Small In Size, Big On Sales

The Game Boy Micro launched in Japan over a week ago, and the newest sales statistics are rolling in. When I first heard about the Micro (at e3 2005), I'd initially thought Nintendo were releasing what you may call a "side" console, simply a newer model of the GBA to top off its handheld sales. But after reading its launch performance in Japan, it has become obvious that the Micro intended to have a market of its own.

Spong has reported that the iPod Mini sized console sold a crazy 148,000 units to Japanese gamers in its first week of release. Here is a link to the article.

The sales numbers for the latest week (7 days, not 6) of Japanese hardware sales are below:

GBM 170,306
DS 72,167
PSP 70,152
PS2 24,396
GBASP 11,147
GC 1,882
GBA 624
Xbox 109

You may notice that the PSP has performed quite well this week. Usually it sells less than half of the DS, but it has only sold 2,000 units less this week. This was due to a major game release, Winning eleven. But what is REALLY suprising, is that the GB Micro managed a whopping 170,000 units in a WEEK (actually, more). It has outsold the PSP, DS, PS2, and basically everything else combined.

Who would have thought, that a console weaker than its competition, inferior in terms of power, graphics and screen size, could sell so well? I certainly didn't, but nevertheless, this is great news for the Nintendo fans, Nintendo (last week) managed to hold approximately 78% of the handheld market.

Btw, thanks Praxis for providing the stats :). Please check out Digital Share forums, there is a link on the right of this page, thanks.