Nintendo profits slide as Wii sales slow down

Nintendo has shown weakness in its sales in recent months, declaring a fall in profits just short of ten per cent between April and December 2009 following the lost momentum of the Nintendo Wii and DS.

Its net profit was declared at 192.6 billion yen (£1.3 billion) which, while still a pretty damn high taking for the period, was 9.4 per cent lower than the 212.5 billion yen it took in the same period a year ago. Sales fell by 23 per cent overall.

Competition from the storming performances registered by Microsoft and Sony have weakened Nintendo's appeal across the world and in the domestic Japanese market, with the downturn and general pressures resulting in Nintendo slashing the price of its Wii.

Of course, don't forget that Sony and Microsoft reduced the price of the PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively, encouraging the move.

It could've been worse for Nintendo. After all, the release of New Super Mario Brothers and Wii Sports Resort fired sales for the Wii into space over Christmas, dominating the vast majority of top chart spots among game retailers across the world.