Japanese DS Pokemon games break series' sales record

While the Pokemon franchise has been one of Nintendo's strongest sellers in the portable games market for years, the Nintendo DS has yet to see a traditional installment in the series released in the US. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl won't change that for a couple more months, but Nintendo today trumpeted their success in Japan.

Calling the two games "the fastest-selling Pokemon games ever," Nintendo said Diamond and Pearl combined to ship 5 million units to Japanese retailers in their first three months. Diamond and Pearl released in Japan on September 28 last year. Both games are rated E for Everyone and will debut in US stores on April 22.