Nintendo Predicts 180 Per Cent Wii Sales Increase

The Wii goes from strength to yet more strength as Nintendo predicts an 180 per cent Wii sales increase this year, with many of the Japanese giant’s healthy profits making their way to component suppliers in the U.S. and Europe.

The Wiimote's acceleration sensor comes from US firm Analog Devices, while the Nunchuk’s motion-sensing device is produced by by Italian-French joint venture STMicroelectronics, both of which are expanding rapidly due to the success of Wii.

Analog Devices has just converted one of its facilities into a dedicated Wiimote sensor plant and STMicroelectronics is currently setting up a new sensor production line near Milan.

What’s more, global sales of acceleration sensors tripled in 2006 alone, as prices come down and the devices make their way into phones and other handheld devices. SPOnG recently reported on an interesting homebrew DS motion-sensing device, which we eagerly await from the postman! (report 9th August).

According to Japanese newspaper sources, Mitsumi Electric, Nintendo's supplier of power chips and Wi-Fi components, netted a fivefold increase in operating profit recently.

SPOnG is heading over to Nintendo's UK office next week to finally get some proper playtime in with Wii Fit, Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and more, so watch out for our full previews on all of those very soon.

^{source: Tech.co.uk}