The game industry is, undeniably, already well on its way into a new era. It is, like a certain presidential candidate, change we can believe in. It is both an exciting time (as a player) and an uncertain time (as a developer). But it is also a highly lucrative time, as is usually the case when truly disruptive trends begin to come to a head (see also, iPod).

Hardware and software sales continue to trend well into the billions of dollars; industry figureheads like former Sony exec Phil Harrison have allegedly stepped down because of blowback against some of the newer game ideas that are making money where there wasn’t any to be made in the past; and, since I would be remiss to not include it in a post on a fansite devoted to passionate discussion about its very being, there is, without question, Nintendo. (more…)

Is the tide turning? Was I actually right for once with one of my now infamous pro-Nintendo Infendo rants?

I only ask because this morning I read something that was borderline Bible end-of-the-world Revelations territory: Wii software sales for December were officially higher than the market leader, Xbox 360.

This spectacular feat actually occurred last month in the wake of the annual video game software sales Mecca, the “holidays,” and it’s been confirmed by the bastion of video game bloggers’ stats everywhere, NPD.

I wonder… how will the naysayers spin this one? (more…)

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Nintendo DS(TM) and Wii(TM) finished strong in 2007, commanding sales in the holiday shopping period and finishing the year as the two best-selling video game systems in the United States, according to new data just released by the independent NPD Group.Nintendo DS was the top-selling U.S. system of 2007, with nearly 8.5 million sold, including more than 4 million in November and December alone. Wii placed second, with nearly 6.3 million sold through the year, more than 2.3 million of which sold in the final two months. (more…)

For the second year in a row, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has honored Nintendo with an Emmy® Award for excellence in engineering creativity. The groundbreaking Wii™ system was recognized for its innovative motion-sensing controls, which have attracted a broad range of nontraditional gamers and veteran players alike. The award also recognized Nintendo DS™ for its pioneering touch-screen control scheme and distinctive dual-screen display, both of which helped to make it the nation’s top-selling game system of 2007. (more…)