Nintendo pushes 50 millionth DS out the door

Well if there are still any doubts as to who's winning the portable console war, let them be dispelled here and now: in the less than three years since it's been on the market, the Nintendo DS (in both its Lite and Phat flavors) has sold a total of 50 million units, according to the unofficial VG Chartz. Sony's PSP (released less than one month later in Japan)? Less than half that number. While the PSP will surely get a sales boost now that it too has slimmed down, DS still seems to be the clear choice of the majority of gamers. Next challenge for Mario and friends: hitting 100 million faster than the iPod.

[chris joseph @ Sep 30th 2007 10:30PM]

And what of us who own BOTH a PSP and DS?

At the price point, there are families who own multiple DS units. This whole "winner" meme arises from a surface view of sales statistics without any in-depth study or polling of owners.

[giuliop @ Oct 1st 2007 5:27PM]

Wasn't Nintendo going to end up like Atari?

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/psp-overtakes-ds-in-japanese-hardware-sales/

A bit confused, Engadget?

[john @ Sep 30th 2007 10:35PM]

If Apple made the DS you could'nt play any games on it.
Sieg Heil Steve! Sieg Heil!

[JohnTitor @ Sep 30th 2007 10:56PM]

yes you can, just buy them on iTunes

[sn1per420 @ Oct 1st 2007 12:17AM]

...And then buy them again when a new ipod comes out, and again with the next revision, and so on.

[Teejay @ Oct 1st 2007 2:26AM]

I love apple.. but I'll have to agree with you guys XD

[BrettB @ Sep 30th 2007 10:36PM]

Interesting. I just purchased a PSP (first handheld gaming unit for me ever) but I never really even considered the DS. While I love what Nintendo is doing with the Wii (which I purchased in June), when it came to handheld, I needed something with better graphics than the DS. If you're already playing on a tiny screen, you at least need to be able to see what's going on. While the PSP has its weaknesses (loading times with the UMD and the lack of some of the best mobile gaming titles which Nintendo has), I couldn't see myself gaming with the poor graphics of the DS. Plus with everything else the PSP can do out of the box (video, music, web), it was a no-brainer. I may take mine back and get the new Star Wars white version, but until Nintendo ups the graphics and loses the stylus, the PSP is clearly the King (though not the best seller) in my book. Plus, Lumines II had me at hello...

[melloncollie @ Sep 30th 2007 10:44PM]

You realize:
Gameplay > Graphics
Right?

[Jonathan Keim @ Sep 30th 2007 10:57PM]

The PSP is also my first hand held, and like you, I didn't even consider the DS as an option.

I primarily bought the PSP for its PMP capabilities, it is so nice being able to load multiple videos on a memorty stick.

The PSP wins for me because it is much more than a game player, it is an entertainment machine.

[fischju @ Sep 30th 2007 11:24PM]

I primarily bought the DS for its PMP capabilities. A $25 flashcart will make it a PMP, emulator, linux machine, ect

[BrettB @ Sep 30th 2007 11:26PM]

My point was that for me, graphics were more important in a portable system. I'm sure the DS is a blast to play, but so far my PSP has been a blast to play. The games all look and feel great. Of course I would like access to the great Nintendo library of games, but they don't measure up in the looks department. Plus, with homebrew you can get access to those games (I haven't delved into that yet, but I plan on trying it out at some point). I love my Wii (graphics of course aren't everything), but a blanket statement like gameplay>graphics misses the point. One without the other is useless. I mean, I saw this commercial the other day that has people playing guitar on the DS. Interesting, but not what I really want to play. For the games I want to play, the PSP wins out. Plus, even if Sony has only sold 20 million units, it doesn't make a PSP a bomb. I'd probably buy a DS for my kids; it's has a more robust build (I've heard) and more titles that would appeal to them. But the PSP is more of what I wanted, and I'm glad Sony is giving me the option.

[EddieBrentwood @ Oct 1st 2007 12:59AM]

if you like 3D games, graphic horsepower is very related to gameplay. this whole graphics don't matter argument is tiring. its a video game so if you are that sophisticated that you dont care about graphics, why not go read a book or play a text adventure game or something :) DS cannot handle 3d games, try playing FF ring of fates or Star Wars lego or something on it and then try the same or similar game on PSP. DS is great for 2d games in my opinion. I have both systems.
So anyway, I agree with you BrettB.

[iofthestorm @ Oct 1st 2007 12:53AM]

Actually, the reason I got a DS was that it's so much more of a portable than the PSP, what with the much longer battery life and smaller profile. That and all the great Nintendo first party games, as well as some unique/interesting 3rd party games like Puzzle Quest and Meteos. I'm thinking about picking up a used PSP for the homebrew, multimedia, and some games though, because although I've got homebrew on my DS the emulators are still kind of slow. Getting better all the time though. But yeah, at this point both portables are cheap enough that you can get both (if you get one used I guess) and enjoy the best of both worlds.

[linkman2004 @ Oct 1st 2007 1:15AM]

I still don't understand your logic. Graphics are more important in a handheld... but not a console? Also, I think smallers screens would make the graphics look better than they really are, if anything.

[Teejay @ Oct 1st 2007 2:24AM]

blah blah blah. graphics > gameplay.. then why the hell does developers even give a poop with storyline, gameplay, controls..I can name hundreds of poorly made games with amazing graphics that even games from the 1980's have better gameplay... its a "GAME" hence how you play the game should be more of a decision maker as supposed to how the game looks like.. its not "VISUAL" play after all. I admit graphics plays a part too, but sometimes gameplay can lend itself to the experience and immerse you into the game.. which is btw much tougher to do.. but when you accomplish a feat like that.. you get something like ocarina of time.

"its a video game so if you are that sophisticated that you dont care about graphics, why not go read a book or play a text adventure game or something :)"

Its not that they dont really "care" about the graphics per se.. its more that they dont care how it may look as long as the gameplay lends to the overall experience. so in a sense, as long as the game is good.. whatever graphics it has = good enough. Not in the way you take it, "I DONT like graphics.."

[EddieBrentwood @ Oct 1st 2007 8:27AM]

yes, good graphics on a crap game is a waste of time. there are a bunch of factors to a game and graphics is only one of them.

I guess I was just defending brettb's decision to go with PSP over DS for its graphic horsepower over the DS. Even if he likes the graphically inferior Wii.

[BrettB @ Oct 1st 2007 1:21PM]

The other thing I don't really understand is that people continually talk about the DS having great gameplay, but as far as I can tell, it has a directional pad and 4 buttons and a stylus (which I find very awkward). The PSP also has the L & R at the top, and the analog stick. Essentially, they have very similar controls. So that really leaves it up to the specific games played. Like I mentioned, I love Lumines II (which is only on PSP and has great gameplay). Lego star wars is a blast and the controls must be very similar between the two machines, so since the PSP looks tons better, PSP wins. Daxter is a fun game with great gameplay, and I really enjoy Wipeout Pure, which looks great too. I've also demoed other games and never had a problem with "gameplay" on the PSP. They all seem to work great. I'm just not sure what the DS offers in "gameplay" where the PSP can't compete. Of course, I admit the DS has some great exclusive games, but so does the PSP. You are welcome to enjoy either, or both, but I don't see where this "gameplay" argument comes from. The Wii obviously offers unique gameplay, but other than that, everything else is pretty much similar and only comes down to what games you enjoy the most.

[Kaemon @ Sep 30th 2007 10:43PM]

Whoo! Go DS!

I have a PSP, and I love it, but its nice to see nintendo CRUSH the competition. Haha.

[Rad Hatter @ Sep 30th 2007 10:47PM]

Man I really wanna play that cake

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 30th 2007 11:16PM]

What an astonishing number!

With the DS Lite and Mario games, Nintendo really made the DS a very profitable handheld.

[Sonic_13 @ Sep 30th 2007 11:38PM]

Congrats to Nintendo and the DS!

It is a well deserved milestone.

Good luck at selling 100 million more than the iPod. I know you can do it!

[Indy aka Rex @ Sep 30th 2007 11:47PM]

Lately it seems to be more the clear choice for the majority of every one BUT gamers with the game lineup it's had this year.

I can't wait for freakin' "My... Coach" and those god-awful "Imagine..." games from Ubisoft.

[Moorio @ Sep 30th 2007 11:52PM]

But what about the N-Gage?!

[deloreanz @ Sep 30th 2007 11:56PM]

"Next challenge for Mario and friends: hitting 100 million faster than the iPod."

I don't think it is fair to compare iPod sales to DS sales since Nintendo has nearly 20 years of gameboy notoriety to back it up. Apple on the other hand was new to the portable device market when it brought out the first iPod 6 years ago. Both devices have seen roughly the same average sales/year over their lifespans (iPod: 100M/6y and DS: 50M/3y).

Then again, the markets are so different that any comparison must be taken with several grains of salt. The gameboy was one of the first portable devices on the market, while the iPod was by no means the first mp3 player available. Although an arguable comparison can be made between the devices as they were both the first real successful implementations.

[Sean DL @ Oct 1st 2007 12:12AM]

True, but in the end, it's about being the fastest to 100 million, and there won't be an asterisk next to that record.

[Dukhat @ Oct 1st 2007 1:40AM]

I'm not really sure I'm comfortable with the tone of the article which seems to imply that because the DS Lite has sold a lot of units that the "majority" of gamers have decided.

The majority of gamers do not game on a portable; the game on a variety of consoles.

At any rate, why is this big news? The DS Lite is basically tracking slightly better than the GBA in sales. The only reason this is news is because Nintendo has done so with its first viable competitor ever, the PSP. If anything, the fact that the PSP has succeeded where dozens of competitors have failed before should be the news story.

[Matthew @ Oct 1st 2007 12:37PM]

"The majority of gamers do not game on a portable; the game on a variety of consoles."

Well I have 50,000,000 people who could argue with that statement.

[gatsby @ Oct 2nd 2007 1:56PM]

It's news because everyone, including sony, said that the DS was just a novelty, yet clearly, a large portion of the "portable" gaming public disagree.

[adam @ Oct 1st 2007 1:58AM]

Note to Nintendo: gray frosting is not very appetizing.

[maxnyc @ Oct 1st 2007 1:57PM]

The DS is far more innovative than the PSP, it was the first mass market touch screen device. Hands down the more fun system. It deserves what it's achieved and the games will only get better.

[LM @ Oct 2nd 2007 3:58AM]

I bought the PSP first, mainly for the multimedia capabilities, i.e. as a video/MP3 player, as a digital photo album, plus all the classic gamings from compilation titles such as Capcom Remix and Reloaded, Genesis Collection etc.

I later bought the DS Lite to try out some of the DS games.

I believe each system had their own merits, so there is no "absolutely best" system.

Screen and graphics wise PSP is better, games library wise DS may have more but PSP also had many good games.

Best of both worlds is to have bothh systems :)

Anyway I intend to get the new PSP Lite. Together with my PS3, the PSP will have even more functionality.