Nintendo hopes it's silenced any doubters as to the validity of its 3DS handheld in a market increasingly dominated by smartphone gaming, as it's become the fastest selling console to reach 5 million units in Japan.
The 3DS reached the total within the space of 52 weeks, beating out the previous record holding DS (which took 56 weeks) and the Game Boy Advance before that (which took 58 weeks).
The price is right... now
The 3DS came under scrutiny following launch as it failed to make an impact with its initial high price and lack of content.
But since Nintendo cut the price 40 percent, the device has been selling well, dominating Christmas 2011 sales reports.
In the table below, provided by Media Create, you can see the initial poor sales, before the sharp rise after the price drop.
Many were worried by the initial launch, with debate suggesting a move into the mobile realm might be appropriate for the Nintendo.
However, CEO Satoru Iwata came out to dismiss any speculation that would be the case by stating were Nintendo to make the move to mobile, it would 'cease to be Nintendo'.
[source: Andriasang]
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When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.
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