May
29


Nintendo will test the “Nintendo Spot” service, which delivers data to the “Nintendo DS” portable game console using its wireless communications (Wi-Fi) capability, in public locations in Japan. Nintendo will conduct the test at certain McDonald’s restaurants as well as Tsukuba Express stations and on the train.The test will take place at 21 restaurants in Setagaya and Suginami Wards, Tokyo. At those McDonald’s restaurants, Nintendo DS users can browse McDonald’s Japan products designed for the DS and various campaign information on McDonald’s Website and download trial versions of DS software titles as well. The proprietary “Nintendo Spot Viewer” browser software is required to use the service. Nintendo Spot Viewer will be distributed for free at McDonald’s restaurants using DS Wi-Fi capability.

At all 20 Tsukuba Express stations between Akihabara and Tsukuba and on the Tsukuba Express train itself, Nintendo DS users can browse information including news, weather and the Tsukuba Express transfer guide, as well as download trial versions of DS software titles. This service also requires the Nintendo Spot Viewer, which will be distributed for free in the test areas.

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November
28

Earlier today, Nintendo revealed that they have sold more Wii’s in the last two weeks than in any week since the systems initial launch last November.

Nintendo has reportedly sold over 350,000 Wii’s last week, during the Thanksgiving holiday, whereas they moved over 300,000 the week prior. The last time sales were this high in a two week time frame was when the system launched and sold over 600,000 units in its first eight days of release.

“I couldn’t find a single Wii system on the shelves - literally as I was walking into a Wal-Mart at 11 a.m., someone was walking out with the last one,” stated Fils-Aime. “Consumers are buying every game we can put into the system.”

Earlier this year, Nintendo predicted that they would sell 17.5 million Wii’s before the end of the fiscal year, which ends on March 31. Currently, Nintendo is manufacturing 1.8 million Wii’s a month to reach demand worldwide.