Nintendo’s full year fiscal results were released late last week, and despite the publisher’s continued dominance in the videogame market, the numbers revealed a 22 percent decline in sales, to $15.24 billion (¥1.43 trillion), as net profits fell 18 percent to $2.44 billion (¥228.6 billion) and operating incoming dropped 36 percent to $3.80 billion (¥356.57 billion).

As a whole, these declines can be attributed to a strong Japanese yen, as well as hardware price cuts and less hit software released during the fiscal year. Lessened demand over the last year for Wii hardware is another contributor, as compared to the heydays (and years) following the console’s launch at the end of 2006.

In terms of regional successes for the fiscal year, Japan is Nintendo’s biggest market, with sales of $10.50 billion (¥985.6 billion) in the region, followed by the Americas with sales of $6.85 billion (¥643.1 billion) and then Europe with $5.13 billion (¥481.3 billion). $863.70 million (¥81 billion) of Nintendo’s sales came from other markets.

Over the last fiscal year (which ends March 31st), Nintendo sold 20.53 million Wii consoles (which represents a drop of 21 percent compared to the year previous), and 27.11 million DS units (a 12 percent decline compared to the previous fiscal year), which is largely attributed to an under performance in European markets.

Even so, Nintendo’s Wii has sold 70.93 million units since launch – more than any home console the company has ever released – and 128.98 million DS units, which is more than Nintendo’s previous record-setter, the Game Boy.

In the last fiscal year, however, Nintendo’s DSi XL (or LL as it’s known in Japan) has sold 2.09 million units, compared with 14.8 million DSi units and 10.23 million DS units.

Continuing with the doom and gloom, Nintendo’s software sales for the fiscal year were down 6 percent on the Wii (to 191 million units) and 23 percent on the DS (to 151 million units).

Nintendo’s outlook for the future was mixed, as the company pointed to the upcoming releases of Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M, as well as the Wii Vitality Sensor and accompanying software, but at the same time warned that unit sales of the Wii may drop to 18 million in the next fiscal year, while DS sales are expected to grow as a result of the release of the upcoming 3DS hardware.

Financial results forecasts for fiscal year 2011 have been set for $2.13 billion (¥200 billion) in net profit, and $14.93 million (¥1.4 trillion) in sales.

“Nintendo’s strategy is to achieve the ultimate worldwide objective of ‘must-have for everyone’ rather than ‘must have for every family,’” the company commented during the earnings call.