Nintendo displaced Sony as the leader of video game sales this past quarter said a new market report published on Tuesday. According to iSuppli, combined game sales of both Wii and DS totaled US$1.2 billion dollars during the third quarter of 2007, up 31 percent from the second quarter of this year and more than double the amount sold a year prior. By comparison, combined PS3, PS2, and PSP game sales totaled $1 billion for the same period while Microsoft reached $318 million in total Xbox 360 and Xbox 1 games sales.
The news marks the first time that Nintendo has accomplished the feat since first being displaced by Sony in the mid nineties with the release of the original and much more popular PlayStation 1 when compared to the Nintendo 64. Nintendo is expected to maintain its lead as it ships about 200 additional titles by the end of the year, bringing the number of games to more than 350, many from outside publishers, iSuppli analyst David Carnevale said. In addition, game sales could get a further boost by the expected introduction of a new flagship title for the Wii, called Wii Fit. The game encourages players to engage in full-body exercises using Wii Balance Boards, performing activities including yoga, push-ups, aerobics, and stretching