Q1 2007 Gaming Report Card:Nintendo

Currently, the Nintendo Wii is second in the console market, but that does not halt the Wii from becoming the best-selling home console in the month of February, moving 335,000 units after January’s strong sales of 435,000 units. After an initially slow trickle of games after launch, the speed at which the games for Wii are being put out is picking up. Recent releases include The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, SSX Blur, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, TMNT and Cooking Mama: Cook Off. The month of March also saw the release of another 2 previously Japan-only games in the US, namely Kororinpa: Marble Mania and Wing Island. During this quarter, Nintendo mentioned that Super Paper Mario, previously slated for release on the GameCube, will now become a Wii-exclusive title. Game publisher, Majesco, also added that it will now focus on Nintendo consoles. Meanwhile, it has been announced that the final version of the Wii Browser will be available for download in April.

Moving away from the Wii, we have the DS Lite, which is the best selling console in February. Perhaps another good news is that the English version of the DS Browser will finally be released in June in the US. However, although one the most highly anticipated DS game, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, is scheduled to release this March, there is still no sign of the game. Also announced for the DS is a new peripheral that is due to release in the last week of April, the official headset for the DS and DS Lite. With the imminent release of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl on April 22 in the US, both of which support online voice chat between players, the headset would certainly be one handy gear. It will retail for US$14.99.