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It appears as though this whole shortage issue is gone for Nintendo. They posted very impressive sales numbers for their hardware and software in March and trounced both Sony and Microsoft in these areas. Let's just put it this way, Nintendo sold 58% of all hardware sales in the US between their DS, Gameboy, and Wii systems.

Not only that, but the sales numbers overall indicate that the supposed recession that the news wants you to be so interested in is not effecting gaming. Growth is good and people are buying and making more games than ever. waht waht?

Pop the break for fancy charts and bad news for M$ fanboys and girls.


TALE OF THE TAPE


chart borrowed from arstechnica

Consoles Sold in the US in March
Wii - 721,000
DS - 698,000
PSP - 297,000
360 - 262,000
PS3 - 257,000

Software Top Four
1. Super Smash Bros.: Brawl - 2,700,000
2. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 - 752,300
3. Army of Two (for the 360) - 606,100
4. Wii Play - 409,800

For some perspective, consider that Nintendo sold a copy of Super Smash Bros. to 31% of its US installed base in one month. That's incredible.

It was not a strong month for Sony as far as software sales but their response to the numbers is that a "waterfall of blockbusters" coming up should reverse that trend. Among them are Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2, and SOCOM:Confrontation, and Gran Turismo 5: Prologue. We're also assuming a nice boost from GTA IV.

While it was a bad month for Sony, Microsoft seems to be worse off without any huge exclusives coming up. Additionally, their hardware numbers are handicapped by the fact that they have no handhelds to sell, while Sony and Nintendo obviously do. Unleash the fanboys!

arstechnica.com: Gaming appearing recession proof as Wii, DS dominate sales