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Despite an unusual mid-week launch, Nintendo shipped an impressive 230,000 DS units in the first day of the Far East sales, according to Japanese market research group, Create. Although this is less than 50% of the 500,000 units Nintendo had made available for the launch, that number had only recently been increased from 300,000 to cope with the vast number of pre-orders that had been placed, so the sell-through figure is actually nearer the 80% mark.
Although not as crazy as some launches in the Far East, queues formed early on outside some of the major electronics retailers as people on the way to work and school lined up to get their machine and launch day games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was first party favourites Mario 64 DS and Wario Ware Touched (?!) that sold the most on the software front although Sega’s wacky Feel The Magic XX/XY did fairly well too, shipping a respectable 20,000 units.
These figures will boost Nintendo’s confidence in the build up to the purported handheld battle with Sony’s PSP as Sony have only produced an initial shipment of 200,000 PSP units in order to concentrate on the more profitable new PS2 units in the run up to Christmas. However, one should never discount Sony’s shrewd marketing skills as limited units can generate far more excitement with consumers than overstuffed shelves (see ridiculous press clamouring over UK launch of PS2 for details).
