy", estimation makes you feel like a big man doesnt it.

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 10:33 am GMT

    good job nintendo

  • osxgp

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 2:42 am GMT

    I hope Nintendo does good this time around. I know developers are excited about it, but lets hope they make some good games. Lets face it; the controller can only do so much given its limited button layout. I hope it doesn't only cater to FPS and games for children. WE WANT VARIETY. Attention Nintendo...Make plenty of games for the ones who helped you in the beginning; not just their kids. Oh and sony_boy_18, I'm sure we will see you in the return line with your malfunctioning PS3. Sorry, but Sony's track record hasn't been the best for launch units. I've been through two launches of Sony's systems and don't foresee a solid unit considering that they are already having problems with manufacturing parts for the PS3.

  • XGustaX

    Posted Oct 13, 2006 10:54 am GMT

    Sony boy, your name says it all SONY FAN BOY! So what the Nintendo Wii Pre order which were much more then the PS3 sold out in 30 mins also... so more copies and still sold out in the same time as the PS3 preorders sounds like Wii is going to own PS3.

  • FortuneC00kie

    Posted Oct 13, 2006 12:39 am GMT

    Please, people....stop using the word "fanboy". It makes me physically sick every time I see it.

  • Fooljeff

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 5:00 pm GMT

    We should have our consoles fight with pointy weapons. Then we will know who the next gen master really is. Me.

  • splintersix

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 2:32 pm GMT

    good job nintendo and as for the guy below im gonna be laughing when the 360 and the wii leave ps3 in the dust

  • stanislavski86

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 7:37 am GMT

    Whatever floats people's boats! Why fight over freaken consoles. At the end of the day they are all being produced and you have freedom to choose which ever you like. Of course if you can afford them.

  • mediaplaykid64

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 5:32 am GMT

    YAY NINTENDO!!!!!!!!! i don't care who don't like nintendo. i'm loyal fan of this company. ~sob~ o sweet nintendo. the launch of the wii is going to be great. can't wait to get my hands on that red steel game & the new zelda (zelda and mario are the buliding blocks of nintendo) does anyne when perorders are out???

  • osxgp

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 10:23 pm GMT

    Lets see if Nintendo can keep the long term interest of gamers this time. I know that they have some good starting titles, but they are known for leaving large gaps between releases of good titles. Only time will tell.

  • pXxJoSexXp

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 9:59 pm GMT

    just give me the games, I don't care about your money

  • runejedi

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 9:14 pm GMT

    I couldnt care less about anyones profits all i care about is playing the games!

  • 092093

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 6:38 pm GMT

    woooh

  • bigcalkenobi

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 5:39 pm GMT

    Well I'm trying to be on both sides, me myself I dont particulary like sony especially the PS2 or PS3, mostly i like nintendo and Microsoft but Sony has its strong points like any other company. I'll admit I'm a bit of Nintendo fanboy but that doesnt mean I hate all other companies so try not to classify me as any other.

    Oh and i'm on alot because I just got done with a mass of fall sports and activities so now I got more freetime than I know what to do with

  • segaraptor

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 3:56 pm GMT

    I'm only posting to see if it ups my rank. If you really care about Nintendo's profit projections, then you have too much time on your hands.

  • cyborg100000

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 2:34 pm GMT

    Who cares who is winning the console war. I dont see how any console can win or lose it just depends what you are into really. So why don't you all stop arguing. Wii fans you are an embarrasement, and you too ps3 fanboys!
    If you like games and the style of a console go for it!

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 11:48 am GMT

    agreed.

  • bigcalkenobi

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 4:46 am GMT

    Well The thing is I think that most of the games I can get for PSP are on PS2 in one form or another. Now boxcarracer565 you're right in the fact that it is MP3 and movies and other stuff. Well, most of that cost extra money after the 250 you already paid. Like if you really want lots of music on there you have to buy bigger memory and if you want to be able to watch movies you already have yoou have to buy it a second time because of the movie disc.
    Well, I would prefer to not spend that much money on videogames on 1 handheld, so yea, im cheap. And I wouldn't say that only fanboys bought the DS because If you go to Japan not many of them were reallly fanboys, but ALmost everyone has a DS. But there's nothing wrong with the PSP its just everything on it you can get on something else.

    The reason I think DS is better is because it has more and better games that are new and innovative. The PSP is not horrible if I were getting a great deal on one I would probably buy one for the twisted metal game and acouple of other PS titles because I don't have PS

  • essali

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 1:02 am GMT

    Go Big "N" GO...

    wether it is a goos news or bad news... it always ends with the same boring DS PSP debait.

    Is it a habit with you guys or what...?

  • mikado01

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 12:01 am GMT

    I think the DS is a much better GAMING handheld.

    The PSP is like a swiss army knife ENTERTAINMENT device

    i think they are about even. its just that the ds has more quirky super fun games than the psp, so people gravitate towards it more

    and its cheaper.

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 11:51 pm GMT

    I just dont get why people think DS is better, i guess they have never played PSP and/or owned one, So they decide to settle for less because they are cheapskates. AND, if you think PSP has NO GOOD GAMES, THAN YOUR EXTREMELY PICKY.

  • blueIcm

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 8:47 pm GMT

    DS and PSP are some what equal and that's why there is always an on going debate on the issue. Clearly what Psp lacks in games it has equaled out with its other ability (video, mp3 and ect.). The Ds on the other hand has the games to back up what Nintendo has not added, but ultimately I think the Ds will be the better decision, because of what Nintendo will add on to it to compete. (Accessory and what-not) .

  • wilie

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 7:24 pm GMT

    if sony were as good as nintendo ther would be no comp.

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 6:16 pm GMT

    DS is better if your strictly a fanboy/gamer, if your into music,movies,photography,RSS,Location free,and play games every now-and-then than PSP is def. your best bet.

  • XxgAmErXX6655

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 6:08 pm GMT

    DS is way better than the PSP!!!!

  • Blazer88

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 5:01 pm GMT

    Well of course the DS is great portable system, and the PSP is just an expensive paperwieght.

  • bigcalkenobi

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 4:48 am GMT

    I agree with boxcarracer on that one. Nintendo GC dind't really ahve very many fps and the ones they did have were third party. But Nintendo did have RE4 and that was one awesome game for anyone who owns th gamecube. Fortunecookie, yes they are coming out with an internet browser, and I dont have a PSP but my friends do and they use that browser alot.
    I dont disagreee that the DS is better I prefer it much over the PSP, but Sony did do some stuf with that that Nintendo probably should of thought of but, Like I said I like my DS better than PSP.

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 1:35 am GMT

    sinceps1----"the gamecube has squat but it still has one of the best fps's out there "

    - one of the best first person shooters? what might that be? last time i checked GC didnt have halo,or fear,or half life 2. please tell me what the 'eff your talking about.

  • chewonthestraw

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 7:22 pm GMT

    hmmmmm...... hard to get one???
    from what ive heard in other stories, there will be a predicted 9 million units worldwide, end of 06'.
    Hopefully this is true, because then basically anyone who wants one will be able to get one... like me : )

  • FortuneC00kie

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    Japanesegoth, I can't argue with anything you said really. I do infact think that games make the system, making PS2 the best system "SO FAR". I think the Wii will beat out Sony and Microsoft, for sure.

    For Boxcar guy...
    I don't think as many people are using their DS's for Mario games are you think. Infact, my game stack only consists of one Mario game, and that was the first one that came out for the DS. Trauma Center is the best handheld game ever made in my opinion, right up there with Tetris. You're gonna have to start acknowleging that Mario is not the only franchise on the DS.
    And yes, there is something wrong with all the prequal/sequals on the PSP....they're not good. They try to live up to the reputation of the PS2 game is coresponds with, and they never come even close.

    Quick Edit:

    Boxcar....8 out of 10 games on the PSP list are remakes or sequals/prequals. 8 of them. The two that aren't...this Valhalla Knights I've never heard of, and another game that got a 5.5....I think you know what I'm getting at.

    To bigcalkenobi,
    That Opera internet browser is coming out pretty soon isn't it? And seriously...who the hell uses the PSP to browse the internet?

  • bigcalkenobi

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:29 pm GMT

    ok boxcarracer, I agree the Nintendo Lacked extra funtions and it lacked 3rd party support. That was part of the problem, but the games made by nintendo (Othre than the Endless string of Mario games, and I agree that they are milking the franchise) were pretty decent. Prime was asome, so was Zelda Windwawker( other than the gay kiddie cell shading) not to mention that SSB is an awesome game and has been ranked on high on many people's and magaazine's party game list and is regarded by many as one of the best fighting games of all time. The gamecube was not all I thought it could of been, but ost people would admit that the games Nintendo makes along with the little bit of 2nd and 3rd party support it did have it was good. Now I can feel ya on that part about unpluggin cables between gamecube and dvd and taht does reallly suck.

    Nintendo does pretty much dominate the market in handhelds and you have a point about the PSP being the first one. So, obviously Nintendo would win. But I agree with fortunecookie to the extent that the PSP doesnt really have any titles that are new and exciting and the DS games (meaning 1st party games) are pretty good and are winning over gamers and critiques. But I don't agree with fortunecookie in saying its perfect. The Ds doesnt offer online surfing (except in JP). that is one thing that sony did good, although i think that had something to do with the high price.

  • rawbee360

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:19 pm GMT

    I'm really excited to see Nintendo's success in the DS. I hope that the Wii plays as good as I think it will and that the masses put Nintendo back were they belong #1.

  • buckincrazy

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 1:18 pm GMT

    go nintendo!!!!

  • sinceps1

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 11:01 am GMT

    Blah, re4 got horrible scores I suppose compared with mario party huh box#%Y@!?
    geez the gamecube has squat but it still has one of the best fps's out there go play it or be a dork fan boy and say mario party is the hightest rated game for gc.

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 9:49 am GMT

    i agree with this dude below me.

    fortune, keep playingyour mario (which is 3 out of 10 of your hightest ranking games) talk about milking the series. and theyre is nothing the matter with pre-qual/seaqual. all the games have different story lines and diffferent gameplay machanics, not to minchin most of the "ports" get good rating on gamespot anyway.

  • japanesegoth

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 7:42 am GMT

    "PS2 is by a landslide the best gaming console ever released thus far, beating out everything including Xbox 360. It has the best games without a doubt."

    then you wouldn't really say it's the best console then. if the games are the only reason, then the games are what's good, and the good ones aren't even made by sony. and about their console. it's garbage...it was poorly made, which would explain why probably more than half the sales are from people who are on their 2nd ps2...or 3rd...or 4th. etc..it was graphically the weakest. and i'm not saying graphics are what matter, cause i know that there are plenty of good games on the ps2, but it really had nothing else. the wii is going to be the weakest, but it offers an innovative way to play games, so that will more than make up for it's lower power.

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