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DSi sales figures; Mother's Day DS Lite edition

By Brenna Hillier - Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:38am

You may have noticed a fair bit of congratulatory Nintendo press floating about in the wake of the recent DSi release. Overseas sales have indeed proved quite astonishing, and it is with a fair bit of pride that Nintendo forward the latest Australian sales figures. The third iteration of their DS handheld console series, the DSi has brought another little piece of Nintendo into more than 30,000 homes!

With its twin cameras, SD card slot, and enhanced screen, the DSi is clearly speaking to consumers. Its immediate precursor, the DS Lite, is still Australia's highest-selling console, a position it has held practically since launch day. The original DS and DS Lite have together shipped 1.9 million units down under, and a whopping 100 million units worldwide.

By Jessica Citizen - Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:13am

Ever wondered just what the Australian gaming public are buying? We've got the latest charts for you that will give you all the details you need to know, for all the major platforms.

This time around, it's good to see some things are a little shaken up, while others have just returned to their old, familiar patterns. Most of the Australian buying public is interested in learning how best to use their Wii-mote, the temptation of Patch 3.1 has seen a large numbers of PC gamers relapsing into their old MMO habits, Xbox 360 gamers are checking out a more modern type of war ahead of the newly-announced sequel's release, PS3 are off battling the Helghast once again, while their PS2 counterparts continue to rock out with Freddie and pals. The DS gamers among us prefer to exercise their grey matter, but the PSP looks like they're jonesin' for some sort of infection. Hmm.

By Jessica Citizen - Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:53pm

Ever wondered just what the Australian gaming public are buying? We've got the latest charts for you that will give you all the details you need to know, for all the major platforms.

Strategy is paying off for the acquaintances of Master Chief, with that particular war taking out the overall top spot. PC gamers are experiencing a war of a different sort, in a different Empire, while PS3 fans are still duking it out against the Helghast. Those who prefer the Wii are fighting the weight war, DS gamers are battling to beat their brains, the PSP has turned to a critical core, and the PS2... well... high school really is a battle zone, isn't it?

By Jessica Citizen - Sun Mar 8, 2009 11:34am

Ever wondered just what the Australian gaming public are buying? We've got the latest charts for you that will give you all the details you need to know, for all the major platforms.

This week, it's both surprising and not-really surprising. The surprise: the Top 10 overall games list doesn't feature a single title for Nintendo's handheld, with the fitness trainer knocked down further, into third spot. The not-surprise: Master Chief's disciples have strategised and taken out top billing, with a bullet.

For the PC, they're still preferring a bit of revamped table-top action, the Wii is still standing perfectly still in front of their televisions, the PS2 is sticking with Fernando, DS gamers want a bigger brain, and PSP are still kicking a pixellated ball around. The only other new addition is, of course, the invasion of Helghan, for PS3.

By Jessica Citizen - Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:09pm

Ever wondered just what the Australian gaming public are buying? We've got the latest charts for you that will give you all the details you need to know, for all the major platforms.

Well, I hate to say it, but... here comes a new challenger! A certain fighty game has managed to knock Nintendo's motion-sensing weightloss program all the way into second place overall (of course it's still topping the Wii charts). Congratulations, combatants!

It's also a week of turmoil in the PC world, where things are slowly becoming less simulated, with the triumphant return of the table-top RTS. Both PS3 and Xbox 360 have taken it to the streets, the PS2 croons along with a few swedes, DS gamers like to work on their smarts, and PSP is still chasing a European ball around the place.

By Jessica Citizen - Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:00pm

Ever wondered just what the Australian gaming public are buying? We've got the latest charts for you that will give you all the details you need to know, for all the major platforms.

It's been a while since we brought you these charts, things kept getting in the way, but we're back now with a vengeance - and a familiar scary girl sneaking into the overall charts, as well as topping all three platforms she was released on.

Other than that little surprise, it's business as usual - Australians love their weight-measurement motion-sensing, the PS2 is crooning along with Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid, the DS fans are still stretching their grey matter and the PSP gets in a bit of soccer action.

By Steven Perdikis - Tue Feb 3, 2009 10:55am

In sales terms, 2008 was very much the year of Nintendo, as evidenced by recent figures released by the company. As a part of their latest financial briefing, Nintendo have revealed a list of both Wii and DS titles that have sold over one million copies since launch. The top seller worldwide? Wii Sports, with 40.5 million units sold since launch, making it the best selling console game in history. Other titles which sold like hot cakes on the Wii console include Wii Play and Wii Fit.

Top sellers on the DS were a little more modest, with 21.67 million bones were thrown to Nintendogs worldwide. New Super Mario Bros. and Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (known locally as Prof. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?) rounded up the top three sellers on the hand-held, with 17.63 and 16.82 million sales respectively.

In total, since the launch of the Nintendo Wii and DS, twenty-six titles have sold more than a million copies - which ones are they? Read on to find out!

By Jessica Citizen - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:05am

Here are the new charts, same as the old charts. Technically, this is the last chart for 2008, but it doesn't really hold m/any surprises. The DS charts in particular are swamped by games that you can only imagine are Christmas presents for the kids, and the Wii is topped by a cheaper title that people are picking up as something to go with the console. The top 10 is a fair representation of what we like - console games dominate (Wii taking out six spots!), and there is a more casual tone to proceedings, with only two 'serious' games in the list.

Put simply - we are a nation of Wii gamers fixated on a game that is essentially a glorified tech demo! PC gamers were otherwise occupied, trekking through a world at war. The Xbox 360 fans were still hanging out with Marcus, Dom and the Locusts, and the PS3 was overrun by Chimera once again. Their PS2 brothers were rockin' out to the third generation of heroic guitarists, the DS was still being used as a tool for cranial exercise, and the PSP was once more speeding, undercover.

By Jessica Citizen - Sat Dec 6, 2008 12:18pm

The Australian Weekly Video Game Charts have recovered pretty swiftly from last week's 70's singalong attack, with an playful motion-sensing favourite popping right back up into top spot. The PS2 is still languishing a few decades behind, but at least the rest of the charts are back to 'normal'.

Looking around, there's been a changing of the guard in the PC side of things, now hearing a Call of Duty (and no original best-selling MMO to be seen!). The Xbox 360 is still revving their chainsaws, and PS3 experiences yet another resistance. The DS gamers are still working on getting smarter by playing games, and the PSP feels the need - the need to go undercover. Ha.

By Jessica Citizen - Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:58pm

Mostly, with these weekly charts, I am the bearer of good news. I bring you information that a great new game has topped the national sales, or that an underdog has made it to #1 despite the odds being stacked against them. This week, I'm afraid I can't do that.

...while I am pleased to see that a certain zombie-huntin' co-op title has made it to #6 and #7 for PC and Xbox 360 respectively, the PS2 game that picks up top honours this week almost makes me ashamed to be a gamer.

In other news - the PC charts are still dominated by a wrathful monarch, the Xbox 360 hears the distant rev of chainsaws and the PS3 is heeding the call of duty once again. While the Wii is again concerned with body image, the DS prefers to train their mental abilities, and the PSP gets in a bit of wrestlin'.

By Jessica Citizen - Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:22pm

No real surprises in this week's charts, I'm afraid. Despite the sheer number of awesome titles being released, anybody who thought that we'd see anyone other than Arthas sitting at top spot was really deluding themselves. He did have some unexpected competition though, with a certain music game giving him a bit of a run for his money.

Obviously, PC games rule this week, from a frozen MMO throne. PS3 and Xbox 360 are both facing a world at war, the Wii is dancing to its own tune, the PS2 and its portable cousin are still wresting with this year's release, and the DS has resorted to cranial exercises once again.

(Incidentally - which platform do you think sold the most copies of the latest Guitar Hero? I think you'll be surprised...)

By Jessica Citizen - Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:37pm

We nearly missed this week's video game charts - so much else is going on back here behind the scenes! ...but it's okay, we've got you all the details on the game sales in Australia, in the week ending September 14th.

As a nation, we're still investing in motion-sensing Nintendo peripherals rather than gym passes, PC gamers are learning all about evolution, those mercenary Xbox 360 gamers set the world on fire, PS3 gamers throwback to an era past, hearing the third call of duty, DS gamers still hanging out with Professor Kawashima, and both the PS2 and PSP prefer an adorably animated movie tie-in.

By Jessica Citizen - Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:42pm

Those of you taking bets on what would be the #1 game this week had better get your wallets ready, as the hot life-simulator favourite has been pipped at the post, losing out to a classic title that seems to have impeccable balance there at the top. (Still, it's nice to see a couple of PC games in the top ten, even if the entire remainder is comprised of Nintendo releases.)

Obviously, it's one of their motion-sensors that is doing the balancing game in #1, while PC gamers have thrown themselves into Will Wright's fantasy. Xbox 360 is still a little bit historic, a little bit futuristic, but a little bit too real, the PS3 is still out playing golf with a mate, PS2 is now playing a limited edition guitar, the DS is exercising their grey matter, while the PSP is still secretive and clanky.

By Chienne - Mon Sep 1, 2008 6:02pm

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We have a new title in top spot this week, but a lot of the rest is all just the same ol', same ol'. Five Wii titles in the top ten, two DS, and one each for PS2, PS3 and the Xbox 360. What is going on with the state of PC gaming in this country?!

...anyway. A plumber has raced his little go-karty way into #1 for a change, PC gamers are experiencing a slight Burning sensation, and - despite some scathing reviews - Xbox 360 and PS3 are still in Beijing (sticking around for the Paralympics?). The PS2 has turned up their amps on their karaoke machine, DS fans are hard at work getting smarter with each minigame, and their PSP cousins are still hanging out with a secret agent robot.

By Chienne - Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:39pm

While we don't tend to think too much about our neighbours across the Tasman, today seems like a good time to focus a bit on New Zealand - with some good news for kiwi Nintendo fans.

Nintendo has never really fared very well in that country, suffering from years of neglect before being picked up by a local distributor... who soon went broke. This has contributed to New Zealand being one of the few countries in the world who do not love the Wii - but this may be about to change.

By Chienne - Tue Aug 5, 2008 9:56am

In all the recent fuss, the poor video game charts were on a piece of paper that got lost on my desk! I've found them today though, so I can tell you all about who was topping the game sales in Australia for the week ending 20th July. Perhaps more eloquently, I can tell you who was not topping the game sales - the Xbox 360, which does not appear in the overall top 10 at all, which instead features four Wii titles, three DS, two PS3 and a lonely PS2 game snuck in there, too. Interesting.

Again, the majority of Australian gamers were out in force, snapping up copies of a smashing Wii brawler. The PC fans are heeding the call of a modern war, Xbox 360 and PS3 are hanging out in Liberty City (...more on Sony's side though, it seems), the PS2 is eating bamboo with its new fighting friend, DS owners are still testing their mental capacities, and the PSP has run into a robotic secret agent!

By Chienne - Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:31am

Ah, back to reality with the solid tradition of the charts post. After spending a week concentrating on games that are yet to arrive on these shores, it's refreshing to note that people are still buying - and enjoying - games that were announced at last year's E3 - or even before!

This week, everybody is playing one of the highlights of last year's summit, with the Wii taking a brawling top spot. The PC is off buying more simulated flat pack furniture, Xbox 360 and PS3 are still lounging in Liberty City and the PS2 is having a party with lots of singing. While the DS has revisted Professor Kawashima, the PSP remains trapped in a final, fantastic, crisis!

By Chienne - Wed May 7, 2008 4:08pm

No prizes for guessing what game is dominating the charts this week - you'd have to be living under a rock to not realise that one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year was released last week... and has apparently lived up to the hype.

The question therefore is - which platform came out on top?

Meanwhile, PC gamers are still hanging out in simulated bathrooms, the Wii's racing around in a little car with a plumber, the PS2 rocks out heroically, DS gamers are strengthening their cranial capacity again, and the PSP is still wrestling with Kratos and his heavy chains.

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The Warp Pipe - 04/05/08

By Matt K - Sun May 4, 2008 1:04pm

So we return to regular Warp Pipe programming. It hasn't been that long since I did a regular column, but it feels like ages - the GTA articles (one, two, three) turned out to be a little more work than I thought they'd be, but I'm happy with the result. I took a little time off writing over the last week, tucking into Viking: Battle for Asgard and a few awful EA Sports games to push my Xbox 360 gamerscore past the 50,000 mark. Passing that mark seems to have killed my enthusiasm for the system at this point. Of course, I've also spent a bunch of time with Grand Theft Auto IV; it's a good game, possibly even great, but I've yet to see the things that are encouraging other reviewers to give it perfect scores, so I seem to be expecting it to pick up at some point.

As promised, this week we'll have a bit of a grumbly rant about what I don't like about Nintendo, we'll uncover the hidden gem that is The Red Star, and revisit the destructive fun of The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.

By Chienne - Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:39am

Retailers around the world are bracing themselves for an onslaught of buyers wanting one game and one game only (it's currently only 6pm Monday on the US West Coast), so current predictions are that next week's charts will be a bit of a one-horse race.

Until then though, we've got the most recently updated Australian Weekly Video Game Charts for you, showing off all the titles that people were picking up in the week ending April 20th. I think that the school holiday influence is showing.

This week, we see a hedgehog and a plumber win gold in the overall charts! Simulated PC people are enjoying cooking in the bath, while a mysterious killer from the Middle Ages hangs out on Xbox 360. PS3 gamers are hangin' out in the midst of a modern battle, PS2 prefers the power of heroic rock, the DS is testing its cranial capacity, and the PSP is still a bit godlike and chainy.

By Chienne - Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:21am

Finally! Up to date with the game charts, we have the most recent information all ready for you. Here are the details on what the gaming public was buying last week - the seven days leading up to April 6th.

Two things to note here. One is that Nintendo has eight of the top ten overall spots, with seven of those being DS titles (one Wii, two PS3). The other is that, for the first time I can remember, World of Warcraft is not in the top ten selling PC games. Don't fret, The Burning Crusade's still representin' Azeroth, but the original is nowhere to be seen. It's almost sad.

In other news, the PS3's still dominating the charts with a racing prequel, PC gamers are being conquered by a wrathful leader, Xbox 360 and PS2 are hanging out with a heroic musician, the Wii prefers athletic plumbers and hedgehogs, and the DS is still getting some cranial exercise while the PSP struggles under some Spartan chains.

By Chienne - Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:51am

Okay, I think we're caught up now, just waiting on the statisticians to get me the most recent data (due in before the end of the week), and we're right on track!

Until we get the new data, here are the top sellers for the week ending March 30th.

This week sees an early copy of a PS3 racer's streaking into overall top spot. A certain wrathful leader has nodded his way onto PC, Tom Clancy's still gambling on Xbox 360, PS2 and Wii are rockin' out heroically, DS gamers are training their grey matter, and the PSP is breaking through some Spartan chains.

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The Warp Pipe - 02/03/08

By Matt K - Sun Mar 2, 2008 12:08pm

Usually for The Warp Pipe, March requires a certain writer's wallet to be sealed within a heavily secured vault to prevent him from spending too much money on games he'll leave sitting on shelf. Fortunately this year, a combination of lower income and a distinct lack of anything interesting being released, my wallet shall remain firmly pressed against my buttocks (with the exception of my import copies of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Okami: Wii Edition). I'm really surprised as March used to represent a dumping ground for PAL publishers for all of those titles that hit North American at Christmas time. Ignoring Nintendo, does that imply that the situation is getting better? The games that were delayed seem to be mostly niche titles – Beautiful Katamari, Persona 3, Odin Sphere. We should really be thankful that they're getting released here at all.

This week, we'll weigh in on the recent movements in the corporate world, take a look at Activision's bizarre (and rather offensive) way of trying to teach Spanish on the DS, and revisit the hackneyed Wing Commander movie.

By Chienne - Thu Jan 3, 2008 10:25am

Spitting in the face of the idea that computers and video games ruin your eyesight, Nintendo has stepped up to bat with Sight Training: Enjoy Exercising and Relaxing Your Eyes. This follows on from the best-selling Brain Training games, which are enjoyed by more than 17 million people world-wide. Get in on the craze and improve your eyes, too!

Training your visual abilities is not a new concept, having been used by many people (including race car drivers and top athletes) for years. This new title uses DS technology to teach you how to relax your eyes through dynamic, fun exercises, while keeping each of the five vision aspects in good shape.

By Chienne - Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:55am

In case you were still undecided whether or not to visit the eGames & Entertainment Expo over the weekend, allow me to sway your views somewhat, by showing off just which big-name new and unreleased titles will be on display at the event.

These will be available to 'test drive' at the event, which opens at Melbourne's Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southbank, tomorrow - Friday 16th November 2007, and runs until Sunday.

By UgLyPuNk - Wed Nov 7, 2007 4:24pm

Nintendo recently held their Q3 financial results conference, and as part of that had a Corporate Management Policy Briefing /Financial Results Briefing Question and Answer. As you can imagine these can be long and boring.

However because at Internode we know you have a short attention span from playing too many games and not spending enough time with Dr. Kawashima, we have decided to filter out the Q&A and let you know the highlight questions.

By Chienne - Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:35pm

One is known for his gold-medal swimming, while the other was a member of the Oarsome Foursome Olympic rowing team, but now they're both taking their sporting prowess to the virtual arena, in a new series of ads for Wii Sports.

That's right. Nintendo poster boy Kieren Perkins has put down the DS and stepped away from the Brain Training, and has joined rower James Tomkins in the ads for a quick match of Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling. You can catch them on your television starting this Sunday, October 21.

By Chienne - Thu Sep 6, 2007 1:33pm

Speaking of Nintendo zooming around, they're on tour again! This time, they'll be heading off from September 22 until October 14, taking in the sights and sounds of shopping centres all around Australia as they promote Big Games for Big Brains!

It might be worth popping along if you're at all interested in trying out Boogie, Super Paper Mario, Big Brain Academy for Wii and the soon to be released The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass... they're also promising a Metroid Prime 3 - Corruption demonstration as well as other great surprises!

By Chienne - Thu Sep 6, 2007 12:36pm

No surprises in this week's chart, with Xbox 360 and PC gamers genetically engineering their FPS to the highest peak. PS2 tried to sing their way to the top but are a decade late, Wii still like to party, PS3 is gettin' stealthy with Tom Clancy, and the DS is presenting cerebral challenges with the good doctor.

You're still not offering me much variety here. Maybe we should stage a coup and take over the charts by sending everyone out to buy a certain game in a certain week. We can make a difference!

By Chienne - Thu May 24, 2007 4:30pm

This week's charts are in. Nothing terribly exciting, except that I see that finally a couple of games I've wanted for Wii have been released, and aren't doing too badly for themselves. Hello, Eledees and Cooking Mama, you offset the fact that Zelda's still in the top spot for your console.

Dear ol' Dr. Kawashima wins the DS race this week, the PS3 still experiences some Resistance, and you can get a double dose of C&3: Tiberium Wars, with it topping the charts for both PC and Xbox 360, while the overall charts are still being dominated by Kratos and the gang from God Of War 2.

By thecynicalgamer - Fri May 11, 2007 4:42pm

I am surprised at how the gaming industry treats itself. The body in the US for the gaming industry is called the ESA (Entertainment Software Association). They have released a report saying, "Moms (and Dads) Got Video Games". The funny thing about this is that they present the report as though it is a surprise. It is as if this is a sudden thing that has jumped out of the blue and struck them as a massive change in gaming. Apart from the fact that every time I read the word "MOM" I want to vomit, the facts themselves, shouldn't surprise anyone considering the average age of a gamer is over 28. The average age couldn't be this high without including mums and dads.

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