Nintendo has announced record sales and profits for its financial year which closed at the end of March 2008. The factory that built Mario posted sales of over 1.67 trillion yen ($16.2 billion), boasting a 73% increase over last year, and a 47% increase in its net profit of 257 billion yen ($2.5 billion).

Nintendo has increased its projected global shipments of the Wii for 2008 to 25 million. Not surprising taking into account that Nintendo sold 18.61 million Wiis during 2007, bringing its life-to-date sales to 24.45 million units worldwide.

Wii Fit was launched in Japan and has sold 1.85 million copies to date while Super Smash Bros. Brawl sold 1.61 million copies in Japan and 3.24 million copies in the US. Wii Sports, Wii Play, Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Party 8 also continue to enjoy strong sales. The number of million seller titles for the Wii increased from 5 to 26 in 2007.

The Nintendo DS sold 30.31 million units in 2007, bringing its life-to-date sales to 70.6 million. Nintendo has forecast shipment of an additional 28 million NDS units by the end of March 2009.

Popular NDS software included Pokémon Diamond and Pearl which sold 9.56 million units (life-to-dates sales stand at 14.77 million) as well as the two Brain Age titles which sold a total of 11.81 million units (23.81 million life-to-date sales now recorded). Other new releases that recorded strong sales included Mario Party DS, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Mention was also made of favorites New Super Mario Bros. and Nintendogs. 2007 also saw the number of million seller titles for the handheld increasing from 30 to 57.

Putting smiles on people’s faces

The financial report reads “Nintendo will continue to pursue expansion of the gaming audience and provide products that offer unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people of all ages and genders.”

“Nintendo has positioned Wii as a machine that puts smiles on surrounding people’s faces by encouraging positive interaction among family members in the living room. In addition to existing software lineups, Nintendo will develop entertainment which is relevant to our daily lives. Nintendo will launch WiiWare which will provide a variety of new and unique software titles to be purchased and downloaded to Wii hardware in the US and Europe.”

“Nintendo DS remains positioned as a machine that enriches the owners’ daily lives. Nintendo’s strategy is to accelerate the current sales momentum from must-have for every family to must-have for everyone by continuously introducing new and unique software introducing new services which take advantage of its expanded installed base.”