Nintendo DS hits 10 million in sales

Nintendo has announced that it's sold more than 10 million Nintendo DS and DS Lite systems in America, an average of 9 every minute since the system's United States launch in November 2004. According to Nintendo of America frontman Reggie Fils-Aime, Americans can't get enough of the DS.

"More than 5 million people joined the ranks as Nintendo DS owners in America last year alone," Fils-Aime said. "And right now, they're all saying the same thing--Give me more!'"

While I'm loathe to take any marketer at his word (No offense, Reggie), this certainly reflects what I've personally seen. In my quest to find a Wii, I found several stores completely sold out of the DS Lite. The slim portable is more than a half year old, and it's almost impossible to find.

This trend isn't only happening in America. Japanese market analysis site Media Create tracks these numbers. My Japanese is rusty, but a little online translation help from Babelfish, and I was good to go. According to Media Create, almost 94,000 Wiis and 90,000 DS Lites were sold in Japan in a single business week (January 8 to 14). At least, I believe that's what the page says. The translation isn't the best.

If you already have a DS Lite, count yourself lucky. If you don't have one yet... well, Nintendo will keep selling as long as people keep buying, and that doesn't seem as if it's going to stop any time soon.