During Core Gaming Systems’ Wii Sports Resort launch event last week, a presentation by Matthew Grose, General Manager of the group, revealed just how successful sales of Nintendo’s consoles and software in South Africa have been since Core Gaming began handling the distribution of Nintendo’s products in the country, and launched the Nintendo Wii in October of 2007.

Comparing sales figures from the first 18 months of the Wii’s availability in the country to those of the Xbox 360 and PS3, it appears as though the Wii is far ahead during the consoles’ respective 18 month launch windows.

Citing source data from Gfk, in its first 18 months on sale (from October 2006), the Xbox 360 sold 57 792 units in South Africa, while the PS3 (from April 2007) sold 43 185 during its first 18 months on sale in the country.

The Wii, however, has managed to sell 91 552 units in its first 18 months on sale, after launching in October of 2007. Nintendo’s ‘Blue Ocean’ approach to the market is cited as the key to this success, which comprises their philosophy of targeting a new audience and simultaneously changing the perception of gaming.

During the presentation, more impressive sales figures for the local South African market were revealed, placed in the context of global software sales for both Wii and DS titles.

Wii Fit, for example, has sold a whopping 20.43 million units worldwide since its launch in 2007, while the local (South African) attachment rate is an impressive 35%. Similarly, Wii Play (worldwide sales at 23.59 million) can boast a local attachment rate of 56%, while Mario Kart Wii (worldwide sales at 16.32 million) has managed an attachment rate of 14% in South Africa.

DS titles, too, have been performing well in South Africa, as Brain Training (worldwide sales at 17.53 million) has an attachment rate of 39% in the country, Nintendogs (worldwide sales at 22.53 million) can claim a local attachment rate of 28%, while New Super Mario Bros. (worldwide sales at 18.91 million) has an attachment rate of 29% in South Africa.

Additionally, a breakdown of the male/female Wii and DS user base was presented, with data compiled by Nintendo of Europe in 2008, based on combined statistics from the UK, France, Germany and Spain. Remarkably, the Wii user base is pretty evenly split, as 54% of Wii users are male and the remaining 46% are female, while 29% of Wii users are over 36 years of age.

As for DS users, 55% are female, the remaining 45% are male, and 20.5 % of DS users are over 36 years of age, which is further proof, Nintendo says, that the Blue Ocean strategy if breaking the traditional stereotype of gamers

Thanks to Core Gaming Systems for providing this enlightening sales and user data!